Page 22 - BusinessWest May 26, 2020
P. 22

  Summer Happenings
Continued from page 20
Mattoon Street Arts Festival
Mattoon Street, Springfield
www.mattoonfestival.org
Admission: Free
Sept. 11-12: Now in its 48th year, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival is the longest-running arts festival in
the Pioneer Valley, featuring about 100 exhibitors, including artists that work in ceramics, fibers, glass, jewelry, painting and printmaking, photography, wood, metal, and mixed media. Food vendors and strolling musicians help to make the event a true late-summer destination. Admission is free, as
is parking at the TD Bank lot. Located just three blocks from I-91, this family-friendly event is ideal
for holiday shopping, seeing new craft ideas, or just walking on a beautiful Victorian street.
Pedal ‘n’ Party
Brunelle’s Marina, 1 Alvord St.,
South Hadley
www.pedalnparty.com
Admission: $30 for 60 minutes, $15 for 30 minutes All summer: Want to have some fun out on the water? Rent an individual hydrobike, which can be use to explore the Connecticut River and the streams that feed into it. This eco-friendly, pedal-powered vessel moves at a comfortable 4-6 mph with easy effort. From its stability to its high visibility on the water, the hydrobike is engineered for a safe, reliable ride. Its pontoons were scientifically developed by a professional canoe designer for optimum buoyancy, speed, and maneuverability, ensuring a smooth ride even in very choppy water. Stable enough to dive from, the hydrobike can also handle rough water conditions, including five-foot swells. Rent it for a beautiful day on the water, a workout, or a fun group activity.
Pioneer Valley Ballet
Park Hill Orchard, 82 Park Hill
Road, Easthampton
www.pioneervalleyballet.org
Admission: $20, $10 for children and seniors June 4-5: It’s been a year and a half since Pioneer
Green River
Continued from page 21
new host is the Franklin County Fairgrounds, which actually offers more space, Olsen said. “It’s a great site, and we’re really excited about it. I feel it’s going to be a new and exciting chapter for us.”
He’s not the only one who’s excited. Musicians have struggled badly during the pandemic like few businesses have — and, make no mistake, music is a business, one that relies on live performance.
“These days, you really don’t make much money recording,” Olsen said of a market that has radically de-emphasized physical product in favor of stream- ing. “It’s all in the live shows. These musicians are dying to get back out there. They depend on being on the road.”
While they’re enjoying this year’s stop along that
Valley Ballet (PVB) last
performed for a live audience,
but that will change in June
as the company welcomes
spring with an outdoor, site-
specific performance of one of
Shakespeare’s most popular
and treasured works, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
After having to cancel all of
its 2020 performances, PVB is
once again taking to the stage
— only this time the ‘stage’ is
Easthampton’s Park Hill Orchard,
where for two afternoons small
groups will wind through the
fields, discovering scenes from the Midsummer story at sites throughout the picturesque orchard. A
new audience will enter every 30 minutes. The first performance of each day will be a non-roaming, single-location performance for anyone with mobility concerns.
Six Flags New England
1623 Main St., Agawam
www.sixflags.com/newengland
Admission: $29.99 and up; season passes $49.99 All summer: Continuing an annual tradition of adding a new major attraction each spring, Six Flags New England recently unveiled Supergirl Skyflyer,
a spinning, high-speed thrill ride. The main park is now open, and the Hurricane Harbor waterpark opens Memorial
Day weekend.
“We are beyond thrilled that we can reopen our theme park with a full complement of our more than 100 rides, attractions, and unique experiences,” park President Pete Carmichael said recently. “Now more than ever, families need an escape that is safe, accessible and fun.”
“
among people to get back to life, to
get back out and enjoy the stuff we
”
road — the event will feature music on three differ- ent stages throughout the weekend — the festival will also feature plenty of what fans have loved in the past, from Berkshire Brewing Co.’s beer and wine tent to food trucks hailing from across the Northeast to the Makers Market, a collection of regional artisans selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and more.
The Zoo in Forest Park
293 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA
www.forestparkzoo.org
Admission: $5-$10; free for children under 1 Through Oct. 14: The Zoo in Forest Park, located inside Springfield’s Forest Park, is home to a wide variety of species found throughout the world and North America. Meanwhile, the zoo maintains
a focus on conservation, wildlife education, and rehabilitations. The Zoo is open seven days a
week, weather permitting, but all guests, including members, currently need a timed ticket to visit. Recently, state Sen. Eric Lesser and other local lawmakers announced $125,000 in pandemic recovery funding for the zoo to continue its mission of education, conservation, and rehabilitation.
   There’s so much anticipation
“We’ve worked very hard building a world-class crafts market,” Olsen said. “We like to represent the best of Western Mass. at the Green River Festival. That’s why we continue to do so well.”
Tickets cost $139.99 for the weekend, but patrons can attend Friday only for $44.99 or Saturday or Sun- day for $69.99 each day. Camping is available, but RV passes are already sold out.
“Our ticket sales have been very, very strong, from the minute we announced it,” Olsen said. “There’s so much anticipation among people to get back to life, to get back out and enjoy the stuff we love. I’ve always felt like this was a big community party — and this year, it’s going to be supersized.” u
—Joseph Bednar
   love.
 22 MAY 26, 2021
SUMMER HAPPENINGS
BusinessWest




























   20   21   22   23   24