Annual Events

Festivals, fairs, carnivals, garden tours, craft shows, music events and much more make Western Mass an interesting area to visit any time of year. Check ExploreWesternMASS.com

for more events.

JUNE

Springfield Annual Dragon Boat Races & Festival

Join the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club and Springfield Dragon Rays as they host the 9th Annual Springfield Dragon Boat Festival at North Riverfront Park.

pvriverfront.org

JULY

Brimfield Outdoor Antique Show

The largest gathering of antiques and collectibles dealers in the world. 6-day shows begin the 2nd Tuesday of each May & July. September dates may vary.

brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com Star Spangled Springfield

Star Spangled Springfield celebrates Independence Day with family-friendly entertainment, a flyover by the 104th Fighter Wing, and a dazzling fireworks display. Held at Riverfront Park. Spiritofspringfield.org

The Wick 388 Motocross

Home to Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 46 Powder Mill Rd, Southwick. thewick338.com

Yidstock

Annual festival of new Yiddish music. Rain or shine—at the Yiddish Book Center, Amherst. yiddishbookcenter.org

The Springfield Armory Big Band Concert

Bring a chair, dust off those dancing shoes and join them outside on their historic grounds for an evening of swing music.

nps.gov/spar/index

AUGUST

Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival

A free event with music, theater, dance, arts & crafts, educational workshops, and local culinary offerings. This annual celebration brings thousands of people together in Downtown Springfield. springfieldjazzfest.com

SEPTEMBER

Mike’s Maze

Large themed corn maze on a working farm at the foot of Mount Sugarloaf, visitors enjoy gorgeous views of the New England foliage. Runs through the fall. MikesMaze.com

Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair

Held on the beautiful grounds surrounding Memorial Hall Museum. Rain or shine. One of the best craft fairs in America, this show features over 200 juried exhibitors.

deerfield-craft.org

Three County Fair

One of the longest consecutive running agricultural fairs in the country. Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton.

threecountyfair.com

Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement

Meet the Class of 2022 at their Enshrinement Weekend. Springfield. hoophall.com

Mattoon Street Arts Festival

100 craft and art exhibitors, food vendors, and strolling musicians. Mattoon St., Springfield. mattoonfestival.org

The Big E

Mardi Gras parade, circus, live entertainment, animals, crafts and food. Gates open at 8 a.m. Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield. thebige.com

OCTOBER

Six Flags Frightfest

Weekends. The park transforms into a fright-filled environment with walk-through attractions, scary shows and thrill rides that make the most of the season. Six Flags New England, Agawam. sixflags.com/newengland

NOVEMBER

Bright Nights at Forest Park

400 pieces illuminated by 650,000 colorful bulbs along the nearly three-mile drive through Springfield’s enchanted forest. Open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Forest Park, Springfield.

brightnights.org

The annual award-winning event rated as the number one Holiday Craft Fair in Massachusetts by Yankee Magazine! Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield.

deerfield-craft.org

Six Flags New England’s Holiday in the Park

The lights shining bright, the cocoa and s’mores toasty hot, and the sleighs of the thrilling rides zooming as fast as Santa’s. Weekends (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Six Flags New England, Agawam.

sixflags.com/newengland

Springfield Parade of the Big Balloons

Springfield will be filled with people, bands, motorized contingents, huge colorful balloon characters and much more the day after Thanksgiving, as the Spirit of Springfield launches the annual Parade of the Big Balloons. Downtown Springfield.

spiritofspringfield.org Connecticut Trolley Museum, Winterfest and “The Tunnel of Lights”

Join your motormen in singing traditional Christmas carols as the trolley makes its way through the “Tunnel of Lights”. ct-trolley.org

Storrowton Village Yuletide

A festive, free weekend beautifully decorated buildings, entertainment, farm animals, kids’ activities, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and so much more! storrowtonvillage.com

JANUARY

Red Sox Winter Weekend

To mark the unofficial start of baseball season, the squad will first spend a winter weekend at MGM Springfield and the MassMutual Convention Center, meeting with fans, signing autographs and more!

mlb.com/redsox/fans/winter-weekend

HoopHall Classic and Jr. HoopHall Classic

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoophall Classic annually features the top high school players and teams from around the country. Springfield College.

hoophall.com

MARCH

Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration

Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss), was born in Springfield on March 2, 1904. A day full of family activities and an appearance by The Cat in the Hat. Springfield Museums, Springfield. springfieldmuseums.org

Old Deerfield Spring Craft Fair

The first-rate selection of artisans, charming location and other attractions has earned the Old Deerfield Craft Fair prestigious accolades. Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield.

deerfield-craft.org

Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The annual Parade has tens of thousands of marchers, 25-30 floats, 35 to 40 marching bands and more.

holyokestpatricksparade.com Patriot’s Day Revolutionary Muster & Parade

Rediscover the history behind the Patriot’s Day holiday and the “shot heard round the world.” Deerfield. historic-deerfield.org

MAY

Springfield Annual Pancake Breakfast

Celebrating the City’s birthday the “World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast” returns to Main Street in Downtown Springfield.

spiritofspringfield.org

Paradise City Arts Festival

Spend Memorial Day Weekend (and Columbus Day weekend) at Northampton’s award-winning Annual Paradise City Arts Festival. This is truly one of the most spectacular fairs of fine craft, painting and sculpture. paradisecityarts.com