To say that there are numerous choices any given day or weekend is no exaggeration. Summer and fall, of course, are the most active with music festivals, craft fairs, and fall foliage celebrations well into October and November. Whatever your pleasure, you will find extraordinary experiences that celebrate the rivers, hills and valleys and towns that typify New England as you’d hoped to find it.
Annual Events

January/February
Greenfield Winter Carnival
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
March
Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon
Annual run, ride, paddle, ski sporting event in Charlemont. http://www.berkshirehighlandsevents.com/
April
Asparagus Pottery Trail Tour
A self-guided driving tour of clay studios in western Massachusetts. asparagusvalleypotterytrail.com
Patriot’s Day Revolutionary Muster & Parade
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
River Rat Race
Zany antics characterize this Athol to Orange race with over 300 canoes. riverratrace.com

May
Fish Ladder
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/
Strange Creek Campout
Three nights of wooded camping and music on the grounds of Camp Kee-Wanee in Greenfield, https://www.strangecreekcampout.com/
June
Lavender Festival
Lavender, labyrinth, local crafts, workshops and demonstrations. Buckland. 413-522-9068, lavenderland.com
Green River Festival
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

July
Deerfield Lions Club Antique Car Show at Yankee Candle
Enjoy the beautiful old-fashioned cars, vendors, & food. South Deerfield, 877-636-7707
Greenfield Fourth of July Celebration
Music, food, vendors and fireworks display (fired from Poet’s Seat Tower). Held at Beacon Field in Greenfield. 413-772-1553, greenfieldrecreation.com
August
Bridge of Flowers 8K Road Race
This 8K race attracts Olympic caliber runners. 413-834-3477, https://www.shelburnefalls.com

Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnee (D2R2)
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
Annual Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon
Bike, swim and run event. Sprint, international, and team divisions. 413-772-1553, greenfield-triathlon.com
Heath Agricultural Society Fair
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
Annual Iron Bridge Dinner
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
Montague Old Home Days
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/
Pocumtuck Homelands Festival
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/
Annual Reggae Fest
Charlemont Fairgrounds, Route 8A North, Charlemont. charlemontreggaefest.com
Shelburne Grange Fair
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
September
Franklin County Fair
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

Mike's Maze
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
Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
“The Festival That Stinks” includes crafts & arts, garlic cuisine, regional agriculture, music, renewable energy exhibits, and more. Orange, 978-544-9023, garlicandarts.org
Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair
The third weekend on the grounds of Memorial Hall, this show features over 200 juried exhibitors. 413-774-2739, https://deerfield-craft.org/
October
Ashfield Fall Festival
Crafts, art exhibits, locally grown food, live music, dance, and more. Ashfield, ashfieldfallfestival.org
Celebrate the Harvest
Saturday of Columbus Day weekend in Orange. A family-friendly event celebration including a Car Show, Craft Fair, and Parade. http://northquabbinchamber.com/
Festival of the Hills
First Sunday — Live music, crafts and arts exhibits, 10K road race, skillet toss, parade and more. Conway, 413-522-7374, festivalofthehills.com
Great Falls Festival
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/
Great River Challenge
Off-Road Triathalon includes running, biking, paddling, obstacle course, and skiing, Northfield Mountain Environmental and Recreational Center. greatriverchallenge.com/
Riverside Blues & BBQ
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/
November
Annual Crafts of Colrain - Artisans Studio Tour
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
Franklin County CiderDays
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

Shelburne Falls Moonlight Magic
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
December
Greenfield Holiday Celebration
Downtown Greenfield shows off with First Friday shopping & eating plus luminaries, Santa, caroling, and lots more holiday fun. greenfieldbusiness.org
A Special Day in Northfield Holiday Celebration
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.
It's A Wonderful Night
Downtown holiday art celebration including window displays, performances, and holiday cheer. Turners Falls, http://www.turnersfallsriverculture.org/
Starry Starry Night New Year’s Eve
Performers as well as hayrides, ice sculptures, a puppet parade, and fireworks. Orange. starrystarrynight.org
Year Round & Seasonal Events
Art Walks in Downtown Shelburne Falls
Mingle with local artists, view demonstrations, enjoy live music, participate in community art projects, and ride Trolley No.10. 413-625-2526, shelburnefalls.com
Contradances
Most Fridays and Saturdays. The Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield hosts live callers and musicians. 413-772-6840. guidingstargrange.org
COOP Concert Summer Series
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
Farmers’ Markets
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.

Foliage Fairs
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).
Full Moon Coffee House
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/
Great Falls Coffeehouse
Monthly live music performances at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls. 413-863-3221, greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org
Hands On Learning Series in Historic Deerfield
Monthly family programs with subjects ranging from open hearth cooking demonstrations to sheep shearing. 413-775-7214,
Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center
Year round calendar of music, theater, and art located in Downtown Greenfield, https://www.hawksandreed.com/
Mike’s Maze
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
Mohawk Trail Concerts
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
Music at the Station at the Greenfield Energy Park
All kinds of entertainment, from music and yoga to the circus! Bring a chair or blanket. greenfieldrecreation.com
Music in Deerfield
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
Pioneer Valley Symphony & Chorus
Orchestral and choral concerts from October through May since 1939. 413-773-3664, www.pvso.org
Pothole Pictures
A series of classic films held in the Memorial Hall Theater in Shelburne. 413-625-2896, shelburnefallsmemorialhall.org/pothole-pictures
Shea Theater
Performing arts center featuring theater, dance, comedy, music, and special events. Downtown Turners Falls. 413-863-2281, sheatheater.org
Silverthorne Theater
An independent professional theater serving the Connecticut River Valley. Greenfield, http://www.silverthornetheater.org/
Sugaring
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