Downtown Greenfield will be filled with Halloween spirit this Saturday, October 30th with the Trick or Treat Rag Shag Parade and Costume Contest. Join in the fun from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, starting with trick or treating. Pick up a free reflective trick or treat bag on the City Common and then go door to door to Greenfield’s downtown businesses for treats from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.

Be sure to wear your best Halloween costume and enter the costume contest. To enter the contest, pick a number at the town common. Then you will be called to show your costume to the judges. Awards will follow. 

At 5:30 pm, line up with the Rag Shag Parade at Mohawk Mall parking lot for their parade led by the Greenfield High School Band and police officers. The parade’s route will turn onto Miles Street and end at the Energy Park. 

After the parade, enjoy a free showing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at Greenfield Cinemas starting at 6 pm. 

There’s lots of Halloween fun to be had in Downtown Greenfield this Saturday so don’t miss out!

For more information on the Trick or Treat Rag Shag Parade and Costume Contest, call the Recreation Department at 772-1553 or visit their website, www.greenfieldrecreation.com/halloween.

Photo taken from Greenfield Recreation Department 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 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. 

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 [email protected].

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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. [...]

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. 

A New-American Bakeshop in New England 

Lucy Damkoehler grew up in Bernardston, Massachusetts and has been working in bakeries since she legally could. She built a successful career outside of Western Mass, working in well-known establishments like Gramercy Tavern in New York City and other places overseas and across the country. After spending 12 years in Seattle working as Regional Pastry Chef at Bon Appetit Management Company and helping to open Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery, Lucy has brought her skills and experience back to Western Mass for all of us to enjoy!

Upon the opening of Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop, the place was instantly a hit. Currently, the business has an average 5 star rating on Google and was voted as #1 Bakery in the Recorder’s 2020 Franklin Favorites competition. 

As the shop’s slogan promises, the bakeshop offers “craveable high-quality pastries” which are crafted with the best local ingredients and without unhealthy preservatives, additives, and sweeteners. Lucy bakes up classic favorites like croissants, pain au chocolat, and cherry pie. But she also whips up some unique mouth-watering creations like smore’s donuts, sweet corn and brown butter donuts, and her famous raspberry cornbread.

The next time you’re driving down Route 5 in Bernardston, be sure to stop by Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop at 7 South Street! Follow her on Facebook for updates and to find out what Lucy is making for #donutthursday. Visit sweetlucysbakeshop.com for more info and check out this video below to meet Lucy and get some helpful baking tips from her:

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

The last weeks of August are a great time to explore the agricultural fairs around Western Massachusetts. The Cummington Fair, a local favorite country fair, is happening this weekend. The events kick off Thursday, August 26 for a weekend full of shows, workshops, entertainment, food, music, and more, finishing Sunday, August 29. 

On Thursday, fair-goers will be welcomed back with antique engine and tractor shows, a craft barn, a performance by the Shelburne Falls Military Band, and more - all leading up to a magnificent fireworks show. Then, all weekend long there will be a variety of events such as the Classic Car Show, Magic by Christopher, Sarah the Fiddler, the Youth Lawn Tractor Pull, Demolition Derby and more. Check out the full schedule of events here.

The Cummington Fair was started in 1868 but was initiated in 1883 as the Hillside Agricultural Society. Today, the Cummington Fair remains true to its agricultural roots with events based around livestock and tractors, such as the livestock shows, horse draws, and antique engine and tractor shows. 

For more information and to purchase tickets go to cummingtonfair.com.

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