JULY-SEPTEMBER 2026JULY 2026JULY 4 – EAST LONGMEADOW PARADE COMMEMORATES COUNTRY’S 250TH ON JULY 4THJuly 4, beginning at 10 a.m. at the East Longmeadow High School, the town continues a long tradition of celebrating the 4th of July with a spectacular parade! The four-mile route winds through the center of town, ending at Hanward Hill at the middle school. People stake out their viewing spots the night before, so get there early! Info: tinyurl.com/5bpe8fpr JULY 9– COME DOWNTOWN FOR A LAWN PARTY @ THE LANDING TODAY!July 9 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. it’s a Lawn Party @The Landing – downtown Springfield’s new 12,900 sq. ft. plaza between the Mass Mutual Center and the Convention Center Carpark. It’s a party every Thursday with food trucks, drinks, lawn games and of course, music! Today’s artist: Jarreau Pitts with a mix of R & B, Pop and Soul. Free and open to the public. massmutualcenter.com/events JULY 10 – BRING THE GRANDKIDS TO SEE ‘ALADDIN’ AT 52 SUMNER TODAYJuly 10 kicks off a two-day run for this classic Disney favorite, brought to life on stage by The Springfield Community Theater of Massachusetts at 52 Sumner, on Sumner Avenue in Springfield MA. This will be a bilingual performance, but you will still hear favorite songs such as “A Whole New World,” and “Friend Like Me.” Info: 52sumner.com/events-and-tickets JULY 14 – BRIMFIELD’S JULY SESSION OF ITS OUTDOOR ANTIQUES SHOW OPENSBeginning July 14 at sunrise and running through July 19 at sunset, the 21 independent fields – and thousands of vendors – will turn Route 20 in Brimfield, MA. into the Northeast’s biggest antiques mart! Different fields open different hours, some have admission and parking fees, some are free. Check the website link below for details. Info: tinyurl.com/4wb2248u JULY 21 – ‘WEIRD AL’ BRINGS HIS COMEDY TO TANGLEWOOD TONIGHTJuly 21 at 7 p.m. in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Weird Al Yankovic brings his multimedia comedy rock show “Bigger and Weider Tour 2026” to Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. Featuring fan favorite hits and some never-before heard and seen selections. Tickets available on the website. Info: tinyurl.com/3t43yxjw JULY 31 – HISTORIC DEERFIELD PRESENTS ’A STAKE IN THE GROUND’ TODAYJuly 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Deerfield Community Center, Deerfield, MA. This accessible performance includes three one-act plays about the increasing rumbles of liberty in 1774 Deerfield, including political divisions, family tangles and enslavement. Tickets $25 adults; $15 youth/college students. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/kjak848w AUGUST 2026AUGUST 1 – CRUISE THE CONNECTICUT ABOARD THE HERITAGE RIVERBOATAug. 1, and every Wed. to Sun. through Oct. 13, the Heritage Riverboat leaves the Northfield dock at 144 Pine Meadow Rd. for 1¹/2 hour scenic tours at 11 a.m., 1:15 and 3 p.m. $15 adults; $14 seniors, $8 under 12. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/mwpsrwm4 AUGUST 4 – BOSTON POPS PRESENT TANGLEWOOD ON PARADE TONIGHTAug. 4 at 8 p.m. in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox MA., Yo Yo Ma curates a concert featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Tchaikovsky’s 1912 Overture and more. Tickets start at $44. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/2e5jjztx AUGUST 6 – THE CARLE MUSEUM PRESENTS STARCATS AT SUNSET THURSDAYSAug. 6 from 4-8 p.m., the Eric Carle Museum, 125 W. Bay Road, Amherst, MA, presents an evening of Jazz music, working artists, hands-on activities, story times and food geared for the whole family. Free with museum admission or for members. In Bobbie’s Meadow, moves indoors for rain. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/mw9xwv44 AUGUST 15 – BEAT THE HEAT WITH A PUBLIC SKATE AT AMELIA PARK TONIGHTAug. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Amelia Park Ice Arena, 21 S. Broad St., Westfield, MA., the rink is open for a public skate! DJ on site will play requested tunes. Skate rental, skater helpers available for novices. Cost $12/person adults & kids, $6 seniors; $5 skate rental. Info: ameliaparkarena.org/publicskating AUGUST 24-26 – IT’S SUPERHERO AND PRINCESS DAY AT THE CT TROLLEY MUSEUM!Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring your little costumed superheros and princesses to the Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 North Road East Windsor, CT. for a day or photos, crafts and trolley rides. Info: tinyurl.com/c2e92685 AUGUST 29 – ‘FORGING FREEDOM’ AT THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY TODAYAug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, One Armory Way, Springfield MA., will host a free day of historical reenactments and demonstrations highlighting manufacturing during the Revolutionary period of American history. Info: tinyurl.com/c2e92685 SEPTEMBER 2026SEPTEMBER 3 – HISTORIC FESTIVAL 44 KICKS OFF TODAY AT LIME ROCK PARKBeginning Sept. 3 with a 17-mile Sports Car and Vintage Car Parade through the area, this weekend offers racing enthusiasts from every era an opportunity to see their favorite cars take to the classic road race track at Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, CT. Check website for times, tickets, more Info. Info: limerock.com/events/historic-festival SEPTEMBER 10 – SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC FORUM EXAMINES AI AND DEMOCRACYSept 10 at 6 p.m. in Symphony Hall, downtown Springfield, MA., Harvard professor of history Jill Lepore will examine “The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State” and the effect technology and AI is having on humanity, democracy and nature. Free and open to the public. Info: tinyurl.com/c3ahh9r5 SEPTEMBER 11 – SPRINGFIELD MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPT. 11 ATTACKSept. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Sept. 11th Memorial in Riverfront Park, downtown Springfield. Ceremony includes remarks by Springfield fire commissioner, police superintendent, Mayor Dominic Sarno and other dignitaries. Rifle salute, bell toll and wreath laying. Bring chair. Info: tinyurl.com/yps8pc2y SEPTEMBER 18-OCTOBER 4 – IT’S FAIR TIME! THE BIG E OPENS IN WEST SPRINGFIELD TODAY!Sept. 18 through Oct. 4, the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition on Memorial Avenue in West Springfield come alive with animals, exhibits, entertainment and fair food! Visit six states in one afternoon, learn history in Storrowton Village, ride rides, and more! Info: thebige.com SEPTEMBER 27 – NOSTALGIC ’FOREVER PLAID’ OPENS TONIGHT AT 52 SUMNERSept, 25 at p.m. at 52 Sumner, the event space on lower Sumner Avenue in Springfield MA., the Community Theater of Springfield Massachusetts brings this heartwarming play to life for two nights! Filled with a 1950s vibe and harmonies, this is a play that will leave you humming. Through Sept. 27. Info: 52sumner.com/events-and-tickets SEPTEMBER 27-29 – IT’S JAZZ FEST DAY AT THE NORTHAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVALSept. 26 is for Jazz lovers! It features a full day of Jazz performances from all over the world in downtown Northampton, MA, culminating in a concert by Lakecia Benjamin at the Academy of Music at 7:30 p.m. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/3ant3zwf 6 things... you need to know1. AARP OFFERS FREE EXERCISE VIDEOS FOR HEALTHY AGINGToo hot for your daily walk? Gym getting too expensive? Just don’t feel like leaving the house? AARP offers a series of 10-minute exercise videos – yoga with Lorraine Lash and fitness/indoor walking with Denise Austin – that you can do at home for free, on its website, no membership required. More fitness help is available to those with membership. Info: tinyurl.com/4j53ebp6 2. SNOW FARM OFFERS ART ‘VACATION’ WORKSHOPS THIS SUMMERSnow Farm – the New England Craft Experience – located in Williamsburg, MA., offers immersive in-residence workshops in mixed media, jewelry making, woodworking, sculpture, and other fine art forms for all ability levels. Accommodations on site are first-come when booking class. Prices for still-open classes, accommodations, on website. Info: snowfarm.org 3. “GILDED AGE TOUR’ IS ULTIMATE DAY TRIP FOR HBO FANSLove the HBO drama, “The Gilded Age?” Rhode Island’s Newport Mansions has just the tour for you! “The Gilded Age” tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 28, takes visitors to the rooms in the mansions of Marble House, The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer and The Elms featured in the period drama written by Julian Fellows. Guides offer insights into filming and background on the homes and their famous owners. Limited to 12 guests per tour. Bus transportation provided. Book in advance. Info/tickets: tinyurl.com/5n9x8twp 4. CARING FOR THOSE GRANDKIDS IS GOOD FOR COGNITIVE HEALTHThat time you spend helping out with the grandkids? Turns out it’s good for your memory, and healthy aging. A recent study published in Psychology and Aging found that grandparents who played games with their grandkids, or helped out with homework, showed slower cognitive decline, even if the time commitment was modest. Full study in link below. Info: www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/pag-pag0000958.pdf 5. WOMEN: SKIP THESE SEVEN SUMMER WARDROBE MISTAKESOnline fashion influencer for women over age 50, Tania Stephens, author of “50 Is Not So Old” recently put out a blog that shines a light on the summer wardrobe mistakes women of a certain age tend to make – and why these errors make them look frumpy and older. Analysis includes quick fixes for these fashion faux pas, and even links to find the right items. Link to blog is below: Info: tinyurl.com/4wdyvtbe 6. TOOLS TO GUIDE YOUR CAREGIVING JOURNEYIt’s a role nearly everyone will take on at some point- for a spouse, parent, sibling, even a child. Preparing for and navigating the journey can leave a lot of questions and feelings, and the website Caring Our Way, created by Caregiving Reflections blogger Denise Brown, offers a wealth of Information and help. Check it out at the link below. Info: CaringOurWay.com |
