Pioneer Valley Events

Addressing the Dean’s Theme of “The Gulf Oil Spill Crisis: Lessons for the Future” with original theater pieces to be created and performed by members of the Department of Theater and special guests. 

The Curtain Theater 
April 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 at 8 p.m., April 7 and 14 at 2 p.m.

In the wake of the devastating 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, officials at UMass Amherst issued a challenge to all departments to respond to the issues raised by the crisis. The Department of Theater’s response is a festival of devised theater, organized under the artistic direction of dramaturgy MFA student Megan McClain. She will guide several groups of artists, both students and professionals, as they create a handful of new pieces that offer different perspectives on the theme and the questions it raises about how we relate to the physical world, what our responsibility is to repair what we harm, and our place in the community and this ecosystem.

Get TICKETS NOW! https://fac.umass.edu/Online/default.asp?doWork%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle=Load&BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Aarticle_id=C357EE7E-1BF1-4441-8FE3-410621908CA2

What if we stressed our natural resources to the point where people had to line up to pay for the privilege of using the privy? Find out at The Rand Theater March 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 at 8 p.m., March 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. http://www.umass.edu/theater/mainstage.php 

Yoga is all about making connections. Connecting your mind with your body and your self with the whole world. We will use our minds and bodies together in this class to connect movement with breath, exploring themes like the chakras and the natural world. We will work together to make each class fun and engaging. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a yoga mat and water. See you there!

Where: Second Chances Community Room 7 Pomeroy Lane Amherst, Ma

When: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Who: Ages 5-7

Cost: $10

Children’s Festival includes: Hay Rides, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Jumpy Castle, Games, Baby Scarecrow Making, Pumpkin Decorating, Face Painting, Pre-School Avenue

A sample of the artisan crafters’ booths: Clothing, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Paintings, Photography, Pottery, Quilts, Textiles, Toys, Wool

Plus live entertainment

10AM-4PM on the Amherst common

FREE!

Featuring: Fine Entertainment, Great Food, Microbrew,  Bake Sale, Pig Roast, Children’s Entertainment and Games, Face Painting, Hayrides, and Much More!

Music: Jose Gonzales and Criollo Classico - The Bobby Sweet Band - Chris O’Brien - Art Steele
Bell Flower - Empty Bottle Ramblers -Alotta Hoopla - Yuri “Prince of Color” - Tony Bernardo
Happy Dan - Caravan Puppets - Tim Van Egmond - John Porcino - Marcy Gregoier

At North Amherst Community Farm.

The North Amherst Community Farm hosts a workshop on worm-bin composting today! Composting via worm bin is a great option for people working with a limited amount of space- it’s much smaller than a compost heap! The workshop will include exploring the farm and looking for decomposers, exploring a compost pile, and taking home some of your own worms to start a worm bin! Best for kids 5+. Registration required. 413-624-6223. 1089 North Pleasant Street. Amherst.

This event is free and open to the public. It is part of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference, which you can learn more about and register for at www.nofasummerconference.org.

1. Retune and reinvigorate your passion and support of all things organic through our Circle of Appreciation. A special song and a dance will be included.

2. See the UMass campus in a whole new way as you ride on a wagon pulled by miniature draft horses.

3. Test your retrieval skills under water in our tomato bob contest.

4. Bring your little ones to move and shake about as they take part in the magical process of churning cream to butter.

5. See how far you can spit a watermelon seed.

6. Race for the finish line in a burlap sack.

7. Test how well you can balance an egg on a spoon while you run at the same time.

8. Bring your appetite and see how quickly you can gobble down a blueberry pie.

9. Find out how well you can toss an egg without breaking it.

10. Show your inner-design skills and dress up a scarecrow in the most fashionable sense.

At UMass Amherst on the lawn by the Exhibit Tent.

Little Red Riding Hood goes off through the woods to visit her grandmother, but to make it there safely she will have to outsmart the tricky Big Bad Wolf. Join us for our sly and silly adaptation of this classic story, told with hand puppets and shadow puppets inspired by the work of Tomi Ungerer.

$5 per ticket.

At the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.

Annual Children’s Day at Atkins Farms Country Market. Clown around with the Atkins Clowns. Play fun games and win prizes. Teaching Creatures Program: Meet some wild animals from around the world between 1:30 & 3:30 in the pavilion.

Where: Atkins Farms Country Market 1150 West St.Amherst, MA

When: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Who: All ages.

How: Just show up.

Cost: Free for Children 12 & under.