Things to Do in Western Mass https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/things-to-do-in-western-mass Discover what’s happening across Western Massachusetts, with a focus on Amherst, Northampton and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. Each episode explores events, day trips, local history, culture, food, outdoor adventures, seasonal traditions and places worth discovering. Whether you live here, are visiting for the weekend or are planning a Western Mass getaway, we’ll help you find something interesting to do—and tell you a little of the story behind it. © 2026 The Silo Amherst 6aadddf7-de5e-5c11-b483-c0e6810cbf3c yes en Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:48:18 -0500 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:49:22 -0500 https://img.transistorcdn.com/nZQPiDa_Ash4QPXoiKrC99Bmoi2dDJg-IZiUcn4jHVQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84Nzc5/NjFmYzA4NzVlMjMx/ZmZlYWQ5ZThlYzE3/MzgyNS5wbmc.jpg Things to Do in Western Mass https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com episodic Things to Do in Western Mass Discover what’s happening across Western Massachusetts, with a focus on Amherst, Northampton and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. Each episode explores events, day trips, local history, culture, food, outdoor adventures, seasonal traditions and places worth discovering. Whether you live here, are visiting for the weekend or are planning a Western Mass getaway, we’ll help you find something interesting to do—and tell you a little of the story behind it. Discover what’s happening across Western Massachusetts, with a focus on Amherst, Northampton and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel Beth Lewis cornerstonewestholdingsllc@gmail.com No No Five Reasons to Get Out This Winter: Alma Thomas, Windborne, Hockey & Butterflies 12 12 Five Reasons to Get Out This Winter: Alma Thomas, Windborne, Hockey & Butterflies bonus a3d93a47-ff10-4091-b04d-077b1122fa87 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0c2279e9 Five reasons to get out of the house this winter, from color on the walls to cheering at the rink.

In this episode

  • Alma Thomas: Composing Color. Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Free admission. Through January 10.
  • Windborne: Music for Midwinter. Bombyx, Florence. Wednesday, December 9, 7 pm.
  • Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Easthampton/Northampton. Four miles of trails through woods, meadows and wetlands.
  • UMass Hockey. Mullins Center, Amherst. Northeastern on December 4–5, Boston University on January 9.
  • Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. South Deerfield. Indoor tropics for a gray day.

Links
Smith College Museum of Art: https://scma.smith.edu
Arcadia (Mass Audubon): https://www.massaudubon.org
UMass Athletics: https://umassathletics.com
Magic Wings: https://magicwings.com

Make a weekend of it at The Silo in Amherst: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Five reasons to get out of the house this winter, from color on the walls to cheering at the rink.

In this episode

  • Alma Thomas: Composing Color. Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Free admission. Through January 10.
  • Windborne: Music for Midwinter. Bombyx, Florence. Wednesday, December 9, 7 pm.
  • Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Easthampton/Northampton. Four miles of trails through woods, meadows and wetlands.
  • UMass Hockey. Mullins Center, Amherst. Northeastern on December 4–5, Boston University on January 9.
  • Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. South Deerfield. Indoor tropics for a gray day.

Links
Smith College Museum of Art: https://scma.smith.edu
Arcadia (Mass Audubon): https://www.massaudubon.org
UMass Athletics: https://umassathletics.com
Magic Wings: https://magicwings.com

Make a weekend of it at The Silo in Amherst: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:36:07 -0500 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 252 Five reasons to get out of the house this winter, from color on the walls to cheering at the rink.

In this episode

  • Alma Thomas: Composing Color. Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Free admission. Through January 10.
  • Windborne: Music for Midwinter. Bombyx, Florence. Wednesday, December 9, 7 pm.
  • Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Easthampton/Northampton. Four miles of trails through woods, meadows and wetlands.
  • UMass Hockey. Mullins Center, Amherst. Northeastern on December 4–5, Boston University on January 9.
  • Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. South Deerfield. Indoor tropics for a gray day.

Links
Smith College Museum of Art: https://scma.smith.edu
Arcadia (Mass Audubon): https://www.massaudubon.org
UMass Athletics: https://umassathletics.com
Magic Wings: https://magicwings.com

Make a weekend of it at The Silo in Amherst: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No A Snow Day Your Way: Downhill, Cross-Country & an Amherst Evening 11 11 A Snow Day Your Way: Downhill, Cross-Country & an Amherst Evening bonus b3d0a30a-4665-4e06-b7ee-fcb5a7ab111c https://share.transistor.fm/s/3ba328c8 One mountain makes its own electricity. One trail system sits above 2,000 feet in red spruce forest. And at the end of the day there’s a nonprofit cinema in Amherst.

Choose your snow day. Ski downhill at family-run Berkshire East, where a wind turbine and a solar field power the lifts. Or go quiet at Notchview in Windsor, with groomed cross-country trails and snowshoe routes on an old hill farm. Then trade the cold for a film at Amherst Cinema and dinner downtown.

Come back to The Silo, a converted silo turned private circular suite on the edge of farmland near UMass. Warm up, kick off your boots, and compare runs.

Snow dependent, so check conditions before you go.

Links
Berkshire East: https://berkshireeast.com
Notchview (The Trustees): https://thetrustees.org/place/notchview/
Amherst Cinema: https://amherstcinema.org
Book your stay at The Silo: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> One mountain makes its own electricity. One trail system sits above 2,000 feet in red spruce forest. And at the end of the day there’s a nonprofit cinema in Amherst.

Choose your snow day. Ski downhill at family-run Berkshire East, where a wind turbine and a solar field power the lifts. Or go quiet at Notchview in Windsor, with groomed cross-country trails and snowshoe routes on an old hill farm. Then trade the cold for a film at Amherst Cinema and dinner downtown.

Come back to The Silo, a converted silo turned private circular suite on the edge of farmland near UMass. Warm up, kick off your boots, and compare runs.

Snow dependent, so check conditions before you go.

Links
Berkshire East: https://berkshireeast.com
Notchview (The Trustees): https://thetrustees.org/place/notchview/
Amherst Cinema: https://amherstcinema.org
Book your stay at The Silo: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:34:10 -0500 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 245 One mountain makes its own electricity. One trail system sits above 2,000 feet in red spruce forest. And at the end of the day there’s a nonprofit cinema in Amherst.

Choose your snow day. Ski downhill at family-run Berkshire East, where a wind turbine and a solar field power the lifts. Or go quiet at Notchview in Windsor, with groomed cross-country trails and snowshoe routes on an old hill farm. Then trade the cold for a film at Amherst Cinema and dinner downtown.

Come back to The Silo, a converted silo turned private circular suite on the edge of farmland near UMass. Warm up, kick off your boots, and compare runs.

Snow dependent, so check conditions before you go.

Links
Berkshire East: https://berkshireeast.com
Notchview (The Trustees): https://thetrustees.org/place/notchview/
Amherst Cinema: https://amherstcinema.org
Book your stay at The Silo: https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No November 9–15: Dickinson's Scandalous Editor, a Sculpture You Can Step Inside & Letters Before Fame 10 10 November 9–15: Dickinson's Scandalous Editor, a Sculpture You Can Step Inside & Letters Before Fame full 9b40749c-5a6b-48cd-9a0c-f217b3dd92aa https://share.transistor.fm/s/189db3ed Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 9–15 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: how did the woman who first brought Emily Dickinson's poems to the world also become a painter of flowers and the talk of Amherst?

Tuesday, Nov 10, 5:30–7:30 PM — Opening reception for The Preferred Flower: Paintings by Mabel Loomis Todd, Emily Dickinson Museum and Amherst History Center. Remarks at 6, free shuttle between the two. Free: https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/opening-reception-the-preferred-flower/

Tuesday, Nov 10, 7 PM — Poet Ama Codjoe, Weinstein Auditorium, Smith College, Northampton. Open to the public: https://scma.smith.edu/calendar/boutelle-day-poetry-center-presents-ama-codjoe-2026-cromwell-day-poet

Friday, Nov 13, 4:30–7 PM — Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 150th Anniversary Celebration, South Hadley. A cappella, a Glee Club premiere at 5:45, drawing and crafts for all ages. Free, RSVP optional: https://artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu/mhcam-event/mhcam-150th-anniversary-celebration/

Friday, Nov 13, 4–8 PM — Second Friday: Light, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Step inside Younes Rahmoun's sculpture Markaba, 5:30–6 PM only. Free: https://scma.smith.edu/novembersecondfriday

Saturday, Nov 14, 7:30 PM — Letters Aloud: Before They Were Famous, Academy of Music, Northampton. About $27 with fees: https://aomtheatre.com/aom_event/letters-aloud-before-they-were-famous/

Saturday, Nov 14, 8 PM — Endea Owens & The Cookout, Club B10, MASS MoCA, North Adams. $36 advance / $46 week-of: https://massmoca.org/event/endea-owens-the-cookout/

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 9–15 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: how did the woman who first brought Emily Dickinson's poems to the world also become a painter of flowers and the talk of Amherst?

Tuesday, Nov 10, 5:30–7:30 PM — Opening reception for The Preferred Flower: Paintings by Mabel Loomis Todd, Emily Dickinson Museum and Amherst History Center. Remarks at 6, free shuttle between the two. Free: https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/opening-reception-the-preferred-flower/

Tuesday, Nov 10, 7 PM — Poet Ama Codjoe, Weinstein Auditorium, Smith College, Northampton. Open to the public: https://scma.smith.edu/calendar/boutelle-day-poetry-center-presents-ama-codjoe-2026-cromwell-day-poet

Friday, Nov 13, 4:30–7 PM — Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 150th Anniversary Celebration, South Hadley. A cappella, a Glee Club premiere at 5:45, drawing and crafts for all ages. Free, RSVP optional: https://artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu/mhcam-event/mhcam-150th-anniversary-celebration/

Friday, Nov 13, 4–8 PM — Second Friday: Light, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Step inside Younes Rahmoun's sculpture Markaba, 5:30–6 PM only. Free: https://scma.smith.edu/novembersecondfriday

Saturday, Nov 14, 7:30 PM — Letters Aloud: Before They Were Famous, Academy of Music, Northampton. About $27 with fees: https://aomtheatre.com/aom_event/letters-aloud-before-they-were-famous/

Saturday, Nov 14, 8 PM — Endea Owens & The Cookout, Club B10, MASS MoCA, North Adams. $36 advance / $46 week-of: https://massmoca.org/event/endea-owens-the-cookout/

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:40:36 -0500 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 230 Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 9–15 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: how did the woman who first brought Emily Dickinson's poems to the world also become a painter of flowers and the talk of Amherst?

Tuesday, Nov 10, 5:30–7:30 PM — Opening reception for The Preferred Flower: Paintings by Mabel Loomis Todd, Emily Dickinson Museum and Amherst History Center. Remarks at 6, free shuttle between the two. Free: https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/opening-reception-the-preferred-flower/

Tuesday, Nov 10, 7 PM — Poet Ama Codjoe, Weinstein Auditorium, Smith College, Northampton. Open to the public: https://scma.smith.edu/calendar/boutelle-day-poetry-center-presents-ama-codjoe-2026-cromwell-day-poet

Friday, Nov 13, 4:30–7 PM — Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 150th Anniversary Celebration, South Hadley. A cappella, a Glee Club premiere at 5:45, drawing and crafts for all ages. Free, RSVP optional: https://artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu/mhcam-event/mhcam-150th-anniversary-celebration/

Friday, Nov 13, 4–8 PM — Second Friday: Light, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton. Step inside Younes Rahmoun's sculpture Markaba, 5:30–6 PM only. Free: https://scma.smith.edu/novembersecondfriday

Saturday, Nov 14, 7:30 PM — Letters Aloud: Before They Were Famous, Academy of Music, Northampton. About $27 with fees: https://aomtheatre.com/aom_event/letters-aloud-before-they-were-famous/

Saturday, Nov 14, 8 PM — Endea Owens & The Cookout, Club B10, MASS MoCA, North Adams. $36 advance / $46 week-of: https://massmoca.org/event/endea-owens-the-cookout/

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No November 2–8: A Theater Born on a Farm, Revolution in a Dress & a Big Band Centennial 9 9 November 2–8: A Theater Born on a Farm, Revolution in a Dress & a Big Band Centennial full b9a2f12e-4fb2-4259-b636-261e054eb215 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e0a4375 Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 2–8 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: why would a fashionable woman in 1774 proudly wear a plain, scratchy, homemade dress?

Thursday, Nov 5, 7–9 PM — Double Edge Presents: documentary screening and book talk with founder Stacy Klein, Shea Theater, Turners Falls: https://www.sheatheater.org/d/23336/Double-Edge-Presents:-Documentary-Screening-and-Book-Talk

Friday, Nov 6, 8 PM — Dead Man's Waltz (Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers, Watkins Glen style), Shea Theater, Turners Falls. $20 advance / $28 door: https://events.leapevents.com/event/DMW-shea-nov26

Saturday–Sunday, Nov 7–8, 10 AM–4 PM — Revolutionary War-era dressmaking and millinery with Emily Stringham, Hall Tavern, Historic Deerfield: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-millinery-revolutionary-war-era-fashion-and-dressmaking-with-emily-stringham/
Saturday, Nov 7 — Open-hearth baking day in the Hall Tavern kitchen: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/open-hearth-cooking-demonstration-baking-day/
Exhibition: Dressing the Revolution: Fashion and Politics 1760–1789: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/exhibitions/
Admission $20 adults: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/hours-admission/

Sunday, Nov 8, 2–4 PM — Forest Bathing with Todd Lynch, Hitchcock Center, Amherst. Sliding scale $18/$25/$35, register ahead: https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/programs/community-programs/

Sunday, Nov 8, 7:30 PM — UMass Jazz Ensemble I plays Gerald Wilson & Melba Liston (Liston's centennial), Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass Amherst. Free: https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/newly-added-jazz-ensemble-i-plays-music-gerald-wilson-melba-liston

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 2–8 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: why would a fashionable woman in 1774 proudly wear a plain, scratchy, homemade dress?

Thursday, Nov 5, 7–9 PM — Double Edge Presents: documentary screening and book talk with founder Stacy Klein, Shea Theater, Turners Falls: https://www.sheatheater.org/d/23336/Double-Edge-Presents:-Documentary-Screening-and-Book-Talk

Friday, Nov 6, 8 PM — Dead Man's Waltz (Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers, Watkins Glen style), Shea Theater, Turners Falls. $20 advance / $28 door: https://events.leapevents.com/event/DMW-shea-nov26

Saturday–Sunday, Nov 7–8, 10 AM–4 PM — Revolutionary War-era dressmaking and millinery with Emily Stringham, Hall Tavern, Historic Deerfield: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-millinery-revolutionary-war-era-fashion-and-dressmaking-with-emily-stringham/
Saturday, Nov 7 — Open-hearth baking day in the Hall Tavern kitchen: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/open-hearth-cooking-demonstration-baking-day/
Exhibition: Dressing the Revolution: Fashion and Politics 1760–1789: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/exhibitions/
Admission $20 adults: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/hours-admission/

Sunday, Nov 8, 2–4 PM — Forest Bathing with Todd Lynch, Hitchcock Center, Amherst. Sliding scale $18/$25/$35, register ahead: https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/programs/community-programs/

Sunday, Nov 8, 7:30 PM — UMass Jazz Ensemble I plays Gerald Wilson & Melba Liston (Liston's centennial), Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass Amherst. Free: https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/newly-added-jazz-ensemble-i-plays-music-gerald-wilson-melba-liston

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:31:38 -0500 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 263 Mark and Cassidy pick five ideas for November 2–8 in Western Massachusetts, starting with a question: why would a fashionable woman in 1774 proudly wear a plain, scratchy, homemade dress?

Thursday, Nov 5, 7–9 PM — Double Edge Presents: documentary screening and book talk with founder Stacy Klein, Shea Theater, Turners Falls: https://www.sheatheater.org/d/23336/Double-Edge-Presents:-Documentary-Screening-and-Book-Talk

Friday, Nov 6, 8 PM — Dead Man's Waltz (Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers, Watkins Glen style), Shea Theater, Turners Falls. $20 advance / $28 door: https://events.leapevents.com/event/DMW-shea-nov26

Saturday–Sunday, Nov 7–8, 10 AM–4 PM — Revolutionary War-era dressmaking and millinery with Emily Stringham, Hall Tavern, Historic Deerfield: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-millinery-revolutionary-war-era-fashion-and-dressmaking-with-emily-stringham/
Saturday, Nov 7 — Open-hearth baking day in the Hall Tavern kitchen: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/open-hearth-cooking-demonstration-baking-day/
Exhibition: Dressing the Revolution: Fashion and Politics 1760–1789: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/exhibitions/
Admission $20 adults: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/hours-admission/

Sunday, Nov 8, 2–4 PM — Forest Bathing with Todd Lynch, Hitchcock Center, Amherst. Sliding scale $18/$25/$35, register ahead: https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/programs/community-programs/

Sunday, Nov 8, 7:30 PM — UMass Jazz Ensemble I plays Gerald Wilson & Melba Liston (Liston's centennial), Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass Amherst. Free: https://www.umass.edu/music-dance/events/newly-added-jazz-ensemble-i-plays-music-gerald-wilson-melba-liston

Details can change — check each link before you go. More ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst: thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No October 26–November 1: A Masquerade, a Rare Reunion & That Mystery Rock 8 8 October 26–November 1: A Masquerade, a Rare Reunion & That Mystery Rock full 13366b57-9989-4da4-b72f-d241302c9a37 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a78eadb7 Halloween week in Western Mass, five ways: a masquerade reception at Forbes Library's Hosmer Gallery (Wed, Oct 28), pumpkins after dark at Look Park's Allura (select nights through Nov 1), a rare reunion show from Cordelia's Dad — the only band to play with both Doc Watson and Nirvana — in Deerfield (Fri, Oct 30), candle and broom making at Historic Deerfield (Sat, Oct 31), and Identify It Day at Amherst College's Beneski Museum, where experts tell you what that mystery rock really is (Sun, Nov 1).

Details change — check each organizer before you go.

Forbes Library gallery: https://forbeslibrary.org/gallery/
Look Park Allura: https://lookallura.com
Cordelia's Dad: https://www.timeriksenmusic.com/
Historic Deerfield candle making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-candle-making-with-garine-arakelian/
Historic Deerfield broom making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-demonstration-sweeping-in-broom-making-is-back/
Beneski Museum: https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory

More local ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com
Presented by The Silo Amherst: https://www.thesiloamherst.com

]]> Halloween week in Western Mass, five ways: a masquerade reception at Forbes Library's Hosmer Gallery (Wed, Oct 28), pumpkins after dark at Look Park's Allura (select nights through Nov 1), a rare reunion show from Cordelia's Dad — the only band to play with both Doc Watson and Nirvana — in Deerfield (Fri, Oct 30), candle and broom making at Historic Deerfield (Sat, Oct 31), and Identify It Day at Amherst College's Beneski Museum, where experts tell you what that mystery rock really is (Sun, Nov 1).

Details change — check each organizer before you go.

Forbes Library gallery: https://forbeslibrary.org/gallery/
Look Park Allura: https://lookallura.com
Cordelia's Dad: https://www.timeriksenmusic.com/
Historic Deerfield candle making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-candle-making-with-garine-arakelian/
Historic Deerfield broom making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-demonstration-sweeping-in-broom-making-is-back/
Beneski Museum: https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory

More local ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com
Presented by The Silo Amherst: https://www.thesiloamherst.com

]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2026 09:52:54 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 261 Halloween week in Western Mass, five ways: a masquerade reception at Forbes Library's Hosmer Gallery (Wed, Oct 28), pumpkins after dark at Look Park's Allura (select nights through Nov 1), a rare reunion show from Cordelia's Dad — the only band to play with both Doc Watson and Nirvana — in Deerfield (Fri, Oct 30), candle and broom making at Historic Deerfield (Sat, Oct 31), and Identify It Day at Amherst College's Beneski Museum, where experts tell you what that mystery rock really is (Sun, Nov 1).

Details change — check each organizer before you go.

Forbes Library gallery: https://forbeslibrary.org/gallery/
Look Park Allura: https://lookallura.com
Cordelia's Dad: https://www.timeriksenmusic.com/
Historic Deerfield candle making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/historic-trade-demonstration-candle-making-with-garine-arakelian/
Historic Deerfield broom making: https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-demonstration-sweeping-in-broom-making-is-back/
Beneski Museum: https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory

More local ideas: https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com
Presented by The Silo Amherst: https://www.thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No The Falcons Above UMass: Peregrines in Amherst 7 7 The Falcons Above UMass: Peregrines in Amherst full 217091f9-6a39-47f3-9435-181221ea01c2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/32e549bd Look up when you’re walking through UMass Amherst and you may spot one of the area’s most remarkable residents: a peregrine falcon.

Mark and Cassidy explore the peregrines that have made the UMass campus part of their territory—and the surprising story behind one of the fastest animals on Earth.

It’s a reminder that some of Western Massachusetts’ best discoveries aren’t necessarily places you set out to visit. Sometimes they're hiding in plain sight—or right above you.

In this episode: UMass Amherst • Peregrine falcons • Amherst • Wildlife • Birding

Planning time in Western Mass? Explore more local discoveries, events and ideas with www.ThingstoDoinWesternMass.com

]]> Look up when you’re walking through UMass Amherst and you may spot one of the area’s most remarkable residents: a peregrine falcon.

Mark and Cassidy explore the peregrines that have made the UMass campus part of their territory—and the surprising story behind one of the fastest animals on Earth.

It’s a reminder that some of Western Massachusetts’ best discoveries aren’t necessarily places you set out to visit. Sometimes they're hiding in plain sight—or right above you.

In this episode: UMass Amherst • Peregrine falcons • Amherst • Wildlife • Birding

Planning time in Western Mass? Explore more local discoveries, events and ideas with www.ThingstoDoinWesternMass.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:49:12 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 253 Look up when you’re walking through UMass Amherst and you may spot one of the area’s most remarkable residents: a peregrine falcon.

Mark and Cassidy explore the peregrines that have made the UMass campus part of their territory—and the surprising story behind one of the fastest animals on Earth.

It’s a reminder that some of Western Massachusetts’ best discoveries aren’t necessarily places you set out to visit. Sometimes they're hiding in plain sight—or right above you.

In this episode: UMass Amherst • Peregrine falcons • Amherst • Wildlife • Birding

Planning time in Western Mass? Explore more local discoveries, events and ideas with www.ThingstoDoinWesternMass.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No Things to Do in Western Mass: October 19–26, 2026 4 4 Things to Do in Western Mass: October 19–26, 2026 full 0e528d05-1052-45d5-85a0-c852054e237a https://share.transistor.fm/s/5b6ce29c Two unexpected discoveries for October 19–25, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for stories written in stone—from carved memorials in Historic Deerfield to prehistoric footprints in Holyoke.

At Historic Deerfield’s Graveyards and Gravestones event on October 24, explore gravestone carving, a talk by John Hanson, and guided visits to the Old Burying Ground. Then discover Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke, where ancient tracks are preserved in sandstone.

Event details and admission:
https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-all-day-event-graveyards-and-gravestones/

Dinosaur Footprints visitor information:
https://thetrustees.org/place/dinosaur-footprints/

Check current schedules, admission, and site conditions before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Two unexpected discoveries for October 19–25, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for stories written in stone—from carved memorials in Historic Deerfield to prehistoric footprints in Holyoke.

At Historic Deerfield’s Graveyards and Gravestones event on October 24, explore gravestone carving, a talk by John Hanson, and guided visits to the Old Burying Ground. Then discover Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke, where ancient tracks are preserved in sandstone.

Event details and admission:
https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-all-day-event-graveyards-and-gravestones/

Dinosaur Footprints visitor information:
https://thetrustees.org/place/dinosaur-footprints/

Check current schedules, admission, and site conditions before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:23:13 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 150 Two unexpected discoveries for October 19–25, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for stories written in stone—from carved memorials in Historic Deerfield to prehistoric footprints in Holyoke.

At Historic Deerfield’s Graveyards and Gravestones event on October 24, explore gravestone carving, a talk by John Hanson, and guided visits to the Old Burying Ground. Then discover Dinosaur Footprints in Holyoke, where ancient tracks are preserved in sandstone.

Event details and admission:
https://www.historic-deerfield.org/events/special-all-day-event-graveyards-and-gravestones/

Dinosaur Footprints visitor information:
https://thetrustees.org/place/dinosaur-footprints/

Check current schedules, admission, and site conditions before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No Things to Do in Western Mass: October 5–11, 2026 3 3 Things to Do in Western Mass: October 5–11, 2026 full 188e8370-d469-49d7-8895-3ee99a3830d4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c2bc713e Five ideas for October 5–11, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, Ashfield’s Fall Festival, a mushroom class at Mount Toby, ghost stories at the Smith College Museum of Art, and carving and furniture-making demonstrations at Historic Deerfield.

Whether you’re planning a fall visit or looking for something different nearby, this episode offers a mix of art, local traditions, nature, and craftsmanship.

Check organizer details, admission, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Five ideas for October 5–11, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, Ashfield’s Fall Festival, a mushroom class at Mount Toby, ghost stories at the Smith College Museum of Art, and carving and furniture-making demonstrations at Historic Deerfield.

Whether you’re planning a fall visit or looking for something different nearby, this episode offers a mix of art, local traditions, nature, and craftsmanship.

Check organizer details, admission, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:22:57 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 273 Five ideas for October 5–11, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, Ashfield’s Fall Festival, a mushroom class at Mount Toby, ghost stories at the Smith College Museum of Art, and carving and furniture-making demonstrations at Historic Deerfield.

Whether you’re planning a fall visit or looking for something different nearby, this episode offers a mix of art, local traditions, nature, and craftsmanship.

Check organizer details, admission, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No Things to Do in Western Mass: October 12–18, 2026 5 5 Things to Do in Western Mass: October 12–18, 2026 full 8bb101f5-e79b-4155-bf8b-7147c508a886 https://share.transistor.fm/s/76562b80 Four ideas for October 12–18, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for fall photography at the Quabbin with John Green, Steely Beck at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Hitchcock Harvest in Amherst, and Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations at the Eric Carle Museum.

A mix of outdoor discovery, live music, local food, and art—with an indoor option for a rainy fall day.

Event details and visitor information:

Quabbin photography outing:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/event/photographing-fall-foliage-at-the-quabbin/

Shea Theater:
https://sheatheater.org/

Hitchcock Harvest:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/hitchcock-harvest/

Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations:
https://carlemuseum.org/art-books/exhibitions/current-exhibition/eric-carles-modernist-inspirations

Confirm ticket availability and registration before making plans. For the Quabbin outing, ask the Hitchcock Center for the exact meeting point. Check museum hours for your chosen day.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Four ideas for October 12–18, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for fall photography at the Quabbin with John Green, Steely Beck at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Hitchcock Harvest in Amherst, and Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations at the Eric Carle Museum.

A mix of outdoor discovery, live music, local food, and art—with an indoor option for a rainy fall day.

Event details and visitor information:

Quabbin photography outing:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/event/photographing-fall-foliage-at-the-quabbin/

Shea Theater:
https://sheatheater.org/

Hitchcock Harvest:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/hitchcock-harvest/

Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations:
https://carlemuseum.org/art-books/exhibitions/current-exhibition/eric-carles-modernist-inspirations

Confirm ticket availability and registration before making plans. For the Quabbin outing, ask the Hitchcock Center for the exact meeting point. Check museum hours for your chosen day.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:22:41 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 233 Four ideas for October 12–18, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for fall photography at the Quabbin with John Green, Steely Beck at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Hitchcock Harvest in Amherst, and Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations at the Eric Carle Museum.

A mix of outdoor discovery, live music, local food, and art—with an indoor option for a rainy fall day.

Event details and visitor information:

Quabbin photography outing:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/event/photographing-fall-foliage-at-the-quabbin/

Shea Theater:
https://sheatheater.org/

Hitchcock Harvest:
https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/hitchcock-harvest/

Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations:
https://carlemuseum.org/art-books/exhibitions/current-exhibition/eric-carles-modernist-inspirations

Confirm ticket availability and registration before making plans. For the Quabbin outing, ask the Hitchcock Center for the exact meeting point. Check museum hours for your chosen day.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No Things to Do in Western Mass: September 28–October 4, 2026 2 2 Things to Do in Western Mass: September 28–October 4, 2026 full a401024d-a5e7-43d4-847a-5a2bfcc8f0c1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/95fd23f2 Five ideas for September 28–October 4, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for a little creativity, live music, close-up encounters with nature, and some unexpected local discoveries. Listen ahead to plan a visit, or find something different to do nearby.

Check organizer details, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Five ideas for September 28–October 4, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for a little creativity, live music, close-up encounters with nature, and some unexpected local discoveries. Listen ahead to plan a visit, or find something different to do nearby.

Check organizer details, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:22:16 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 252 Five ideas for September 28–October 4, 2026, from Things to Do in Western Mass.

Join Mark and Cassidy for a little creativity, live music, close-up encounters with nature, and some unexpected local discoveries. Listen ahead to plan a visit, or find something different to do nearby.

Check organizer details, registration requirements, and ticket availability before heading out.

Explore the local events calendar:
https://thingstodoinwesternmass.com

Presented by The Silo Amherst—a distinctive place to stay while exploring the area:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No An English Knight’s Parlor in Amherst? Discover the Mead Art Museum 6 6 An English Knight’s Parlor in Amherst? Discover the Mead Art Museum full 1340f6b5-8263-4df5-8bbd-db2f0c89a07a https://share.transistor.fm/s/65d431d9 How did an English knight’s parlor end up in Amherst, Massachusetts?

Join Mark and Cassidy for a visit to the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, where the Rotherwas Room’s journey leads from seventeenth-century England to a Fifth Avenue showroom—and eventually to a museum designed to accommodate it.

We also explore the story of the Mead’s ancient Assyrian stone reliefs, which were drawing curious visitors to the college long before the museum existed.

An indoor outing for a winter afternoon, a college visit, or a day spent discovering something unexpected close to home. Admission is free and open to the public, with downtown Amherst a few blocks away.

Plan your visit:
Check the museum’s current hours, gallery access, and parking information, especially around holidays.
https://www.amherst.edu/museums/mead/visit

Presented by The Silo Amherst.
Explore more local ideas and learn about staying at The Silo:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> How did an English knight’s parlor end up in Amherst, Massachusetts?

Join Mark and Cassidy for a visit to the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, where the Rotherwas Room’s journey leads from seventeenth-century England to a Fifth Avenue showroom—and eventually to a museum designed to accommodate it.

We also explore the story of the Mead’s ancient Assyrian stone reliefs, which were drawing curious visitors to the college long before the museum existed.

An indoor outing for a winter afternoon, a college visit, or a day spent discovering something unexpected close to home. Admission is free and open to the public, with downtown Amherst a few blocks away.

Plan your visit:
Check the museum’s current hours, gallery access, and parking information, especially around holidays.
https://www.amherst.edu/museums/mead/visit

Presented by The Silo Amherst.
Explore more local ideas and learn about staying at The Silo:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:20:40 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 193 How did an English knight’s parlor end up in Amherst, Massachusetts?

Join Mark and Cassidy for a visit to the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, where the Rotherwas Room’s journey leads from seventeenth-century England to a Fifth Avenue showroom—and eventually to a museum designed to accommodate it.

We also explore the story of the Mead’s ancient Assyrian stone reliefs, which were drawing curious visitors to the college long before the museum existed.

An indoor outing for a winter afternoon, a college visit, or a day spent discovering something unexpected close to home. Admission is free and open to the public, with downtown Amherst a few blocks away.

Plan your visit:
Check the museum’s current hours, gallery access, and parking information, especially around holidays.
https://www.amherst.edu/museums/mead/visit

Presented by The Silo Amherst.
Explore more local ideas and learn about staying at The Silo:
https://thesiloamherst.com

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No Things to Do in Western Mass: September 21–27, 2026 1 1 Things to Do in Western Mass: September 21–27, 2026 full 87418ad1-fac4-4ab8-bd8f-7fcd4e06ffd4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/15e46bfc If you’re wondering what to do in Western Massachusetts this week, there’s indie rock, intimate folk, a full weekend of jazz in downtown Northampton, a mountaintop hawk watch, and even a nighttime hike beneath the full moon.

In this episode, we explore some of the most interesting things happening September 21–27, including the Northampton Jazz Festival and Jazz Strut, live music at the Iron Horse, Parlor Room and The Drake, the Amherst Farmers Market, hawk watching at the Summit House at Skinner State Park, UMass events, a Full Moon Hike in Sylvan Woods, and the Yiddish Book Center’s Yiddish: A Global Culture.

These are just a few of this week’s highlights. For the complete filterable calendar—with dozens of events, direct organizer links, and options organized by week and activity type—visit ThingsToDoInWesternMass.com.

Event details can change, so please confirm times, tickets and availability directly with organizers.

Things to Do in Western Mass is presented by The Silo Amherst.

]]> If you’re wondering what to do in Western Massachusetts this week, there’s indie rock, intimate folk, a full weekend of jazz in downtown Northampton, a mountaintop hawk watch, and even a nighttime hike beneath the full moon.

In this episode, we explore some of the most interesting things happening September 21–27, including the Northampton Jazz Festival and Jazz Strut, live music at the Iron Horse, Parlor Room and The Drake, the Amherst Farmers Market, hawk watching at the Summit House at Skinner State Park, UMass events, a Full Moon Hike in Sylvan Woods, and the Yiddish Book Center’s Yiddish: A Global Culture.

These are just a few of this week’s highlights. For the complete filterable calendar—with dozens of events, direct organizer links, and options organized by week and activity type—visit ThingsToDoInWesternMass.com.

Event details can change, so please confirm times, tickets and availability directly with organizers.

Things to Do in Western Mass is presented by The Silo Amherst.

]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:32:13 -0400 Things to Do in Western Mass Things to Do in Western Mass 288 If you’re wondering what to do in Western Massachusetts this week, there’s indie rock, intimate folk, a full weekend of jazz in downtown Northampton, a mountaintop hawk watch, and even a nighttime hike beneath the full moon.

In this episode, we explore some of the most interesting things happening September 21–27, including the Northampton Jazz Festival and Jazz Strut, live music at the Iron Horse, Parlor Room and The Drake, the Amherst Farmers Market, hawk watching at the Summit House at Skinner State Park, UMass events, a Full Moon Hike in Sylvan Woods, and the Yiddish Book Center’s Yiddish: A Global Culture.

These are just a few of this week’s highlights. For the complete filterable calendar—with dozens of events, direct organizer links, and options organized by week and activity type—visit ThingsToDoInWesternMass.com.

Event details can change, so please confirm times, tickets and availability directly with organizers.

Things to Do in Western Mass is presented by The Silo Amherst.

]]> Western Massachusetts, Western Mass, Pioneer Valley, Amherst Massachusetts, Northampton Massachusetts, things to do, local events, day trips, arts and culture, New England travel No