GET YOUR HAUNT ON
Enjoy variety of treats and thrills across Western Mass. and beyond
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
The fall season is more than just harvest time, leaf peeping and pumpkins — it’s all about Halloween and trick-or-treat, haunted houses, ghost tours, festivals and other special holiday events.
There are haunts up and down the Pioneer Valley and beyond for those looking to have the bejesus scared out of them — and safer options for those who want to have fun minus the scares.
DementedFX Haunted House in Holyoke, by its name alone, promises high-octane frights.
“We bring Halloween horror to a whole other level with our talented actors lurking around every corner, who are ready to interact with visitors when they least expect it. We have live skits and surround sound audio, so you are hearing sounds from all over. It’s a very immersive experience and people say our nighttime scares are like going to Disney,” said Al Liptak, who is fondly called the attraction’s “severed head of marketing.”
The storyline focuses on an immoral medical laboratory,
Bio Med Corp, ravaged by its own experiments, that has let loose a virus that is turning the world into monsters and ghouls. Visitors need to break into the lab and rescue the scientist who has the cure to save all humanity.
“We have a new surprise ending in our haunted house this year that I think everyone will enjoy,” Liptak said.
Lines can be long at the popular attraction, but it won’t feel that way before starting your journey through Bio Med Corp. Part of the waiting area has been transformed into an immersive theatrical experience with loud music, sound
Above is a scene from DementedFX in Holyoke, and at right a scene from the Phantoms by Firelight Halloween event at Old Sturbridge Village. (SUBMITTED)
(PHOTO COURTESY OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE)
Haunt
and lighting effects, and actor performances. And, a sign of the times, on top of everything else waiting in the lobby for visitors, Liptak said they have a “political storyline” this year. There will be political ads on a big screen for candidates running for governor of Bio Med City. Plenty of mayhem will ensue, including appearances by Skull and Bone Crusher — the rebellious leaders of The Resistance — to further liven things up.
The chills continue in the attraction’s two bars, where visitors can enjoy a cold beer — including two special brews call Demented Bone Crusher Blue and Skull’s Sweet Cherry Pie — in addition to a variety of other beers and wines.
Enter at your own discretion. DementedFX will be open Thursday (Oct. 24 only) and Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 27 with varied entrance times beginning at 6 or 7 p.m. General admission begins at $35, with season passes and VIP tickets also available. Tickets can be purchased online at dement edfx.com or at the door if still available. VIP tickets are available online only, ranging from $50 to $60, and include up to one hour of access to their VIP Lounge and bars, plus a complementary first beverage and no waiting
in the general admission line. Located at 530 Main St. in Holyoke, DementedFX is not for the faint of heart and is not recommended for children.
In Agawam, epic thrills and even bigger scares are promised at this year’s Six Flags New England Fright Fest. Fright Fest is running weekends and select days through the park’s “Last Scare Weekend” on Nov. 3.
Fright Fest features what park officials claim to be “more than 20 gut-wrenching attractions” including five haunted mazes: Nightmares, Terror Tales, Slasher Circus 3D, Midnight Mansion and new for 2024, Camp Killamore. Guests will step into the eerie Camp Killamore Summer Camp, where once innocent campers have
mysteriously acquired a thirst for terror. Guests will traverse through these twisted trails to try and survive the campers’ rampage.
There are also five shows to be enjoyed in different theaters on the park grounds, including Midnight Uprising, Mort’s Used Coffins, Creepshow Freakshow, The Awakening, and the new Love at First Fright showing in Rockville Theater. During the family-friendly musical, au-
diences will be entertained by social influencers attempting to create viral Halloween content who are then captured by monsters.
Night riders will find some of their favorite rides scarier than usual because they will be riding in the darkness of night with the sun setting earlier and the park remaining open later than normal. The teacups become Terror Twist and are specially enclosed for
Above, the Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags New England is a family-friendly Halloween event. At right, Fear on the Farm at McCray’s Farm in South Hadley is for those who enjoy a good scare.
Six Flags Fright Fest, at left, brings ghouls out to the park after the sun goes down. SEE
“This October, every corner of the Village will come alive, inviting guests of all ages to discover something new. It’s truly a feast for the senses.”
RHYS SIMMONS, DIRECTOR OF INTERPRETATION AT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE
Haunt
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Fright Fest with music and disco lights. The possessed Sky Scream now swings backwards instead of forwards. And Pandemonium becomes the Soul Harvest Spin as riders travel along the tracks with glowing LED lights and different scenes on the ground as you pass by, such as a twisted farm.
But it’s not all hair-raising frights.
Kids Boo Fest during the daytime is perfect for the littlest ghouls and ghosts and is filled with Halloween activities and entertainment, including a Trick-or-Treat trail, hay maze, pumpkin patch, crafts, and other not-so-scary experiences. New events for this year’s Boo Fest include kids Scary-oke, a Halloween costume showcase, and Boo’s Monster Maze, a cage-style maze.
Also running in conjunction with Fright Fest on Saturdays and Sundays is Six Flags Food Festival, where visitors can explore German-inspired cuisine, brews and desserts.
The Six Flags website claims to show “no mercy” after 6 p.m. with the following admonishes: recommended for guests 13 and over, no costumes for guests over 12, no park re-entry after 6 p.m., and no full-face masks or face faint.
For more information, ticket prices and bundles, and hours, visit sixflags.com.
Not all farms are scary, unless you are visiting McCray’s Farm in South Hadley.
That is where you will find the granddaddy of all area haunts, which began back in 1991 as the Monster Mash Haunted Hayride. Over the years, it has grown into a fullfledged production known as Fear on the Farm, and it is one
of the most-looked-forwardto Halloween events for the spooky season.
Today, Monster Mash Scream Park includes two walk-through haunts for extra brave souls, such as DON (Diagnostic, Operations, Nexus) Genetic Research Facility and Massacre Manor. The haunted hayride and two walkthroughs provide an hour’s worth of entertainment.
It takes a staff of 85 people, including characters ranging from ghouls to goblins and other monsters, to bring Fear on the Farm to life.
Participants 21 years of age and older can enjoy a beer or wine at an outside trailer along with cider donuts and assorted pastries. McCray’s Country Creamery will also be open, serving up ice cream, snacks and beverages.
“We have relocated the area where people queue up to what we call our Monster Midway, where concessions are located including fresh kettle corn, Lemon Smashers and more. Visitors will also find plenty of opportunities for selfies and other photos alongside some of our talented actors and props for background,” said Briget Reilly, general manager of the popular attraction.
“We have also created on our trail a new Western-themed town called Monstroum. It is filled with various facades and scenes, including a haunted general store, saloon, sheriff’s office and a bait shop. It will take you back to revisit many scenes from classic horror movies,” she added, noting daring visitors will also find a new 16-foot-tall ogre waiting to greet them along with questionable clowns — are they supposed to be scary?
— in Clowntown.
A word to the wise: The attraction’s website notes patrons will experience “intense lighting and audio effects, strobes, fog, low visibility, and
a physically demanding environment. Do not attend if you are pregnant, claustrophobic, asthmatic, prone to seizures, and have respiratory or heart issues.”
Monster Mash Scream Park, located on 55 Alvord St., operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and is open from 7 p.m. until “the last rider runs screaming,” according to its website.
Tickets are available online or onsite beginning at 6:30 p.m. and are $30 general admission. A $50 fast pass to skip to the front of the line is available online only.
For more information, visit fearonthefarm.com or call their “deadline” at 413-4370769.
From “fear on the farm” to “fear at the zoo,” Southwick’s Zoo on 2 Southwick St. in Mendon, running through Oct. 31, has The Great Jack O’Lantern Journey. Their unique pumpkin walk features endearing faces to
p.m.
Hungry visitors can enjoy cider donuts, handmade fudge and other seasonal treats while at the park. For adults, there is Boos & Brews offering hand-crafted beverages to sip while strolling the park.
New for this year, the Haunted Outpost will take visitors on a scare-filled adventure as they navigate through smoke and eerie sounds with the appearance of a ghoul or two to shock those daring enough to step inside.
Sine the event is at nighttime, there is no guarantee animals will be outside their sheltered homes.
For more information and pricing, visit southwickszoo. com.
If you want to travel to Rhode Island for another zoo experience, Roger Williams Park Zoo’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open through Nov. 2 with thousands of creatively carved pumpkins and more Halloween fun. The zoo is located in Providence at 1000 Elmwood Ave. Visit rwpzoo.org for more information.
whimsical creatures, and each pumpkin tells a unique story. There are also a variety of shows to entertain zoogoers including performances by The Salem Sisters, acrobats and juggling from the Spirit Street Performers every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 6
The pumpkin fun continues at Naumkeag, a public garden and historic home at 5 Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge, which is holding its Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show every Wednesday through Sunday through Oct. 27. Visitors can explore their famous gardens as they transform Naumkeag into a celebration of autumn with
A historical reenactor takes part in Old Sturbridge Village’s Phantoms by Firelight. (PHOTO COURTESY OSV / SUBMITTED)
Above is a scene from last year’s Porchfest in Easthampton. The community music event, which turns people’s yards into concert spaces, returns. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
NIGHTCLUBS
T
HURSDAY
Delaney House: Billy Egan. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Open Mic Night with Tank Hood. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: George Kaye. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
East Mountain Country Club: The Skid Marks. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield
Fort Hill Brewery: Tom Savoy. 30
Fort Hill Road, Easthampton
Foxwoods Resort Casino: Luis Fonsi. 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Ray Harrington. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Taylor’s Version: A Swiftie Dance Party. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Brother Sal’s Blues. 201 Worthington St., Springfield Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Brothers
Porchfest returns to Easthampton
PORCHES HAVE long been a symbol of places where neighbors can stop by and visit, share some common ground and sometimes engage in some form of entertainment.
Well, last year, Easthampton joined in a national movement that takes the concept to a whole other level: Porchfest. Porchfest started in Ithaca, New York, in 2007. It then started expanding and has now become a popular tradition in many cities
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Nightclubs
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By Law. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Delaney House: Made Men. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Foxwoods Resort Casino: Dirty Honey. 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar
Comedy Club: Ray Harrington. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
New City Brewery: Tom Savoy. 180 Pleasant St. (Rear), Easthampton
The Drake: Birdtalkers. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Rocking Puppies
Album Release Show. 289 Main St., Greenfield
Theodores’: Jr. Krauss and the Shakes. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: The Blaney Brothers. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
MONDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
TUESDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
WEDNESDAY
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: OneBeat 14. 130 Pine St., Florence
Uno Chicago Grill: Light Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
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
Live Wire
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5
around the world, providing an opportunity for local artists to showcase their talent for neighbors in a relaxed and informal setting. (The first one in Massachusetts was in Somerville in 2009.)
Easthampton will hold its second Porchfest on Saturday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, go to easthampton cityarts.com.
Felicia Jadczak, who helped start the local iteration of Porchfest, talked about Easthampton’s venture into this community-based music endeavor in a recent interview.
Q. This is Easthampton’s second Porchfest. When was the first one and how did it come about?
A. Easthampton’s first-ever Porchfest took place on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Both my husband, Steve Collicelli, and I have attended many Porchfests in previous cities we’ve lived in — namely Somerville. It’s always been a special day of music and community for us.
The spark that initially led us to think about how we could bring Porchfest to Easthampton was Cultural Chaos 2022. We had just moved to Easthampton the year before and this was our first time experiencing this event. During the event, someone posted on Facebook that they were hanging out and playing music on their front porch not too far from Cottage Street, and invited people to wander by. Steve and I both thought — hey, that reminds us of Porchfest! We realized that Easthampton did not have a Porchfest — yet.
We reached out to Pasqualina Azzarello, Easthampton’s Arts and Culture program director, and asked her what she thought of the idea. She invited us to attend an Easthampton City Arts meeting to share. So I attended an ECA meeting and pitched Porchfest to the board. They loved it, and also happened to be looking for a few new
board members. Steve and I both ended up joining ECA, and were able to directly work to put on Porchfest in 2023.
Q. Is it difficult to get people to volunteer to use their porches/lawns?
A. Yes and no! The biggest difficulty has been awareness. We’ve found that people who are already familiar with Porchfest are very excited to volunteer their space. For neighbors who aren’t sure what this event is, it’s a little trickier because we have to explain what the event is first. This also speaks to the very unique nature of Porchfest. It really represents a blurring of the lines between private and public. To put on this event, we rely on our neighbors being willing to open up their yards, driveways and porches to the public— spaces which typically are not public — and on the goodwill of visitors being respectful of these spaces.
Q. Is it confined to a certain area of Easthampton, which has a broad geographic footprint? And if so, what are the parameters, so to speak?
A. We treated last year’s Porchfest as a trial run and deliberately wanted to keep the spaces in the same neighborhood. We chose the New City neighborhood for a few reasons. First, Steve and I live in New City and provided an anchor backyard to host performers. Second, New City is very walkable and the way the homes are situated works well for this style of event. Third, New City has a long and interesting history as a neighborhood, but historically it has not had as much attention as other neighborhoods in the city. We thought this would be a good way to bring people here and showcase an area of the city that some folks might not already be familiar with. This year, our goals were to expand our footprint in New City, and move into one or two other neighborhoods. We’ve accomplished that by increasing the number of hosts in New City, and we have four new hosts in the
Maple neighborhood. We had just enough interest in a few other locations that I am sure we will be able to add at least one more neighborhood next year. As we continue to grow, we hope to expand further so that one day we won’t need to break out neighborhoods and, instead, find hosts for Porchfest performers all across the city!
Q. How do you decide who plays where?
A. Some of the hosts who signed up are also performers. When a host signs up and would like to play at their own location, they are automatically assigned to their own home. Otherwise, we consider factors including whether or not power is available, and what the actual space setup looks like. Some performers are better suited to a space with a big backyard, whereas others fit better on a small side porch or on a driveway. As we’ve grown this year, we’ve also had to start taking into consideration “sound bleed” — we want to make sure that performers do not clash too much in terms of their volume.
Q. Are there limitations to what kind of acts get booked, as far as size, style of music, etc.?
A. Any limitations have to do with size and power needs. Otherwise, we welcome pretty much anything and everything. In our experiences, the best Porchfests are the ones where you are able to wander around and discover new bands, listen to different kinds of music, and which showcase a wide range of music types. This year, we will be featuring a wide variety of acts including a newly formed high school band, an ethno-musicologist who plays a beautiful Japanese instrument called the koto, well-established bands that you can catch at venues like the Iron Horse, and much more.
Q. How do you choose the acts?
A. We review each performer and consider factors such as availability, genre of music, if the performer has played with us before, size and setup needs, etc. Easthampton has a deep well of musical talent and even with most locations hosting two or three performers this year, we had more musicians sign up than we could fit into the schedule. Our aim is both to have as wide a variety of music as possible and to find a porch for every performer who registers.
over 1,500 jack-o-lanterns, hundreds of mums, pumpkins and countless gourds –most of which were grown at Naumkeag. Hot cider and fall treats will be available for sale on-site. For ticket information and hours, visit the trustees’ website.
Congratulations are in order for one of the newer entries on the block —1 3th World Fright Park in Palmer is now celebrating its third year — which has been recognized by scaryoverload.com as one of the “Top 13 Scariest Haunted Houses in America.”
“We call it 13th World for the 13 frights awaiting you at our outdoor scare park,” said Zeke Fortier, who created the attraction with lifelong friends Mike Crawly and Rich Vaillant.
The main attraction is Moonlight Mayhem where extra brave visitors trek their one though one nightmare after another. There is also Hellfire House, a twisted maze of darkness fog and fire. As well as the new Prison of Torture and Christmas-themed North Pole Nightmare with out-ofcontrol clowns.
There is also the Midway of Madness, with games, food, beer and more at Brimstone Tavern and Poison Pub.
On Oct. 20, 13th World turns the lights off for Blackout Night, when everything is dark to enhance your frights, and on Nov. 2 there is XScream, which is an R-rated intense experience for those 18 and older.
The price of admission varies by night. General tickets online range from $25 to $35. Buying online will save you $5. For an additional $5, you can purchase the “Touch of Fear” pass, which allows the actors to touch you. Patrons receive a special necklace that identifies them as an extreme lover of fear. Anyone electing for Touch of Fear must be 18 years of age or older and will be required to present a photo ID upon arrival. And, if it is too much for your senses, you can take off the necklace at any time to temper down your
frights.
Located on 1701 Park St., the attraction is open nights through Oct. 30, beginning at 6 p.m.
For more information, visit 13thworld.com.
According to NewEngland. com, the most haunted places are also historic sites where
by Firelight, running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 4-27.
Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the early 19th century. The village is designed to approximate the look and feel of a historic
ing stunts and mesmerizing firelight performances,” said Rhys Simmons, director of Interpretation at Old Sturbridge Village. “In collaboration with ClockJack Productions, we’ve crafted an experience that weaves together breathtaking entertainment with the darker, historical elements of Halloween. This October, every corner of the Village will come alive, inviting guests of all ages to discover something new. It’s truly a feast for the senses.”
Tickets for the event, which runs from 4:30 to 9 p.m., are $40 for adults and $20 for youths on Friday and Sunday, and $45 for adults and $20 for youths on Saturday. They are also available online in advance, priced at $36 for adults and $18 for youths.
For more details and to buy tickets, visit osv.org/event/ phantoms-by-firelight/.
On the National Historic Register, Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield has 20 historic buildings and a working farm and garden. The museum celebrates the history and legacy of the Shakers, a religious group that lived communally and sought to realize the perfection of heaven on earth by espousing values of equality and pacifism.
To celebrate the Halloween season, Hancock Shaker Village hosts their Haunted Hancock Tours running Thursday through Saturday beginning Oct. 17-19, Oct. 24-26, and Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Visitors can
45-minute walking tour includes a spooky walk through the Village and a visit to the Brick Dwelling. For more information and pricing, visit the village’s website.
If you don’t mind a good little drive for a day of fun, or maybe two days, consider a visit to the most haunted place in the universe — Salem — famous for its 1692 Witch Trials. Salem Haunted Happenings, which began in 1982, is now the largest celebration of Halloween in the world. It attracts more than a half-million visitors to the parties, parades, vendor fairs, walking tours, museums, attractions, and special events planned throughout October. Visit hauntedhappenings. org for more information. Also widely popular during the Halloween season are corn mazes, some downright scary and others just good-old fashioned fun, found on many farms today. Among those to check out include The Apple Place in East Longmeadow on 540 Somers Road; Hicks Family Farm on 1299 Route 2 in Charlemont; and Mike’s Maze at Warner Farm in Sunderland, which was voted “Best Corn Maze in the U.S.” by Yahoo News and “Most Elaborate Corn Maze in America” by Wired. Westfield on Weekends is offering its annual Drive-By Haunted Houses tour Oct. 1931. Homes will be shown and listed shortly on an interactive
If you don’t mind a good little drive for a day of fun, or maybe two days, consider a visit to the most haunted place in the universe — Salem — famous for its 1692 Witch Trials.
visitors often meet ghosts in grand hotels, cemeteries, historic homes, even a lighthouse.
Historic villages such as Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge and Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield with their many original buildings from yesteryear can possibly provide some true-life scares for visitors.
Twelve nights of haunted history and entertainment await visitors at Old Sturbridge Village’s Phantoms
landscape and includes more than 40 historic buildings.
This year, OSV is introducing new chilling attractions, including a labyrinth through the dark countryside, eerie carnival games and twisted tales of real-life tragedies.
“This year’s Phantoms by Firelight offers a uniquely captivating Halloween experience, free from the usual crowds and traffic. Attendees can explore the event at their own pace, immersing themselves in stunning visuals, dar-
walk the dark paths of the village, venture into the cellar of the Trustees’ Office to see gravestones, hear true tales of ghostly sightings, and learn about the Shakers’ role in the spiritualist movement. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.
For young revelers, Haunted Hancock for Kids on Oct. 19 and 26 at 5 p.m. offers a tour of Shaker ghosts and mystery especially designed for kids ages 8-12 with at least one adult companion. The
map on the WOW website and on WOW’s Facebook page. Additional haunts worth the drive include the SK Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion known for its true paranormal activity in Gardner, which has been cited as the No. 2 Most Haunted House in Massachusetts and the 9th Most Haunted House in the United States, as well as Connecticut’s Forsaken Lands Outdoor Haunted Attraction in Goshen; and the Trail of Terror in Wallingford.
The ticket booth welcomes visitors to 13th World in Palmer.
(ASHLEY POTTER / THE REPUBLICAN)
Delivery service apps find ways to keep business booming
HAVING THRIVED on supercharged growth during the pandemic years, the major third-party delivery services — DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub — are now striving to consolidate market share and further build their businesses in a somewhat less favorable environment.
All three services understand that today’s food-awayfrom-home customer is more price sensitive than was the case during COVID, and those services are increasingly using discounts and deals to retain customers and maintain order frequency.
So far that strategy seems to be working, with all three services reporting continued growth. As far as consumers are concerned, apparently the convenience of third-party delivery is such that they seem willing to pay the price premium that using such a service involves.
Companies like Uber are also “encouraging” restaurants to offer discounts on meals purchased through delivery partners, in essence getting restaurants, not the services themselves, to enhance the affordability of third party delivery.
The services are also aggressively promoting themselves to restaurant brands that had remained holdouts, such as Domino’s, which recently began testing the use of third-party delivery.
Olive Garden, another holdout, recently entered into a partnership with Uber Eats, which will fulfill delivery orders placed through Olive Garden’s own digital platform. Olive Garden has previously resisted the use of third-party delivery services, asserting that delivery complicated kitchen operations.
Olive Garden’s pending deal with Uber gives the chain’s individual units much more control over Uber’s role in
delivery than is typical of that available to the typical independent restaurant.
Third-party delivery services are reaching out to capture new market opportunities as well. AMC Theatres, which has extensively expanded its in-theater food operations, recently announced it would be working with DoorDash to provide at-home delivery from AMC’s dine-in locations. Those entertainment complexes currently offer enhanced snack food lineups such as loaded tots, fried mozzarella, chicken wings and flatbread pizza.
The delivery program will eventually be rolled out to all AMC Theatre locations.
Side Dishes
• The Student Prince and the Fort Restaurant in Springfield will be holding their Mighty Oktoberfest on Fort Street on Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5.
The festivities will begin both evenings at 5 p.m.; on Friday, the celebration will be kicked off by a ritual tapping of the keg. German beer, brats, and burgers will be on offer both evenings as will a selection of traditional Oktoberfest fare.
The White Hut Food Truck also will be on hand.
Featured entertainment on Friday will be the Berkshire Mountain Wanderers; Saturday’s headliners will be Trailer Trash.
Tickets, which are $20 and include one complimentary
house beer, can be ordered online.
• On Sept. 23, Domino’s, the pizza delivery chain, added two new pasta items to the chain’s permanent menu.
The brand’s 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese features penne pasta baked in Alfredo sauce enhanced with a blend of cheddar, American, Parmesan, Asiago, and mozzarella.
A Spicy Buffalo 5 Cheese
Mac & Cheese uses the same ingredients, but kicks up the flavor voltage with the addition of Buffalo sauce.
Both items are part of the brand’s current Mix & Match Deal, which requires ordering two or more items.
• On Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m., Fletcher’s BBQ Shop & Steakhouse in Longmeadow will present a Bourbon Tasting Dinner.
The five course menu will include a first course of grilled romaine followed by oysters “three ways.”
The dinner’s third round is to be pork belly nigiri; wagyu beef brisket is planned for the main dish presentation.
For dessert, a caramel sundae will be served.
Each course will be presented with a compatible Bourbon tasting; a series of wine
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
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
Guests enjoy their time at the Mighty Oktoberfest on Fort Street in Springfield on Oct. 7, 2022. The festivities return on Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu SEE MENU, PAGE D12
Is quantity over quality hurting craft beer?
IHATE TO BE THE bearer of bad news, but the ongoing flatlining of beer in general isn’t just affecting the big industrial brands; craft beer also remains on unsteady footing. So what is the problem? After all, this decline isn’t actually anything new.
At the beginning of 2015, when craft beer was still seeing eye-popping sales increases, I wondered (in this column) about when the bubble would burst. I think I predicted that some sort of massive downturn would happen in 2017, but as it turned out, no precipitous drop ever occurred over just one single year. But as hindsight now shows, 2015 itself saw the beginning of incremental slippage in the craft beer market.
Previous to 2015, craft beer had been enjoying almost insane growth. The 2000s saw a steady climb in numbers and by 2010, craft beer started posting double-digit increases in sales annually, hitting a high mark of an 18% increase in 2014. But then the market started adjusting. I guess that my prediction about 2017 was somewhat accurate, as that year did see the largest decline in growth over the previous year. But there was still overall growth, just not as much.
This slow decline continued without too much alarm until COVID hit in 2020. Although the damage done then obviously wasn’t specifically related to anything in the beer world, the pandemic certainly hastened the demise of many beer-related businesses that might have already been struggling. And while 2021 might have looked like a rebound, the actuality is that beer continues to lose its fizz here in America. Numbers in 2022 were bland, and last year was
largely seen as one of the worst recently (except for the 2020 pandemic year). Midyear 2024 reports indicate a somewhat static market.
There are many reasons that various people give for this phenomenon: Younger people seem to be drinking hard seltzers more. Consumption of nonalcoholic beverages is up, and import sales have increased. The list goes on and on. Unfortunately, none of those factors are controllable by people in the U.S. beer industry.
One positive statistic is that the number of U.S. breweries keeps growing. But I’m wondering if that’s actually a positive trend. The one thing breweries can control is the quality of their product. (But because tastes are subjective, I try not to slag particular beers in this column. What I don’t like, you may love, and vice versa.)
However, whereas 10 years ago, I could pick a random beer on the shelf, try it and mostly be happy with them., These days I’ve disliked more and more beers that I’ve tried. These are usually from newer breweries.
It’s not my business to tell people whether to go into the brewery business or not. But I wonder how many people have decided this is a cool thing to do or an easy way to make money — it’s not — or that because they did a few
3 California Chardonnays worth splurging on this fall
LAST WEEK, I WROTE about the most popular wine grape varieties in California.
All six wines were affordable (less than $20 a bottle) with some even costing less than $10.
This week, we’ll linger a bit longer on the West Coast. But instead of writing about six different types of wine, I decided to focus on the single most popular type of wine from California — Chardonnay.
I know how some of you feel about Chardonnay. You either love it or hate it. In fact, for some of you, it’s ABC — Anything But Chardonnay.
Believe me, I get it. Some California Chardonnays are anything but subtle. They’re over the top. They taste too oaky, too buttery, too everything.
But don’t blame the grape. And don’t blame the winemaker, either. Not so long ago, that’s what many people who buy California Chardonnays wanted. And so that’s what winemakers in California created.
Like many wine grape varieties, Chardonnay can be chameleon-like. Yes, they definitely can taste oak and buttery. But that’s often because the wine has been aging for many months in an oak barrel.
Other times, Chardonnay can taste bright and mineral-like, especially the Chardonnays from Chablis in France’s Northern Burgundy region.
Head about 50 miles south to Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet and Chardonnay wines often taste completely different. There, the wines are often buttery and slightly oaky without being over the top. They’re subtle, delicate yet powerful. They’re mysterious, ethereal, elegant, heavenly.
Chardonnay wines from this part of Southern Burgundy can also cost quite a bit of money.
recommended last week. But they’re worth every penny. And if you’re thinking, “Hey man. Summer’s over. Who wants to drink white wine now?”
Well, let me let you in on a little secret, buddy. Great white wines taste great anytime of year, especially wines as great as these three.
Hope you enjoy.
Great white wines taste great anytime of year, especially wines as great as these three.
Fortunately, many California winemakers have started to take a more subtle approach to making outstanding Chardonnays.
They’ve always been there in California. Remember, this is the place that made Chardonnay wines that beat the best ones in France in a blind tasting in 1976.
Now, many more winemakers in California make such outstanding Chardonnays, thanks to the changing tastes of many sophisticated wine consumers throughout the country.
This week, you can learn more about three outstanding California Chardonnays.
Yes, these wines cost a bit more money than some of the other California wines I
Wine Tasting Notes
2022 Stags’ Leap Chardonnay Napa Valley ($29 Suggested Retail Price)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Tasting notes: All three Chardonnays recommended this week come from California wineries that consistently create outstanding wines, including this one from Stags’ Leap. In this particular case, the delicious, delicate flavors range from hints of fresh lemon and peach to honeydew melon and dried orange zest. Truly delightful.
2021 Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve Napa Valley ($47 SRP)
Region: Napa Valley, California
Tasting notes: Another
The three California Chardonnays recommended this week. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)
Ken Ross Wine Press
George Lenker Beer Nut
Neil Diamond musical opens at the Bushnell
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
If you never had a chance to see Neil Diamond live in concert, you may be able to experience the next best thing.
“A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” is being staged at the William H. Mortenson Hall at The Bushnell in Hartford for six days. Performances started on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond, “A Beautiful Noise” is the true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chartbusting, show-stopping American rock icon. Similar to “Jersey Boys” and “The Carole King Musical,” the play is set to the songs that defined his career such as “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Sweet Caroline” and many more.
“Some of my most thrilling nights have been while I was on tour, bringing my music to audiences across the world. Having ‘A Beautiful Noise’ go on tour is an honor and I can’t wait for audiences across North America to experience this show. I hope they enjoy it as much as I have,” said Neil Diamond in a press release announcing the tour.
Diamond’s many accomplishments over the years include 10 Top 10 hits and
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outstanding Chardonnay from Napa Valley, this elegant, refined wine hits all the right notes with a wide range of subtle, mineral-like flavors and aromas, including nectarine, peach, vanilla and sea salt with just a dash of oak and almonds. This wine beautifully expresses the climate and soils of California’s famous Napa Valley.
140 million albums sold. His 1972 concert and live album “Hot August Night” sung in front of 5,000 screaming fans catapulted him to fame as the ultimate entertainer. He sang his way to a Grammy Award, into the Rock & Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame, then topped it off with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy and the Kennedy Center Honors.
In addition to a cast of characters and singers, “A Beautiful Noise” stars “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani reprising his role of “Neil DiamondThen” from the Broadway production, and Tony nominee Robert Westenberg as “Neil Diamond - Now.”
An accomplished actor on stage and on television — his credits include “Into the Woods,” “1776,” “Company,” “Les Miserables,” “Secret Garden” and more alongside many national touring shows — Westenberg was enjoying his new home in Colorado spending time with his family and teaching his craft at University of Colorado in Boulder, when the call came in for him to play Diamond.
“I knew this was an incredibly wonderful show on Broadway and a really good part for me,” said Westenberg about deliber-
“My wife said to me, ‘How many good roles are there for a man your age? If you don’t do it, you will regret it.’”
ROBERT WESTENBERG
for years to come,” he said.
ating whether or not to leave family behind for a year on tour.
“My wife said to me, ‘How many good roles are there for a man your age? If you don’t do it, you will regret it.’ Today there is Zoom and FaceTime to keep in touch with my kids and grandkids and wife, so I said, ‘Yes.’ And already not long into the tour it is one of the most rewarding theatrical experience of my life and I’m glad I made the right decision. The audience response has been insane and the cast is the highest possible level
2022 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection ($55 SRP) Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Tasting notes: Years ago, Sonoma County used to be the wine region just west of the better-known Napa Valley. No more. And when it comes to Sonoma County, some of the best wines come from the Russian River Valley area not far from the Pacific Ocean. Those cool waters and misty
foggy mornings help create complex, earthy wines like this one. The flavors for this outstanding wine range from fresh honeydew melon and lemon to tangy hints of nectarine, ginger and a dash of vanilla. Absolutely outstanding. Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
you can get alongside incredible directing, writing, production and beyond, and I am so privileged and blessed to be a part of it,” he added.
Westenberg has never met Diamond or seen him in concert, but is a lifelong fan.
“Since I was around the age of 15, Neil was just reaching his zenith as a performer. His songs were extremely impactful on my life and coincided with huge moments in my development. He is a true artist and genius and his songs are going to be sung and cherished
Ticket holders can enjoy a Fall Festival in the attraction’s courtyard two hours before the show. Participants can sample flavors of the season with a variety of fall-themed food and beverages, while participating in lively games and activities for all ages.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. except on Saturday at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee, and Sunday with a 1 p.m. matinee only.
Tickets range in price from $48 to $204, depending on the day selected, and are available online at bushnell.org.
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homebrews they’re being encouraged to dip their toes into professional brewing.
I don’t know. All I know is that to my taste buds there is an increasing number of mediocre beers out there. I don’t know if anything could be done about that. Hopefully, the market will dictate who survives and who will go.
So, in the case of craft beer, we can only hope that the market goes by some Darwinian principles and starts weeding out the lesser products.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. But I think it would definitely help the American craft beer market.
HARTFORD
Neil Diamond performs at the 84th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 30, 2016, in New York. Created in collaboration with Diamond, “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” is being staged at The Bushnell this week. (PHOTO BY CHARLES SYKES/INVISION/AP)
selections can be substituted for the whiskey.
Tickets are $140 plus tax and gratuity; they can be ordered by calling the restaurant at 413-384-2923.
• White Lion Brewing Company’s Main Street taproom in Springfield is holding another of its Jazz Brunch Series events on Sunday, Oct. 6, from noon to 3 p.m. In addition to special brunch menu items and White Lion’s own beers, the brunch will feature the B-Town Trio as live entertainment.
For more information, contact White Lion at 413455-0820.
A second Jazz Brunch is planned for Sunday, Oct. 13.
• Teresa’s Restaurant in Ware will be presenting a dinner show on Oct. 19 featuring R-rated Hypnotist Frank Santos Jr.
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m.; a dinner of classic Italian-American fare will begin at 6 p.m. The show itself is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $65 a person, can be ordered by calling 413-967-7601.
• Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow is once again serving brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The buffet style presentation includes traditional breakfast favorites, Italian classics, luncheon-style hot entrees and more.
The brunch is priced at $22.95 for adults and $11.50 for children age 12 and younger.
Contact Villa Napoletana at 413-732-9300 for more details.
• The Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow is hosting a special “Cocktails for Tails — Comedy Unleashed” evening on Oct. 18. A comedy show with an optional dinner component, Comedy Unleashed will feature comedians Adam
Webster, Jim Bishop, and Linda Belt.
The dinner portion of the evening will begin at 5 p.m. and feature passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations offering a variety of Asian-inspired and pasta dishes, and, to bring the dinner to a sweet conclusion, an ice cream sundae bar.
The dinner and show package is priced at $70. General admission to the comedy show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is $20.
The event benefits Second Chance Animal Services, a pet care and rescue organization which operates in Hampden and Worcester Counties. Its mission is to provide pets with the services they need to live better lives.
Tickets for Comedy Unleashed can be ordered online at the Second Chance website.
• Great Awakening Brewing Company in Westfield is celebrating Oktoberfest through Oct. 14, offering new beer releases along with German-inspired food.
Events scheduled at Great Awakening during the weekend ahead include a Jon Stetson Mentalist Show on Saturday, Oct. 5, and a stein holding competition on Sunday, Oct. 6. Tickets to the Jon Stetson Show are available on Eventbrite.com.
On weekends during Oktoberfest, Great Awakening will be offering its signature beer floats, and outside seating will be available, weather permitting.
For more information, contact Great Awakening Brewing Company at 413875-7868.
• The long and painful story surrounding the demise of the Boston Market restaurant chain appears to be nearing an end, with final court rulings in the bankruptcy proceedings involving the chain’s current owner, Jay Pandya, handed down last week.
The chain, which at its peak had more than 1,200 restaurants, is believed to only have about two dozen locations still in operation.
