Upcoming Events In Western Mass
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.
Top Yearly Western Massachusetts Events
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.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Spring
Springfield Annual Pancake Breakfast
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.
Paradise City Arts Festival (Northampton)
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!
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Summer
Baseball Season Opening Night
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.
Yankee Candle Christmas in July
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.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Fall
The Big E
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.
Six Flags New England’s Fright Fest
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.
Top Western Massachusetts Events for Winter
Springfield Thunderbirds
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.
Springfield, Parade of the Big Balloons
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.
Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade
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.
The Springfield Armory National Historic Site
The Springfield Armory National Historic Site is the location of the nation’s first armory (1794-1968), and was established by George Washington. The site includes historic grounds, buildings, and the world’s largest historic American military firearms collection.
For 174 years, the men and women of Springfield Armory shaped America’s destiny through pioneering technological innovation, improved manufacturing processes, and increased use of laborsaving machines. Today, Springfield Armory National Historic Site preserves and interprets this colorful history in original buildings on their historic grounds through museum displays, public programs, notable collections, activities, and internet resources.
There is ample parking and the building is wheelchair accessible. The entrance to Armory Square is on Federal Street. Armory Square is shared by Springfield Armory NHS and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).
From Memorial Day through October 31, Springfield Armory National Historic site is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.
From November 1 until Memorial Day Weekend , Springfield Armory NHS is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm. The park is closed for the following holidays: •Thanksgiving Day •Christmas Day •New Year’s Day.
The National Park Service App
The National Park Service App is the brand new official app for all 420+ national parks. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more. The app was created by National Park Service staff—people who know national parks—to help you make the most of your visit. With all of these parks and a brand new app, it will take some time to finish creating content for each park. If you don’t find what you’re looking for now, check back regularly as our rangers work to complete the experience for each of our parks.
Unlike other apps, NPS Mobile takes authoritative information from park rangers and combines it with a great suite of features, including interactive maps, saved data for offline use, accessibility, self-guided tours, things to do, shareable digital postcards, passport stamp locations, hours and locations for points of interest, and more.
June 2021
The Springfield Armory, Outdoor Ranger Contact Station
Stop by and visit the Armory grounds, speak with a ranger and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Thursdays ONLY, beginning June 17th, 2021, Springfield Armory National Historic Site in coordination with Springfield Technical Community College will reopen access to: Park grounds and parking accessible by vehicle and foot through the main entrance to Springfield Technical Community College. Park staff will offer limited programming on the grounds with an outdoor visitor contact station available from 10AM to 2PM and a guided grounds tour at 11AM. The tour of the grounds will be ranger-led. Learn about the…
Find out more »July 2021
The Springfield Armory, Outdoor Ranger Contact Station
Stop by and visit the Armory grounds, speak with a ranger and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Thursdays ONLY, beginning June 17th, 2021, Springfield Armory National Historic Site in coordination with Springfield Technical Community College will reopen access to: Park grounds and parking accessible by vehicle and foot through the main entrance to Springfield Technical Community College. Park staff will offer limited programming on the grounds with an outdoor visitor contact station available from 10AM to 2PM and a guided grounds tour at 11AM. The tour of the grounds will be ranger-led. Learn about the…
Find out more »The Springfield Armory, OPENS!!
The Springfield Armory National Historic Site (NHS) visitor center and museum will reopen to visitors on July 2, 2021. The reopening marks the completion of an 18-month project focusing on critical systems upgrades. The National Park Service contracted the services of Gardner Construction & Industrial Services, Inc. to complete the $1.6 million project. Visitors returning to the site will notice some exciting updates including the repainting of the museum, refurbishing of the original floors, and a new introductory timeline exhibit.…
Find out more »May 2022
The Springfield Armory, Open Memorial Day
The grounds are open for walking and touring to view the Historic buildings. The Museum, with its world-class collection (industrial displays & US military firearms- largest number of US weapons in the world) is open free of charge in the circa 1848 Main Arsenal building. Inside the Museum, one fifth of the collection is displayed with the aid of an 18-minute orientation film and a dozen video kiosks. In the first half of the 1800's, the Armory successfully undertook the…
Find out more »