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Learn Local. Play Local.
Wild turkeys scratch through fallen leaves, beavers stockpile branches for winter, and old stone walls reappear as the trees shed their last leaves across western Massachusetts. There’s plenty happening in the natural world before winter settles in! Wacky Wild Turkeys in Easthampton explores the fascinating behavior of these familiar birds, while Reading Massachusetts Forests reveals how centuries of farming and forest regrowth have shaped our landscape. In Russell, Recovering Histories of Native Lives and Native Doctors connects Indigenous knowledge of local plants and healing traditions to the region’s history. And as darkness arrives earlier each evening, Starlight Owl and Wildlife Prowl in Lenox invites us into the woods to learn how owls and other nocturnal animals navigate the night.
November’s harvest brings its own traditions to the table! CiderDays across Franklin County celebrates our apple-growing heritage, while the Potato Festival in Sunderland gives the humble potato its well-deserved moment in the spotlight. At Baking Day in Deerfield, sweet and savory pies offer a taste of early New England cooking, when preparing food meant knowing how to manage the heat of a wood-fired oven. Celebrate the Cranberry in Pittsfield explores Shaker food traditions through making seasonal preserves, while Three Sisters Chili in Chicopee connects a hearty autumn meal to generations of Indigenous agricultural knowledge.
As the days grow shorter and holiday preparations begin, local artisans open their doors, inviting us to discover the creativity happening right in our communities. Eastworks Open Studios in Easthampton, the Crafts of Colrain Open Studio Tour, Holiday Arts Market in North Amherst, Brushworks Open Studios in Florence, and The Seconds Sale at Snow Farm in Williamsburg offer chances to meet local artisans, learn about their creative processes, and find handmade holiday gifts. And the Fiber Festival of New England in West Springfield connects traditional skills with today’s fiber arts, from sheep shearing to spinning and weaving. With the changing landscape, harvest flavors, and our neighbors’ creativity, November offers plenty of ways to learn and connect with the people, places, and traditions that make western Massachusetts home.
Discover more events in our list of
Weekly Suggested Events:
Thurs, November 5 | Fri, November 6 | Sat, November 7 | Sun, November 8 | Mon, Novermber 9 | Tues, November 10 | Wed, November 11 | Thurs, November 12 | Fri, November 13
| | HILLTOWN FAMILIES FEATURED SPONSORS | | FEATURED EVENTS, RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE IN WESTERN MA! | |
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst fills November with stories and creativity. Moo-ment, an evening inspired by The Story of Ferdinand, brings games and hands-on art-making with live music on Thursday, Nov 5. Families can also catch a board book storytime that same day, plus an author reading with a Q&A and drawing demonstration on Nov 9. The Carle Bookshop's Annual Holiday Sale runs Nov 21-30. | | | 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. Nov 8, 2026, 3pm, Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst. | | | 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 outdoors at Hilltown Land Trust’s Gorge après Gorge 5K Trail Run and Family Fun Walk on Sunday, Nov 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. | | | FEATURED SCHOOL
Buxton School
Williamstown, MA | Buxton School in Williamstown is a gender-diverse day and boarding high school for grades 9-12, with a postgraduate fellowship program, on a 114-acre campus. Founded in 1928, it offers a progressive education where students take ownership of their learning and the arts are central. A culture of kindness and belonging gives students room to follow their curiosity and explore who they are. Admissions are rolling. | | | |
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. | | | | HILLTOWN FAMILIES YEARLY SPONSORS | | FEATURED EVENTS, CLASSES, SCHOOLS, & MORE IN WESTERN MA! | |
FEATURED SCHOOL
The Common School
Amherst, MA | The Common School in Amherst welcomes families to its Open House on Saturday, Nov 14, 10-11:30am. Tour classrooms, meet teachers, and explore the Reggio Emilia-inspired Nursery-6th Grade program. Children are encouraged to learn by doing in a close-knit community. Tuition assistance is available. | | | |  |
FEATURED SCHOOL
The Academy at Charlemont
Charlemont, MA | The Academy at Charlemont is an all-gender day school for grades 6-12, fostering joyful learning and active citizenship in Charlemont, MA. Small classes, diverse electives, and personalized advising help students become confident, engaged leaders. Information session on Nov 15 in Amherst. | | | |
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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. | | | | |
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! | | | |
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. | | | | |
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. | | | |
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 | |
Nothing captures the essence of November like the sweet aroma of apple and pumpkin butter simmering on the stove. Ready to spice up your fall? Gather local apples and pumpkins, cook with your family, and explore the spices used in apple and pumpkin pie, including their origins and cultural significance. | | | | |
Chrysanthemums beautifully herald the arrival of autumn in New England! They offer fantastic learning opportunities in botany, showcasing their unique photoperiodism and genetic diversity. Culturally, they're rich in traditions across the globe. Plus, their pest-repellent qualities enhance sustainable gardening practices. | | | |
Spread the love this November with National Peanut Butter Month, a celebration of everyone's favorite sticky, nutty treat! This versatile food can be used in many ways, making it a great opportunity to support learning across various subjects. | | | | |
What can a shuffle of cards or a roll of dice teach? Family game night turns fun into learning as kids and adults practice strategy, cooperation, patience, and problem-solving. Along the way, they build resilience, communication, and critical thinking, showing how play can nurture both skills and connection at home. | | | |
As November 11 approaches, we honor our veterans with the red, white, and blue. Veterans Day recognizes those who have served in the armed forces and marks the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. This day is especially significant in Massachusetts, reflecting our nation's history. | | | | |
Long before tweets and texts, humans were the original social network, connecting through the timeless art of storytelling. Early traditions used gestures and cave paintings to share narratives. In Indigenous Australian culture, storytelling connects people to the natural landscape. | | | | |
🎶📻 HFVS Express Yourself Episode with Guest DJ, Brighter Light Brigade
Guest DJs Amyliza de Jesus and Marla Vannucci of Brighter Light Brigade celebrate individuality and confidence in this Express Yourself episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show. Through songs about being different and navigating big emotions, along with Peter H. Reynolds’ story "The Dot", the episode explores the courage to be yourself and try something new. Families can follow their curiosity beyond the music by experimenting with how colors and shapes express different moods, discovering how the same song can inspire everything from a sunny landscape to a purple octopus on roller skates.
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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BalletX performs at Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall in UMass Amherst, showcasing how ballet can help audiences learn about history, science, and culture through movement. Each piece draws on unique inspirations, blending dance and storytelling to reveal new ways to understand the world. | | | |
MASS MoCA in North Adams hosts Family Night with art quests, face painting, and music. Kids and parents learn together in a lively mix of creativity and fun. | | | |
The Smith College Museum of Art's Second Friday event in Northampton invites families to make art, explore galleries, and find inspiration together. Participants learn from artists and each other as they experiment with their own creative ideas. | | | | 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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