Annual Events

Held at Beacon Field and other locations in town, it features a downtown ice sculpture contest, ice skating, XC skiing, cardboard sled contest, and other winter activities. Greenfield Recreation Department. 772-1553, greenfieldrecreation.com

Annual run, ride, paddle, ski sporting event in Charlemont. http://www.berkshirehighlandsevents.com/

A self-guided driving tour of clay studios in western Massachusetts. asparagusvalleypotterytrail.com

Travel back in time and rediscover the history behind the Patriot’s Day holiday and the “shot heard round the world.” Revolutionary times will come to life through demonstrations of period crafts and activities, fife and drum music, and a parade and muster. 413-774-5581  historic-deerfield.org

Zany antics characterize this Athol to Orange race with over 300 canoes. riverratrace.com

Operated by First Light Power. Viewing facility for watching anadromous fish such as shad and the occasional Atlantic salmon as they make their way up the Connecticut River to spawn. Open from early May through the middle of June. It is located behind the Town Hall in Turners Falls. 659-3714 http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org/fish-ladder/

Three nights of wooded camping and music on the grounds of Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, https://www.strangecreekcampout.com/

Lavender, labyrinth, local crafts, workshops and demonstrations. Buckland. 
413-522-9068, lavenderland.com

Held at the end of June at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, the festival features nationally known musicians, craft vendors, local food and family fun. www.greenriverfestival.com

Enjoy the beautiful old-fashioned cars, vendors, & food. South Deerfield, 877-636-7707

Music, food, vendors and fireworks display (fired from Poet’s Seat Tower). Held at Beacon Field in Greenfield. 413-772-1553, greenfieldrecreation.com

This 8K race attracts Olympic caliber runners. 413-834-3477, https://www.shelburnefalls.com

Seven dirt-road bike courses ranging in length from a 12 mile Family Ride to the 180K challenging course. All routes begin at Old Deerfield and thread through agricultural land and forests. The short course has a flat run up the Green River valley, whereas the long course is regarded as perhaps the hardest century ride in the world. Benefits Franklin Land Trust. 413-625-9151, http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/d2r2

Bike, swim and run event. Sprint, international, and team divisions. 413-772-1553, greenfield-triathlon.com

Held in Heath, this fair offers music, arts, crafts, needlework, baked goods and flowers. Featured events include the horse and oxen draws, fireworks and barbeque. heathfair.org

Unique dinner for 400 at table spanning the Iron Bridge between Buckland and Shelburne. Benefit dinner provided by local restaurants. 413-625-2526, https://www.shelburnefalls.com

In the village of Montague Center, the festival features games, an auction, food, music, parade and a 5.5-mile foot race. https://montaguechurch.org/

Waterfront at Unity Park, 1st Street, in Turners Falls,  All day celebration of Native American culture and history featuring Native American artists, musicians, vendors, and educators. http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org/

Charlemont Fairgrounds, Route 8A North, Charlemont. charlemontreggaefest.com

This agricultural fair features crafts, food exhibits, flea market and a chicken barbeque (get there early, it sells out!). Fellowship Hall on Little Mohawk Road just off Route 2. 413-625-6592, www.shelburnegrange.org

Opens on the Thursday after Labor Day, runs for four days. It is a large agricultural fair featuring livestock, exhibits, demonstrations, crafts, music, a midway, demolition derby and lots of food. fcas.com, 413-774-4282

Visitor's to Mike's Maze will encounter activities, games, and amusements to entertain the entire family. Located on a working farm at the foot of Mount Sugarloaf, visitors enjoy gorgeous views of the New England foliage. Runs through the fall. MikesMaze.com

“The Festival That Stinks” includes crafts & arts, garlic cuisine, regional agriculture, music, renewable energy exhibits, and more. Orange, 978-544-9023, garlicandarts.org

The third weekend on the grounds of Memorial Hall, this show features over 200 juried exhibitors. 413-774-2739, https://deerfield-craft.org/

Crafts, art exhibits, locally grown food, live music, dance, and more.  Ashfield, ashfieldfallfestival.org

Saturday of Columbus Day weekend in Orange. A family-friendly event celebration including a Car Show, Craft Fair, and Parade. http://northquabbinchamber.com/

First Sunday — Live music, crafts and arts exhibits, 10K road race, skillet toss, parade and more. Conway, 413-522-7374, festivalofthehills.com

Glowing carved pumpkins light up the village of Turners Falls. A full array of local crafters, retailers, restaurants, nonprofit groups, farmers, artists, and musicians gather together with thousands of county residents to celebrate community.  522-0712, facebook.com/greatfallsfestival/

Off-Road Triathalon includes running, biking, paddling, obstacle course, and skiing,  Northfield Mountain Environmental and Recreational Center. greatriverchallenge.com/

Hear great blues bands while enjoying a New England BBQ Society & Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned grilling contest. Franklin County Fairgrounds, Greenfield, 413-772-1553, http://riversidebluesandbbq.com/

Enjoy Hilltown beauty and discover the talented artisans of Colrain. Tour starts at Pine Hill Orchard located at 248 Greenfield Road in Colrain. Second weekend, 413-624-1200, craftsofcolrain.com

The first weekend in November, with over 30 venues across he county, this self-guided tour takes you to orchards, wineries and great restaurants for demonstrations, tastings, food and crafts, all celebrating the apple harvest. Featuring the longest-running cider salon in the country, 413-773-5463, ciderdays.org

Held on the Friday after Thanksgiving beginning at dusk when thousands of luminaries are lit along Bridge Street. Sales in the stores, craft vendors, music and fun. 413-625-2526, shelburnefalls.com

Downtown Greenfield shows off with First Friday shopping & eating plus luminaries, Santa, caroling, and lots more holiday fun. greenfieldbusiness.org

Annual day of traditional crafts, horse-drawn surrey rides, holiday foods and shopping on historic Main Street and artist studios.  Contact Centennial House B&B, 413-498-5921.

Downtown holiday art celebration including window displays, performances, and holiday cheer. Turners Falls, http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org/

Performers as well as hayrides, ice sculptures, a puppet parade, and fireworks. Orange. starrystarrynight.org

Mingle with local artists, view demonstrations, enjoy live music, participate in community art projects, and ride Trolley No.10.  413-625-2526, shelburnefalls.com

Most Fridays and Saturdays. The Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield hosts live callers and musicians. 413-772-6840. guidingstargrange.org

Local musicians give free concerts on Thursday evenings from 6 - 8 pm at the Greenfield Energy Park. Bring a chair or blanket, http://www.coopconcerts.org/. info@coopconcerts.org

Get the best quality and the most nutritional value when you buy foods that are locally grown and in season. Held in many towns throughout Franklin County during the summer months. Check https://massnrc.org/farmlocator/map.aspx for locations.

During the foliage season many festivals celebrate the country life with art shows, craft fairs, food, games and entertainment including The Ashfield Fall Festival (Columbus Day weekend) and The Conway Festival of the Hills (last Sunday in September).

Monthly concerts held on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in the Town Hall in Wendell. 978-544-2086 http://www.wendellfullmoon.org/

Monthly live music performances at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls.  413-863-3221, greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org

Monthly family programs with subjects ranging from open hearth cooking demonstrations to sheep shearing. 413-775-7214,

Year round calendar of music, theater, and art located in Downtown Greenfield, https://www.hawksandreed.com/

Amazing works of art cut into the cornfield at Warner Farm. Family fun including horse drawn wagon rides, pick your own pumpkins, petting zoo. August 31st through the end of the season. 413-665-8331, mikesmaze.com

Summer and fall at the air-conditioned Federated Church on Route 2 in Charlemont. The programs feature chamber music, theater and contemporary works. 413-625-9511, mohawktrailconcerts.org

All kinds of entertainment, from music and yoga to the circus! Bring a chair or blanket. greenfieldrecreation.com

A series of chamber music concerts featuring nationally and internationally known artists. Held in the Brick Church in Deerfield and in Northampton. 413-774-4200, www.musicindeerfield.org

Orchestral and choral concerts from October through May since 1939. 413-773-3664, www.pvso.org

A series of classic films held in the Memorial Hall Theater in Shelburne. 413-625-2896, shelburnefallsmemorialhall.org/pothole-pictures

Performing arts center featuring theater, dance, comedy, music, and special events. Downtown Turners Falls. 413-863-2281, sheatheater.org

An independent professional theater serving the Connecticut River Valley. Greenfield, http://www.silverthornetheater.org/

Late February through early April. Franklin County takes to the woods to gather sap from sugar maple trees, boiling it down to pure maple syrup. Sugar houses are open to the public during the season, but check for hours and boiling schedules. In season, the Massachusetts Maple phone is updated regularly. 628-3912, www.massmaple.org