We strive to post the most current and accurate event information but changes and cancellations do occur so please check the official event website to confirm all details.
When you think back to some of your favorite childhood moments, very few of them probably happened when you were sitting at home watching TV. Instead, your most poignant memories probably revolve around that time you ended up with the home run ball at a baseball game, and the crowd cheered and you felt like a rock star, or at least like Babe Ruth.
Or maybe it was that time your family attended The Big E together and your dad bought you cotton candy and let you get all sticky-faced, and you watched your mom beat the midway games, and you felt like your heart was going to overflow with contentment and happiness.
In Western Massachusetts, events bring us together to celebrate our successes and recollect on our heritage. We’ve put together a list of some of the top yearly events in Massachusetts, things we and our local friends love doing to feel connected to our area and our community.
Because of the beautiful area where we live, there are distinct Western Massachusetts-specific events that take place in each and every season. From leaf peeping in the fall to river rafting in the spring to skiing in the winter, you can find a wide range of things to do throughout the year, and some of our local events reflect the joyous beauty of our seasons.
Does anything scream “neighborly get-together more than a pancake breakfast? If your mouth is already watering over the thought of fluffy, buttery, syrupy goodness, you’re not going to want to miss the Springfield Annual Pancake Breakfast, typically hosted in May in downtown Springfield.
Bring your appetite, because it’s billed as the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, and be ready to feast on both good food and friendly conversation.
This Paradise City Arts Festival is ranked among the best in the country, and includes exhibits from more than 250 artists in all mediums. Artists flock to Western Massachusetts from around the country to be part of this visually dazzling display.
Come out to enjoy the weather that’s not quite summer, not quite spring, and stay to buy way too much from the vast selection of contemporary art pieces on display.
Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show
With spring in the air, you’ll want to get out and enjoy the largest outdoor antique and collectible show in the country. The Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show features over 5000 dealers throughout the quaint country town of Brimfield. And once is never enough – they do this in July and September, too!
Baseball is the quintessential American pastime, and there’s really nothing that can top the nostalgia of being present on opening night.
The Westfield Starfires and Valley Blue Sox will kick off their seasons right at the start of the summer, and both promise to bring plenty of excitement to the community. Be sure you arrive ahead of gametime to root, root, root for the home team.
We love the unforgettable scents of the holiday season. Fir and balsam, spicy gingerbread, warm apple cider – the list could go on and on.
So naturally, Christmas in July is a must. At the flagship Yankee Candle Village, you can enjoy the holiday season, snap selfies with Santa (who might have traded in his traditional red velvet for a more relaxed Hawaiian shirt vibe) and enjoy crafting with Mrs. Claus.
It’s just what you need to get a little dose of holiday spirit and deal with the fact that you probably won’t be decorating your tree for at least a couple more months.
Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Meet Basketball’s best in the birthplace of the sport! Each summer, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrines the best in the sport in Springfield. Rub elbows with the greatest to play the game and save time for a tour of the Hoop Hall.
Would this even be a reliable listing of Western Massachusetts events if The Big E weren’t included? The community gathering, more formally known as the Eastern States Exposition, is the biggest and best county fair you could imagine.
Every fall, The Big E brings together amazing food, parades, musical entertainment, agricultural exhibitions, car shows and more. There’s so much to see, do and taste – you’ll need more than one day to fully enjoy all The Big E has to offer.
Each autumn, Six Flags New England transforms into a fright-filled funzone for teens and adults. You’ll find scary shows, walk-through attractions and thrill rides that make the most of the season.
The Springfield Thunderbirds are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League affiliated with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Thunderbirds play their home games at the MassMutual Center.
Can’t quite make it to New York City for the Thanksgiving parade? We’ve got you covered, with the Parade of the Big Balloons in downtown Springfield.
Enjoy bands, community gatherings and balloons that represent the best Western Mass has to offer – our favorite is definitely the 75-foot Cat in the Hat balloon.
Bright Nights at Forest Park
Holiday memories are made at Bright Nights at Forest Park. It’s just not the holiday season until you’ve driven through this holiday lighting extravaganza! Look for Santa’s Magical Forest, Dinosaur World and Seuss Land – it’ll become an annual tradition after the first mile.
Run, walk or float over to the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This celebration of Irish heritage brings more than 400,000 guests to the community for a parade, music, food and fun.
It also includes traditional performances by the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band and the Road Race, Western New England’s largest race (featuring a 10k, a 2 mile walk and a Kids Fun Run).
Community events help us to celebrate what we have in common – a love of the arts, of sport, of nature. The human connection these events create is so important to both mental and physical well-being.
If you’d like to learn more about these community events and dozens of others coming up in Western Mass, or about the top yearly events in Massachusetts, check out our Events listings and customize a schedule just for you. Or, contact us, and let our team of knowledgeable locals help you prepare for a fun and unforgettable Western Mass adventure.
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2019, the Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to education and art appreciation inspired by the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The Museum holds the world’s largest and most significant collection of art and archival materials relating to Rockwell’s life and work, while also preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting a growing collection of art by other American illustrators throughout history. The Museum engages diverse audiences through onsite and traveling exhibitions, as well as publications, arts and humanities programs, including the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, and comprehensive online resources. www.nrm.org/
Located on 36 park-like acres in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Rockwell’s hometown for the last 25 years of his life, the Museum is open seven days a week, year-round; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Museum hours from May through October are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays during the month of August; from November through April: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Rockwell’s studio is open May through November 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking is FREE. Bus and van parking is available at the Museum in a separate lot. Accessible parking is available. The main Museum building and Rockwell’s Studio are wheelchair accessible.
For directions to the Museum, click here or call 413-298-4100.
The Norman Rockwell Museum is proud to offer free admission programs to active military and their family.
Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration • June 12 – October 31, 2021 Plan your escape into the most comprehensive exhibition of fantasy illustration featuring paintings, etchings, drawings, and digital art. Journey from the Middle Ages through ancient mythology, fairy tales, and heroes and villains to contemporary artwork from Game of Thrones and The Lord […]
Explore the magical grounds and discover original sculptures by regional contemporary artists inspired by the special exhibition Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. Meet the sculptors; find the fairies in the Yellowwood tree, and make a dragon egg. Vote on your favorite sculptures between 2 - 3 p.m. Stay for the awards ceremony including Best in […]
From Hobbits to Hulks, Creating Characters for Stories with James Warhola For drawing enthusiasts excited to explore process and technique for creating characters for stories with artist James Warhola. Nephew of Andy Warhol, James has illustrated over two dozen children’s books. Bring pencils and sketchbook. Class limited to 20 people. Price: $65 members $85 non-members […]
Tuesday Nights: Meet the Artist Series Meet the international artists featured in the Fantasy Art exhibition on view at the Museum this summer. Join us in person, or online to hear from these world class illustrators. Learn about what inspires them, their current work, and future aspirations, followed by a Q&A. Featured Artist: Thomas Blackshear […]
Tuesday Nights: Meet the Artist Series Meet the international artists featured in the Fantasy Art exhibition on view at the Museum this summer. Join us in person, or online to hear from these world class illustrators. Learn about what inspires them, their current work, and future aspirations, followed by a Q&A. Featured Artist: Thomas Blackshear […]
Tuesday Nights: Meet the Artist Series Meet the international artists featured in the Fantasy Art exhibition on view at the Museum this summer. Join us in person, or online to hear from these world class illustrators. Learn about what inspires them, their current work, and future aspirations, followed by a Q&A. Featured Artist: Thomas Blackshear […]
Tuesday Nights: Meet the Artist Series Meet the international artists featured in the Fantasy Art exhibition on view at the Museum this summer. Join us in person, or online to hear from these world class illustrators. Learn about what inspires them, their current work, and future aspirations, followed by a Q&A. Featured Artist: Thomas Blackshear […]
Thanks to a grant from the Highland Street Foundation, museum admission is free for all visitors today only! SOLD OUT The Highland Street Foundation annual initiative, a summer program that offers visitors no-cost admission to many of the most treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts, from art museums to zoos. Learn more at www.highlandstreet.org.
Beer, food, music, lawn games, and fun! Spend an afternoon sampling some of the best local brews and local food. Be inspired by illustration art in the galleries and on the beer cans! Participants receive ten sample pours and a souvenir pint glass. Purchase food from some of the best local food truck vendors, view […]
Tuesday Nights: Meet the Artist Series Meet the international artists featured in the Fantasy Art exhibition on view at the Museum this summer. Join us in person, or online to hear from these world class illustrators. Learn about what inspires them, their current work, and future aspirations, followed by a Q&A. Featured Artist: Thomas Blackshear […]
Norman Rockwell Museum (NRM), Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF), and Old Mill Road Media (OMRM) will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark with an outdoor film screening on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, sponsored by Berkshire Bank. The public was first introduced to Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) […]
Thanks to a grant from the Highland Street Foundation, museum admission is free for all visitors today only! Please call us at (413) 298-4100 to reserve your space. The Highland Street Foundation annual initiative, a summer program that offers visitors no-cost admission to many of the most treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts, from art museums to zoos. Learn […]
Norman Rockwell Museum will help celebrate the 31st Annual Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Weekend The town of Stockbridge, made famous by Norman Rockwell’s painting of the village during the holidays, becomes a magical New England setting decorated with holiday wreaths and festive lights. Sponsored by the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, the holiday celebration offers […]
