CIDERDAYS
Weekend festival features cider tastings, programming at local farms, breweries
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Apple lovers will travel throughout Franklin County in search of the perfect cider this weekend as CiderDays kicks off its three-day run on Friday.
The event — which unites professional cidermakers, interested tasters, novices and aficionados — features three days of tastings and special programming, from workshops to music to food of all kinds and other events from morning until night.
At one time, cider was the most popular drink in America. Colonists in early America planted cider apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony shortly after arriving onshore. According to mass.gov, hard apple cider made by artisans across Massachusetts is today undergoing a renaissance. Today, the locally made drink features a wide array of styles for every taste, depending on the variety of cider apple used.
“The renaissance of hard cidermaking, which declined in America during the 1900s, began over 30 years ago and had its roots right here in Franklin County,” said apple specialist, author and educator, and farmer Matt Kaminsky, better known as Gnarly Pippins, who today is one of several organizers of CiderDays.
Husband and wife duo Terry and Judith Maloney were among the first in the post-Prohibition era of the
Scenes from the Apex Orchards retail store at 225 Peckville Road in Shelburne, one of the venues taking part in Franklin County CiderDays.
Above, from left, a drink from the Brew Barn at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston; cider gala apples at Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield; and Jonathan Carr and Nicole Blum, co-owners of Carr’s Ciderhouse in Hadley. All are venues taking part in this weekend’s Franklin County CiderDays festival.
“The mission remains the same: to popularize the idea and culture of the tradition of hard cider making techniques and to teach them to other interested amateurs.”
MATT KAMINSKY, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF CIDERDAYS
American renaissance of hard cider to grow apples specifically for cidermaking and not for eating.
Today Field Maloney has taken over as primary cidermaker at West County Cider in Colrain, stepping up to help his mother after his father died in a tragic accident when a valve released on a tank of gas, critically injuring him.
His father was a doctor in the Baystate Franklin Medical Center emergency room for many years, and he met Maloney’s mother in California where she was making wine in Napa Valley.
They moved to Colrain in 1972, and Maloney was born the following year.
“My dad wanted to figure out a way to make something sustainable from the land. They couldn’t grow grapes, but they could grow cider apples,” he said.
In the early 1980s, no one was paying attention to hard cider and there was no tradition of hard cider making in the Hilltowns.
“My dad and mom were impressed by the idea that you could grow cider apples to make hard cider. At first, they could only make about 200 gallons a year by law,” Maloney said, explaining the number was limited unless you were a commercial operation.
In 1984, the family founded West County Cider, which made them a commercial operation.
“It was my parents, along with Charlie Olchowski and Paul Correnty, who organized the first CiderDays in 1994,” Maloney said.
Both cidermakers, Correnty had written a book entitled “The Art of Cider Making,”
Erin Robinson, orchard manager for Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, Vermont, works in the orchard. Located about an hour’s drive away from Springfield, the Vermont orchard is open for this weekend’s CiderDays festivities.
Not every venue is open all three days of the event. Check the CiderDays website, ciderdays.org, for more information on each venue, including its hours and programming.
which Olchowski provided the photographs for. CiderDays began 31 years ago with Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Greenwood Farm, Pine Hill Orchards, and West County Cider as the venues for the day. The event culmi-
nated with a bring-your-own tasting at the Maloney’s sampling room.
It was a way, as the CiderDays website explains, “to encourage the past Hilltown cider-making traditions and to sustain the nearby orchards, giving fermenters a chance to meet, talk, taste, and buy fresh-pressed, varietals and unadulterated ciders.”
Three decades later, CiderDays has grown to three days with a much larger audience attending the annual event, which was halted by COVID and returned in 2023.
“The mission remains the same: to popularize the idea and culture of the tradition of hard cider making techniques and to teach them to other interested amateurs. Today it continues as a showcase highlighting the good works that farmers are doing to keep the culture and the newest innovations in cidermaking alive,” Kaminsky said.
Among the participating venues for apple eating, cider tasting and education about the fruit and cider making are: Apex Orchards in Shel-
burne; Beaver Pond Distillery in Petersham; Berkshire Cider Project in North Adams; The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield; Cameron’s Winery and Cidery in Northfield; Carr’s Ciderhouse in Hadley; Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield; The Dirty
Truth in Northampton; Four Phantoms Brewery in Greenfield; Headwater Cider in Hawley; Meadow Forge Farm in Shelburne Falls; the Mill at Shelburne Falls; New Salem Preserves and Heritage Cider; Pine Hill Orchards in
(KRISTOPHER RADDER / THE BRATTLEBORO REFORMER VIA AP FILE)
A bag of apples at Apex Orchards in Shelburne Falls. (FREDERICK GORE PHOTO)
SEE CIDER, PAGE D5
‘Sinners’ is heading back to theaters for Halloween
‘KPop
Demon Hunters’ also getting big screen treatment
By T racy B rown Tribune News Service
No trick, just treats: Two of the year’s biggest movies are heading back to theaters for Halloween.
“Sinners” will be back in select Imax and Imax 70mm theaters for one week starting today. “KPop Demon Hunters” is also heading back to theaters for sing-along screenings for one weekend
Michael B. Jordan stars as twins Stack and Smoke in the film “Sinners,” returning to theaters for a special Halloween-time screening. SEE ‘SINNERS’, PAGE D12
‘Friendsgiving’ concert to serve as benefit for
Whole Children
THANKSGIVING might still be a few weeks away, but an event called “Friendsgiving” can’t come soon enough for a group of local musicians.
Northampton’s Friendship Band will host the firstof-its-kind Friendsgiving celebration on Nov. 3 at the Iron Horse Music Hall in
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
“We have folks with different disabilities, we have teachers in the classrooms, and then we have people from the community. We’re really trying to show and destigmatize some of the things we think about with disabilities through music.”
Amy Diehl, senior director of communications and development for ServiceNet
Top-charting Irish singer brings ‘Folk Threads’ to city
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
She will be joined at the John Boyle O’Reilly Club SPRINGFIELD
She’s topped the Irish charts with three No. 1 singles and a No. 1 album, but for Emer Dunne, performing in the U.S. is relatively new territory.
“Folk music and songs from Ireland, Scotland and America are deeply interconnected,” said the Irish folk singer, who will play the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield on Oct. 31 as part of her debut U.S. tour “Folk Threads.”
“Before modern travel or social media, these folk songs united communities far from home. That’s what I love about the music — it’s timeless, well loved, invites people to sing along and the music is now loved by all nationalities too, bringing us together.”
Northampton. The show will also feature the Soul Magnets.
The show is a benefit for Whole Children and Milestones, programs of ServiceNet, where people with disabilities take center stage and where the Friendship Band got its start. The Friendship Band brings together musicians both with and without disabilities to highlight music’s power to connect.
Over the past 10 years, the
band has built a loyal following with its mix of ages and abilities. The band has also notably collaborated with indie rock icons Yo La Tengo last year and played a set at the Transformance fundraiser at Northampton’s Look Park in August.
Amy Diehl, senior director of communications and development for ServiceNet, said the idea for the benefit came about from a combination of factors.
Irish folk singer Emer Dunne, along with her band, will play the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield on Oct. 31. (TERRY CONROY
Staying in for Halloween?
Cider
Colrain; Red Apple Farm in Phillipston; Ryan and Casey/ Cold River Package and Market in Greenfield; Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, Vermont; Shelburne Falls Cork; Stone Cellar Cidery in Worthington; and West County Cider in Shelburne.
Not every venue is open all three days of the event. Check the CiderDays website, ciderdays.org, for more information on each venue, including its hours and programming.
Kaminsky noted he is “thrilled” to see the return of the event’s Cider Salon at Scott Farm on Sunday after a five-year absence.
“It’s a really big deal. COVID took a toll on its infrastructure,” he said.
Salon tickets for tasting are $45 and available online at scottfarmvermont.com.
Here are the best shows to stream, from cute-scary
to actually scary
By K aitlyn Huamani Los Angeles Times
Halloween often translates into big plans. You could go see “Sinners” or “KPop Demon Hunters” which are both being re-released this weekend in theaters, you could head out to Six Flags’ Fright Fest, or you could dive into the bar party scene — the options are endless.
But if none of that sounds more appealing than curling up on your couch with a good show to watch and a bag of your favorite candy nearby, we’ve got you covered.
Seasonal and holiday-themed streaming is not a new phenomenon, and those services know audiences seek out all things supernatural, witchy or horrifying in October. There are several Halloween-themed hubs on streamers, like “Huluween,” “Netflix
& Chills” and Paramount+’s “Peak Screaming” that feature slates of horror-themed titles. Many collections tend to feature classics that you may have seen dozens of times, so if you’re looking for fresh spooks and scares, several recent releases well-suited for Halloween season are now available to stream.
Whether you revel in jump scares or prefer the monsters on your screen to be inanimate (and made out of sugar), there’s something for everyone to watch this spooky season.
For the true horror fans
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ (HBO Max)
The latest story to tackle Stephen King’s supernatural clown Pennywise is a television prequel series to the 2017 film “It” (and its 2019 follow-up, “It: Chapter Two”). Developed by Andy Muschietti, who directed the films, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, this season of the show is set in 1962
Located about one hour away from Springfield in Dummerston, Vermont, Scott Farm’s Cider Salon offers “cider lovers, cidermakers, enthusiasts and wine and craft beverage lovers” the opportunity to taste the offerings of 20 regional cideries, discover new producers and meet the makers.
One of the few ticketed events happening in conjunction with CiderDays, Cider
Kaminsky, better known among farmer friends as Gnarly Pippins, is holding his own event on Friday at the Williamsburg Grange Hall, where participants can see and taste a showcase of seedling apples and pears from all over the continent.
The program, the 6th annual Wild and Seedling Pomological Exhibition, is a unique opportunity to introduce novel and undocumented varieties of pome fruits to the public. Suggested donation is on a sliding scale of $10. Proceeds will benefit the Williamsburg Grange’s Historic Building Conservation Fund.
In addition to the hard cider, unique concoctions, and your run-of-the-mill apple cider being sold and served up for tasting, visitors will find something different going on at the more than 20 CiderDays locations.
And, if you want to visit where it all began, West County Cider will be offering cider tastings, lectures, and “The 50 Mile (View) Cider Share,” a throwback to the early CiderDays tradition when amateur and professional cidermakers share bottles and talk shop. Cost to attend the cider share is $5. For more information on West County Cider, and days and times of its weekend events, visit westcounty cider.com.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849 431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15
Open Seating
2 Halls for Players
Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm.
Minimum Admission $50
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus
1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
Fresh apple cider sold at Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN FILE)
Chris Chalk co-stars in the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, “It: Welcome to Derry” streaming on HBO Max. (BROOKE PALMER / HBO MAX / TNS)
HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY
Improv theater doubles
in
size with long-awaited expansion
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
HADLEY — Pam Victor’s dreams are coming to fruition with the opening of a new state-of-the-art theater for her improv comedy company.
What began as an experiment in 2014 to see if she could make a living doing what she loved, Happier Valley Comedy is now a space that offers comedy shows, classes and profes-
sional development courses.
Victor, self-described “Head of Happiness” and founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy, has been operating out of 1 Mill Valley Road since 2015. She is joined by a small but mighty team: Scott Braidman, managing and artistic director, and Maddy Benjamin, program manager and “Facilitator of Fun.”
The biggest problem over the years has been a lack of space. The old facility is comprised of only a 1,000-square-foot theater and a 300-square-foot classroom.
The new Dream Theater is an expansion of Happier Valley Comedy’s current space and was formerly the home of a dance studio next door.
“It’s really bare bones. It’s lovely and cozy, but when you compare it to a traditional improv theater, it’s a little bit different,” Victor said of the
old quarters. “And most importantly, it hasn’t been fully accessible.”
The building has always been ADA compliant, Victor noted, but the old stage was raised off the floor, and there was no room to install a ramp.
Accommodations have been made over the years, rearranging the room for guests who haven’t been able to climb steps, but now, they’ll be able to get on and off the stage with ease.
“What I am most excited about in terms of moving into this larger, more professional, really beautiful theater space is that the space we’re going to be performing in will now match the quality of the work that we’ve been doing all along,” Benjamin said.
The new space is double the size of their original theater.
“Our big guiding principle has been not to make decisions exclusively
based on French fries, but besides that, the sky was the limit,” Victor said.
The expansion was made possible through a Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund Capital Grant of $115,000, which Happier Valley Comedy needed to match.
“Our community really rose to the occasion to help us reach that milestone and unlock that money,” Victor said.
Integrity Development and Construction of Amherst and architect Tom Douglas, of Thomas Douglas Architects of Northampton, were putting the final touches on the expansion before a sold-out grand-opening celebration held on Oct. 25.
“I’m a little pond person,” Victor
Scott Braidman, artistic director of Happier Valley Comedy in Hadley, has overseen the renovation of the new theater that can seat 74 people. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
said. “I think it’s nice to be a big fish in a little pond because you can make a big difference in a community, and I think that doing what Happier Valley Comedy does is like dropping a pebble in that pond.”
More funding needed
Even as shows will be held Friday and Saturday nights in the new theater, fundraising continues to make further improvements to the space.
Those improvements include upgrading lighting and sound equipment and getting more variety of movable seats to accommodate different-sized bodies. More renovations will also be made to the old theater to make it a cozier, more welcoming space.
“The original theater space will become, on show nights, a lobby,” Victor said.
Another big focus of fundraising for 2025 is making Happier Valley Comedy’s equity fund more sustainable, Victor said.
The fund is not based on financial need, but instead is meant to reimburse Black, Indigenous people of color BIPOC for “the extra effort it takes to work in a predominantly white space,” according to the Happier Valley Comedy website.
The Equity Fund offers discounted program fees to BIPOC-identifying people, offering them up to 100% off any class or workshop. No
Above, pictures hang on the wall of the various classes Happier Valley Comedy in Hadley has held over the years. At right, Pam Victor, director of Happier Valley Comedy, accepts her 2019 Arts & Humanities Award from NPR’s TV Critic Eric Deggans at the New England Public Radio Arts & Humanities Awards celebration. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN; ED COHEN PHOTO)
questions are asked, and a promotional code to receive equity pricing is open to all who need it.
“We’ll continue it no matter what, whether it’s sustainable or not, but it helps us,” Victor said. “It helps support our little nonprofit and it makes our community a better place.”
More information about
Happier Valley Comedy programs, shows, and classes can be found on the company’s website, where you can sign up for a newsletter. Donations
to support the Equity Fund can also be done online. The next round of improv classes opens for registration Oct. 31.
“I think it’s nice to be a big fish in a little pond because you can make a big difference in a community, and I think that doing what Happier Valley Comedy does is like dropping a pebble in that pond.”
PAM VICTOR, HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY
“It’s where we welcome in new members and we turn muggles into improvisers,” Victor said.
Above and at left are photos from inside Happier Valley Comedy’s newly renovated and expanded theater in Hadley. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
Shows
during the Cold War and centers on a group of schoolchildren in Maine. Fear of nuclear war is not the only thing haunting the town of Derry — a child has gone missing and a mysterious and dangerous force threatens the town.
Times television critic Robert Lloyd praised the young actors at the center of the show who form a “company of junior investigators” reminiscent of the movies and hit series “Stranger Things.” He also noted the body horror, especially in two “monstrous” birth sequences, providing an adequate scare, and there’s a “modicum of well-done fright effects.”
“That ‘Welcome to Derry’ is more of a cheesy B-picture than its makers might like to imagine, assembled from worked-over tropes — somewhat excusable for King having originated many of them — is more in its favor than not,” Lloyd wrote in his review. “TV remains a haven for cheesiness. Long may it remain so.”
For those who can tolerate creepy crawly scares
‘Nightmares of Nature’ (Netflix)
Blumhouse, a production company known for horror franchises like “Paranormal Activity,” “Insidious” and “The Purge,” is behind this nature documentary that takes a horror-like approach to the great outdoors. The series, which is narrated by Maya Hawke, features traditional elements of a nature documentary, but there’s also suspenseful music, jump scares and a narrative structure that you’d expect from a traditional horror movie.
“Nature is full of wonder and beauty. But for the creatures who live out in the wild, it’s also full of monsters,” Hawke says in the opening episode. “And the sooner you figure that out, the better your chances are of staying alive.”
The show takes on the perspectives of prey fighting for survival from predators. The first season, titled “Cabin in the Woods,” followed a mouse, a raccoon and a bullfrog. The
second season, which premieres Tuesday, is called “Lost in the Jungle,” and it follows the journeys of an opossum, an iguana and a jumping spider in the Central American rainforest. It goes without saying, but this series is not for anyone afflicted with arachnophobia.
For mystery lovers
‘Down Cemetery Road’ (Apple TV)
This British crime drama is led by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson as a tough private investigator, and that alone is probably enough convincing anyone would need to tune in.
Thompson plays Zoë Boehm, who investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding an explosion in Oxford.
Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson), an Oxford art conservationist who lives in the neighborhood where the explosion happened, enlists help from Zoë and her husband, Joe Silverman (Adam Godley), when she believes a young girl who survived the blast has been kidnapped. Looking into the situation reveals a complex web of conspiracies and corruption, making for a gripping story.
The Apple TV series is based on the novel of the same name by Mick Herron, who also wrote the novels that have been adapted into “Slow Horses.” Morwenna Banks, a writer on “Slow Horses,” adapted “Down Cemetery Road,” writing and executive producing the series. The first two episodes of the series premiere
Wednesday and subsequent episodes will release weekly.
For those who are more into treats than tricks
‘The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Halloween’ (Roku Channel) and ‘Is It Cake? Halloween’ (Netflix)
If you can’t stomach the gore and anxiety in a typical Halloween show or movie, you will enjoy a lighter ride with an upbeat baking show. British baking icons Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood judge this one-hour special of “The Great American Baking Show,” and it’s hosted by actors Casey Wilson and Andrew Rannells. Not only do you get to see some adorable Halloween-themed baked goods as they’re being prepared, but the bakers behind them are comedians Patton Oswalt, Rachel Dratch, Leslie Jones and Adam Pally. Their technique might not be
exemplary, but the laughs are as they go through a series of baking challenges, including creating a treat based on one of their fears. The special is free to stream with ads on Roku. If you’re looking for some creepy baked goods that are not made by novices, “Is It Cake? Halloween” delivers on the hyperrealism. In this new season of the series, which is hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Mikey Day, nine bakers who specialize in creating lifelike baked goods compete for a cash prize. A host of celebrity judges have to decide whether they’re seeing an elaborate cake or Halloween decor like a jack-o-lantern, a black cat and a gargoyle.
For those who think real life is scarier than fiction ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ (Hulu), ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ (Peacock) and ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ (Netflix) There have been a host of true-crime dramas released ahead of Halloween, each based on horrifying real stories. Two of the dramas that recently hit streamers, “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” and “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” follow crimes you have surely heard of before. “Murdaugh” chronicles the lives and many mysteries surrounding a prominent South Carolina family and legal dynasty. The case developed a cult-like following when patriarch Alex Murdaugh was on trial for the murder of his wife Maggie and son Paul,
all while years’ worth of financial crimes he committed were surfacing.
Meanwhile, “Devil in Disguise” unpacks the crimes of Gacy, known as one of America’s most prolific serial killers. While it touches on Gacy’s life before he killed at least 33 young men and boys, the show focuses on the victims, their families and the investigators who cracked this haunting case.
Times news and culture critic Lorraine Ali wrote that while the real-life stories these series are based on are “oft-trod,” there’s still value in the dramatizations. “Spanning eight episodes each, both series explore the circumstances that gave rise to horrific crimes — from dynastic hubris, corruption and greed to societal prejudice and lazy law enforcement,” Ali wrote.
While Ed Gein may have been a less recognizable name before the third installment of “Monsters,” his haunting story is likely familiar. Gein, known as the Butcher of Plainfield, and the murders he committed provided fodder for several classic horror movies, including “Psycho,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” Charlie Hunnam takes on the titular role in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s crime anthology series. The debut season centered on Jeffrey Dahmer (played by Evan Peters) and its sophomore season focused on the Menendez brothers (Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch).
Emma Thompson in “Down Cemetery Road” on Apple TV. (MATT TOWERS / APPLE TV+ / TNS)
THURSDAY
Member Double Discount Days: Thu.-Sun., Smith College Museum of Art, through Sunday, Nov. 2, for Member Double Discount Days at the SCMA shop. Museum members get 20% off purchases by showing their valid SCMA Membership Card. The SCMA Shop is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. This sale is also online. Smith College students can get the same discount using their student ID. Not a member, or not sure if you are a member? Email scmamembers@smith.edu. Join or renew today to get your discount. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton, 413-585-2760 or www.scma.smith.edu.
Spooktacular Ball for All: Thu., 7 p.m., Blue Room at CitySpace. Dress code is terrifyingly glam; come in your eeriest costume or come dressed to the nines. The night includes snacks and refreshments, artmaking and raffles, a costume contest, dancing and drag and more. All proceeds raised benefit Resilient Community Arts. The first hour of the ball will require masking, and masking is strongly encouraged for the duration of the event. Take a virtual tour of the venue online at cityspace easthampton.org/virtualtour/, $25. 43 Main St., Easthampton. Storrowton Village Ghost Tours: Thu., Storrowton Village Museum. Do ghosts live at Storrowton? Find out about paranormal investigations in the Village then take a self-guided tour of the museum buildings with Village staff and volunteers hearing stories of unexplained occurrences. This year, each Ghost Tour guest will receive an informational booklet to help you on your-self guided tour. Ghost Tours are approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours long and are recommended for ages 12 and up. Photography will be allowed on certain parts of the tour. No video is allowed. Dress in layers and wear sensible shoes. Ghost Tours are not wheelchair accessible and include walking up and down stairs. Visit easternstatesexposition.com for tickets, $30. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.
FRIDAY
Member Double Discount Days: See Thursday listing
Saturday
CitySpace Bluegrass - Pickers, Singers, & Strummers: Sat., Blue Room at CitySpace, 4 p.m. Bluegrass musician David Clark Carroll and CitySpace presents CitySpace Bluegrass, a monthly bluegrass jam designed to bring
CALENDAR
the community together in the spirit of music, joy, and good old-fashioned fun. CitySpace Bluegrass will light up the first Saturday of every month from 4–7 p.m. in the heart of downtown Easthampton during Art Walk, Free. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
Eastworks Open Studios: Sat., 10-4 p.m.; Sun., 10-5 p.m., Eastworks, Explore four floors of creativity, community, and inspiration. Discover more than 40 artist studios, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations inside Eastworks. Meet celebrated creators, learn about your favorite artist’s process, view works in progress, participate in hands-on workshops, purchase one-of-a-kind items, or stop by a restaurant or food truck for a bite to eat. This event is free and open to the public, Free. 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton; 413527-1000 or http://eastworks. com/.
Everyday Astrology Workshop: Sat., 1:30 p.m. Healing Hands of Light Spiritualist Church, presented by Amy Vickers. Learn how to use simple astrological tools to guide everyday decisions, and discover how moon cycles, planetary movements, and retrogrades can help you choose the best times to start projects, plan events, reflect, or recharge. Free & accessible astrology resources to keep you aligned. Handicapped accessible, $25. 465 Granby Road, Chicopee.
Kid Mart!: Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. High Five Books. Families are invited to come shop our patio full of kid makers, tinkerers, crafters, and artists. Come support the region’s youngest entrepreneurs as they make & sell handmade art, wearables, decor, treats, & more. There will be two groups of sellers from 10 a.m.-noon and from 2-4 p.m.
St., Agawam, 413-821-0604.
SUNDAY
Fright night
The monsters are still out at Six Flags New England in Agawam as Fright Fest continues for a final scare weekend. Park hours are from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, with Fright Fest starting at 6 p.m. each night.
sales final. Kid Mart is a
or shine event, free. 141 North
Member Double Discount Days: See Thursday listing
Tiny Pop-Up Market: Sat., 4 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace. Mini PopUp Markets are held on the first Saturday of the month from 4-7 p.m. during CitySpace Bluegrass and Art Walk Easthampton, Free. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
Tour of Old Town Hall: Sat., Blue Room at CitySpace, 4-7 p.m. Learn about the history of the historic municipal and learn about its current and upcoming restoration projects. While you are at Old Town Hall check out the gallery exhibitions at the Elusie and ECA galleries, CitySpace Bluegrass and the tiny pop-up market. The tour is free and open to the public, Free. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
yWrite Conference: Sat., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Agawam Senior Center. The theme of this year’s conference is “yWrite Your Story Your Way!” Open to beginner and experienced writers, this in-person, all-day conference will offer guidance on a variety of topics. Participants can choose from a morning class on memoir writing or learn to write Legacy Letters with members of the International Women’s Writing Guild. Lunch with keynote speaker and veteran western Mass. journalist G. Michael Dobbs is included in the conference registration fee of $79. More information is available at yWrite on Facebook. Vendors and many yWrite podcast guests will have books, gifts, and items for sale. The day will conclude with an Open Mic and raffles. Register online at www.y-write.com or at www. eventbrite.com. Save $10 with promo code WMASS413. 954 Main
Close Encounters with Music: Sun., 4 p.m. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, “The Golem,” The Avalon String Quartet. Tickets are $35 balcony and $60 orchestra seating. 14 Castle St., Great Barrington. 413-528-0100 or www.mahaiwe. org
Eastworks Open Studios: See Saturday listing
Member Double Discount Days: See Thursday listing
Sunday Live Music: Sun., 2 p.m. Tangle Chocolate Lounge. Every Sunday features different artists performing for your pleasure from 2-4 p.m., including Martha Grinnell, Louise Coombe, Matt Emmer, The Lonesome Brothers, Don Chiulli, Stephen Katz, Luke Deroy and more. Free. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg.
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit springfield museums.org;.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem,” through Nov. 2 The exhibition explores how the first instance witchcraft hysteria in the American colonies influenced the early history of the city and how the conversation continues today. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: Museum a la Carte. Oct. 30, 12:15 p.m. “Colonial Witch Trials in the Connecticut River Valley: Interwoven Threads of Panic.” Cost: $4, free for members. Presented by Beth M. Caruso, author, researcher, and co-founder, CT WITCH Memorial.
Springfield Science Museum: “Reputation: Under the Stars in the Seymour Planetarium.” Fri, Sat, and Sun. at 4 p.m. The show features the original recordings from Taylor Swift’s 2017 album “Reputation” and dazzling effects created by a full-dome projector. Permanent exhibit: State-of-the-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First-
floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia.
Quadrangle admission: $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Museums
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Hours: Thur.-Tues., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Wed. Admission: $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members/infants free. 29 S. Broad St., Westfield or ameliapark museum.org
Anchor House of Artists: Free public receptions on the second Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. For more information, email artists@ anchorhouseartists.org, go online to anchorhouseartists.org, or call 413-588-4337. 518 Pleasant St., Northampton.
Edith Wharton: The Mount: Outdoor Sculpture: “Sculpture at the Mount.” Through Oct. Free and open to the public, 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or www.edithwharton.org.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. “The Art of Grace Lin: Meeting A Friend in an Unexpected Place,” through Jan. 4. Included with general admission, “Cooking with Eric Carle,” through Aug. 23, 2026. “Open + Shut: Celebrating the art of Endpapers,” through Nov. 9. Guest Curated by Bruce Handy. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.
Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 46 Bridge St., Northampton or www.historicnorthampton.org.
Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members. 70 Park St., West
All
rain
Main St., Florence.
Calendar
Springfield, 413-734-8322.
Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thurs. and Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 S. Pleasant St., Amherst or www. amherst.edu.
Mount Holyoke College Art Museum: “Anni’s Orchestra: Theme and Variation in the Prints of Anni Albers.” Through Dec. 9. Lower Lake Road, South Hadley or www. mtholyoke.edu.
New England Air Museum: “Astronaut Adventures: A Virtual Conversation with Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise,” Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-noon. A STEAM4SPACE program, with retired astronaut Haise in conversation with founder Logan Jaeren. In-person and at-home tickets are both available. For more information, visit neam.ticketing. veevartapp.com/tickets/view/ list/astronaut-adventures-a-vir tual-conversation-with-apollo-13-astronaut-fred-h. 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks or www. neam.org.
Norman Rockwell Museum: Online Exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” “Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth, and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection,” through Jan. 4. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www. nrm.org.
Old Sturbridge Village: “For the Purpose of Illumination.” Learn how New Englanders needed, used and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era. Included with standard daytime general admission. Standard daytime admission is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (55+), $15 for youth (4-17), $15 for college students (with a valid college ID), and free for children 3 and under. Route 20, Sturbridge or www.osv.org.
Pan African Historical Museum USA: Permanent exhibit: Exhibitions by local artists. Hours: Tues.Fri. noon-4 p.m. Free. 1500 Main St., Springfield, 413-733-1823. Polish Center of Discovery and Learning: Permanent exhibit: a living monument safeguarding historical objects representative of the material culture of the Polish people in America. Galleries include “Coming to America”; “At Home in America”; “Folk Art”; “History.” The Polish Center is open to the public daily, Mon.-Fri, 1-5 p.m., except for inclement weather and holidays. Other times may be scheduled by appointment. $5
Conversation with an astronaut
New England Air Museum will host a virtual conversation with retired NASA astronaut Fred Haise, who served on the Apollo 13 crew, on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit the museum’s website at neam.org.
donation, 33 South St., Chicopee or www.polishcenter.net.
Smith College Museum of Art: Permanent exhibits: “Ancient World Gallery, Beyond the Museum: Art on Smith’s Campus.” Hours: Tues.Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is free to all. “SCMA Exhibition “A City in Flux: Reflecting on Venice,” through March 22. “Michel Kameni: Portraits of an Independent Africa,” through Jan. 4. SCMA Exhibition “Crafting Worlds,” through Aug. 23. This installation explores how artisans in Japan utilized materials and handcrafted techniques to forge social relationships and engage with the world around them. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or www.scma. smith.edu.
Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or www.nps.gov/spar.
Stockbridge Center: “Rockwell’s Stockbridge Walking Tours,” Nov. 1, 3 p.m. This tour does not take place at the Museum. Tour groups will meet on Main Street. Transportation to Main Street from the Museum is not provided. Take a guided walking tour of downtown Stockbridge and discover how the town and its inhabitants both inspired Norman Rockwell and appeared in some of his most iconic works of art. Explore the history of this 1734 village–including its Mohican origins. Event is rain or shine. $20. Main Street, Stockbridge
Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with house tours at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission to the library and historic houses is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and free to children under 12 and WHS members. Visitors are free to browse the museums tore and exhibit galleries at no charge. 96 Palisade Ave., Windsor or www. windsorhistoricalsociety.org.
Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit www.wistariahurst.org. Standard admission: $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke.
featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413-543-3321.
Jasper Rand Art Museum: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 6 Elm St., Westfield or www.westath.org.
LAVA Center: LAVA Silent Art Auction: Andy Rothschild feautred artist, through Dec. 20. “Anna Bayles Arthur, Selected Paintings,” through Oct. 324 Main St., Greenfield
Oxbow Gallery: “Caren Hyde: The Long Twilight - Paintings and Drawings Inspired by Iceland,” Oct. 30 - Nov. 30. Hours: Thu., noon-5 p.m.; Fri, 2-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon5 p.m. 40 Cottage St., Easthampton or www.oxbowartgallery.com.
Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students. 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or www. titanic1.org.
University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The University Museum is open through May 1, Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat.Sun., noon-4 p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, umass. edu
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: Guided tours of the first and second floors. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17 and free for children 4 or younger. 104 Walker St., Lenox or www.gildedage.org.
Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Volleyball Hall of Fame: Open Tues.-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Mon. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to close. $8 adults; $5 seniors 65 and older; $5 students, active and retired military; and free for children 12 and under. Group rates also available online. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or www.volleyhall.org.
Windsor Historical Society: Permanent exhibit:explore the people, places and events that have shaped Windsor for over four centuries.
Yiddish Book Center: Exhibit: “Albert Chasan: Painting His Parents Lives,” through Oct. Free, suggested $12 donation. “Yiddish: A Global Culture.” Free. Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” Center open to the public on Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or www. yiddishbookcenter.org.
Galleries
A.P.E. Gallery: “How to Bear the Unbearable Body” The Artwork of Emily Orling, through Nov. 1. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sun. 12 - 5 p.m., Fri. 12 - 8 p.m., closed Mon. & Tues. Free. Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. noon-8 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. 126 Main St., Northampton or www. apearts.org.
Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258.
Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Perspectives” by Rochelle Shicoff and Diane Steingart. Through Nov. 1. Gallery hours: Thurs.-Sun. 2-7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413256-4250.
Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: “Beyond the Horizon: Recent Paintings by Cameron Schmitz.” Through Nov. 1. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Artists Reception, Oct. 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. 238 Bridge St., Northampton or www. hopeandfeathersframing.com
Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month
R. Michelson Galleries: “36th Annual Children’s Illustration Celebration,” The opening reception will take place on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 4-6 p.m. Come meet your favorite illustrators and authors in one place. The Eric Carle Museum will be on hand selling books and, as always, this event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Free. 132 Main St., Northampton or www.michelson.com.
Storrs Library: “Alice Faith Willard: Artist, Teacher, and Pioneer.” Through Nov. 7. 693 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow or 413-565-4181.
Trinity United Methodist Church: “The Pleasant View Artist Group Exhibit,” through Oct. 31. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Exceptional artwork in oil, acrylic, pencil, watercolor, dry pastel and oil pastel will be displayed. “Scantic River Artisans Exhibit,” Nov. 1-30. Open Mon.-Fri, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 413-218-7391 for more information. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield.
Outdoors
Great Falls Discovery Center: Great Hall exhibit: “Day of the Dead Altar,” through Nov. 2. View a Day of the Dead altar built by local families with support from the Heartwing Center. Learn about the tradition of leaving messages of love to honor and commemorate loved ones. For all ages. “Nice & Easy Walks,” Oct. 30, 10-11 a.m. Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance. Free. Kidleidoscope Story Hour. Oct. 31: “Night Animals,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Program
‘Threads’
by her band, composed of Eamonn Moran on guitar and Shane Meehan on fiddle.
“I decided on ‘Folk Threads,’ as the show threads together Irish folk songs that originate mainly from Ireland but also some from Scotland and America,”
Dunne said, adding that the show will include classic Irish ballads as well as more contemporary music, including “something from Springsteen.”
“The name reflects combining songs from different places and times. It’s about connecting audiences with history, emotion and the en-
“I wanted to provide the Irish community with the opportunity to reconnect with some Irish roots and I wanted to bring our ‘Folk Threads’ show to places where audiences would really connect with the stories and songs, and Springfield felt like a perfect fit.”
Emer Dunne
ergy of folk music,” she said.
Dunne has received numerous accolades overseas, with Mark Lysaght of Irish Music Magazine writing “There is a purity and strength in her voice. A hugely impressive production.”
Her latest album, 2021’s “Hourglass,” reached the top position on the Official Irish Charts, while singles from that album — “Daisy” and “Wild Mountain Thyme”
— became No. 1 hits on the Irish iTunes Charts.
Along with her original music, Dunne has covered songs made famous by other artists, including Coldplay’s “Fix You,” Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Cohen’s management team praised her for her cover of the 1984 hit, calling it one of their favorite renditions of the song.
Though this is her debut U.S. tour, Dunne toured
Say bye to the animals (for
The Zoo at Forest Park in Springfield is having its final weekend before the season closes to the public on Nov. 2. Hours are Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admission at 3:30, weather permitting. The zoo will reopen in the spring. Above, goats are fed, and at right is Goostopher the Canada goose. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO)
Ireland in 2023 and 2024 with renowned folk band
The Fureys, and has toured across Australia with The High Kings.
The Pioneer Valley’s “strong Irish community” and “Irish pride” are what made the John Boyle O’Reilly Club a perfect stop on her U.S tour, Dunne said.
“I wanted to provide the Irish community with the opportunity to reconnect with some Irish roots and
I wanted to bring our ‘Folk Threads’ show to places where audiences would really connect with the stories and songs, and Springfield felt like a perfect fit,” she said. “I’ve also heard great things about the John Boyle O’Reilly Club and the enthusiasm of the Irish music scene there, so it made sense to include it in the tour.”
Tickets to the Oct. 31 show, starting at $28.52, are available by calling Ryan Wells at 413-315-0592 or by going online to Eventbrite.com.
“I’m bringing two fantastic musicians with me, and it will be a Halloween night to remember, something different from the usual spooky events... but nothing to be scared of,” Dunne joked.
includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Siblings and friend’s welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. “Wildlife Costume Day,” Oct. 31, 10 a.m.—6 p.m. Happy Halloween. Stop by the Center to show staff your wildlife-themed Halloween costume. Take a selfie with a moose. Enjoy a treat at the welcome desk. Don’t forget to stop by the Center before the annual Turners Falls Rag Shag Parade begins. The parade starts at 5 p.m. at the nearby 2nd Street parking lot and ends at Unity Park. Sponsored by the Montague Parks and Recreation Department. For all ages. Meet at the welcome desk. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www.greatfalls ma.org.
Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Visitor Center open Daily. Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Interpretive exhibits explore the park story through artifacts and displays. Trail maps, hike guidance, 13-minute orientation film, bathrooms, drinking water available. Wheelchair accessible. “Scenic Summit Tours,” Sat. 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. through Nov. All ages. Short guided walk along easy paths. Explore the highest point in Massachusetts, its cultural landscape and unique ecology. Wheelchair accessible. 20-30 min. duration. Meet at the summit relief map. “Leaf Peepin’ in the Park,” Sun.
through Nov., noon-3 p.m. For all ages. Get your autumn scavenger hunts and fall foliage activity packet for the kids at the Visitor Center! This is a self-guided activity or may be led by a Park Interpreter, and supplies are limited. “Nature Scavenger Hunt,” Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invited you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough.
Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center Exhibits. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee; programs are free. 107 McAuley Road, North Adams.
Markets
Amherst Farmers Market: Sun. through Nov. 15, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Boltwood Avenue and Spring Street, Amherst
Northampton Farmers Market: Sat. through Nov. 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 8 Gothic St., Northampton The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to www.masslive.com/myevent
‘Sinners’
from Friday, Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.
Ryan Coogler’s R-rated horror film stars Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown to open up a juke joint for their community with money and liquor they acquired while working for the mob in Chicago. Their opening night jamboree is a hit but things take a turn when an Irish immigrant vampire comes a-knockin’.
The bloody, musical, genre-bending movie exceeded initial box office projections and has grossed $366.7 million so far. Audiences flocked to see the film as Coogler intended in Imax 70mm during its brief initial run in the premium format.
Those interested in seeing “Sinners” in Imax may have to drive — theaters offering it
Live Wire
“We have been trying to do a fundraiser at the Iron Horse, and it looked like November was a good month for them to slot us in,” she said. “And part of the idea for the show is to always do it with another band. So, we came up with the idea of Friendsgiving as a way to do it every year.”
Diehl said the event has had a really good reception from the community, so she hopes Whole Children can keep growing it and get different musicians every year.
“It already feels successful, so we hope to continue to do it each year because there are so many fantastic musicians in this area we can collaborate with,” she said.
The name Friendship Band came from when Whole Children first applied for a grant to fund a music project.
“As I understood it, the grant was about building community, so the concept was that we were bringing in folks of all abilities,” Diehl said. “So, we have folks with different
include Plainville, Connecticut; Danbury, Connecticut; Milford, Connecticut; and in Randolph and Somerville.
Netflix’s smash hit “KPop Demon Hunters” is also a musical monster movie, but of the much more family-friendly variety. The animated movie follows a popular K-pop girl group whose members wield their songs (and magical weapons) to help protect the world from demons. The popularity of “KPop Demon Hunters” prompted Netflix to take the unusual step of giving the movie a limited theatrical run weeks after its streaming premiere.
The sing-along version of “KPop Demon Hunters” can be found closer to home at Cinemark theaters in West Springfield, Hadley and Manchester, Connecticut.
Those who can’t wait for the event can watch the sing-along version of “KPop Demon Hunters” on Netflix.
disabilities, we have teachers in the classrooms, and then we have people from the community. We’re really trying to show and destigmatize some of the things we think about with disabilities through music.”
The sprawling diversity of the players, combined with the excitement of the players, makes the band a special treat to see, Diehl said.
“I’ve seen them play a bunch of times, and first and foremost what I like is that they are a rock ’n’ roll band. They always bring total rock ’n’ roll energy wherever they play,” she said. “They’re also a larger band, so you have multiple singers, and you have a bunch of people playing different instruments, so it’s fun to see the energy they bring, which is amazing.”
The group plays an assortment of cover tunes, but they also do their own songs.
“It’s really eye-opening to see what is possible. They’re very inspiring,” Diehl said. “To see this band get the crowd growing going and see what is possible — it’s just electrifying.”
Thanksgiving Boneless Breast Feast
- Stuffed or Unstuffed Boneless Turkey Breast
- Homemade Sausage Stuffing with Herbs, Onions, & Celery
- Cranberry Sauce
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar
- Fresh Turkey Gravy
- Dinner Rolls
Traditional Whole Turkey Feast
- Choice of One Pie: Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan, Chocolate Cream
- Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey
- Homemade Sausage Stuffing with Herbs, Onions, & Celery
- Cranberry Sauce
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar
- Fresh Turkey Gravy
- Dinner Rolls
- Choice of One Pie: Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan, Chocolate Cream - Garlic Mashed Potatoes............ $45/pan - String Bean Almondine ............. $45/pan
- Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar
- Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
- Homemade Sausage Stuffing
- Turkey Gravy
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Orders must be placed by Monday, Novemeber 24th and picked up by Wednesday, November 26 at 4pm. To order