Family events in Palmer, MA

The Friends of Fannie Stebbins and the Allen Bird Club come together for a welcoming, community-centered day focused on birds and learning. The program features a guided bird walk led by Allen Bird Club president Vince Yurkunas that meets at the West/Birnie Road lot. An informal information session follows at the Longmeadow Riverfront Conservation Area, offering a chance to connect with supporters and neighbors of the refuge. Next is a birds of prey presentation with Tom Ricardi, including opportunities to meet several of his ambassador birds. The day wraps up with a trail walk hosted by the Friends, meeting again at the West/Birnie Road lot.

THE 413 CARD SHOW brings its Fall Spectacular back to Western Massachusetts at The Eastern States Exposition, home of The Big E. Explore more than 200 tables featuring sports cards, memorabilia, Pokemon and other trading card games, plus supplies and grading services. Admission is $5, and children 12 and under get in free. Door prizes are given out every hour, and autograph guests will be announced.

Capture the season with quick fall photo sessions available at Forest Park Aquatic Gardens, East Granby Farms, and Mitteneague Park. Each session is 20 minutes for $275 and includes all edited images delivered as a digital download with full print rights. Dogs are welcome.

The 3rd Annual Angela Santiago Motorcycle Ride brings a full day of bikes, music, food, and family fun to View Street Tavern in Chicopee. Enjoy live entertainment with DJ Seamus and a set from The BoneYard, explore local vendors, let the kids take part in activities, and try your luck with a 50/50 and raffle prizes. Visit the swag tent to pick up official ASF gear. Admission is $20 per person for riders and non-riders, with tickets sold at the door, and one price covers the entire day. The event honors Angela’s legacy and supports children in the local community through a shared spirit of kindness and togetherness.

A free in-store craft session where participants use chenille stems to create a plush spider or a ghost through a simple, hands-on activity.

Enjoy the Town of Oxford’s sixth annual Scarecrows on the Common, featuring live music by DW and the ShakeMakers and a spirited appearance by the Dancing Witches of Sutton. Families can explore kids games, hands-on crafts, snacks, and a variety of vendors. The festivities conclude with a costume parade for children, creating a friendly community celebration.

Enjoy a pet-friendly Halloween celebration where costumes are encouraged. This annual party offers a simple, fun outing for pets and their people.

A family-friendly Trunk or Treat at Faith Community Chapel, A Church of the Nazarene features a crafting station, face painting, children’s activities and games, lively music, and free hot dogs. It offers a playful outing for kids and families.

Somers Congregational Church is hosting a Halloween Trunk or Treat with free, family-friendly activities. Children can collect treats and enjoy games, and costumes are welcome. For questions, please contact the church office at 860-763-4021.

Brunch at Villa features classic breakfast dishes, Italian favorites, and a variety of hot entrees. Admission is $23.95 for adults and $11.95 for children 12 and under.

DCR celebrates Archaeology Month at Winsor Dam in Belchertown with a welcoming exploration of the Quabbin Reservoir’s past and the cultures connected to it. Learn about seasonal cycles from an Indigenous perspective, traditional fishing methods along the Swift River, and the history of the reservoir. Try archaeological screening and take part in additional activities. All ages are welcome. This event is free and open to the public, with no registration required. Activities will be set up by the Quabbin Visitor Center parking lot. In case of inclement weather, activities will move inside the Visitor Center.

A relaxed Cars & Coffee gathering at Wilson Performance Shop celebrates all things automotive. Participants can bring classics, works in progress, or their favorite daily drivers. Try for a fast lap on the Dirt Rally racing simulator. Complimentary coffee will be available. Attendees are asked to be considerate of the property and neighbors by avoiding loud revving and burnouts.

Families can celebrate the season at this annual Fall Fest with activities for all ages. Enjoy a pool-based pumpkin patch, an instructional pickleball session for every age and skill level, face painting, a bounce house, a gaga pit, lawn games, and a game room. Prizes, giveaways, and discounts on membership are planned, and a community bike tune-up is available. Drinks from Sokol Coffee and kosher food from Ladle & Loaf will be sold separately. The event is open to the public. Advance family pricing is $15 for JCC members and $25 for the general public, and admission covers activities except refreshments. Walk-in rates are $20 per family for members and $30 per family for the general public. New members who sign up at the event can receive the member ticket rate, and the $60 join fee will be waived.

Now in its third year, this trunk or treat offers Halloween fun for Westfield families, with participation from local small businesses and families. Activities include trunk or treating and a cheerful photo spot, plus contests for best kids costume, best pet costume, and best trunk. Leashed pets are welcome. Parking is available on site and across the street at Salt City. Attendees should follow parking entrance signage and use the escorted crossing at the main entrance. All trunks must be preregistered.

Amherst Recreation presents a family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular filled with festive fun. The day starts with downtown trick-or-treating in collaboration with the Amherst Business Improvement District, with participating shops marked by window flyers. Free paper treat bags and a list of participating locations can be picked up at the Amherst Visitor Information Center or the Amherst Recreation office in the Bangs Community Center. Costumed participants of all ages are then invited to gather on the North Common for a parade. Afterward, the celebration continues on the North Common with Halloween-themed activities that include character encounters, a kids’ carnival, a photo booth, and not-so-scary story time with the Jones Library. Activities are weather dependent. The event is hosted by Amherst Recreation in partnership with the Jones Library and the Amherst Business Improvement District, with support from sponsors including Miss Saigon as lead sponsor, Amherst Innovative Living, Encharter Insurance, Atkins Farms Country Market, Crazy Noodles, and Sandy’s Barber Shop.

Butch Patrick, known as Eddie Munster from the classic TV series The Munsters, will appear at Zombie Hideout for a special meet and greet. An autograph and photo op combo is available for $40. Sales take place on site the day of the event only, with no advance sales or pre-sales.

Young bakers take part in an eight session afterschool baking club in the full kitchen at the Florence Civic Center. Designed for ages 7 to 11, with ages 12 and up welcome as CITs, the program centers on hands on technique, the science of baking, and the satisfaction of making cookies entirely from scratch. Participants measure, mix, cream, fold, and decorate while exploring why dough spreads, how butter influences texture, and how changing a single ingredient can transform the result. Instruction is teacher led and fully interactive, and everyone tastes what they make. The fee is $300 and includes bringing home cookies after each session to share with family. Every meeting features a different recipe and skill, building confidence one delicious discovery at a time.

Kids who love animals can build practical pet care skills through hands-on activities and visits from live animals at High Five Books in Florence, MA.

The Youth Advisory Board offers a way for ages 10 to 17 to take an active role in their library. Participants work together to enhance the library experience, help plan programs and events, recommend materials for the collection, and contribute ideas for what comes next. This is an ongoing group that meets regularly and provides a forum for youth voices in shaping services and activities.

An eight week science club for kids that investigates the science of explosions in a completely flame free setting. Participants explore volcanoes and the chemistry behind fireworks, with additional topics included across the program. The series takes place at High Five Books in Florence, MA.

At Great Awakening Brewing, enjoy a wide selection of games, a variety of craft beers on tap, and fresh, craft food inside the taproom and brewery. Set within Westfield’s historic Mill at Crane Pond in Western Massachusetts, the brewery offers views of the Little River dam and a setting suited to a fun night out with friends and family.

An afterschool club for responsible, creative, and caring kids who want to build real babysitting skills. Inspired by the beloved Babysitters Club series and celebrating new releases this fall, participants explore the stories of Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and friends through reading and conversation, then practice practical caregiving through hands-on activities. It is designed for ages 7 to 11, with ages 12 and up welcome as CITs. Each registration includes a new Babysitters Club book, supporting confidence, capability, and a love of reading as young caregivers grow.