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Learn Local. Play Local.
The final days of October are stirring up more than ghosts and goblins across Western Massachusetts. Curiosity and imagination are running wild, too! Beyond the excitement of costumes and trick-or-treating, the season offers unexpected learning opportunities. At Amelia Park Children’s Museum in Westfield and the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Halloween-inspired science experiments turn bubbling concoctions into STEM lessons about chemical reactions. Meanwhile, Halloween at the Clark in Williamstown invites families to explore how artists use supernatural imagery to tell stories. The Kids Monsters Ball in South Hadley lets children experience the excitement of orchestral music, while a Halloween Hike on the Mount Holyoke Range in Amherst encourages curiosity about the remarkable adaptations of local wildlife. Turns out, Halloween is full of more tricks than treats, especially when it comes to learning!
Beyond the spooky fun, Halloween brings communities together through traditions passed down through generations. Across the region, Rag Shag parades fill neighborhood streets with a wonderfully chaotic assortment of goblins, superheroes, dinosaurs, and whatever else the kids dreamed up this year. It’s a colorful local tradition where creativity takes center stage, and nobody needs to march in a straight line. At the Monster Mash Family Dance Party in Great Barrington, little monsters can show off their moves alongside parents and grandparents, while the Pumpkin Stroll After Dark transforms Springfield’s Forest Park into a glowing display of grinning and grimacing jack-o’-lanterns. Someday, these same kids might be the parents trying to keep up with a runaway dinosaur or a sugar-fueled superhero.
October gives way to November, and as the glow of jack-o’-lanterns fades, it invites us to slow down and remember those who came before us. Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday with its own history and meaning, honors the people and pets we’ve lost, keeping their memories alive through cherished traditions. At the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, a Day of the Dead altar displays photographs and meaningful offerings that honor the lives and memories of those who have died. A Day of the Dead celebration at Meekins Library in Williamsburg explores the meaning behind these traditions and invites families to reflect on those who have shaped their lives. At UMass Amherst, Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure! follows 12-year-old Vita Flores on a colorful musical journey that introduces young audiences to the meaning and traditions of Día de Muertos. At MASS MoCA in North Adams, Ballet Nepantla combines Mexican folklórico with classical and contemporary ballet to tell stories about ancestry and cultural roots. Together, these celebrations show how art, music, dance, food, and remembrance can carry stories across generations, inviting us to hold our memories close and appreciate the lasting connections we share with those who are no longer with us.
Discover more events in our list of
Weekly Suggested Events:
Thurs, October 29 | Fri, October 30 | Sat, October 31 | Sun, November 1 | Mon, Novermber 2 | Tues, November 3 | Wed, November 4 | Thurs, November 5 | Fri, November 6
| | HILLTOWN FAMILIES FEATURED SPONSORS | | FEATURED EVENTS, RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE IN WESTERN MA! | |
FEATURED EVENT
Beetlejuice JR.
Northampton, MA | The Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton will present Beetlejuice JR. on Oct 29 & 30, offering families the chance to enjoy a musical about Lydia Deetz, a teenager who learns to face new adventures in a haunted house. | | | The Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery's 6th Annual Holiday Arts Market takes place in North Amherst on Nov 7, featuring over 40 local makers with handmade goods and gifts. Enjoy free gourmet s'mores, donate winter items to support the Amherst Survival Center, and experience a family-friendly outdoor event with accessible amenities. | | | Celebrate Día de Muertos with UMass Fine Arts Center's Sunday matinee, Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure! Join 12-year-old Vita Flores and a candy skeleton on a musical journey exploring Mexico's traditions. November 8, 2026, 3pm, Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst. | | | Teens in rural Western Massachusetts are invited to apply for the Our Voices Project, a new regional task force on relationship health and violence prevention. Up to 35 high-school-aged teens will receive expert training, connect with peers, and help develop school prevention programs. Participants build leadership skills and bring youth perspectives to healthy relationships and community safety. Stipends are available for participating teens and sponsoring adults. Apply by October 31. | | | Enjoy a Classic Halloween episode of Hilltown Family Variety Show featuring spooky songs, vintage commercials, and playful storytelling. Hear music from Ella Fitzgerald, The Who, and Recess Monkey, plus "This Is Halloween" and more for a nostalgic holiday soundtrack. | | | |
FEATURED SERVICE
GreenLove Eco Cleaning
Western MA
| GreenLove Eco Cleaning is a socially responsible cooperative business offering green cleaning services to homes and businesses across the Pioneer Valley. Hiring them means a toxin-free clean for your space and fair-wage jobs for your neighbors. Their Postpar tum Support Program also helps families with newborns during the fourth trimester. | | | Celebrate outdoors at Hilltown Land Trust’s Gorge après Gorge 5K Trail Run and Family Fun Walk on Sunday, November 29 at Chesterfield Gorge. Enjoy a walk, kids’ run, 5K race, hot drinks, a potluck, handmade hats for winners, cookie medals for all, and new prizes for kids this year. Fun for all ages. | | | | HILLTOWN FAMILIES YEARLY SPONSORS | | FEATURED EVENTS, CLASSES, SCHOOLS, & MORE IN WESTERN MA! | |
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley offers free, arts-focused education for grades 7-12. With concentrations in Music, Theater, Dance, Visual Arts, and Technical Design, all MA students are welcome to apply. No audition or tuition required. Find your artistic voice at PVPA! | | | |  |
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FEATURED SCHOOL
Campus School of Smith College
Northampton, MA
| The Campus School of Smith College provides an innovative K-6 education in Northampton, where students benefit from exceptional resources that inspire curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Families can learn more about the school by scheduling a tour or attending the Fall Open House on Thursday, Nov 19, from 8:30-10:30am. | | | |
FEATURED SCHOOL
Simon's Rock at Bard College
Barrytown, NY | Simon's Rock at Bard College is an early college in Barrytown, NY, where high school-aged students can begin full-time college studies and earn a Bard College B.A. earlier than usual. The school offers both boarding and day options. | | | | |
FEATURED SCHOOL
The Bement School
Deerfield, MA | The Bement School in Deerfield, founded in 1925, is a day and boarding school for kindergarten through grade 9 with 225 students. Known for its rigorous academics and caring, multinational community, Bement integrates arts and athletics daily and values kindness, curiosity, and compassion. Financial aid is available, and applications for fall 2027 are open. | | | |
Make room in the week for stories, play, and time together. Hilltown Families’ guide to Playgroups & Storytimes in Western Massachusetts brings together recurring opportunities for young children and their caregivers across the region. Storytimes introduce children to books, language, rhythm, and storytelling, while playgroups offer space for movement, imaginative play, social connection, and hands-on discovery. These welcoming community gatherings can also help caregivers meet other families and become familiar with local libraries, family centers, and neighborhood resources. Whether looking for a weekly outing or new places to explore together, discover playgroups and storytimes happening throughout the four counties of Western Mass. | | | | HILLTOWN FAMILIES ANNUAL DIRECTORIES | | HILLTOWN FAMILIES ANNUAL SPONSORS | |
Halloween offers many learning opportunities for the curious. You can explore its history through traditions like trick-or-treating and local haunted places. Arts and crafts enthusiasts can create piñatas, origami ghosts, and costume designs. Additionally, Halloween encourages community service, science experiments, language arts, food science, mythology, and more. | | | | |
Día de los Muertos offers a meaningful entry point for exploring ancestry, tradition, and artistic expression. From colorful altars and sugar skulls to the scent of Pan de Muerto, this holiday blends remembrance with creativity. Celebrated from October 31 to November 2, it opens opportunities for learning in culinary arts, social studies, and visual design through hands-on traditions that honor loved ones and cultural heritage. | | | |
As we change the clocks, let's explore the intriguing history of daylight saving time. This practice is closely linked to human history, and understanding the reasons for the changes in sunlight can provide valuable insights into history, economics, and horology, the study of time. | | | | |
As November ushers in the chill, it also brings National American Indian Heritage Month, a warm celebration of the first peoples of this land. Initially, this celebration was a one-day event to recognize the contributions of the first Americans to the development of the United States. | | | |
What can baking bread and making butter teach us? From food chemistry to global traditions, these kitchen activities support multidisciplinary learning across science, art, history, and culture. A simple loaf becomes a portal to taste, tradition, and inquiry. | | | | |
After the first frost, cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage appear at local markets, their flavors sweetened by the cold. Cooking them together highlights how the season changes their taste and texture. | | | | |
🎶📻 HFVS Vintage Halloween Episode
Revisit Halloween 2009 with this oldie-but-goodie episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show! Producer Sienna Wildfield, who launched the show in 2006 with her then-four-year-old daughter on Valley Free Radio in Northampton, spins a playful mix of spooky songs, vintage commercials, and Halloween storytelling. Featuring music from Ella Fitzgerald, The Who, Recess Monkey, and other favorites, this classic episode celebrates Halloween across generations. Families can follow their curiosity beyond the music by exploring the folklore behind familiar Halloween creatures and discovering how spooky stories and traditions have changed over time. Listen to the extended episode!
Every Saturday, listen to the Hilltown Family Variety Show either on your FM dial at 103.3FM WXOJ (Northampton, MA) or on our website for a full hour of commercial-free, quality family programming! Encores air Sunday mornings from 7-8am.
Hilltown Families eNewsletter subscribers are invited to an exclusive preview each week!
➡️ Click here for a speak preview of this weekend's episode. ⬅️
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Celebrate CiderDays across Franklin County with tastings, farm tours, and workshops that highlight orchard traditions. Visitors learn how apples connect food, farms, and culture, showing how seasonal harvests root communities in shared history and regional flavors. | | | |
A demonstration at Hopkins Memorial Forest in Williamstown teaches about northern saw-whet owls and the bird banding process. Researchers record each owl's data to study migration patterns, and if they catch an owl, participants can watch it being measured, banded, and released. | | | |
Vita Flores embarks on a magical journey in "Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure," discovering the meaning behind her family's Day of the Dead traditions. Families can attend this bilingual musical at UMass Amherst and learn how Día de Muertos celebrates loved ones with both joy and remembrance. | | | | What is Hilltown Families? | | | Hilltown Families’ mission is to support the common good of our community through the development of a sense of place by a shared understanding in the value of self-directed learning through community engagement. These learning values are referred to as “community-based education” and are accessible and inclusive to an intergenerational audience. This process of learning unites community members through shared interests, establishes a shared history, and deepens a connection to place. | | Your finacial support keeps Hilltown Families freely shared and community-driven after 20 years of service. We’re grateful for your help in continuing this work. | | |
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Ashfield, Bernardston, Chester, Deerfield, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Lee, Leyden, Mount Washington, Orange, Plainfield, Richmond, South Hadley, Washington, Westhampton, and West Springfield Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
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