The Great Falls Festival, also known as Pumpkinfest, is back this year in Turners Falls! This Saturday, October 23, join in the fall fun on Avenue A. Bring your own carved and painted pumpkin to add to the display in front of St. Kaz from 10 am onwards. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed up and bring your Halloween spirit. 

It wouldn’t be Pumpkinfest without local pumpkin beer. Pioneer Valley Brewery brewed up a special Pumpkin Fest Pumpkin Ale just for this event. Hitchcock Brewery will also be there pouring their Nice Rumpkin Toasted Pumkin Ale. Try them both and decide who makes the better pumpkin ale. Berkshire Brewing Company, the first brewers to attend the original Pumpkinfest, will be under the beer tent too.

Pumpkinfest will run from 12 to 8 pm with lots of entertainment, food, games, and local craft beer. Entrance is free to the public, which means you can spend more on beer, food, and fun. Take advantage of the free shuttles from Turners Falls High School and Sheffield School. 

See what else will be happening this weekend at Pumpkinfest by following the Great Falls Festival Facebook page.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

You may have noticed while driving around Western Mass that the views are breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, these drives have special designations as Scenic Byways. Each one offers a chance to explore the most picturesque parts of our region, while also leading you to areas of arts and culture, agricultural and industrial heritage, natural [...]

With the cooler weather, beautiful fall foliage, and the sound of leaves rustling outside, you’re probably in the mood for fun Fall activities. This weekend, you can head to Bernardston for the annual Scarecrow in the Park competition. All are invited to enter the contest to create a scarecrow to stand in Cushman Park. The scarecrows are judged based on certain categories which this year will be Scariest, Funniest, Prettiest, Most Interesting Use of Materials, and the rotating category will be Science. 

Come to Cushman Park this Saturday, October 16th and Sunday, October 17th to view all the scarecrows and enjoy live music, artists’ booths, delicious food, children’s activities, and the tractor parade. Follow Scarecrow in the Park on Facebook to preview the variety of artists and craftspeople who will sell their crafts at the event.

Scarecrow in the Park is a fundraiser for Bernardston Kiwanis Scholarship fund, so come out for a fun day at Cushman Park while supporting this wonderful local cause. 

Click here for more information about Scarecrow in the Park or email scarecrowinthepark@gmail.com.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

Every year, the artists of Colrain open up their doors to the public for gallery viewings, demonstrations, workshops, sales, and to meet and greet. Studio-goers are invited to print a map, hop in the car, and drive around to the various artists over the course of the weekend. This year, the Crafts of Colrain is coming to Shelburne Falls with a special pop-up event on Saturday, October 9th and Sunday, October 10th from 10 am to 4 pm. 

Go to Shelburne Falls this weekend to check out the works of various participating artists. The following artists will be included in this special pop-up event at 50 State Street in Shelburne Falls: Carole Adams, Peggy Davis/Joe Kurland, Kevin French, Cynthia Herbert, Jim/Jill Horton-Lyons, Inge Jockers, Jen Kapitulik, Al Ladd/Marilyn Beal, Bob/Helen Olson, Tony Palumbo, Sarah Schoedel, and Olga Solomita. Check out the variety of hand-crafted works made from new and reused materials, including woodburning, hand-crafted jewelry, lamps and lights, planters, accessories, and more.

If you love the pop-up event, you’ll really love the open studio tours next month - November 13-14. Check out the event website for more details at craftsofcolrain.com. Follow Crafts of Colrain on Facebook for event updates and to preview some of the artists' works.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

With cooler weather and beautiful autumn foliage, now is the best time of year to enjoy the wilderness in Western Mass. There are many ways to get outside and enjoy, including running, kayaking, and mountain biking. Why not do all three at the 6th Annual Great River Challenge Off-Road Triathlon in Northfield, Massachusetts! This event is happening this Saturday, October 9th, so act fast to get involved. 

Drawing its name from the longest river in New England, the Great River Challenge Triathlon starts with a paddle down a scenic stretch of the Connecticut River, followed by a run on single track trails and in the woods, and finished by a mountain bike ride on mixed single track and open trails. There are options for short or long courses which can be done either solo or as a relay team. 

If you want to be part of the fun but don’t want to participate, you can also register to volunteer. Volunteers help with parking, registration, water stations, and more. Sign up to volunteer here.

For 6 years, the Great River Challenge Triathlon has promoted the Upper Pioneer Valley’s cultural and natural resources, as well as a healthy and active lifestyle in our local community. This event benefits the signature programs of the Northfield Kiwanis Foundation for area children and families.

To learn more about the Great River Challenge Triathlon and to sign up, go to greatriverchallenge.com.

Photo credit: greatriverchallenge.com/gallery

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

The Big E is back! Also known as “New England’s Great State Fair,”  the Big E is the sixth largest fair in the nation. The events kick off Friday, September 17 and will run until October 3rd at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. 

There are so many fun activities at the Big E - you’ll find something for everyone. Originally created as an agricultural fair, the Big E stays true to its history by continuing to host agricultural events. These events include livestock shows, 4-H demos, and craft/skill demonstrations. View the agricultural events schedule here.

Many people love to travel to the Big E for the exciting activities and entertainment it has to offer. The midway rides have all sorts of thrilling experiences. Check out the Big Parade, the Circus Spectacular, live concerts, and more. 

You can’t have a fair without delicious food and the Big E does not fall short. Of course there is the classic fried food, baked potatoes, and corndogs. But you can also find a variety of cuisine from around the world and some sit-down venues to dine as well. Then go for a drink at one of the several bars, saloons, beer garden, and cocktail bar.

Check out all the Big E has to offer at thebige.com. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

One of the benefits of living in Franklin County is having so many beautiful rivers to enjoy locally. Unfortunately, these rivers often suffer from pollution. Walking along the rivers or paddling down them can reveal certain areas where trash and debris has accumulated, interrupting the natural beauty of the river banks and harming wildlife. [...]

The 45th Annual Old Deerfield Fall Arts & Crafts Festival is this weekend! This craft fair comes as one of a three-part series of fairs organized each year to benefit the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and is the only outdoor show of the three. Head to the show this Saturday and Sunday, September 18th and 19th to browse the creations of over 100 artisans, and enjoy delicious specialty food under the food tent. You’ll also have a chance to create your own crafts at the free family craft table.

The Old Deerfield Fall Arts & Crafts Festival is located in Old Deerfield, just off of Route 5 in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Park your car for free and take a free shuttle bus from one of the marked lots off of Routes 5 and 10 at Yankee Candle Corporate Headquarters. Admission to the show is just $5 per person and children 12 and under go for free. Proceeds benefit the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of crafts and the history of our surrounding Deerfield area.

Follow the fair on Facebook for a chance to enter to win free tickets and shopping certificates. You’ll also see which artists are attending this year’s show on their page. 

For more information, visit deerfield-craft.org.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

This weekend marks the 172nd Franklin County Fair in Greenfield, Massachusetts. From Thursday, September 9 through Sunday, September 12 the Franklin County Fairgrounds will be filled with fun for the whole family. This year’s fair features a great lineup of entertainment events and agricultural and craft shows. Be sure to check out the parade, power wheel demo, and demolition derby. Also returning this year is the Coleman Brothers Midway which offers fun and thrills. 

The Franklin County Fair started in 1848 with the purpose of providing agricultural education to the community at a time when many immigrants were fleeing cases of famine in European countries. The fair offered a way to both demonstrate skills such as quilt-making, pie-baking, or cheese-making, as well as flaunt new agricultural innovations or breeds of sheep. Many of the events from the original county fair still continue today, with livestock shows and a display of handmade works at the Roundhouse and Youth Hall.

For the full lineup of events and to purchase your tickets, visit fcas.com.

Photo credit: Franklin County Fair Facebook Page

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

The Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze will be open for the 2021 season on Saturday, September 4th! Corn mazes have long been a favorite fall activity in New England and we are lucky to have our own amazing local corn maze right here in Franklin County. You can easily find the Hicks Corn Maze on the Mohawk Trail/Route 2 in Charlemont, MA. 

A 5th generation farm in operation, Hicks will be celebrating its 11th year of the corn maze this year. Check out the scavenger hunt in the maze or play mini golf in the field. Plus, don’t miss the haunted weekends in October, Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 pm. 

Visit the Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, September 4th through October 30th and the evenings during their haunted weekends. Tickets for the corn maze are $8 for children 12 and under and $10 for adults. 

For more information and to view aerial photos of past years’ mazes, visit hickscornmaze.com.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.