History Bites: Frederick Law Olmstead
Friday, April 24th 2026 - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at The Bangs Community Center
70 Boltwood Walk
Amherst
To celebrate Frederick Law Olmsted’s 204th birthday weekend, the Amherst Historical Society welcomes Mark Roessler, recent author of “Fairsted, Reflections on how Olmsted helped heal a fractured democracy,” published by Levellers Press.
Roessler’s History Bite lecture will provide a brief overview of Olmsted’s work in Amherst and a video tour inside Olmsted’s home and office in Brookline, MA. He will conclude with the story of how Olmsted quit Central Park, vowing never to return to park design, and the journey he and his family went on that changed his mind.
In the last 30 years of his life, Olmsted helped design over 40 public parks across America and Canada. Some see this as the evolution of a successful career in landscape architecture.
Author Mark Roessler views Olmsted as propelled by an artistic vision. He had a radically compassionate plan to heal the nation and improve it by turning democratic principles into tangible destinations. Amidst forests, lakes, and meadows, Olmsted hoped to provide an antidote to modern living and a common ground where democracy could flourish. He and his firm were so successful, their contributions are now seen as integral and often taken for granted.
34th Annual Autism Conference
Thursday, April 30th 2026 - 8:00 am - 4:45 pm at Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel
One Monarch Place
Springfield
Great Falls Farmers Market
Saturday, May 2nd 2026 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Peskeompskut Park
Avenue A
Turners Falls
The Great Falls Farmers Market returns to Peskeompskut Park for our 30th season on Saturday, May 2nd. The market will be held in downtown Turners Falls every Saturday from May 2nd through October 31st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This year, you will find local produce (including veggie starts this spring), eggs, beef, pork, chicken, maple syrup, herbal products, and artisanal goods at the market.
To ensure our community gets the most out of our market, the market itself is a SNAP and Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) vendor. This means every eligible item at our market can be purchased with SNAP and HIP!
We will be hosting special guests and having event days throughout the season. Keep your eyes on our Facebook and Instagram (@greatfallsfarmersmarkettf) for updates during the season.
Applications to vend at the market are open all season, and we encourage anyone interested in vending to get in touch, whether it be for food, crafts, tag sale tables, or programming. We allow local community groups and young farmers/artists to vend for free. You can reach the market manager via email at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com or on social media.
Contact:
Market Manager at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com
4th Annual Audrey\\\’s Angels Craft Fair
Saturday, May 2nd 2026 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Mohawk High School
26 Ashfield Rd
Shelburne Falls
Come shop from over 50 unique crafters at the 4th Annual Audrey’s Angels Craft Fair. Items include jewelry, home decor, candles, blind date with a book, wood crafts, soaps, gift baskets, stained glass, pottery, hair accessories and more! Come shop for Mom with Mother’s Day around the corner. Lunch is available for purchase from Oakridge Detachment Marine Corp. Vendor fees benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in memory of Audrey Clark, a local resident who died in 2019 at the age of 25. There will be a drawing of donated vendor items that benefit the Mohawk Trail School’s Student Council.
Friends of the Montague Public Libraries Used Book Sale
Saturday, May 2nd 2026 - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Carnegie Library
201 Avenue A
Turners Falls
Paperback $0.50
Children’s books $0.25
DVDs & CDs $0.50
Puzzles $1.00
Spring Concert, Franklin County Community Chorus
Sunday, May 3rd 2026 - 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm at Greenfield High School
21 Barr Avenue
Greenfield
The Franklin County Community Chorus will raise voices and lift spirits at its 12th Spring Concert on Sunday, May 3rd at 3:00 PM at Greenfield High School.
Director Paul J. Calcari, who led the music program at GHS for 27 years, has planned a show commemorating 250 years of American history, since the country’s founding in 1776.
Calcari says of the program, “It’s about the spirit of America, the sound of America. It’s a celebration of us: who we are as a people and where we’ve been. It’s also about diversity, what it means to be an American. Because if you are not Native, your family immigrated here!”
Tickets may be purchased at the door via cash or Venmo: $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12. Parking is available at both the front and rear (Events) entrances to the building.
Senator’s Showcase
Thursday, May 7th 2026 - 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School
South Main Street
Orange
Free Admission – Open to the Public
Showcasing student work in: Makerspace*Woodworking*Art*Music*Theatre*Science*Athletics*JROTC
Live Music*Food Trucks & Games*Local Businesses and Organizations
Awards Ceremony at 7:00pm
Community Contra Dance
Friday, May 8th 2026 - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Buckland-Shelburne Community Center
53 Main Street
Shelburne Falls
Community Contra Dance Please join us for a free, family friendly Contra and Square dance at the Buckland-Shelburne Community Center 53 Main Street, Shelburne Falls, on Friday, May 8 from 6:30-8:30. All dances taught by caller Steve Howland. Music by Eric Buddington, Annika Amstutz, Becky Hollingsworth and friends. Admission is free (donations accepted) This program is supported by grants from the Buckland and Shelburne Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Great Falls Farmers Market
Saturday, May 9th 2026 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Peskeompskut Park
Avenue A
Turners Falls
The Great Falls Farmers Market returns to Peskeompskut Park for our 30th season on Saturday, May 2nd. The market will be held in downtown Turners Falls every Saturday from May 2nd through October 31st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This year, you will find local produce (including veggie starts this spring), eggs, beef, pork, chicken, maple syrup, herbal products, and artisanal goods at the market.
To ensure our community gets the most out of our market, the market itself is a SNAP and Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) vendor. This means every eligible item at our market can be purchased with SNAP and HIP!
We will be hosting special guests and having event days throughout the season. Keep your eyes on our Facebook and Instagram (@greatfallsfarmersmarkettf) for updates during the season.
Applications to vend at the market are open all season, and we encourage anyone interested in vending to get in touch, whether it be for food, crafts, tag sale tables, or programming. We allow local community groups and young farmers/artists to vend for free. You can reach the market manager via email at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com or on social media.
Contact:
Market Manager at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com
Great Falls Farmers Market
Saturday, May 16th 2026 - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Peskeompskut Park
Avenue A
Turners Falls
The Great Falls Farmers Market returns to Peskeompskut Park for our 30th season on Saturday, May 2nd. The market will be held in downtown Turners Falls every Saturday from May 2nd through October 31st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This year, you will find local produce (including veggie starts this spring), eggs, beef, pork, chicken, maple syrup, herbal products, and artisanal goods at the market.
To ensure our community gets the most out of our market, the market itself is a SNAP and Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) vendor. This means every eligible item at our market can be purchased with SNAP and HIP!
We will be hosting special guests and having event days throughout the season. Keep your eyes on our Facebook and Instagram (@greatfallsfarmersmarkettf) for updates during the season.
Applications to vend at the market are open all season, and we encourage anyone interested in vending to get in touch, whether it be for food, crafts, tag sale tables, or programming. We allow local community groups and young farmers/artists to vend for free. You can reach the market manager via email at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com or on social media.
Contact:
Market Manager at greatfallsfarmersmarketturners@gmail.com
