Your guide to summer travel
By H annah Sampson
The Washington Post
Welcome to summer, when everyone and their uncle tries to get out and see new corners of the country or explore new parts of the world.
And sometimes, unfortunately, that uncle isn’t the most seasoned globe-trotter.
“Travel volume is significantly up in the summer, but especially the mix of travelers tends to be more sporadic vacation travelers who are less experienced,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the flight-shopping service Going.
“All of this sort of slows the system down so all the lines and everything take quite a bit longer.”
In addition to all the standard complications, this summer could bring some new wrinkles. Here’s what travelers should know.
Expect disruptions
Summer can be a miserable time to travel, with weather delays most common in July and crowds swelling to peak numbers.
Add days of massive disruptions at the busy Newark airport, due in part to factors that aren’t expected to resolve until June, and the result
could be an annoying beginning or end to a vacation.
Experts say travelers should take standard precautions for flying during busy travel stretches: choosing the first flight of the day when possible, carrying bags on instead of checking them and getting to the airport with plenty of time.
“I am such a big supporter of getting to the airport early, early, early,” said Christie Hudson, a spokesperson for Expedia Group.
This year, it might also be smart to avoid Newark Liberty International Airport for direct flights or connections if possible. Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt told The Washington Post this month that travelers might consider flying to or from other New York City-area airports, or landing in Philadelphia, then taking a train, bus or rental car to northern New Jersey.
“Less convenient, but it may ultimately be a bit more reliable,” Harteveldt said.
Hayley Berg, lead economist for the travel booking site Hopper, said air travelers should consider adding travel insurance that covers flight disruptions.
Festivals, fireworks & more
Your guide to summer fun in Western Mass.
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
Summer may not officially arrive until late next month, but Western Massachusetts residents can get a taste of what the warm months ahead have to offer as early as this weekend.
The Paradise City Arts Festival will fill the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton this Memorial Day weekend with more than 200 artists and crafters from across the country. The show, which for many is considered the unofficial start to summer, will run from May 24 to 26.
In the weeks that follow, the region will welcome everything from food festivals to fireworks, as well as live music and parades.
A scene from the 2024 Our Lady of Fatima Parish’s Festa celebration in Ludlow.
Here are some of the major events to look forward to this summer:
May
Free Music Fridays: The Eagles Experience, May 23 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield. mgmresorts.com
Chester On Track Festival: May 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., events all day at multiple locations across Chester, chesterontrack.com
Springfield Brick Convention: May 24-25, MassMutual Center in
Springfield, $15. Ultimate event for LEGO fans all ages. To purchase tickets, visit brickconvention. com/springfield
Sheep and Woolcraft Fair: May 24-25, Cummington Fairgrounds, free admission with cash-only parking, masheepwool.org
Wool Days: May 24-26, 9:30 a.m.5 p.m., Old Sturbridge Village. Included with daytime admission: $30 adults, $28 seniors (55+), $15 youth (4-17), $15 college students (with valid ID), and free for children 3 and under, osv.org/event/ wool-days/
A scene from a past Springfield Pride Parade. (PHOTO BY HEATHER RUSH)
31 years in Paradise City
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
PFrom left, this year’s
aradise City Arts Festival has always been a great experience for those who enjoy the fine arts and superior craftsmanship on display, and it has gotten even better each year with age, 31 years now to be exact.
Nurtured over the years by founders Linda Post and her husband Geoffrey Post — she is a painter, and he is a fiber artist — Paradise City, which will be held May 24-26 at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton, is beginning a new era with two additional team members at the helm.
What began in one building has grown over the decades into a world-class juried show with museum-quality master crafts and fine art from more than 200 exhibitors across the country. Today, the festival fills three large new buildings, an outdoor Sculpture Promenade, a 12,000 square-foot Festival Dining Tent, and the new activity-filled Paradise Pavilion, introduced last year along with other first-time features. Now, even more enhancements are promised for the future by Mariah Swanson, director of marketing, and Elana Chernick-Kritz, head of operations.
“As the Paradise City Arts Festival enters its fourth decade, it is still a living entity, always growing and open to changes and new ideas. This event has won numerous accolades and awards over the years for its innovative approach to the whole concept of an art and craft show. Geoff and I feel that it is time for us to step back a bit, to make way for a new generation,” Post said.
“We love the creative ideas that our new young team, Mariah and Elana, are bringing into the mix. They have embraced the quality and imagination that define Paradise City Arts, while in-
troducing artists, performers, and activities that also appeal to millennials, families, and younger collectors. We can’t wait to see where they take us,” she added.
Both Swanson and Chernick-Kritz have been patrons of Paradise City for many years.
“My background is in the arts. I grew up in the area and got to know more about the festival through Linda, for whom I helped to represent her own work in Michelson Galleries in Northampton. Our conversations evolved from there as she was looking for someone to bring new energy to Paradise City so she
kingdom; and attendees shop during a past festival. The Paradise City Arts Festival opens Saturday in Northampton. (PARADISE
Artist Jo Smith, who works out of her gallery in Northampton, will be one of the exhibitors at this year’s Paradise City Arts Festival. Director of Marketing Mariah Swanson Swanson said that Smith’s exhibit will be one of the “showstoppers” at this year’s show.
could step back some from all of the work required to put on an unparalleled show like Paradise City,” Swanson said. “It is very exciting and a privilege to be given the opportunity to continue to expand upon what the Posts have created for a loyal audi-
ence of nearly a quarter of a million people since 1995. As we continue to diversify our offerings in the coming years, one thing will always remain the same — the legacy that has been established in finding incredible artists to show
special exhibit at the Paradise City Arts Festival, “Feathers & Fur,” showcases artist exhibitors and their work inspired by the animal
‘Bow Bow Bash’ to raise funds for music education
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
MANY MUSICIANS dream of leaving a legacy behind with their music, but few actually get to do so in a truly meaningful way.
But one local artist who died eight years ago has achieved that honor, thanks to his friends and the community in which he played.
J. Scott “Bow Bow” Bran-
don, a staple of the Western Massachusetts music scene for decades, who died at age 44 in 2017, had a fund started in his name in 2021. The J. Scott Brandon Music Scholarship ensures that all interested students in Northampton schools have the opportunity to receive music lessons and supplies for their instruments. And for the fourth consec-
utive year, the scholarship will look to raise funds via the “Bow Bow Bash,” a concert at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on May 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18, or $6 for students with an ID.
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican Summertime is an opportunity for area bands and performers to shine at various concert series scheduled from May through September. Sponsored by recreation departments, clubs, organizations, parks, museums and more, the concerts — most of which are free — are held in numerous cities and towns including Springfield, Chicopee, Greenfield, Florence, South Hadley, Agawam, Eastampton, East Longmeadow, Westfield, West Springfield, and Montague. Many of these concerts are held outdoors, so bring a blanket, a picnic basket, a folding chair — and maybe an umbrella, just in case.
This year’s schedule includes:
• Grab your blanket and picnic basket filled with goodies and head to Forest Park in Springfield for Concerts in the Park, being held on Thursdays beginning July 17 with Dee Reilly; Manzi Family Band, Aug. 7; Aquanett, Aug.
14; Bennie and the Jets, Aug. 21; Trailer Trash, Aug. 28; Floyd Patterson Band, Sept. 4; and Unforgettable Fire, Sept. 11. Held at the Forest Park Amphitheater, except for Dee Reilly which will be held in the Carriage House Tent, the outdoor concerts are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public free of charge. Food trucks and beer from White Lion begin at 6 p.m. Attendees can enter Forest Park through the Sumner Avenue or Route 5 entrance for free after 5:30 p.m. For complete details, visit the Park Department website at springfield-ma.gov/park/ or call 413-787-6435. Rain locations are at the Carriage House Tent.
• Held at School Street Park, SummerFest in Agawam begins on July 2 with Hard Knox; 7 Roads, July 9; Cover Daddy’s July 16; Kitchen Jam, July 23; Agawam Night Out from 6-8 p.m. featuring a movie in the park at 8:30 p.m., July 25; Skid Marks, July 30; Neal and the Vipers, Aug. 6; and Kix 100.9 Country Show, Aug. 13. All SummerFest events are free and begin at 7 p.m. and will be cancelled in case of bad weather. Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 413-821-0513 after 2 p.m. on the day of the show for updated information. The
free KidsFest will begin on July 2 with juggler Henry Lappen; Mr. Willy Sings, July 16; magician Michael Wall, July 30; and ventriloquist and puppeteer Kevin Driscoll, Aug. 13. Showtimes are at School Street Park, starting at 10 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the show may be cancelled. Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 413-821-0513 on the day of the show for more information.
• There also will be music at Millside Park on Ferry Street in Easthampton, where the Easthampton Parks and Recreation Department will hold free concerts in the park beginning on July 11 with Jimmy Mazz; Eddie Forman, July 25; Bring Out Ya Dead, Aug. 1; Memories, Aug. 8; Col-
“We wanted an event that brought attention to what we were doing and why we were doing it,” Sanderson said.
“And it needed to include students, because one of the main reasons for creating the fund was because Bow and I met in the band room of
Steve Sanderson, arts events producer for the Northampton Arts Council, was Brandon’s best friend, and he started the scholarship to honor him. A year later, they added the live event.
ony Motel, Aug. 15; and Soular Eclipse, Aug. 22. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. For more information, visit easthamptonma.gov.
• The East Longmeadow Rotary Club will once again hold its Summer Concert Series at East Longmeadow High School’s Athletic Field. This year’s concerts kick off on June 25 with A Ray of Elvis followed on July 3 by Trailer Trash both held at Mapleshade Elementary School. A laser light show will follow Trailer Trash with a rain date of July 5. The concerts pick up afterwards at Center Field starting with Project 267, July 9; Brass Attack, July 16; 7 Roads, July 23; Union Jack, July 30; Changes in Latitudes, Aug. 6, with Aug. 13 reserved
as a rain date if needed. Shows are free and begin at 7 p.m., bring your own chairs, concession will be available. Rain date is next day except for the July 3 Trailer Trash concert, which would be July 5.
• Bring your lawn chair, relax, and enjoy the music at the Florence Civic Center for the Florence Summer Concert Series. Free outdoor concerts are held every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. beginning May 30 with Northampton High School Band and Northamptones, followed by Butterfly Swing Band, June 5; Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry, June 12; StompBoxTrio, June 19; Florence Community Band, June 26; Expandable Brass Band, July 3; Johnny
Attendees had a blast at MGM Springfield during a past Free Music Fridays concert.
(HEATHER RUSH PHOTO)
Mollie Murk, Leslie Field and Shiree Adkins act out a scene from “Macbeth” at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. Shakespeare & Company will bring many of the bard’s classics — as well as other plays — to life on its Lenox stage this summer. (FOUR WINGS PHOTOGRAPHY VIA SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY)
Must-see theater productions, from West Springfield to the Berkshires
From Shakespeare to Broadway musicals, local stages have it all.
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican Theater at its best knows no season whether spring, summer, fall or winter. And this summer, the hills are alive from the Berkshires to closer to home in West Springfield where audiences can enjoy everything from the prose of Shakespeare to popular Broadway musicals to world premieres, and a variety of special events in-between. Many theaters are bringing plays and other performances to life on stage in the next few months, including: With its contemporary classics, adventurous works and bold voices, the Barrington Stage Company, located in downtown Pittsfield, has two stage locations where theatergoers will find such entertainment on their Boyd-Quinson Stage beginning June 3-8 with
Travel
“Newark is not alone,” she said. “There are shortages and staffing challenges at airports all over the world.”
Remember your Real ID
So far, the long-anticipated arrival of the Real ID mandate on May 7 — which requires domestic travelers to use a compliant state-issued identification or alternative, such as a passport, at security checkpoints — does not appear to be causing (too much) airport chaos.
The Transportation Security Administration has said it will warn people who don’t have a proper ID and pull them for extra screening, which could cause delays.
What does this mean for summer travelers? Even if fliers have the necessary documents, crowded airports could see longer waits than usual.
Canada are down a whopping 25 percent, reaching an average of $305 as many Canadians avoid travel to the United States in protest of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and tariffs.
Berg’s summer outlook said the price of a hotel stay is averaging about $237 a night, similar to last year’s.
“It’s high,” said Berg. “Really we haven’t seen much relief on hotel prices since the pandemic.”
Rental cars, too, are in line with the previous year at about $47 a day.
Berg said travelers can save the most money by traveling in early June or late August and September, and by flying and booking hotels in the middle of the week rather than on the weekend.
Anticipate crowds
It’s not clear yet whether this summer will be record-breaking levels of busy — or just the standard amount of slammed.
than last.
Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the traditional kickoff to summer, AAA expects a record 45.1 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home. The record was 44 million people in 2005, according to a AAA news release.
Pay up for bags
The era of “bags fly free” on Southwest — once a signature perk for the low-cost airline — is ending for flights booked after May 27. That means summer travelers have a couple more weeks to book flights for the summer or beyond with free checked luggage still included.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” by Richard Hellsen, directed by Peter Ellenstein and starring John Rubinstein. The schedule continues with Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot,” featuring music composed by Frederick Loewe and directed by Alan Paul, June 25-July 19; and “Joan: A New Play About Joan Rivers” by Daniel Goldstein and directed by David Ivers, July 31-Aug. 17. The St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center will play host to “N/A: The Play” by Mario Correa and directed by Katie Birenboim, June 4-22; the world premiere of “fuzzy,” a new musical with music and lyrics by Will Van Dyke, book and lyrics by Jeff Talbott and directed by Ellie Heyman, July 8-27; “King James,” a slam-dunk comedy by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Rob Ruggiero, Aug. 12-31; and the world premiere of “The Weekend - A Stockbridge Story” by Ben Diskant and directed by Alan Paul, Sept. 16-Oct. 12. For more information on additional
“It may get stricter as Real ID has been implemented now, so if you don’t have your Real ID you’re going to want to get that,” said Hudson, the Expedia spokesperson. It can take more than a week for states to mail the permanent card, and TSA doesn’t accept temporary ones. Passports take even longer to process: four to six weeks in general, or two to three for people who pay more for faster service.
“Be planning these things now,” Hudson said.
Get a break on prices
Your airfare may cost less this summer than last year, though not by much. Your ho tel or rental car? Probably not going to see much of a break on those.
Last year, the trade group Airlines for America predicted that U.S. airlines would carry 271 million passengers globally during the summer, an increase of more than 6 percent yearover-year. The organization’s 2025 forecast has not been released, but American Airlines said it will operate nearly 5 percent more flights this summer
But those who buy airfare after the deadline will need to pay up, unless they have enough loyalty status, pay for an expensive seat or hold a Southwest credit card. The airline hasn’t said what it will charge for checked bags, but it said fees “will align with industry standards.” Most airline bag fees start at $35. Keyes, the Going founder, said the policy could lead to holdups if customers arrive at the airport without realizing they need to pay.
“That can add a certain amount of delays at check-in,” he said.
Berg said in her summer outlook that round-trip domestic flights are averaging $265 a ticket, a 3 percent drop from last year and the lowest prices for summer airfare since 2021.
Plane tickets are lower than last year for flights to most of the rest of the world, too, averaging $847 for Europe, $1,339 for Asia, $680 for South America and $421 for Mexico and Central America, according to Hopper. Prices for flights to
Several events this season will honor Boston Pops maestro Keith Lockhart
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Tanglewood 2025
A world premiere by the legendary John Williams, popular contemporary artists including Jon Baptiste and John Legend, a special celebration honoring Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, and the classical masterpieces of Ravel, Beethoven and other brilliant composers highlight the 2025 Tanglewood season.
Tanglewood, the famed music and learning campus and summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and one of the country’s top summer music festivals, is located in the Berkshire Hills of Lenox and Stockbridge.
The reasons are many for the enormous popularity of Tanglewood as a summer destination for enthusiasts of both classical and popular contemporary music.
Tanglewood Music Center was founded in 1940 by Serge Koussevitzky, the BSO’s music director from 1929 to
1949. His vision of a summer festival — which has withstood the test of time — was one which could incorporate the teachings of many who have gone on to become some of the world’s most talented musicians and conductors, alongside joyous performances for music lovers to come and enjoy.
Today Tanglewood continues as a meeting place for people of all walks of life and generations to appreciate “some of the best music making on the planet,” as staff members are fond of saying, amongst the scenic beauty of its natural surroundings. The music festival will this year feature more than 100 performances, including concerts and other events by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, as well as recitals, chamber music, and Tanglewood Learning Institute (TLI) events in Ozawa
Hall and at the Linde Center for Music and Learning. The Popular Artist Series returns to the Shed in late June and is highlighted again on the Fourth of July by James Taylor and his All-Star Band. This summer Tanglewood, more than ever, is all about the Boston Pops orchestra and its beloved maestro Keith Lockhart. Lockhart, the orchestra’s 20th conductor who brought his artistic vision
to the Boston Pops in 1995 succeeding John Williams, will conduct “One Night Only: An Evening with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara” on July 18. The special concert is inspired by the 1962 CBS television special “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall” — a tribute to The Great White Way and beyond. Together with Lockhart and the Boston Pops, Foster and O’Hara will pay homage to icons of stage and
The 2025 Tanglewood season will begin on June 20 in Lenox. Above is an aerial view of the Shed from a past year. At left, James Taylor performs at Tanglewood in 2024, 50 years after his first performance there in 1974.
(ARAM BOGHOSIAN; HILARY SCOTT)
screen — Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett who teamed up for that memorable concert. Audiences will also hear favorites from Foster and O’Hara’s Tony Award-winning and nominated shows and more.
He will also conduct the immensely popular John Williams’ Film Night on Aug. 9, culminating with the Keith Lockhart 30th Anniversary Celebration on Aug. 22, described by Tanglewood as “celebrating the joy, connection, and unforgettable moments Keith has brought to our orchestra and our community.” The memorable event — filled with video
Tanglewood
tributes and archival film interspersed during the concert — will feature special guests including Lynn Ahrens, Jason Danieley, Ben Folds, Mandy Gonzalez, Bernadette Peters, Guster’s Ryan Miller, John Pizzarelli, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Time for Three.
The Boston Pops at Tanglewood will also include orchestral scores from two powerhouse films including “Top Gun: Maverick in Concert” June 20 with conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos, and “Star Wars — Return of the Jedi in Concert” on Aug. 1 featuring conductor Damon Gupton. The Boston Pops will also support Nas, one of hiphop’s leading voices, as part of the Popular Artist Series on June 27.
On the classical side, excitement is brewing among the Tanglewood staff for this year’s many offerings.
One of Tanglewood’s most frequent and favorite guest artists Emanuel Ax will perform the world premiere of John Williams’ Piano Concerto, composed especially for him in a BSO program that also offers Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, on July 26. Williams’ new piano concerto follows
a string of other important concert works by the film composer and Boston Pops laureate conductor.
Ax is among the world’s greatest pianists on this year’s schedule that also includes Daniil Trifonov, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang, and the BSO’s most recent recording partners Yuja Wang and Seong-Jin Cho.
This year’s classical performance schedule includes more music by the French composer Maurice Ravel than other years in honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth. In one of the most highly anticipated recitals of the season, Korean pianist Seong-Jin Chowill will perform the complete solo piano music of Ravel on July 16. A performance of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les sortilèges” opera in Ozawa Hall follows on Aug. 4.
Andris Nelsons, Tanglewood music director and head conductor, will continue his commitment to a concert-opera presentation each season at the Shed. This year’s performance will be Puccini’s “Tosca” on July 19.
If classical music isn’t your thing, the Tanglewood Popular Artist Series may be more to your liking. Introduced in 1968 as a way to “present performances by popular
as Ravi Shankar, B.B. King, Chicago, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Sly and the Family Stone, and James Taylor who performed for the first time at Tanglewood in 1974. This year’s lineup includes: A Prairie Home Companion, June 21; Nas with the Boston
groups representing important trends in contemporary music outside the sphere of Western classical music,” performers over the years have included such artists
Summer on Earth, July 8; Emmylou Harris and Graham Nash, July 29; Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me! — a live event of NPR’s “oddly” informative news quiz program; Aug. 28; Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aug. 30; Bonnie Raitt, Aug. 31; and John Legend on Sept. 5. Other Tanglewood season highlights this summer will include:
• Acclaimed conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen leading performances of the BSO and the TMC Orchestra (TMCO) in his first appearance at Tanglewood since 1985 (July 13 & 14);
• The Tanglewood Music Center’s 61st annual Festival of Contemporary Music, directed this year by groundbreaking composer Gabriela Ortiz, with five days of programs featuring her music and works by other contemporary composers performed by TMC Fellows (July 24–28);
• Three concerts featuring the incomparable Yo-Yo Ma: a special Shed event with pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and violist Antoine Tamestit joining Ma for an all-Beethoven program (Aug. 3); Ma performing the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 with the BSO led by assistant conductor Samy Rachid (Aug. 10); and Ma’s guest appearance with the innovative string quartet Brooklyn Rider in their Ozawa Hall recital debut (Aug. 13).
For younger music lovers in the family, as well as the adults, the BSO Youth and Family Concerts Conductor Thomas Wilkins will lead the annual morning matinee Family Concert in the Shed on July 20, titled this year “Family Matters.” And, on Aug. 5, Tanglewood on Parade offers a full day of music and activities, culminating in an evening concert with the BSO, Pops, and TMCO led by Keith Lockhart and Elim Chan, and capped by Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and a fireworks display.
Pops, June 27; Jon Batiste, June 28; John Mulaney: Mister Whatever, June 29; James Taylor, with few tickets remaining, July 3 and 4; Barenaked Ladies — Last
Tanglewood is located at 297 West St. in Lenox. For more information or to order tickets, visit bso.org/tanglewood/ or call 888-266-1200.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D6
Andris Nelsons conducts Yuja Wang during the 2024 season of Tanglewood. (HILARY SCOTT)
Youth roam the lawn at Tanglewood during the 2024 season.
(HILARY SCOTT)
Singer John Legend will play Tanglewood in Lenox on Sept.
5. (PHOTO BY NEILSON BARNARD / GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY)
Jacob’s Pillow 2025
Festival celebrates past, present and future of dance
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
The past, present and future of dance will be on full display this summer at the 93rd annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which runs from June 25 to Aug. 24 in Becket.
Best of all, this year’s lineup of dance companies from around the world will have another stage to feature their works, thanks to the opening of the new Doris Duke Theatre.
“This year, we are honored to present company artists … who have deep professional and cultural roots with Jacob’s Pillow, as well as exciting companies whose histories with us are just beginning,” Jacob’s Pillow Executive and Artistic Director Pamela Tatge said in a recent statement.
The new Doris Duke Theatre will officially open with a star-studded opening program on July 9. The new stateof-the-art theater will replace the former Doris Duke Theatre, which was destroyed in a fire on Nov. 17, 2020.
The old, 8,500-square-foot Doris Duke Theatre was a great place to see new, upand-coming dance companies from around the world. That commitment to choreographers pushing the boundaries of dance forward will remain the same in the new, 20,000-square-foot Doris Duke Theatre.
“I am excited to see how artists and audiences join together and move beyond the limits of a traditional performance venue,” Tatge said in a recent statement.
Many of the dance companies performing this summer in the Doris Duke Theater come from around the world, including Germany (Andrew Schneider, July 16-20), Norway (Elle Sofe Company, July 23-27), South Korea (Eun-Me Ahn, July 30-Aug. 3) and Taiwan (Huang Yi, Aug. 20-24).
The Doris Duke Theatre will also feature two U.S.-based dance companies: Shamel Pitts Tribe (Aug. 6-10) and Faye Driscoll (Aug. 13-17).
There also will be a full slate of outdoor performances throughout the summer on the picturesque Henry J. Leir Stage, nestled in the woods. Many of these outdoor performances allow audience members to choose how much they want to pay to attend. Most performances on the Henry J. Leir Stage begin at 5:30 pm.
Many of the performances this summer can also be streamed online for free. “As Jacob’s Pillow looks toward the future of dance, we are dedicated to finding and building pathways to make dance more accessible,” Tatge said.
Meanwhile in the Ted Shawn Theatre, named after the legendary founder of Jacob’s Pillow, some of the world’s best-known dance companies — including Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — will perform, along with a wide range of dance groups performing a dizzying array of dance styles, from tap to ballet, Irish step
Above, Kara Jenelle & KaJe Movement Collective will play the Henry J. Leir Stage at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival on Aug. 1. She fuses West African, hip hop, dancehall, Afrobeats and Afro-Caribbean movement in her performances. At left, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, pictured here, is one of the dance companies performing this summer at the 93rd annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which runs from June 25 to Aug. 24.
dancing to hip-hop and Indigenous dancing.
Jacob’s Pillow’s summer season kicks off with The Center Will Not Hold: A Dorrance Dance Production (June 25-29) in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Created by world-renowned tap dancers Michelle Dorrance and Ephrat Asherie, the evening-length performance mixes together a wide range of dance styles, including tap dancing, hip hop, house and body percussion.
That same week will feature three outdoor performances: Indonesia’s animal-inspired Prehistoric Body Theater (June 25-26), West African-inspired Djapo: Marie BasseWiles and Omari Wiles (June 27) and The School at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble (June 28).
The next week features the return of the Los Angeles-based modern dance company BODYTRAFFIC (July 2-6) in the Ted Shawn Theatre. The performances will feature works created by
Trey McIntyre, Juel D. Lane and Matthew Neenan.
Outdoor performances the same week include Almanac Dance Circus Theatre (July 2), Lindy Hop virtuoso Gaby Cook in New York Swings (July 3) and KanKouran West African Dance Company (July 4-5).
The same week as the grand opening celebration for the new Doris Duke Theatre, the Ted Shawn Theatre will host Trinity Irish Dance Company (July 10-13) in a program that will celebrate the dance company’s 35th anniversary.
Three outdoor performances will be presented the same week on the Henry J. Leir Stage: championship powwow dancing performed by Indigenous Enterprise (July 10), Calpulli Mexican Dance Company (July 11) and the Pillow debut of Sydnie L. Mosley Dances (July 12).
The Sarasota Ballet (July 1620) returns to Jacob’s Pillow for the first time in a decade with a program in the
Live Wire
Taunton High School in 1987.”
The pair bonded over a mutual love of punk music when Sanderson noticed Brandon wearing a Sex Pistols T-shirt. The very first “Bow Bow Bash” in 2022 brought everything full circle when a mutual friend of both musicians gave Sanderson the shirt right before the show.
“So, I squeezed my beer belly into and wore it,” Sanderson said with a laugh.
Sanderson originally brought the idea for the fund to the Northampton Arts Council, and soon there-
“Bow Bow embodied the rock ’n’ roll spirit, everybody who knew him knew that. So when I go to the Bow Bow Bash and see 175 people jumping up and down to an NHS student band, I know his spirit is alive.”
Steve Sanderson, arts events producer for the Northampton Arts Council
after, Downtown Sounds joined the effort, followed by the Northampton Community Music Center and then last year, the Iron Horse. “So now it’s a four-part partnership, and we try not to refuse a single student,” he said.
So far, no one who has needed help has been turned down, Sanderson added, and anyone who has an interest in music or a gift for it is eligible. The fund goes
to paying for lessons beyond school, but also instruments and repair, if needed.
Sanderson said that not only did Brandon have a vast knowledge of all types of music, (“I learned about more music from Bow than anybody else”), he exuded his love for his art in palpable ways.
“Bow Bow embodied the rock ‘n’ roll spirit, everybody who knew him knew that,” Sanderson said. “So when I
go to the Bow Bow Bash and see 175 people jumping up and down to an NHS student band, I know his spirit is alive.”
Liner Notes
• Comedian Tom Segura will play Springfield’s MassMutual Center on May 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50 and can be found at massmutualcenter.com.
Free Music Fridays return to MGM Springfield Plaza
on May 23 with The Eagles Experience tribute band. The outdoor concert series is held, weather permitting, each Friday from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
• Likewise, the Sunset Music Series continues on May 23 and every Friday and Sunday through Oct. 9 at Glendale Ridge Vineyard in Southampton. The series features local acoustic acts from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and 4 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Ted Shawn Theatre featuring work by Frederick Ashton and a world premiere by artist in residence Jessica Lang.
Four outdoor performances the same week will feature Pillow favorites Brother(hood) Dance! (July 16), the Pillow debut of Vincent E. Thomas’ VTDance (July 17), the Chicago-based Afro-Contemporary ensemble Red Clay Dance Company (July 18) and The School at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Performance Ensemble (July 19).
The final performances of the Stephen Petronio Company (July 23-27) will be presented in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the company will perform some of its signature works.
Outdoor performances the same week include Cambodian classical dance group Angkor Dance Troupe (July 23), tap dancer and theater maker Orlando Hernandez (July 24), Asian American dance company H.T. Chen & Dancers (July 25) and New York-based, Puerto Rican-inspired dance group BOCA TUYA (July 26).
Jacob’s Pillow Dance
Festival
runs from June 25 to Aug. 24.
Sekou McMiller & Friends (July 30-Aug. 3) make their Ted Shawn Theatre debut with the world premiere of “Urban Love Suite,” a rhythm-packed celebration of Afro-Latin Jazz and Soul that blends African American, Afro-Latin and West African dance traditions.
Outdoor performances that same week include Taiwan’s Bulareyaung Dance Company (July 30-31), the West African-inspired, Afro-Caribbean movement Kara Jenelle & KaJe Movement Collective (Aug 1) and Hawaiian dance company Pua Ali’i ‘Ilima o Nuioka (Aug. 2).
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (Aug. 6-10) returns for the first time since 2012 with a powerful program featuring three signature works: “Continuous Replay,” “D-Man in the Waters” and a site-based version of “Story/ Time” with new stories and live music.
Performances the same week on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage include American College Dance Association (Aug. 6), Ice Theatre of New York (Aug. 7) performing in ice skates atop special flooring and tap virtuoso Michela Marino Lerman (Aug. 8-9).
Canada’s Ballet BC (Aug. 13
– 17) returns with a program that combines innovation and physicality with exquisite ballet technique. The program will feature the U.S. premieres of “BOLERO X” and “Obsidian” as well as a performance of “SWAY” by the company’s Artistic Director Medhi Walerski.
Performances the same week on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage include the Peking opera-influenced Benjamin Akio Kimitch (Aug. 13), New York Theatre Ballet (Aug. 14), the always-popular Community Day featuring Artists of the Berkshires (Aug. 15) and The School at Jacob’s Pillow
Tap Dance Performance Ensemble (Aug. 16).
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Aug. 20 – 24) returns for the final week of summer with its full dance company for the first time in 62 years. They will present a program featuring beloved classics like “Revelations” as well as newer works, including Amy Hall Garner’s “CENTURY” (2023) and Lar Lubovitch’s “Many Angels” (2024).
The final week at the Pillow also features three performances on the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage by groups or dancers with an Alvin Ailey connection — former Alvin Ailey principal dancer Yusha-Marie Sorzano (Aug. 20), Matthew Rushing and Ailey Extension dancers in a performance of Matthew Rushing’s Sacred Songs (Aug. 21 – 22) and choreographer and former Ailey company member Hope Boykin will make her Pillow debut with HopeBoykinDance (Aug. 23).
Jacob’s Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road in Becket. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival runs from June 25 to Aug. 24. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.jacobspillow.org or call 413-243-0745.
Los Angeles-based modern dance company BODYTRAFFIC will perform at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket from July 2-6.
Outdoor imbibing at Northampton Brewery
The rooftop establishment sets standard for summer beer gardens
By G eorge L enker
Special to The Republican
Summer brings plenty of fun-filled opportunities for almost everyone, but beer aficionados have an extra one: drinking al fresco at a local beer garden.
Residents of Western Massachusetts have plenty of these places, from breweries with just a few tables outside on a patio to stunning bucolic vistas set up on farmland acreage. (See the end of this article for a list of the ones in your area.)
But one of these local beer gardens is unique, and it also happens to be the oldest in the area by far: the rooftop deck beer garden at the Northampton Brewery. The brewery originally had some minimal outdoor seating at ground level a few years before the rooftop one was
summer evening,” she said.
“Since the beer garden is its own permanent structure and is raised from the street, people can truly feel like they have escaped their normal hustle and bustle and relax, which is why I’ve always referred to it as ‘vacation land.’”
Of course, because the Northampton beer garden is much larger than most and features its own full-service outdoor bar, opening it each year isn’t just a matter of tossing a few tables and chairs outside. Martin said that in order to staff the beer garden and handle the increase in overall summer business, the brewery needs to increase its overall staff by 30%.
In addition, Martin said that it takes the staff a full two weeks to get the beer garden ready for the season. She noted that the largest hurdles
“Since the beer garden is its own permanent structure and is raised from the street, people can truly feel like they have escaped their normal hustle and bustle and relax, which is why I’ve always referred to it as ‘vacation land.’”
Abby Martin, of Northampton Brewery
constructed in 1996, becoming a popular destination for the past three decades
Abby Martin, who has worked at the brewery for 23 years and has served as the general manager there for the past 13, talked about the beer garden, the effort it takes to open it each year, and a few things customers might not know about the flower-filled terrace.
Martin called the Northampton Brewery beer garden “special” for several reasons.
“People enjoy the beer garden because it is the perfect destination to celebrate a birthday, graduation, anniversary or just a gorgeous
The Northampton Brewery’s rooftop beer garden features three levels with 30 tables and 120 chairs/barstools.
and dry goods, as well as getting the beer lines cleaned and open, Martin said. Then, there is the installation of point-of-sale computers, replacing deck boards, repainting railing and cleaning the 30 tables and 120 chairs and barstools.
There’s also the beautification of the entire deck with
flowers. Martin said this is one area that they outsource to experts.
“We leave our flower choices up to the experts at FreshAire. They plant and maintain our summer plants,” she said.
But even all this preparation work can’t thwart Mother Nature when she’s in a bad
mood. The Northampton Brewery prides itself on being open all but two days each year, no matter what the weather, and does its best to transfer that ethos to the beer garden. But sometimes the staff has to close it.
“Every summer is different. We will keep the beer garden
to opening the beer garden are monitoring the overnight temperatures, hanging the four large awnings and opening a full bar.
“We can’t turn on water, run beer or soda through lines that could freeze and burst. Each awning takes two or three people two or three hours to put up and can only be done on a day when it is not raining and not windy. We found it extremely dangerous to hang an awning if the wind is over 10 mph, since they are basically just massive sails,” she said.
Getting the bar operational takes up to 10 hours of cleaning, stocking all the liquor, wine, juices, cut fruit,
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All ages can explore the
Paradise
and sell their creations at the festival,” she added, noting they will also be looking to curate younger, upstart artists to add to the established list of exhibitors at the show and the many new faces this year.
They also plan to seek out more partnerships with businesses across the region such as Journey’s Lemonade, serving artisan handcrafted beverages in Building 1, a Bubble Bar in Building 2 where you can find a fresh Bellini or glass of Prosecco, or getting your caffeine fix with Monsoon Roastery pouring curated coffees in Building 3. And there will be an additional focus on dining options and reimaging the music stage perhaps even by the October show.
Among the original works to be found at the festival include ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, furniture, jewelry, mixed media, photography, wearable art, woodworking, art glass, metal, and sculpture.
Swanson noted that artist Jo Smith is going to be “one of the showstoppers” at the spring show.
“She creates contemporary, incredibly colorful paintings that are really energized from large-scale abstraction to a lot of tobacco barns,” Swanson
said.
“I loved attending Paradise City when I lived here in the ′90s. I moved to Texas and had kids before moving back in 2021 during the pandemic,” Smith, who first exhibited at the festival last year, said.
Smith comes from a family of artists. Her dad loved to make cartoons, and her brother is a painter.
“I was four when my brother started college. He would show me what he was learning, then when I was a little older, he would talk to me about his paintings. He influenced me as a kid to look at and think deeply about art,” she said.
Eventually she would go on to study art and graduate from William Smith College in New York, later earning a
very large abstract paintings, some as big as “48-x-60″. Her new work is about “taking up space and being true to who you are even in the face of fear.” Under these large paintings are messages about strength, equality and advocacy. There are layers upon layers of painting on top of those words. The layering and the color end up creating an experience that moves beyond words into the abstract.
“My goal here is to get the colors and shapes to harmonize with one another and the size of the image to be an outspoken advocate for justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,” she said.
cocktails created by the Posts along with other libations.
Spring activities during Memorial Day Weekend include:
• Marlene Rye will be doing a live demo with pastels over the weekend. Visitors can stop by Booth 121 to see her complete a custom piece from start to finish;
degree in art therapy from Springfield College. Today she combines her talents at Jo Smith Studio Gallery at 9 Market St. in Northampton, a creative space where she not only paints and sells her works of art but also operates a psychotherapy practice in a private space in the back of the gallery.
Smith has many different series of works, including her popular tobacco barns and another about the pollinators and birds and the vital role they play in gardens.
“My abstracted barns represent the history of this area, the beauty of the land and how it has fed and nourished our community for so many years,” she said.
This spring, Smith expanded in size and started making
Her paintings range in price from $30 to over $3,000, alongside waterproof stickers of her art for only $3.
Smith will be submitting a piece for the special exhibition which each season — there is another show in the fall — spotlights a selection of their exhibiting artists and makers. Spring’s theme is “Feathers & Fur,” a celebration of nature’s influence on art.
Chefs are artists in their own right and many will be serving up their inspired culinary creations in the Dining Tent, home to popular Northampton area restaurants including include Spoleto, Ginger Love Café, India House, Local Burger, Little Wall and Batch Ice Cream. Thirsty visitors can also stop by the bar in the Festival Dining Tent serving up craft
• Hands-on “Crafting with Color” for both adults and kids in Building 1; Roll up your sleeves and explore the world of clay with Alan and Rosemary Bennett. Handsculpt your favorite marine creature or imaginary critter from stoneware or porcelain. Bennett especially loves working with children, but all ages can exercise their creativity with clay in Building 3;
• As a way of giving back to the community, the Posts select an organization to benefit from their silent auction which this spring will assist the International Language Institute of Massachusetts. An array of donations by Paradise City Arts exhibitors will be available for open bidding each day at the Silent Auction tables, with 100% of the proceeds directly supporting ILI programming.
Show hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $14 online and $16 at the door, $8 for students, and free to those 12 and under. Parking is free. For more information, visit paradisecityarts.com.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D3
world of clay with Alan & Rosemary Bennett in Building 3 during the Paradise City Arts Festival.
(PHOTO COURTESY PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL)
The Flowered Press by Marguerite Alpert. (PHOTO COURTESY PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL)
Shoppers browse colorful works by expressionist photographer Deborah Loeb Bohren at a past Paradise City Arts Festival. (PHOTO COURTESY PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL)
Memphis Band, July 10; Free Range Cats, July 17; Heritage Pops Orchestra, July 24; LeFever, July 31; Ephemeral String Band, Aug. 7; Tommy Filiault Band, Aug. 14; Libro Azul, Aug. 21; Ozzie’s Basement, Aug. 28; and Lonesome Brothers, Sept. 4. Food trucks will be on-site. For updated information, visit florencemass.com/concert-series/.
• There is music from Franklin County’s finest singers and musicians at the popular Greenfield Energy Park Coop Summer Concert Series which runs on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Listeners are invited to bring a chair, blanket and picnic supper. It all begins on May 29 with Katie Clarke and Larry LeBlanc, Pat & Tex LaMountain, and Small Change; 133 Skeele and Boys of the Landfill, June 5; Jennie McAvoy, The Klines, and Orlen, Gabriel & Avery, June 12; Oen Kennedy and Zydeco Connection, June 19; Russ Thomas, Austin & Elliott, and The Frost Heaves and HaLes, June 26; Dust Devils, 113 Skeele, and Brookside Project, July 3; Pat & Tex LaMountain, Jennie McAvoy and R & D, July 10; Larry LeBlanc, Austin & Elliott, and Orlen, Gabriel and Avery, July 17; Jim Eagan, The Klines, and The Frost Heaves and HaLes, July 24; John Stacey & Friends, R & D, and Little Wild Bouquet, July 31; Dust Devils, Small Change, and Jim Eagan, Aug 7; a rain date to be determined, Aug. 14; Psychedelic Farm Girls, Aug. 21; and another rain date to be determined, Aug. 28. For more information, visit coopconcerts.org.
• The Greenfield Recreation Department on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in July at Greenfield Energy Park will present concerts by the Greenfield Community Band. For more information, call 413-772-1553 or visit greenfieldrecreation.com.
• The 45th season of Wednesday Folk Traditions at the Porter-Phelps-Hunting-
available. Suggested donation of $5 per person. In the event of inclement weather, check the Stanley Park Facebook page or visit stanleypark. org.
at 413-781-3020 or visit the Weather Cancellations page on the West Springfield Park and Recreation website for an update after 3:30 p.m. for all concerts.
ton House Museum in Hadley kicks off on June 11 with Tim Erickson with additional concerts by Thea Hopkins, June 18; Evelyn Harris, June 25; Rosemary Caine and The Wild Irish Shenanigans, July 2; ReBelle, July 9; Afro-Semitic Experience, July 16; and Tony Vacca with World Rhythms, July 23. Concerts are held in the museum’s sunken garden at 6:30 p.m. Picknickers are welcome on the museum grounds at 5 p.m. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $2 for children, cash only. For more information, call 413-584-4699 or visit pphmuseum.org
• Celebrating 78 years of gardens, music, arts, education and more, Stanley Park in Westfield serves as the backdrop for Westfield Bank Sunday Night Concert Series in the Beveridge Pavilion weather permitting. This year’s concert series begins on June 1 with Floyd Patterson Band and continues on June 8 with 7 Bridges Road; Sarah the Fiddler, June 15; Union Jack British Invasion Band, June 22; Studio Two, June 29; Rowe County Band, July 13; Sweet Hitch-Hiker, July 20; The Eddie Forman Orchestra, July 27; Hard Knox Band, Aug. 3; and The Savage Brothers Band, Aug. 10. Showtime is 6 p.m. and the concerts are free. Chairs and food service provided by The Bubble Mug Café at Pottery Cellar will be
• South Hadley holds its free Summer Concert Series on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. on the South Hadley Town Common. Presented by South Hadley Recreation Department in conjunction with The Village Commons, this year’s concerts begin on June 26 with the South Hadley Community Band, and will also feature the Patsy Cline Show on July 10, Moose & the Hightops on July 17, Whitaker Hill on July 24, Mid Life Crisis on July 31, Phoenix Band on Aug. 7, Off the Record on Aug. 14, Soul Magnets on Aug. 21, and Berkshire Hills Music Academy on Aug 28. Rain dates are the following Sunday. If there is rain, cancellations can be found on the town website, the Recreation Department’s website and their Facebook page. Concert-goers should bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. Donations accepted. For more information, call 413-538-5030 or visit southhadleyrecreation.org.
• The West Springfield Park and Recreation Department and the Rotary Club of West Springfield will hold their 62nd annual Summer Concert Series at various sites and times. Check wsparkandrec. com for full details.
• July summer concerts on the Green at Storrowton Village Gazebo at 7 p.m. include Ethel Lee Ensemble, July 10; Sarah the Fiddler, July 17; Richie Mitnick and Friends, July 24; and Jimmy Mazz, July 31.
• The West Springfield Park and Recreation Department will also host its annual Fourth of July Celebration beginning at 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. with music by The Next J.E.N. Band and activities on the West Springfield Town Common. Families can take part in different arts and crafts, competitive and cooperative games. The West Springfield Lions Club will be selling concessions. If inclement weather occurs, call the Current Events Line
• MGM Springfield, starting at 7:30 p.m. (except for July 4 at 6 p.m.), weather permitting on The Plaza, will once again host Free Music Fridays with The Eagles Experience, May 23; American Honey, May 30; The Great Escape, June 6; Neon 90s, June 13; Cathedral, June 20; Dookie: Green Day Tribute, June 27; Trailer Trash, July 4; Malado!, July 11; Back in Black, July 18; Petty Larceny, July 25; Below Deck, Aug. 1; Billy & the Jets, Aug. 8; Johnny Sixgun, Aug. 15; Tramps Like Us, Aug. 22; High Noon, Aug. 29; and Aquanettt, Sept. 5. Food and drink will be available with local food trucks including, Batch Ice Cream, Wake the Dead Donuts, Dev’s Mac n Eats, Jeannie’s Weenies, in addition to MGM Springfield’s Guac This Way, and brews from White Lion Brewery at The Lion’s Den, along with refreshing beverages at The Plaza Bar. For additional details on the Free Music Fridays Concert Series, including lineup updates, visit mgmspringfield.com/ entertainment.
• Summer 2025 at the Majestic Theater on Elm Street in West Springfield includes Lisa Carter: Cher Tribute, June 28; Doo-Wop Meets Motown, June 29; The Majestics: Remembering Tim
Hosmer, July 3; Center Stage Motown Review, July 10 and 11; A Man Named Cash, July 12; Joe Canata & The Memories, July 17; Good Acoustics: Simon & Garfunkel Tribute, July 18; Jimmy Mazz: Cruisin’ Through the Fifties, July 19; Rainy Day People: Lightfoot & Croce Tribute, Jul 24; Running on Jackson: Jackson Browne Tribute, July 25; Frank Manzi, Family & Friends, July 26: Whitney Houston & Celine Dion Tribute starring Michelle Brooks-Thompson, July 31; 7 Bridges Road: Eagles Tribute, Aug. 1 and 2; The Corvettes, Aug. 3; Lisa Lanno: Messages from The Other Side, Aug. 5; Studio Two: Early Beatles, Aug. 6; Wild Heart: Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Aug. 7; Freddie Marion: Summer Lovin’, Aug. 10; Torch Song Divas, Aug. 12; Madison Curbelo, Aug. 13; Lisa Carter & Dave Brinnel: A Couple of Swingers, Aug 14; and A Ray of Elvis, Aug. 15, 16, 17. The Majestic summer program will also play host to Improv with The Majesters, a nonmusical experience on July 23 and 30, and Aug. 20. For times and ticket prices, visit majestictheater.com.
• The music continues with free performances by the Montague Community Band in the Turners Falls Bandshell at Peskeomskut Park. Showtime is 7 p.m. on June 9, 16, 23 and 30, as well as July 7, 14, 21 and 28. Donations are accepted. Bring chairs. Sponsored in part by the Montague Cultural Council.
Above is a scene from the 2019 Concert in the Park series at Forest Park in Springfield. (STEVEN E. NANTON, FILE)
special performances and Mr. Finn’s Cabaret, visit barringtonstageco.org.
• The Berkshire Theatre Group, founded in 2010 and based in Stockbridge, oversees the development, production and presentation of theater, music and the performing arts with several stages. Summer plays begin at the Unicorn Theatre with “The Elephant Man,” written by Bernard Pomerance and directed by Eric Hill, May 28-June 5; “Out of Character,” written and performed by Ari’el Stachel and directed by Tony Tacone, June 30-July 26; a workshop with reading performances of “Three-Part Invention” by Peter Parnell and directed by Scott Ellis featuring Jessica Hecht, July 10-11; “Dying Is No Excuse,” a world premiere starring the legendary Renee Taylor and directed by Tony Award-winning Elaine May, Aug. 7-30; and “Metamorphoses,” based on the “Myths of Ovid” written by Mary Zimmerman and directed by Isadora Wolfe, Sept. 25-Oct. 26. The Colonial Theatre will play host to comedian Bob Marley on May 15; the soft rock Yacht Lobsters on May 24; “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar,” a new musical play featuring Hershey Felder and Jonathan Silvestri, directed by Trevor Hay; comedian George Wallace, June 14; “Pink Floyd’s The Wall: A Theatrical Concert Experience,” written by Roger Waters and adapted by Tor Krautter, directed by Greg Santos and featuring Beyond the Wall tribute band, June 27-28; Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” directed by Gerry McIntyre, July 24-Aug. 17; and “Back To The Garden 1969The Woodstock Experience,” a tribute to the music and spirit of Woodstock, Aug. 22. The third annual David Grover Scholarship Concert “Here We Go Again,” featuring Michal Fabrizio with special guests Michael Wartella and Kathy Jo Grover along with members of the Berkshire Theatre Group Youth Chorus, will take place on July 18 at Balderdash Cellars in Richmond. For more
information and pricing, visit berkshiretheatregroup.org
• Compelling stories, exceptional performances and vital conversations is what Chester Theatre Company promises at their home in the foothills of the Berkshires at Chester Town Hall. The season begins with “Magdalene” by Mark St. Germaine, directed by Keira Naughton, June 19-29, and continues with “A Hundred Words for Snow” by Tatty Hennessy and directed by Michelle Ong-Hendrick, July 3-13; Broadway veteran Bill Bowers with “Between Us,” July 17-18; “Case for the Ex-
speare & Company will also host its second annual free Community Day on May 24, featuring live demonstrations and performances, scavenger hunts, film screenings, food trucks with lunches and snacks for purchase, and dozens of other local nonprofits sharing the many ways they serve the Berkshires and beyond. And, on May 30, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and Shakespeare & Company will present Jehuda Reinharz PhD, President Emeritus of Brandeis University and recipient of the President of Israel Prize (1990 and 2024) for a free discussion
Compelling stories, exceptional performances and vital conversations is what Chester Theatre Company promises at their home in the foothills of the Berkshires at Chester Town Hall.
istence of God” by Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer, July 24-Aug. 3; and “Mr. Roy” by Daniel Koa Beaty, Aug. 7-17. For more information and pricing, visit chestertheatre.org
• Known as a creative hothouse for writers, directors, actors, designers and theater professionals of all backgrounds, the Williamstown Theatre Festival returns from July 17-Aug. 3 with weekend plays beginning with “Camino Real” written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Dustin Wills at the MainStage Theatre; the world premiere of “Spirit of the People” written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Katina Medina Mora at the MainStage Theatre; “Not About Nightingales” written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Robert O’Hara at the NikosStage Theater; “Vanessa,” a Heartbeat Opera production, composed by Samuel Barber with libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti at The Annex; “Many Happy Returns” co-created and choreographed by Monica Bill Barnes and co-created and written by Robbie Saenz De Viteri at The Annex; “The Things Around Us” created and performed by Ahamefule J. Oluo at The Annex; and “Untitled on Ice” inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams and conceived, choreographed and directed by Will Davis with
special choreography by Maia & Alex Shibutani at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Skating Rink. Also, Late at The Annex each weekend will feature a series of late-night experiences with artist lineup and more information to be announced. For dates, pricing and more information, visit wtfestival.org
• Shakespeare & Company, located in Lenox in the heart of the Berkshires, begins its 48th season with the world premiere of “The Victim” by Lawrence Goodman and directed by Daniel Gidron in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, June 19-July 20. Following will be “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret” created by Allyn Burrows and Jacob Ming-Trent and directed by Allyn Burrow in the Tina Packer Playhouse, July 1-6; Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” directed by Kevin G. Coleman in the Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre, July 12-Aug. 10; “Plays in Process” providing in inside look at the early stages of a play outdoors at the tented Rose Footprint Theatre, Aug. 26-28; August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” directed by Christopher V. Edwards in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, July 25-Aug. 24; Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” directed by Nicole Ricciardi in the Tina Packer Playhouse, Aug. 14-24; “Circus & The
Bard” presented in collaboration with Spirit of Circus in the Tina Packer Playhouse, Aug. 21-31; and “Mother Play - A Play in Five Evictions” by Paula Vogel and directed by Ariel Bock in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Aug. 29Oct. 5. This fall, Shakespeare & Company will introduce the Jewish Play Festival: Dynamic Staged Readings. From Oct. 10- 12, four readings will be staged “The Price” by Arthur Miller, “Sisters Rosenweig” by Wendy Wasserstein, “Here There Are Blueberries” by Moises Kaufman, and “Roz & Ray” by Karen Hartman, featuring Tony-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson of “The Gilded Age.” Shake-
of the life of Chaim Weizmann in the Tina Packer Playhouse. For more information, visit shakespeare.org
• The Majestic Theater in West Springfield will present an encore performance of “Shear Madness” from their 2024-2025 season June 11-22, as well as “Unreconciled,” a true story of an adolescent actor cast as Jesus in a Catholic school directed by a parish priest, starring Majestic regular Jay Sefton on June 26 and 27. The Majestic’s annual Children’s Theater will offer “The Little Mermaid Jr.” and “Pollyanna” on various dates in July. For more information and pricing, visit majestic theater.com
Renée Taylor will star in the world premiere of "Dying is No Excuse" at the Berkshire Theatre Group this summer. (JEREMY DANIEL)
Free Music Fridays: American Honey, May 30 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
Theresa Caputo Live: May 30, 7:30 p.m., Springfield Symphony Hall. Tickets start at $75, symphonyhallspringfield.com
Rumble on the East Coast Bully Show: May 31, starting at 10 a.m., MassMutual Center in Springfield. Tickets start at $39 for adults and $27 for dogs; children under 10 free, massmutualcenter.com/ events/detail/rumbleontheeast
Wine Safari: May 31, 2-7 p.m., Zoo in Forest Park in Springfield, $55 general admission, forestparkzoo. org/wine-safari
June
Connecticut Morgan Open Horse Show: June 4-7, three sessions daily at 9 a.m., 1 & 7 p.m., Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Free admission, ctmorgans. org
Free Music Fridays: The Great Escape, June 6 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
StamperCon: June 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & June 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Admission is $8 at the door, stampercon.net/westspringfield-ma-show
rally at Energy Park, 1-3:30 p.m., franklincountypride.org
Springfield Pride Parade: June 7, noon-5 p.m., parade starts at the Springfield Technical Community College campus and ends in Stearns Square for a block party, springfieldprideparade.org
Berkshire Pride Festival: June 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., The Common Park in Pittsfield, berkshirepride.org
Whip City Brewfest: June 7, noon5 p.m., 12 Central St. in Westfield. Tickets start at $49.87 ($23.18 designated driver), whipcitybrewfest.com
IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts: June 8, downtown Springfield, ironman.com/races/ im703-western-massachusetts
Holyoke Shad Fest: June 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Holyoke Rows, 25 Jones Ferry Road. Entry is free, day will include kayak excursions, fishing, live music and crafts, holyokerows.org
Northampton Garden Tour: June 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., various gardens in Northampton. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 day-of at Forbes Library, friends.forbeslibrary.org/ events/garden-tour/ Worthy Brewfest: June 14, noon-4 p.m., Stearns Square in downtown Springfield. Advance tickets are $55.20 ($12.51 designated driver), theworthybrewfest.com
Easthampton Cultural Chaos: June 14, noon-5 p.m., Cottage Street Cultural District. Free, easthamptoncityarts.com/ events-festivals/cultural-chaos/ Springfield Symphony Orchestra Juneteenth concert: June 19, 3 p.m., Springfield Symphony Hall. Free, springfieldsymphony.org
Free Music Fridays: Cathedral, June 20 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Dine Springfield Restaurant Week: June 6-15, special menus and deals at restaurants across Springfield, springfielddowntown. my.canva.site/dine-springfield
Westfield River Canoe & Kayak Cruise: June 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is $15 ($10 for Westfield River Watershed Association members), westfieldriver.org/ canoe_and_kayak_cruise.html
Asparagus Festival: June 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Hadley Town Commons. Free admission with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family, nepm. org/nepm-events/2025-02-13/ nepm-asparagus-festival
Greenfield Pride March: June 7, noon-4 p.m., 9th annual Franklin County Pride March & Rally starts at noon at Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal St. Ends with
Granby Charter Days: June 13-15, Dufresne Park, Granby; facebook. com/granbyvolunteers/ Free Music Fridays: Neon 90s, June 13 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Holyoke Pride Rainbow Run 5K: June 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke. 5K registration fee is $30; 1-mile walk registration is $25, holyokepride.org
Hooplandia: June 20-22, Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield Admission to the event is free with a $10 cash-only parking fee, hooplandia.com
Green River Festival: June 20-22, Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield. Tickets start at $110.35 for a one-day pass to $218.50 for a three-day pass, greenriverfestival. com
Bark in the Park: June 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., One Armory Square in
Michelle Hudon, a former zoo keeper at the Forest Park Zoo, bonds with two of the zoo’s friendly goats during a past Brew at the Zoo event. (SOPHIE MARKHAM)
Asparagus lovers will have plenty to enjoy at the annual Asparagus Festival in Hadley.
Dobet Gnahore, an Ivorian singer-songwriter from Cote d’lvoire, performs during last year’s Green River Festival.
(SOPHIE MARKHAM)
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Springfield. Free. RSVP by calling 413-734-8551 or email spar_interpretation@nps.gov, nps.gov/spar/ planyourvisit/calendar.htm
Holyoke Pride Fest: June 21, noon6 p.m., Veterans Park in Holyoke. Free, holyokepride.org
4th of July Fireworks: June 27 (rain date June 29), Holyoke Community College at 303 Homestead Ave. Free and open to all, holyoke.org
Free Music Fridays: Dookie: Green Day Tribute, June 27 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Legends in Concert - A Tribute to Taylor Swift: June 28,7 p.m., MGM Springfield. Tickets start at $52, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
Pro Motocross National: June 28, The Wick 338 in Southwick, gates open at 7 a.m. Tickets start at $40.80, thewick338.com July
Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Shows: July 2-6, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, easternstatesexposition.com/events
Free Music Fridays: Trailer Trash, July 4 starting at 6 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Six Flags Star Spangled Nights:
July 4-6, regular park hours, Six Flags New England. Daily tickets start at $35, sixflags.com/newengland/
Star Spangled Springfield: July 4, 6-10 p.m., Riverfront Park in Springfield. Free, spiritofspringfield.org/events/star-spangled-springfield
Independence Day Fireworks: July 5, 4-10 p.m., Beacon Field in Greenfield, with fireworks shot over Poet’s Seat Tower. Free, greenfieldrecreation.com/fireworks.html
Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show: July 8-13, most booths open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Brimfield. Parking cost varies by lot, brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com
Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival: July 11-12, Stearns Square in Springfield. Free, springfieldjazzfest.com
Free Music Fridays: MALADO!, July 11 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Free Music Fridays: Back In Black, July 18 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Springfield Dragon Boat Festival: July 19, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., North Riverfront Park in Springfield. Free for spectators, with optional $10 donation to support the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club, pvriverfront.org/
dragon-boat-festival
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival: July 19, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Look Park in Northampton. Tickets start at $32 regular admission with free onsite parking, glasgowlands.org
Free Music Fridays: Petty Larceny, July 25 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Hampden County 4-H Youth Fair: July 26, Mallary Complex, Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. More information to be posted online, hampdencounty4hyouthfair.org
Six Flags Food & Brew Festival: July 26-Aug. 10, regular park hours, Six Flags New England. Daily tickets start at $35, sixflags.com/ newengland/ August
Littleville Fair: Aug. 1, 4-10 p.m.; Aug. 2, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Aug. 3, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., 15 Kinnebrook Road in Chester. Admission is $10 adults and free for children, littlevillefair. com
Free Music Fridays: Below Deck, Aug. 1 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Brew at the Zoo: Aug. 2, 1:30-5 p.m., Zoo in Forest Park in Springfield. Tickets start at $55 general admission ($25 designated driver), forestparkzoo.org/brew Pocumtuck Homelands Festival: Aug. 2-3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Unity Park in Turners Falls. Free, nolum-
bekaproject.org
Free Music Fridays: Billy & The Jets, Aug. 8 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show: Aug. 8-9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Aug. 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Admission is $10 adults with $5 parking fee, mineralshowslld.com
Middlefield Fair: Aug. 8-10, Middlefield Fairgrounds, 7 Bell Road. Admission is $10 adults, $5 seniors 65+ and free for veterans and children under 12, middlefield.org
Free Music Fridays: Johnny Sixgun, Aug. 15 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com
Westfield Fair: Aug. 15-17, hours and events vary, 137 Russellville Road in Westfield. Tickets and more information to be posted online, thewestfieldfair.com
Art of Brewing Festival: Aug. 16, 1-4 p.m., Norman Rockwell Musuem at 9 Route 183 in Stockbridge. Tickets are $45 general admission, nrm.org/events/7th-annual-art-of-brewing-festival/ Cummington Fair: Aug. 21-24, Cummington Fairgrounds. Advance tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors 65+ and veterans/active military, $5 youth 10-15 and free for children under 10, cummingtonfair.com
Arlette and Matthew Pena enjoy a good time during a past Star Spangled Springfield event at Riverfront Park. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN, FILE)
Tess Plotkin and Lucy Griswold, of Washington D.C., dance to the music at the 10th annual Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival on July 21, 2023. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN, FILE)
Belle McIntrye, one of the drummers of the Glengarry Pipe Band based out of Maxville, Ontario, performs during last year’s Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival. (SOPHIE MARKHAM)
open unless it is fully soaking rain for the entire day or if it is below 60 degrees,” Martin said. “If a quick rainstorm comes through, we are able to move guests inside to our upstairs dining area which we do not seat for this exact reason. Once the rain passes, we dry off the tables and chairs and continue on with outdoor service. My personal record for the number of times we have moved people in, dried off tables and then moved back out for a single day is four!”
The beer garden also got a facelift in 2014, when the brewery did a major renovation by relocating the bar to allow for more seating and extended the small
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Free Music Fridays: Tramps Like Us, Aug. 22 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
Festa: Aug. 28-Sept. 1, Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ludlow. Hours vary. $3 admission, free on Aug. 31-Sept. 1, facebook.com/OLOFFesta/
Three County Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Three County Fair Fairgrounds in Northampton. Advance tickets start at $12 for single-day adult admission; multiday passes available, 3countyfair.com
Free Music Fridays: High Noon, Aug. 29 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
Blandford Fair: Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 10 North St. in Blandford. Hours and events vary. Admission is $10 adults, $5 seniors/veterans and free for kids 12 and under, theblandfordfair.com
September
Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show: Sept. 2-7, most booths open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Brimfield. Parking cost varies by lot, brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com
Franklin County Fair: Sept. 4-7, hours and events vary, Franklin
third level to create more dining space.
One aspect that some visitors might not be aware of is that the beer garden is totally accessible via an elevator and an outdoor lift. The indoor elevator (located near the garage-side of the bar) brings patrons upstairs near a door to the lower level of the beer garden, and a lift just outside allows patrons with limited mobility to get up to the bar level, if desired.
“Any of our staff would be happy to help our guests with the lifts,” Martin said. What does Martin personally like best about the beer garden?
“My favorite thing about the beer garden is that I get to work outside and because it is ‘vacation land,’ people are always happy to be here,” she said.
County Fairgrounds in Greenfield. Single-day tickets start at $15 adults, $10 youth and seniors, fcas.com
Free Music Fridays: Aquanett, Sept. 5 starting at 7:30 p.m., MGM Springfield Plaza. Free, mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com
Mattoon Street Arts Festival: Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., held on Springfield’s historic Mattoon Street. Free, mattoonfestival.org
Six Flags Oktoberfest: Select days starting Sept. 6, regular park hours, Six Flags New England. Daily tickets start at $35, sixflags. com/newengland/
The Big E: Sept. 12-28, Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Advance tickets start at $16 for adults, $10 children; 17-day value passes available, thebige. com
Springfield Puerto Rican Parade: Sept. 14, downtown Springfield, highlighting Latino music and traditions. More information to be posted online, springfieldpr parade.com
Belchertown Fair: Sept. 19-21, hours and events vary, 2 Park St. in Belchertown. Most events and activities free, passes must be purchased for the Midway, btownfair.com
Note: This is not a complete list. Dates and details of all listed events are subject to change. To list an event, email apotter@repub.com.
