This weekend in Hampshire County, MA

Head from Granby to Salem for a festive day trip without the hassle of traffic or pricey parking. The pick up point is Joy Travel Agency in Granby, MA, where free and secure all day parking is available. Travel in a comfortable 54 passenger charter bus with air conditioning and an onboard restroom. Once in Salem, enjoy ample free time to explore at your own pace, visit popular attractions, shop, and take in the Halloween atmosphere. Seating is limited to 54. For questions, call or text 413-275-4460.

This guided movement class introduces the 5Rhythms practice, using a variety of maps, clear instruction, and simple exercises to help participants drop into the dance. There are no steps to memorize, and the focus is on listening to the body’s own wisdom. During the session, one rhythm is highlighted while the full wave of flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness is also explored. There is time to arrive and move at your own pace, then follow gentle invitations offered through music and brief verbal prompts. You may be encouraged to deepen your solo dance, partner for a moment or longer, or join the larger group. Each gathering unfolds uniquely because you, the group, and the teacher are different every time. Newcomers are welcome, and an archival demonstration by founder Gabrielle Roth is referenced for those curious about the roots of the work. To support dancers with scent sensitivities, please come fragrance free by avoiding perfumed detergents, lotions, hair products, and essential oils as much as possible. Consent and courtesy shape all contact on the dance floor. Because the practice is nonverbal, make eye contact before initiating touch. If touch is not welcomed, communicate with a word or a clear signal such as a small bow, crossed arms, or stepping away. All are recognized and welcomed across race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, body size, language, and age. The space is intended to be accessible to all bodies. This gathering honors the Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and Nonotuc peoples. The Native settlement where Northampton now stands was known as Norwottuck or Nonotuck, meaning the midst of the river. Respect is offered to those who lived, moved, and worked on this land.

Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating in Ware, Massachusetts.

Max Creek brings its long-running, genre-blending live show to The Iron Horse. The band folds rock, country, reggae, soul, jazz, and calypso into its own originals, shaping extended sets in real time from a catalog of more than 200 songs that range from driving rockers and heartfelt ballads to exploratory jams and big sing-alongs. The crowd typically spans generations, reflecting a community that has grown with the group over the decades. The core lineup of guitarist Scott Murawski, keyboardist Mark Mercier, and bassist John Rider dates back to the mid-70s, now joined by Bill Carbone and Jamemurrell Stanley on drums and percussion. A pre-show bar and event queue will be available. Tickets start at $30 with all fees included, and prices increase on the day of the show.

Guided gallery talks offer a deeper look at the exhibition on slavery and freedom in Northampton from 1654 to 1783, currently on view. Led by museum educator Emma Bresnan, each session examines the lives of individuals highlighted in the displays, explains how slavery operated in New England, and shares the research methods and sources that inform our understanding of Northampton’s history. Each talk lasts about 45 minutes. Admission is pay what you wish, and advance registration is not required. Private tours for groups or organizations can be arranged.

Continuing Not to Die is an intimate stage work conceived, choreographed, and performed by Michal Shahak, a long time somatic trauma therapist from Jerusalem who brings a deeply personal creative inquiry to the stage. Rooted in intuitive, embodied practice, the piece welcomes audiences into a shared, accessible space for honest human expression. Emerging in the wake of war, the work traces a period when Shahak, a Body-Mind Centering practitioner, felt estranged from her own senses and movement practice. When movement yielded no material, she turned to poetry, language, and imagery, shaping a choreographic response to an overwhelming reality. The piece reflects on the erosion of shared values, common ground, and social fabric in present day Israel, and lingers on the shift from living to merely existing, granting that state a dignified presence. Through this process, the act of making became a sanctuary, giving voice, shape, and motion to unspoken landscapes of grief and loss. Created in 2024, the work also engages with questions surrounding the legal rights of the dying. Original music is composed by Maya Belsitzman, with artistic guidance from Ayelet Ulman. Headshots are by Wassilios Nikitakis and performance photography is by Nino Herman. A Q&A with the artist follows the performance. This presentation is part of a weekend of additional workshops, Moving Through: Reflections and Performance on Times of Crisis, with guest artist Michal Shahak, held at Congregation B’nai Israel in Northampton. Co sponsored by Congregation B’nai Israel, Beit Ahavah, and Friends of Women of Vision, with generous support from the Jewish Federation of Western MA.