It takes a lot of gumption to hold your home town fair during The Big E.
But that has never both ered organizers of the annual Belchertown Fair which is ready to open its gates for three days tomorrow.
“We call ourselves The Big B. We have our own thing and they have theirs,” said Mark Nute, chair of the Belcher town Fair Committee, who said they expect upwards of 35,000 fairgoers during the three-day event.
Admission to the fair — held on the Belchertown Common — is free.
“We’re excited to be back after two years without a fair due to COVID-19,” Nute said, noting it is “almost like start ing the fair all over again.”
He said the theme of this year’s fair, the 163rd, is “Flock To The Fair,” which they hope crowds will return to after the long absence.
Similar to many area fairs today, the Belchertown Fair
The theme of this year’s fair, the 163rd, is “Flock To The Fair.”
ON THE COVER The Belchertown Fair is celebrating its 163rd year as a fami ly-friendly fair that celebrates the town’s agricultural roots. Above, at right, and below, scenes from the 2019 fair. (STEVE SMITH PHOTOS)
has it all — fair food from cot ton candy to burgers, midway rides and games, vendors sell ing all kinds of things, musical entertainment, plenty to keep the kids amused, and a focus on agriculture, the roots of most local fairs.
There is a horse pull and hay bale toss on Saturday and an ox draw on Sunday, a youth and adult poultry show on Sunday, youth/rab bit cavy show on Saturday, giant pumpkins to ogle and more.
And the Exhibit Hall, a fair favorite, provides an opportunity for youth and adults, farmers and crafters, photographers and special interest groups to enter their hard work for judging and display for all to see.
Entertainment in the So cial Tent tomorrow includes the music of Baby Driver and Pandemonium followed on Saturday by Cottonwood, Donna Lee and Landslide, Good Acoustics, and Side tracked Band. Sunday features Union Jack, Land ing Gear and Hard Knox. Between the band perfor mances in the Social Tents, the multi-talented Jonas Cain will take the stage to entertain with his comedy and magic.
For the kids, balloon artist Ed Popalarzik will be at the fair all three days outside the Kid’s Tent, stilt walker Henry Lappen will be jug gling through the grounds tomorrow and Saturday, Steve Wronker will bring his comedy magic show to the Kid’s Tent on Saturday, there will be a frog jumping contest on Sunday in the Barnyard, pumpkin deco rating at the Kid’s Tent on Saturday, and more.
Also, tomorrow from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pulling Ring is Kid’s Night Out for youngsters 4-12 who can participate in a variety of games for prizes including relays, tests of strength, speed, concentration and creativity.
Hours are 4-10 p.m. to morrow.
On Saturday the fair parade begins at noon with amusement rides and more opening at noon and closing at 10 p.m.
On Sunday, there will be an ox draw at 10 a.m. followed by amusement rides and more, opening at noon and grounds closing at 5 p.m.
The Belchertown Fair is cele brating its 163rd year this year after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fair begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday on the town common. Here, scenes from the last Belchertown Fair in 2019. (STEVE SMITH PHOTOS)
Between the band performances in the Social Tents, Jonas Cain will take the stage to entertain with his comedy and magic.
ADAM SANDLER IS heading out on the road for a 15-city standup tour, which includes Boston and Con necticut.
On Oct. 23, he will perform at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston. Six days later, he will also play the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncas ville, Connecticut, on Oct. 29.
Sandler will kicks off his tour on Oct. 21 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The tour is his first since 2019.
Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.
• Taylor Swift’s “Laven der Edition” of her upcom ing “Midnights” album will include three bonus tracks.
The “Lavender Edition” will only be available on CD and vinyl at retailer Target.
The exclusive disc also con tains “unique, collectible disc artwork,” “lavender marble color disc,” and “collectible lyric booklet with never-be fore-seen photos,” according to Target.
“Midnights” will be Swift’s first release since 2020’s “Folklore” and “Evermore.”
The new recordings will contain “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life,” the sing er wrote on Instagram.
• Signature Sounds has added a long list of new shows for its current sea son at The Parlor Room in Northampton.
The venue is marking its 10th anniversary and has now added acts such as Jeffrey Foucault on Oct. 15, a Heather Maloney Song writing Workshop on Oct. 23, Kris Delmhorst on Nov. 18, Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry on Nov. 20, and Chris Smither for two shows, Dec. 16-17.
For a complete list of all upcoming shows, go to
signaturesoundspresents. com, where you can also buy tickets.
• Billie Eilish says playing shows “never feels normal.”
Talking to Fitzy and Wippa, an Australian radio show on Nova 96.9 in Sydney, Eilish expounded on a variety of subjects, including what it’s like to have had such a mete oric rise to massive fame.
“It never feels normal. Yeah. And every show I have to
stand there for a second and actually just look around the room, and take it in. And it’s a crazy feeling,” she said.
She went on to say that she doesn’t like doing shows for people, but prefers to feel she’s doing a show with her fans.
“If there was a show that I did, and I come offstage, and I wasn’t happy about it for whatever the reason was, it’s almost always that it felt like
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Gran by Road, Chicopee
Shadow Lounge: DJ with classics. 278 Worthington St., Springfield
Southwick Inn: Open mic hosted by Steve Piper of Roadhouse Band. 479 College Highway, Southwick
The Drake: Kimaya Diggs with King Manzi, Naomi Nye. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Still: Drink specials. 63 Springfield St., Agawam
West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills
Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield
Delaney House: Piper Hopkins. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Gran by Road, Chicopee
East Mountain Country Club: Rock 201 Band. 1458 East Moun tain Rd, Westfield
Glendale Ridge Vineyard: Tom Savoy. 155 Glendale Road, South ampton
Happier Valley Comedy Theater: HVC’s Fun Fridays: Music Open Mic Night. 1 Mill Valley Road Suite B, Hadley
MGM Springfield: ROAR Com edy Club at MGM. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: David Wax Museum. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Buddy McEarns. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equi ty: Florence Night Out Afterparty with Hayley Reardon. 130 Pine St., Florence
Delaney House: Lower Valley Guys. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Gran by Road, Chicopee
Glendale Ridge Vineyard: Tom Savoy. 155 Glendale Road, South ampton
MGM Springfield: ROAR Com edy Club at MGM. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Track Meat, The Bax by’s, The Lights. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Rockin Johnny Burgin. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Gran by Road, Chicopee
Glendale Ridge Vineyard: Glendale Ridge Vineyard’s Sunset Series. 155 Glendale Road, South ampton
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Speedy Ortiz. 289 Main St., Greenfield
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Swing Sundays at Hawks and Reed. 289 Main St., Greenfield
Here, Taylor Swift opens the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Induction ceremony in Cleveland. Swift’s “Lavender Edition” of her upcoming “Midnights” album will include three bonus tracks. (JOSHUA GUNTER / CLEVELAND.COM)
Adam Sandler George Lenker
LiveWire
CONTINUES FROM PAGE E4
the crowd was there watch ing a show,” she said. “Like, that’s what I want is, like, the connection, and, like. … I want them to be doing as much of the show as I’m doing.”
• Bruce Springsteen, The Lumineers and Jon Stewart will perform at this year’s
CONTINUES FROM PAGE E4
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
TUESDAY
City Sports Grille: City Sports Swing!. 525 Pleasant St., Northampton
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
Tavern Restaurant: Trivia Night. 2 Broad St., Westfield
The Drake: Kenny Wesel with
Stand Up for Heroes benefit in New York City.
The 16th annual charity performance is set for Nov. 7 in David Geffen Hall at Lin coln Center for the Perform ing Arts.
Stand Up for Heroes raises funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation in support of vet erans and their families.
Springsteen and Stewart have been repeat performers at the annual fundraiser.
Northampton Jazz Workshop. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
American Legion Post 351: Open mic with Kevin Crane. 50 Saint Kolbe Drive, Holyoke
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Gran by Road, Chicopee
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 masslive.com/ myevent
Bruce Springsteen performs at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, on June 25. (JOEL C RYAN/INVISION/AP)YOU’RE IN A NICE restaurant. You want to have wine with your meal. Then the waiter hands you a menu or perhaps even two menus – one for food and one for wine.
That’s when the panic starts for many people. Suddenly, you’re faced with a long list of wines, many of which are unfamiliar and extremely expensive.
What should you do? Order a cocktail or a beer instead?
Fear not. You can handle this. You might just need a little help. And that’s what I hope this week’s wine column can do.
I can tell you that I used to dread the thick, book-length wine lists you still find in some fancy restaurants. Even now, it can still be pretty intimidat ing, especially since you can’t spend the whole night picking out a bottle of wine. The point is you want to enjoy the wine with your meal.
I will add that many restau rants have done away with such huge wine lists. Part of it has to the with the incredible amount of space and money required to build up an exten sive wine cellar. Most restau rants simply don’t have the resources to do that anymore, especially since the price of certain highly-coveted wines has soared. (And yes, I’m looking at you, Burgundy and California.)
But the good news is there are often a few, good afford able wines on most wine lists. You just need to know what to
There do
Remember, this isn’t a test. There’s no wrong answer. And the worst thing that might happen is you might order a wine you’re not crazy about. It’s ok. Next time you go to the same restaurant, order a different wine. It’s not the end of the world.
do and how to navigate your way through the list.
So here are five tips for how to tackle a wine list in any restaurant.
Hope you enjoy.
1. Have a budget in mind.
There’s nothing wrong with only being willing to spend a certain amount of money on wine at a restaurant. In fact, I find this can be a very helpful way to narrow down the wine list to wines you can reason ably afford.
Sure, it would be great to order than $1,000 bottle of 1982 Bordeaux. And if you can afford it, by all means, order the bottle. Just make sure to
invite me along.
But for the rest of us, it’s perfectly acceptable to set a limit for how much money you’re willing to spend on a bottle of wine. It might be $50 or $100. Whatever amount you decide is just fine and will likely make decid ing which bottle to pick a lot easier.
2. Look for familiar wines first. If there’s a dizzying array of wines on the list, finding a few familiar names can be comforting. It’s sort of like seeing a familiar face at a crowded party. Head on over and say hello.
Another good reason to look for wines you know is to see how much the restaurant
is charging for them. In the old days, most restaurants used to charge double what you would pay for most bot
tles of wine in a liquor store. Nowadays, many restaurants seem to charge triple, some thing that still annoys me. But if you see a wine you recognize and enjoy and it fits your budget, now at least you know you can always order this wine if all else fails. Think of it as your backup wine just in case of an emergency. For me, many red wines from France’s Rhone region are often my go-to wines at many restaurants since they’re often on many wine lists and often reasonably priced.
3. Branch out from wines you know. Now that you’ve hopefully found a few familiar wines, branch out a bit. If the wines are organized by region – which they often are – look at other wines from the same area that fit your budget.
If the wines are organized by grape – another common approach – do the same. If you see a Pinot Noir or a Chardon nay you know and love, are there any others on the list in the same price range?
Remember, this isn’t a test.
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Ken Ross Wine PressIN THE ALMOST TWO decades that I’ve written this column, many people have naturally noted — both in jest and in earnest — what a lucky son of a biscuit I am to have gotten this gig.
I can’t disagree.
Although I mainly write for craft beer fans, I also always keep craft beer agnostics in mind. If there is one thing I will not engage in, it’s craft beer snobbery (except for occasionally and gently in jest). First of all, I don’t want to further shut the door on people who just decided craft beer isn’t for them by adopting a condescending attitude. That will never win them over.
beer palate, why bother learning all the nuances of craft brews? Life is short and you only have so much time, energy and psycholog ical space for your leisurely pursuits.
Or maybe you don’t drink, or drink enough for engaging
WHETHER IT’S just a marketing gimmick or the “next big thing,” the metaverse is currently at tracting lots of attention from major restaurant brands.
Attempting to define what the metaverse can be a chal lenge for even the savviest of digital natives — it’s part virtual reality, part cyber space, part gaming environ ment. Most broadly defined, the metaverse represents a collection of virtual worlds that exist outside the realm of everyday life. Metaverse evangelists like to describe it as a digital realm that will someday overlay our pre sumably-mundane everyday existence.
Of course for food service businesses like McDonald’s, Taco Bell, or Starbucks, the metaverse, whatever it is, rep resents a new digital economy to exploit. The presumption, moreover, is that it’s a space in which restaurant brands can engage with a younger demo graphic and therein cultivate brand loyalty.
Hugh Robert Off The MenuChicken Bacon Ranch Sand wich, and a BLT Sandwich, all of which are served with wavy-cut fries.
Dinner entrees includes Country Fried Steak and Plate Lickin’ Chicken Fried Chick en, both of which come with two sides and dinner bread.
An Everyday Value Slam and Scrambled Eggs & Cheddar breakfasts are also all-day “value options.”
Columnist George Lenker
But more importantly, my motto has always been, “Drink what you like,” and if you like Bud Light or Coors, who am I to tell you you’re wrong? They’re both fine beers in their industri al-brand category, made by people who certainly know how to brew and make a remarkably consistent prod uct. Some people insist on Godiva chocolate, some are perfectly fine with Hershey.
In some cases, bang for your buck is a factor. If you really enjoy Miller Lite, you certainly can get away much more cheaply than most craft beers. And if you aren’t invested in developing your
with the minutiae of craft beer to be worth your time. I don’t worry about that last category of people; they don’t and probably never will care about this column.
But all the preceding ones are still in play, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve had people tell me they finally tried a craft beer because of something I wrote. This tells me they certainly had SOME curiosity about the topic. I mean, one probably doesn’t read a column titled “Beer Nut” thinking it’s about the peanut snack food. But you never know.
Therefore I never want to
Firms like Taco Bell and the Wendy’s Corp. have already put together metaverse initia tives, opening virtual restau rants, holding events such as weddings, and offering promotional deals on their menu items that are exclusive to metaverse environments.
Seattle-based Starbucks is among the most recent restaurant brand to “colonize” the metaverse. Its Starbucks Odyssey, which will launch in late 2022, is a game-like “web experience” in which partic ipants can earn NFT digital badges known as “journey stamps.”
Those digital badges can be traded and bought; they will also be the currency used to gain admission to virtual events, to purchase Starbucks merchandise, and to partici pate in Starbucks-sponsored real world events.
The company is promot
ing Starbucks Odyssey as an extension of its “third place” philosophy, a place where us ers can interact around their love of coffee.
The new metaverse also binds users closer to Star bucks, since its portal is only available to those who’ve downloaded the Starbucks Rewards app.
Starbucks is maintaining a waitlist for those who wish to engage with Starbucks Odys sey when it “goes live.” That wait list can be accessed at waitlist.starbucks.com/#/ landing.
• Asserting that “it’s time for value,” Denny’s Corp. is promoting a new value menu that offers all-day menu choices.
Among the options available are a Cheeseburger, a Crispy
Available at participating lo cations, these Denny’s All Day Diner Deals range in price from $5.99 to $10.59.
• Participating Chickfil-A locations are featuring a Grilled Spicy Deluxe Chick en Sandwich as a limit ed-time-only feature.
The sandwich is a reprise of a similar menu offering last fall. It features a marinated breast filet topped with Colby Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, and a cilantro lime dressing
The chain is also whipping up an Autumn Spice Milk shake, but holding back on the pumpkin. Instead cinna mon and brown sugar cookie bits are the featured flavor elements
The sandwich and milk shake are expected to remain on the menu at participating
George Lenker Beer Nut Chipotle Burrito Builder is a simulation experience that chal lenges Roblox players to roll burritos in the metaverse to earn Burrito Bucks, the brand’s in-experience currency. (ROBLOX)“I’ve had people tell me they finally tried a craft beer because of something I wrote. This tells me they certainly had SOME curiosity about the topic. I mean, one probably doesn’t read a column titled ‘Beer Nut’ thinking it’s about the peanut snack food. But you never know.”
have some craft beer agnos tics perusing this space to feel excluded by some snotty dig at major brands or me copping some attitude that seemingly proclaims that my tastes are better than anyone else’s. They’re not and I’ve repeated that plenty of times.
That’s (partly) how I write this column. As to why I got to do so?
Well, almost 19 years ago the Lifestyle section editor, Mimi Rigali, had seen a one-off beer column by New York Times wine writer Eric Asimov. It clicked in her head that craft beer was on the rise, and maybe the newspaper could do a regular column about the subject. Arts editor Ray Kelly mentioned that I knew a thing or two about craft beer, so they asked me if I could do a weekly one, and I, not being a complete imbe cile, said yes.
The rest is history.
Except for one little (actu ally huge) sidelight story I’ll share now:
Ray had to edit this column and did an amazing job for a craft beer “agnostic.” He gave me pretty free reign, trusting that I knew the more arcane aspects of beer that I might mention. But he also asked good questions when things seemed less than accurate or clear. He made great chang es and “suggestions” (as in, “That doesn’t work. Take it out.”)
And he was always right. I never really had a disagree ment with him — which is saying something for two stubborn Irish-American guys across almost two decades. And that timeframe also represents the longest stretch I’ve ever worked for or with anyone.
Ray has left the newspaper for a great new job. I will miss him more than I can express, but I’m extremely happy for him. My plan is now to go out with him once in a while and try to change his craft beer agnostic mindset.
It’s a long shot, but God works in mysterious ways. Sláinte, my friend.
There’s no wrong answer. And the worst thing that might happen is you might order a wine you’re not crazy about. It’s OK. Next time you go to the same restaurant, order a different wine. It’s not the end of the world.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This might be the single hardest thing for many people to do, especially men. We notoriously don’t like to ask for advice, especially when it comes to directions
or tv remote controls. We can figure that out.
I’m sure you can. But talking to people about the wine is part of the fun of ordering wine in a restaurant. If you’re with other people, definitely ask them if they have any preferences when it comes to wine. In fact, this should be the first question you ask.
And don’t be afraid to ask the waiter a question about the wine or a recommenda tion. Also, tell the waiter how much money you’re willing to spend. I used to appreciate this when I worked in a wine store. And so do most waiters.
The good ones are there to help you.
5. When in doubt, order by the glass. If you absolute ly cannot decide which bottle of wine to order, most restau rants sell wine by the glass. This is a great way to try one or two wines during the same meal. You might even be able to try more if your fellow dinners don’t mind offering you a sip.
And if you really do like a particular wine by the glass, next time order a bottle. Often, ordering a bottle is cheaper than ordering wine by the glass. In the old days,
one bottle of wine contained four glasses of wine. Now, many restaurants try to squeeze five or six glasses out of the same bottle, another trend that annoys me.
But that’s another story for another day. And here’s hoping you find the wine of your dreams next time you’re out to dinner with family and friends — or at least a decent wine that doesn’t cost a small fortune.
Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Repub lican’s weekend section every Thursday.
Chick-fil-A locations until early November.
• The Mighty Oktober fest returns to Fort Street in Springfield on Oct. 7 and 8.
The party, which is being hosted by the Student Prince and Fort Restaurant, will begin at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7; the ritual tapping of the keg will be among the first items of business. Both evenings will include live music featuring the Berkshire Mountain Wanderers and a number of other local groups.
Authentic beers, burgers, and brats will be part of the fun as well.
Advance tickets for each night of the event are cur rently available online at beanrg.com/shop, where they are priced at $15.
Contact the Student Prince at 413-734-7475 for more information.
• The Big E is in full swing and, like every year, the fair has attracted new and creative food vendors.
Traditional New England flavors are the stock-intrade of Ferrindino Maple Farm, which is located in the Better Living Center. They offer maple cream and maple cotton candy.
Arancini, the traditional Italian rice ball snack, is the specialty at Riceballs
Arancini. They make their tasty versions in six differ ent flavors.
Villa of Lebanon, in the Young Building, special izes in delicacies such as baba ganoush, falafel, spinach pie, tabouli, and more.
Offering a breakfast-allday menu, The Place 2 Be makes morning food inven tive with mini-Nutella and coconut pancakes as well as waffle-topped milkshakes.
Bakery on Brewer (New England Avenue) features apple, blueberry and pump kin fritters.
For more information on Big E happenings, go to the BigE.com or call 413-7372443.
• On Tuesday, from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Texas Roadhouse location on Russell Street in Hadley will hold a Dine-to-Donate night.
Whether you dine in or car ry out, 10% of your purchase total will be donated the Am herst Education Foundation. To participate go to https:// bit.ly/DineToDonate2022 and either print out or down load onto your phone the flier you will need to access the deal.
The Amherst Education Foundation strives to sup port Amherst area schools by supporting innovation and teaching excellence. Their web presence can be found at amhersteduca
• Burger King, a divi sion of Restaurant Brands International Inc., has announced a plan it’s call ing “Reclaim the Flame,” a $400 million effort to revitalize the brand, which has somewhat lost its luster of late.
A combination of market ing buys and investment in physical plant, the plan was developed in conjunction with Burger King franchi sees and will be focused on operational excellence and an enhanced brand image.
• Max’s Hoptoberfrest is planned for Oct. 9, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rosedale Farms & Vineyards in Simsbury, Connecticut.
The event will feature beers and hard ciders from ten area producers; the folks at Max’s Catering will be preparing Ocktoberfest bites. Wood-fired pizzas from Max’s Savoy Road show will also be available.
Tickets are $59 per person and can be purchased online at maxhospitality.myshop ify.com/products/hop toberfest-1. A portion of each ticket’s price goes to the Max Cares Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofits in Greater Hart ford.
• Chicago-based McDon ald’s Corp. is bringing back a favorite from the 1980s as
a limited-time supplement to its McCafe Bakery assort ment.
The cheese Danish being made available is an up date of a similar product introduced nearly 40 years ago. The flaky pastry has a sweetened cheese filling, a topping of streusel crumbs, and a vanilla icing drizzle. It joins a bakery item line up that includes a blueberry muffins, an apple fritter and a cinnamon roll. All are available throughout the day at participating McDonald’s locations.
• Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield is hosting a Food Truck Friday tomorrow from 2 to 6 p.m.
Ginger Love Cafe of Easthampton will be that afternoon’s pop-up food vendor. They serve Filipino street food, which they de scribe as “an eclectic mix of Chinese, Spanish, and South East Asia flavors.” Their menu can be found online at gingerlovecafe413.com/ menu
.
Black Birch Vineyard an swers at 413-247-3300.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Commu nity College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has more than 45 years of restau rant and educational experi ence. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@ aol.com.
The Big E: Thu.-Sun. Eastern States Exposition, through Oct. 2, featuring games, rides, food, live entertainment and much more. For more information including hours and entertainment listings, visit thebige.com. Admission at the gate: $15 adults, $10 children 6-12, free for ages 5 and under; Senior Days $12 (Sun.-Thurs.); $8 after 5 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-7372443.
Bing Productions presents MOS SO’s “Mix and Match: A Cham ber Music Medley”: Thu, 7 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, in Asbury Hall. Tickets available at eventbirte.com/e/mossochamber-ensemble-tickets408920240447. Cost: $20 adults, $10 seniors and students. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield. 413-7375311.
Kent Memorial Library Teen Program: Thu, 3:30 p.m. Kent Memorial Library, Introduction to Stop Motion Animation. Get into the basics of stop-motion anima tion so you can start creating your own masterpiece. For students in grades 5-12. Registration is required, online at suffield-library. org or call 860-668-3896, 50 North Main Street, Suffield.
MGM Casino: Thu.-Sun, MGM Springfield, featuring retail stores, restaurants, Regal Cinemas and more. For more information visit mgmspringfield.com, 1 MGM Way, Springfield.
Springfield Garden Club Program: Thu, 11:30 a.m., Barney Carriage House, “Nibbling on Plants in Your
Backyard and Beyond” presented by Russ Cohen. The program will be in person and on Zoom. For more information visit gcfm.org/ springfieldgardenclub or visit their Facebook page. Tickets avail able at Eventbrite. Luncheon will be provided, including gluten-free option; $5 guest fee. 200 Trafton Road, Springfield.
Square Dancing Workshop: Thu, 6:30-8 p.m. VFW Post 8428. The first two dances are free and then it is $5 per person. The instructor is Gloria Vivier. American Legion Hall behind the police station on Route 202, 41 Pelham Road, Belchertown. 413-323-9997.
The Big E: See Thursday listing Greenfield’s Vintage Days Celebration: Fri.-Sun, Greenfield Town Common/Court Square, featuring a classic car show sidewalk sales, a vintage tractor parade, historic trolley rides, dem os, vendors and an old time fire department barbecue fundraiser. For a complete list of events visit https://visitgreenfiedlma.com/, 2-8 Bank Row, Greenfield.
MGM Casino: See Thursday listing
Music at Amherst Series: Fri, 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall, Jason Moran: “James Reese Europe and the Harlem Hellfighters: The Ab sence of Ruin.” Reserve tickets at amherst.universitytickets.com or call 413-542-2195; for COVID-19 protocols, visit amherst.edu. $18 general; $12 seniors (65+), $12 Amherst College employees, $10 students with valid ID. Intersection of Routes 9 and 116, Amherst. CALENDAR,
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“Tolton: From Slave to Priest”: Fri, 7 p.m. St. John Paul II Social Center, A one-man performance based on the life of the first African-American priest. Suitable for ages 10 and up. Adults: $15 at the door, $12 advance; children 16 and under $10. 67 St. Kolbe Drive, Holyoke.
3rd annual Tammy JacobsonLandon Comedy Fundrais er: Sat, 6:30 p.m., Springfield Country Club, All proceeds will go to the Tammy Jacobson-Landon Charitable Foundation and the Clarke School for Hearing and Speech. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., light appetizers, cash bar, music, raffle, silent auction; from 8-10 p.m., adult comedy show. For tickets contact Bruce at 413-433-4625, Maria at 413-427-0670, Kevin at 413-348-8872 or Tracey at 413949-6456. Cost is $75 per person. 1375 Elm Street, West Springfield. 413-787-1560 or springfieldcc. org/
The Big E: See Thursday listing Friends of the Stone Church Concert: Sat, 4 p.m., the Stone Church, featuring Yulia Zhuravle va, violin, and Sima Kustanovich, piano. Tickets available at ticket tailor.com/events/friendsofthe stonechurch/649379 or at the door, $25. 283 Main St., Gilbert ville.
Greenfield’s Vintage Days Cele bration: See Friday listing MGM Casino: See Thursday listing
Roger Tincknell: Sat, 11 a.m., Od yssey Bookshop. This is a resched uled Summer Entertainment program from August. 9 College St., South Hadley. 413-534-7307 or odysseybks.com
Serious Play Workshop with Claire Titelman: Sat.-Sun, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Blue Barn at Bramble Hill Farm. There is limited enroll ment. Email Claire Titelman at clairprompts@gmail.com to see if there’s a spot left and she will share information on payment, etc. The class will be masked and proof of vaccination is required. Bring your own lunch andcold drink, water bottles available, $175. 593 South Pleasant St., Amherst.
Springfield Stamp Club Meeting: Sat, 10 a.m.-noon, Meadowbrook Manor Community Room. Anyone interested in stamps is invited to
attend, whether novice or expert. Meetings include information al discussions, auctions and showings of various stamps. For additional information contact Ken at 413-732-4976 or George at 413-789-9980, 66 Meadowbrook Manor, Agawam.
Western Mass. Pagan Pride Day: Sat, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Northamp ton Tuesday Farmers Market. Western Mass. Pagan Pride Day is one of many Pagan Pride Day events that take place worldwide. As a nonprofit organization, we strive to establish awareness of Earth-centered spiritual traditions in our local communities. People of all faiths (or none) and walks of life are invited to join us on Saturday from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. There is no admission fee to the event; however, we ask that you bring a cash donation for our charity drive. We will be collecting cash donations for our favorite charity, the Northampton Survival Center. Experience open harvest ritual, musical entertainment, workshops (classes) and many vendors for a fun, family-friendly community-driven event. There are a number of restaurants and cafes in the area. Free. 1 Kirkland Ave., Northampton.
The Big E: See Thursday listing Drag Brunch to Benefit LGBTQIA+ Students at STCC: Sun, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Society. The event will be co-presented by drag performers Tony Isham and Dita Davelpa in an effort to provide two $500 scholarships for qualifying students. Tickets are $25 per seat, or $250 to reserve a table for 10 and can be purchased by contacting Isham at 413-2224763. In addition to the perfor mance, the event will feature a 50-50 raffle. Outside seating for the brunch, which will feature food and nonalcoholic drinks, is available upon request, 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield.
Greenfield’s Vintage Days Celebration: See Friday listing
MGM Casino: See Thursday listing
Serious Play Workshop with Claire Titelman: See Saturday listing
Square Dancing Workshop: Sun, 6:30-8 p.m., Union Church of Christ. The first two dances are free and then it is $5 per person. The instructor is Gloria Vivier. For more information, call 413-4673352, 51 Center St. (Route 21), Ludlow. 413-583-5717.
Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Dr. Seuss National Memorial. Outdoor sculpture garden of larger-than-life bronze statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss at his drawing board sur rounded by some of his most be loved characters including Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, the Lorax and others, free on the green.
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit, “Ancient Treasures,” a display of ar tifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. Hands-on making activities in the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center. Part of the free family activities. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Perma nent exhibit includes more than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Card Tricks: Salvador Dali and the Art of Playing Cards,” through Nov. 20. Museum a la Carte, Sept. 22, 12:15 p.m. “Unknown Marvels from the Art World.” Cost is $4, or free for members; presented by Dr Simon Sibelman.
Springfield Science Museum: “We’re Still Here,” through June 30. Native Voices Initiative begins with contemporary perspectives. Curated by Aprell May.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firs floor exhibition provides opportu nities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activ ities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive
three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia, including never before publicly displayed art, the original Geisel Grove sign which used to hang in Forest Park, and furniture from Geisel’s sitting room and studio, including his drawing board and armchair. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfield museums.org 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.
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Hands-on activities and creative exhibits, the Hurricane Simulator. Sign up online for a play session at ameliaparkmuseum.org. Hours: Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun. 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Open for groups on Tues. and Wed. Admission: $8 adults, $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents and seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of your regular admission; free for members and infants. 29 South Broad St., Westfield. Children’s Museum at Holyoke: A world of learning and play, with the newest additions The Wiggle and Wash/Vet Clinic. A toddler MerryGo-Round and a state of the art, STEM based cash register. Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Fri. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. (closed each day noon-1 p.m. for cleaning); Sun.-
12-4 p.m. (two slots). Admission: $8; $5 for seniors (62+); free for children under 1 year of age and members. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrensmuseumholyoke.org.
Connecticut Science Center: Hands-on, interactive experiences with more than 150 exhibits in 10 galleries and a range of topics, including space and earth sciences plus more. Hours: Tues.-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $24.90; $22.95 for seniors (65+) $16.95 for children ages 3-17; free for mem bers. 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford or ctsciencecenter.org
Connecticut Trolley Museum: “Pumpkin Patch,” Sat.-Sun, Sept. 24-Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Ride on a trolley car out to the pumpkin patch field and each child can pick out a free sugar-sized pumpkin. Upon return to the museum cam pus, decorate the pumpkins, play in the corn box, and more. Cost: $14 adults, $13 seniors and children ages 12-17, $12 for children ages 2-11 and free for children under 2; members receive half off admis sion. 58 North Road, East Windsor cttrolley.org.
Edith Wharton - The Mount: “The Garden of My Soul: Edith Wharton in France, The Lesage Collection,” through September. The Mount is open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tickets are available at edithwharton.org.
Cost: $20 adults, $18 seniors (65+), $13 students with ID; free ages 18 and under. 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or edithwharton.org
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: 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. Thurs.-Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. noon-4 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four. “Eric Carle’s Book Birthdays,” through March 5.
“Celebrating Collage: A 20th Anni versary Celebration,” through Dec. 31. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum.org
Holyoke Heritage State Park: Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry, seasonal interpretive tours and programs. Visitor Center open daily, noon-4 p.m. Free admission. mass.gov/locations/holyokeheritage-state-park. 221 Apple ton St., Holyoke. 413-534-1723.
Holyoke Merry-Go-Round: Open for rides Sat.-Sun., noon-4 p.m., Cost is $3.50 ride or 4 for $10/ 221 Appleton St., Holyoke or holyoke merrygoround.org
Mead Art Museum: Various American and European paintings,
Springfield Museums’ exhibit, “We’re Still Here,” in Native Hall of the Springfield Science Museum through June 30. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)CONTINUED FROM PAGE E10
Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. 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 South Pleasant St., Amherst or amherst.edu
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Three floors with dozens of hands-on exhibits, a regulation sized basketball court and more than 900 artifacts on display. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $28 adults (16-24); $23 seniors (63+); $19 youth (5-15); $23 students with valid high school or college ID; free for ages under 5. 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield or hoophall.com
Norman Rockwell Museum: Freedom’s Legacy: “Imprinted: illustrating Race,” through Oct. 30. Hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets purchase required; cost is $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. “Norman Rockwell Drawings, 1914-1976,” through Jan. 7. “In Our Lifetime: Paintings from the Pandemic” by Kadir Nelson, through Oct. 30. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org
Old Sturbridge Village: “New En gland on Parade” exhibit, through July 2023. The exhibit examines parades and parade traditions in New England from 1776 to 1940, included with general admission. Children ages 3-10 can try on period costumes and imagine life in the 1830s in the Visitor’s Center.
“Neat and Tasty: Getting Dressed in Early New England” apparel in portraiture. Hours: Wed.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $24, $22 seniors, $8 children 3-17, free for children under 3, Route 20, Sturbridge orosv.org.
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum: The museum is open for guided tours through Oct. 15. Sat.-Wed. from 1-4 p.m. and closed on Thurs. and Fri. Covid 19 Precautions: all PPH visitors will be required to mask and be fully vac cinated. 130 River Drive, Hadley or pphmuseum.org
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum: New exhibitions, programs and re furbished historic buildings. Tues.Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Oct. 16. Cost: $4 all-day pass, $2 children; free for children 6 and under free with adults. 14 Depot St., Shelburne Falls or sftm.org
Springfield Armory National His toric Site: Ranger-led interpretive
programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. hours are Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or nps.gov/spar
The Emily Dickinson Museum: Admission to the museum is by guided tour, advance tickets are re quired. Visit EmilyDickinsonMu seum.org/Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst or emily dickinsonsmuseum.org
Titanic Museum: 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 titanic1.org
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Guided tours of the first and second floors. Vent fort Hall is open 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. and weekends at 3 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Ad mission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID and $7 children 5-17. Admission: $18; $17 for seniors (65 and over); $10 for students (ages 18-23) with student ID, $7 for children 5-17 years; free for members and children 4 or younger. Ghost Tours at Ventfort Hall. Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 9 and 30 7 p.m., Oct. 28, 11 p.m. Robert Oakes will lead participants throughout the estate sharing tales of its haunting. This is not an active investigation. Reservations are required. To purchase tickets call 413-637-3206. Masks are required. Note all tickets are nonrefundable and nonexchangable; $27. 104 Walker St., Lenox or gildedage. org
Wistariahurst Museum: 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 wistariahurst.org. Admission: $7 Holyoke residents, $5 seniors and youth under 18; free for mem bers, active military and their family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org
Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center is open to the public on Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Jewish and legal holidays. Admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or yiddishbookcenter.org
A.P.E. Gallery: “Another World is Possible” Zea Mays printmaking exhibition, through Oct. 8. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m.; Fri. noon-8 p.m.; closed Mon. and Tues. 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts.org
Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gal lery: 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.
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equi ty: Barbara Neulinger, “Suspend,” 3-6 p.m., free; bombyx.live/ events/barbaraneulingersuspend-220930/ 130 Pine St., Florence.
Burnett Gallery: Art exhibition through Sept. 29. Abstract botan icals and surrealist drawings. 43 Amity St., Amherst.
Center Church: “Voices of Resil ience: The Intersection of Women on the Move,” through Oct. 15. The exhibition celebrates the intersect ing lives of women and women of color in Massachusetts and beyond who changed the course of history. Free. centerchurchsouthhadley. org/voices. 1 Church St., South Hadley.
Chicopee Main Library: RiverMills Photography Club gallery exhibi tion, through Sept. 27. 449 Front Street, Chicopee; 413-594-1800.
Forbes Library: Works by Kimiko Donohoe, Dale Rogers and Maggie Hodges, through Sept. 29. 20 West St., Northampton or forbeslibrary. org
Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Then and Now” by Ron Maggio and Rochelle Shicoff, through Oct. 1. Hours: Thurs.-Sun. 3-8 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst; 413-256-4250.
Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: “Trees of the Valley” pho tographs by Jamie Malcolm-Brown, through Oct. 1. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 319 Main St., Amherst or hopeandfeathers framing.com
Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gal lery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard; 413-543-3321.
J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Hours Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield; 413-732-9128.
Jewish Community Amherst:
Works by Barbara Levine “From the Garden,” through Oct. 22. 742 Main St., Amherst.
Old Town Hall: “My World” paint ings in pastel by Dallas Looman, through Sept. 30. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
Sunnyside Road Gallery: Fea turing the work of Carolyn Avery. Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 413-569-0384. 52 Sunny side Road, Southwick.
Great Falls Discovery Center: Great Hall art exhibit, “Weav ing with Wood,” through Sept. 28. StoryWalk Series: “Abuela,” through Sept. 27. Enjoy a story, fresh air, and exercise. Join us on the grounds of the center for a free self-guided StoryWalk featuring children’s picture book “Abuela” by Arthur Dorros. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. For readers ages 3-7. Canal Draw Down History Stroll, Sept. 22, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wear walking shoes and meet at the entrance of the center for this free two mile walk on flat terrain. Source to Sea Cleanup: Ca nal District, Sept. 24, location and time determined through registra tion. Join DCR staff in the morning to clean-up along the Turners Falls canal, in a series of canal-related programs. To register and find a location, visit ctriver.org or contact DCR staff at 413-863-3221 for more information. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org
Mount Tom State Reservation: Life Around the Lake, Sept. 24, 10:30 a.m. Reptiles are this week’s focus; meet at Bray Lake. Hike to Goat Peak, Sept. 24, 1 p.m., 60- to 90-minute hike travels on the MM Trail which has some easy terrain and moderately strenuous stretch es. Bring water and bug spray. Birding for Beginners, Sept. 25,
10:30 a.m., this one-hour program helps beginners to learn the basics of birding. The use of bird guides, lists and binoculars to learn about the local feathered inhabitants of Mt. Tom. Sunday Afternoon Fam ily Program, Sept. 25, 1 p.m., this week’s program is “Hawk watch II” - the second of three hawk watches for this fall. Learn about hawks and their migration and all the obstacles they go through to survive it. 125 Reservation Road, Holyoke; 413-534-1186.
Natural Bridge State Park: Visi tors 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.
MarketsAmherst Common: Amherst Farmers Market, Saturdays through November, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. More than 40 vendors, including local growers, set up on the down town common along Boltwood Av enue and Spring Street, Amherst.
Forest Park: Farmers Market at Forest Park, Tuesdays through Oct. 25, 12:30-6 p.m. In the parking lot of Cyr arena. Sumner Avenue, Springfield.
The Longmeadow Shops: Farm ers Market at The Longmeadow Shops every Thursday from noon-6 p.m., through Oct. 27. For more information visit TheLongmeadow Shops.com. 690 Bliss Road, Long meadow.
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 submit ted to masslive.com/myevent
