Page 32 - BusinessWest November 24, 2025

AGENDA>> For more events, or to submit your upcoming events,
visit BusinessWest’s event calendar online: https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar
Difference Makers Nominations
Through Dec. 22: BusinessWest is now accepting
nominations for its 18th annual Difference Makers
awards. BusinessWest launched the Difference Mak-
ers program in 2009 to recognize and celebrate the
work of individuals, groups, businesses, and institu-
tions that are positively impacting the communi-
ties of Western Mass. As previous honorees have
shown, there are many ways to make a difference
within our community, such as working on initia-
tives aimed at improving quality of life; succeeding
in business, public service, or education; inspiring
others to get involved; and making an imaginative
effort to help solve societal issues. Nominations
for the Difference Makers class of 2025 are due by
Monday, Dec. 22 and can be submitted at business-
west.com/difference-makers-nomination-form. For
more information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana,
Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600,
ext. 100, or email [email protected].
MGM Springfield Tree Lighting
Nov. 28: MGM Springfield will usher in the holi-
day season with its annual tree lighting ceremony,
marking the opening of Holiday Winter Wonderland
on Armory Square, featuring the city’s only outdoor
skating rink. Festivities kick off at 5:15 p.m. with
special appearances by the New England Patriots
cheerleaders, Pat the Patriot, Red Sox mascot Wally,
the Springfield Thunderbirds’ own Boomer, and
Santa Claus himself. At 5:30 p.m., MGM Springfield
will welcome Westfield native and The Voice semi-
finalist Madison Curbelo as she performs holiday
favorites from the Armory Square Stage. Visitors
can enjoy a hot chocolate or festive adult bever-
ages available in our outdoor Lion’s Den winter
cabin, located next to the skating rink. Local favorite
Jeannie’s Weenies will be serving up its signature
all-beef hot dogs with fresh toppings, plant-based
options, and sweets. A brief welcome program will
begin at 6 p.m., led by the MGM Springfield team
and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The official
tree lighting and grand opening of the skating rink
will immediately follow. Throughout the season,
MGM Springfield invites guests to enjoy a festive
experience at Armory Square, including a coordi-
nated holiday tree light and music show with magi-
cal snow, that will be on display every hour, on the
hour, from 2 to 10 p.m., seven days a week. This
season, the ice skating rink will remain open until
Jan. 4, 2026. Tickets for the ice rink can be pur-
chased in person.
Holiday Marketplace,
Festival of Wreaths
Dec. 5-7: A holiday tradition continues at Berkshire
Botanical Garden (BBG) with Holiday Marketplace,
featuring a preview party and Gallery of Wreaths.
The festivities begin Dec. 5 in BBG’s Center House
from 5 to 7 p.m. The party includes early wreath-
buying opportunities, live music, hors d’oeuvres
and a raw bar, and festive libations. This is a pre-
registered event. Admission is $75 for members
and $100 for non-members. The Marketplace runs
Dec. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature
artisan vendors from throughout the region as well
as a collection of one-of-a-kind designer wreaths,
an assortment of holiday-blooming amaryllis and
paperwhites in decorative and clay containers, suc-
culent arrangements, garlands, hanging terrariums,
and other gift items. The weekend festivities will
include live music, s’mores around a campfire, and
hot drinks from the Best Damn Espresso coffee
truck.
Women of Impact
Dec. 9: BusinessWest will celebrate its eighth annual
Women of Impact cohort at Twin Hills Country Club
in Longmeadow. Tickets cost $95 per person, and
tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, visit
www.businesswest.com/eventcalendar/womenof-
impact-2025. The class of 2025, featured in the
Oct. 27 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.
com, includes Tara Brewster, vice president of Busi-
ness Development and Director of Philanthropy at
Greenfield Savings Bank; Tracy Friedenberg, execu-
tive director of Bacon Wilson, P.C.; Chelsea Kline,
executive director of Cancer Connection; Ayanna
Crawford, president of AC Consulting and Media
Services; Rania Kfuri, vice president for Philanthro-
py, Sales, and Marketing at Glenmeadow; Angelina
Ramirez, CEO of Stavros Center for Independent
Living; Amanda Sanderson, executive director of
Resilience Center of Franklin County; and Sarah
Rose Stack, lecturer of Public Relations at UMass
Amherst. The event is presented by Country Bank
and TommyCar Auto Group and sponsored by
Bacon Wilson, P.C.
Berkshire County Development
Alliance Winter Mixer
Dec. 9: The Berkshire County Development Alliance
(BCDA) will host an informal networking mixer from
5:30 to 7 p.m. at Hot Plate Brewing Co., located at 1
School St., Pittsfield. All are invited to drop by after
work, grab a drink, and connect with fellow devel-
opment professionals, volunteers, and community
members from across Berkshire County. This get-
together is a relaxed way to meet new people, share
ideas, make connections, and learn about what
others are working on in the area — no pitches or
presentations required. The event is free to attend.
Light snacks and drinks are available for purchase
from Hot Plate. RSVP is requested by Dec. 5 at
[email protected], but walk-ins are welcome.
Visit bit.ly/4cDsUjA to learn more.
Follow My Steps Foundation
Annual Gala
Dec. 14: Follow My Steps Foundation announced
its annual gala, Stepping Into 2026, will be held at
the Basketball Hall of Fame. This event will bring
together community leaders, partners, supporters,
and youth to celebrate the strides made over the
past year and to rally support for future expansion
of the foundation’s mentorship, career readiness,
and financial literacy programs. The event will also
introduce the Pioneers for Change Award, recog-
nizing exemplary changemakers whose actions
resonate with Follow My Steps’ mission. Guests
will enjoy a catered dinner, live entertainment,
and uplifting stories about the youth served by the
foundation. The evening also marks the launch
of a community giving campaign, aiming to raise
$10,000 in individual contributions that fuel men-
torship, education, and empowerment initiatives
throughout the year. Early bird tickets (through
Nov. 14) cost $55 for adults and $27.50 for children.
General admission tickets (Nov. 15-30) cost $65
for adults and $32.50 for children. Final admis-
sion tickets (Dec. 1-14): cost $75 for adults and
$37.50 for children. Visit www.followmysteps.org/
steppinginto2026 to purchase tickets. Businesses
and community partners are also invited to join as
sponsors of the Stepping Into 2026 Gala. Five tiered
sponsorship levels — copper, bronze, silver, gold,
and platinum — offer meaningful opportunities to
align one’s brand with youth empowerment and
community advancement. Each level includes a
range of benefits such as brand visibility across digi-
tal and print channels, recognition during the event,
logo placement, program ads, reserved tickets, and
social media promotion.
What’s Happening in Western Mass?
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