Summer Concert Series

Agawam, Wednesdays at 7 on Veteran's Green

Barre, Sundays at 7, Harding Allen Bandstand

Belchertown, Thursdays in July, 7 PM, on the Common

Brimfield, Tuesdays 6:30-8:30

Charlemont, Mohawk Trail Concerts

Easthampton, Fridays at 6:30, Pulaski Park

East Longmeadow, Wednesdays at 7, High School Athletic Field

Florence, Sundays at 6, Look Park

Holyoke, Summit View Banquet House , Fridays 6:30 -8

Orange, Brown Bag Concert Series (this link 2008 info only)

South Hadley, Thursdays 6-7:30

Springfield, Thursdays at 7:30, Stearns Square

Springfield, Fridays from Noon-1:30pm, Tower Square Park

Ware, July 12, 26, August 9, on the lawn of the Meeting House at 6:30 PM.

For more info: 508 - 867 - 7461

West Brookfield, June 24, July 3, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5

West Springfield, Thursdays at 7PM

Wilbraham, Orchard Valley Senior Community, June 24, July 15, August 12, 6:30 PM

Odyssey Book Shop, South Hadley, MA

This is a fantastic bookstore and it does a lot for children. The children's book section itself is fun and well stocked. Additionally, the Odyssey hosts storytimes and in the summer, weekly saturday morning family entertainment.

I'll confess I don't go there often, I think I went to a reading by Jenny Boylan several years ago and haven't gotten back. I plan on returning soon, however. A local writer (and parent) named Samantha Wilde will be reading from her new, mommy-lit, novel at the Odyssey on June 25, 2009 - you can check out her website, linked below.

A South Hadley afternoon might include a visit to the Mt. Holyoke Conservatory, or the Art Museum. The Village Commons, where the Odyssey is located, is an interesting outdoor mall with businesses that include a delicious deli, movie theatres, and a few stores.

Odyssey Book Shop

Samantha Wilde

Bonfire at Chestnut Hill, May 21, 2009, Belchertown, MA

BONFIRE ’09 ADDING MORE HEAT TO BELCHERTOWN ON A HOT THURSDAY EVENING Green Day Tribute Band ‘Dookie’ Scheduled To Play at 8pm at Chestnut Hill Athletic Fields
For Immediate ReleaseMay 20, 2009 Belchertown, MA – A huge bonfire and a live band known as ‘DoOkiE’, a Green Day Tribute Band that plays all over the nation, will take over the Chestnut Hill Athletic Fields on Thursday, May 21, 2009 from 7pm to 10pm. Great visuals from 7:45pm – 8:15pm for special prayer for a recent death of a Belchertown student’s father (Marc C. Sugrue), lighting of the bonfire, national anthem and student singing group performance before the entrance of the band. The Green Day band is famous for Boulevard of Broken Dreams (I Walk Alone), the 2006 Grammy Awards Record of the Year. Along with other hit songs like Longview, Basketcase and When I Come Around, Green Day is known for the song Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) which was the nostalgic musical end of the final episode of NBC’s Seinfeld . DoOkiE, will be performing all these hit Green Day songs and more. Gate opens at 7pm and food and lite fare will be available as well as some great raffle prizes. The Bonfire ’09 event is open to all friends, family and residents of the area and will have plenty of police and fire protection. All the fun will be for a new non-profit organization in Belchertown, MA, Future Leadership: Journey 2009. The new organization is in the process of applying for a State Non-Profit Certificate and will assist six Belchertown High School students in raising funds for educational travel to Europe and Africa this summer. Tickets are available for presale by calling Ms. Lori Brown @ (413) 323.6064 / lbrownma@charter.net or Ms. Elizabeth Taras @ (413) 687.3144 / elizabeth@marketmentors.net. Day of event prices are $20 for those 12 – 21 and $10 for adults over 21. Children under 12 are free.

Nature/Art/Music Playshop

This is a day long program to be held at the Hitchcock Center on April 26. I haven't attended one of these in the past, but it sounds like a compelling mixture of disciplines.

From workshop leader Marcy Gregoire:

"This is our third day long work/playshop, and has been a GREAT success.
Each time we spend time in nature, create original art, and write, record, and perform an Earth-based song.

We are asking a $35 fee for the day, with scholarships and sliding scale prices available. No one will be turned away due to lack of financials.

We do ask that they bring a lunch and snack. The age ranges from 3-12 so far. We love involving various age groups. It's great to see them all interact."

For registration or additional information:

marcy@underthetreeart.com

(413) 768-7114
Under The Tree Art

Hyland Orchard, Sturbridge, MA

Hyland Orchard has something for everyone. Pioneer Brewing company owns this orchard; you can purchase a delicious beer for a reasonable price. Caveat: only one or two beers are on tap outside, but you can purchase different varieties inside. Wagon and hayrides are available during various seasons to U-Pick areas of the property.
The playground is fenced in and is an amalgam of those large plastic play structures that are usually purchased for home use. The petting zoo has some of the cleanest and happiest animals (if not the most exotic) at any petting zoo I've been to. Animal food is available in $1 bags, or in 25 cent handfuls from a dispenser. Human food is available also, but the selection is rather thin - hot dogs and popcorn is the general idea. We have brought snacks with us most times.
A very large pavillion contains the vending areas, picnic table seating, and a stage for musical acts. The music is free. Parking is free. Restrooms are clean enough but there are only two real bathrooms, and they are located inside. There are a couple of porta potties on the grounds, but I have no idea how they are because I don't go in those.
A large lawn forms the center of the outdoor activity, with animals on one side and the pavillion on the other. There are several shade trees. The grass is very nice, too - we have always had a really fun time here. There is so much room for the kids to play and run around.

Hyland Orchards
Pioneer Brewery
Old Sturbridge Village

Garlic Festival, Orange MA

Fall in New England is a particularly wonderful time. Orange is a hilly and wooded town north of the Quabbin. This festival offers music on a large stage with seating on a hill, a smaller stage near the food area, vendors with wares from honey to hula hoops, foods (which do not come cheap, and lines can be long), and other entertainments. There is plenty of free space for children to run. The festival ground is a field which gets mowed for the event, so the "grass" is a prickly and uneven specimen.

It will cost you more than a few bucks to get in, and surely you'll purchase food, drink or garlic while you are there. Not free.

Parking is free and out on a field identical to the fairground. Watch yourself if muddy.

Restrooms are porta potties. Couldn't tell you how they were as I do not go in those.



Garlic Festival

Medieval Faire, Putney, VT

A grammar school in Putney has an anuual fundraiser with a medieval theme. "Rides," including ziplines, a big swing, a haunted house, maze, climbing wall, pony rides - cost you a couple of tickets. Free activities, such as play equipment, a sandbox, storytelling, and music, also abounded. Many of the attendees, of all ages, were dressed in period garb, which enhanced the atmosphere, as did the dozens of handmade decorations. If you have to spend money, this is a nice way to spend it - at a fundraiser for a beautiful school in a nice community.
The autumn drive was lovely with foliage, the sun was warm. Our kids played on the playground took some "rides." We ate some food from home but also made purchases. A wide variety of really delicious items were for sale.
I confess I don't remember the restrooms. They did exist, though. I DO remember nursing my newborn (about a month old), in the shade of a cherry tree, on the grass, on a hill overlooking a scene filled with families. A group of teens clowned around at the picnic table behind me. The sun and sky made me grateful. The band was playing just in front of me. It's a truly lovely memory and I can't wait to return.
Parking was copious, in a large field across the road from the event. I can't recall whether it was free or not! As I said, I had a newborn.



Grammar School



Town of Putney

Look Park, Northampton MA

Look Park is beautiful. You'll have to pay a $4 fee per car as you enter. Then you can park wherever you like. There are a LOT of activities here.

Water pad: instead of a wading pool, they've created a concrete "pad" with motion detectors which are linked up to a couple dozen different fountains which randomly turn off and on. Though it seems like kids would fall, they rarely do. Plenty of benches and chaise lounges encircle the pad. Many are under small pavillions providing shade. Bathing suit activity. Fenced in with two points of entry/egress. Free.
Petting zoo: Corn from a little machine costs 50 cents. A path leads through a wooded area lined with animal exhibits. Bald Eagles, sheep, owls, mountain goats, peacocks, chickens, more. The animals are well cared for, but the area is not too fancy.

Three playgrounds (small, large, and extra large):

The small playground is located right outside the petting zoo (convenient distraction!) and near the train station.

The large playground is on the other side of the park, near a pavillion, a stream, and some restrooms.

The extra large playground is right next to the water pad and restrooms and has a toddler structure, two other large structures, and swings.

River running by for rock throwing.

Train: Each ticket is about $2, the ride is cute - 10 minutes maybe? The kids LOVE it.
Paddle Boats: The rental fee is not ideal, but the ride is fun.
Picnic Areas with BBQ (rental fee), several pavillions for rent.
Restrooms are located near the water pad and are ok.