Event Calendar
Upcoming Events from Bloom Local’s Partner Network
Kids Makers Market
Little Roots, Bombyx, Art Always, & High Five Books are excited to present a Winter Kids' Makers Market featuring kids as the makers, ranging from 6-18 years old!
Come purchase gifts for yourself, your friends, or family - for the holidays, birthdays, fun surprises, or just because. You'll find jewelry, soaps, note cards, art, candles, food and more.
Participants will be able to engage in arts and crafts by Art Always, with music by Little Roots students and teachers, and books by High Five Books. Spread the word! Hope to see you there! Interested in having your child participate?
Register at: bit.ly/kidsmakersmarket2024
Registration
This is a FREE event.
Click/tap button below for more information.
We Celebrate the Light: A community holiday celebration & storytime for families
Join beloved local authors Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple for this community interfaith holiday celebration. Families are invited to make light-inspired crafts provided by BOMBYX in-house congregations, Beit Ahavah, The Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton, and Florence Congregational Church.
Jane and Heidi will read their new picture book WE CELEBRATE THE LIGHT, and Little Roots will provide musical accompaniment. A community fire will cap off the twinkly evening!
High Five Books will have all of Jane and Heidi's books for sale, and families are welcome to bring their own copies for signing.
Registration
This event is sliding scale, with a $10 suggested donation.
Click/tap button below for more information and to purchase tickets.
Katie the Catsitter Party! with Graphic Novelist Colleen AF Venable
Cat’s out of the bag: This November, High Five Books is hosting graphic novelist Colleen AF Venable for a KATIE THE CATSITTER party!
In celebration of the release of book no. 4 in the series, THE PURRFECT PLAN (out Oct. 8!), we’ll gather at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity here in Florence on Sunday, November 17, 3-4:30PM.
Colleen will discuss her creative process, demonstrate how to draw characters from her books, and answer questions about everyone’s favorite superhero sidekick series! There will be treats, of course.
Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing, and we’ll have all her titles for purchase.
Registration
Tickets for this purr-fect afternoon are pay-what-you-will
Click/tap button below for more information and to get tickets to the event!
Lander-Grinspoon Academy Presents: BookFest 2024
Lander-Grinspoon Academy is proud to announce its inaugural festival celebrating children’s books, authors, and their readers!
They are delighted to host a stellar group of award-winning, renowned authors: Adam Gidwitz, Jeanne Birdsall, and Lesléa Newman. The event will take place on Sunday, November 10th at Lander-Grinspoon Academy in Northampton, MA, starting at 10am.
This event is geared towards readers ages 4-14 and open to all. Families are invited to bring their own copies of the authors' titles to be signed, and High Five Books will have them for sale, too.
Registration
Click/tap button below for more information and to get tickets to the event!
Documentary Screening: BANNED TOGETHER
Directed by local filmmaker and educator Kate Way, Banned Together follows the recent wave of book bans in the United States. The feature length documentary film follows the courageous efforts of three students from a small South Carolina community who take a stand when almost 100 books are abruptly removed from their school libraries. As the students rise to become national voices in the fight against censorship, the film captures the broader narrative of book banning and curriculum censorship across the United States.
Featuring interviews with best-selling authors whose works have been banned, including Juno Dawson, Jodi Picoult, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Ellen Hopkins, and Erica L. Sánchez, the film also includes insights from Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, constitutional scholars, educators, librarians, parents, and student activists from across the country.
The 90-min screening will be followed by a brief panel discussion. High Five Books will have banned books for sale.
Registration
Click/tap button below for more information and to get tickets to the event!
Affirmations Book Club (Ages 8-12) - High Five Books & Translate Gender
A casual monthly book club for trans, nonbinary, & gender-creative youth, ages 8 - 12! Next month they're reading spooky graphic novel, THE WITCH BOY by Molly Knox Ostertag!
Affirmations book club is held in person at High Five Books (at 141 N. Main Street in Florence, MA) monthly on 3rd Wednesdays.
To join the in-person group (or if you have questions for the High Five team) email kinsey@highfivebooks.org.
These groups will be co-facilitated by the awesome folks at High Five and Translate Gender.
Registration
Click/tap button below for more infomation.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Queer Kids Fest 2024
Hooray, it’s Queer Kids Fest 2024!
On Saturday, October 5, 10:30am-2:30pm, Transhealth presents a joyful festival of music, art, books, and creativity for 2SLGBTQIA+ kids, families, and allies at the Northampton Center for the Arts!
Carrie Ferguson and the Grumpytime Club Band will perform. Special guest authors to be announced. Resilient Community Arts and Crooked Stick Pops will be there, and the High Five Books crew, too!
Youth ages 6 to 18 are invited to sign up for 5-minute open mic performance slots of songs, jokes, stand-up comedy, music and more. This event is 100% FREE!
Click/tap the button below for more information.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: A Conversation for Caretakers of Toddlers & Preschoolers
If you have a very young human in your world with capital-F Feelings, you won't want to miss this lively upcoming workshop: Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: A Conversation for Caretakers of Toddlers & Preschoolers.
Held in collaboration with the Northampton Parents Center at their space on Sunday, September 15, 3pm-4:30pm, High Five Books is excited to host expert Lauren Stauble, M.S, a researcher and teacher and the local co-author of TINY HUMANS, BIG EMOTIONS: HOW TO NAVIGATE TANTRUMS, MELTDOWNS, AND DEFIANCE TO RAISE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT CHILDREN.
At this event, Lauren will lead a workshop about the specific transition needs families face this season: "The middle of September is about the time when the honeymoon period starts to end in new classrooms and caregiving relationships," she says. "As parents and teachers, we start to feel disequilibrium about the challenges that emerge related to behavior. "It's a great time to learn and practice strategies (for children *and* for adults) that interrupt—even prevent—the reinforcement of negative behavior and thinking patterns, and alternatively promote healing!" Supervised in-room kids' activities will be provided.
Participation is FREE, but please RSVP to the Facebook event, linked below.
Click/tap the button below for more information!
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Instrument Petting Zoo & Open House
This is a great opportunity for families to bring their children in to come see and hear different instruments that they might like to start studying, as well as an opportunity to meet and connect with NCMC teaching faculty!
Concert for Community
Join Northampton Community Music Center at The Pines Theater on Sunday August 25th to bid farewell to summer with a day of live music, food, family fun, and community! Gates open at 12pm.
Kids parade led by the Expandable Brass Band at 1pm.
Music all day until 7pm!
There will be food trucks, a kids zone with face painting and performances by Talking Hands Theater, a beer tent, and a full lineup of amazing music featuring:
Jamie Kent
Roger Salloom
The Gaslight Tinkers
Poor Monroe
StompBox Trio
FrannyO Show
Expandable Brass Band
This event is free and all ages. Look Park parking will cost $10 for non season ticket pass holders. Money will be raised for the Northampton Community Music Center through the generous sponsorship of local businesses.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM, July 1 - August 5.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
2nd Annual Summer Book Fair @ Children’s Museum of Holyoke
The Children’s Museum at Holyoke (CMH) has collected over 4000 new and gently used books for all ages, generously donated by the community!
Visit them on Friday (7/26), Saturday (7/27), and Sunday (7/28) from 10AM-4PM and pick out books that speak to you!
2nd Annual Summer Book Fair @ Children’s Museum of Holyoke
The Children’s Museum at Holyoke (CMH) has collected over 4000 new and gently used books for all ages, generously donated by the community!
Visit them on Friday (7/26), Saturday (7/27), and Sunday (7/28) from 10AM-4PM and pick out books that speak to you!
2nd Annual Summer Book Fair @ Children’s Museum of Holyoke
The Children’s Museum at Holyoke (CMH) has collected over 4000 new and gently used books for all ages, generously donated by the community!
Visit them on Friday (7/26), Saturday (7/27), and Sunday (7/28) from 10AM-4PM and pick out books that speak to you!
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM, July 1 - August 5.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Mister G Concert to Benefit Grow Food Northampton
Come celebrate two local Pioneer Valley institutions on Sunday, July 21: Incredible local food and farming nonprofit Grow Food Northampton AND Grammy-award winning artist MISTER G, all at the Pines Theater at Look Park!
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM, July 1 - August 5.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM, July 1 - August 5.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Dungeon Delvers Summer Series
Registration
Step into a new world of adventure with the Dungeon Delvers Summer Series! This year, Dungeon Delvers is offering five-day programs for players ages 10–15.
From July 8–12, kids can go behind the Dungeon Master's screen and learn how to design their own adventures at our Dungeon Master Academy. From newcomers to veterans, there's something for everyone!
Postpartum Yoga with Baby
This 6-week series is designed for those who have recently given birth and are looking to reconnect with their bodies and their breath in shared space with other new parents and babies.
The group will practice gentle and rejuvenating poses, work on regaining core and pelvic integration, and learn techniques for breathing and moving with your little ones. This is a welcoming space for queer and trans postpartum students; everyone is welcome in Postpartum Yoga.
Registration
Mondays, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM, July 1 - August 5.
Sliding-scale series pricing: $100-160. Drop-in pass: $20-30.*
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Dungeon Delvers Summer Series
Registration
Step into a new world of adventure with the Dungeon Delvers Summer Series! This year, Dungeon Delvers is offering two five-day programs for players ages 10–15.
From June 24–28, players can experience a super-sized Dungeons & Dragons campaign with our Epic Adventures program!
Then, from July 8–12, kids can go behind the Dungeon Master's screen and learn how to design their own adventures at our Dungeon Master Academy. From newcomers to veterans, there's something for everyone!
Kids Makers Market at BOMBYX
Young crafters, makers, cooks, and creatives are invited to vend their handmade wares on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 2-5pm, at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity.
Little Roots, Bombyx, Art Always, & High Five Books are excited to present a Spring Kids' Makers Market. Featuring kids as the makers, ranging from 6-14 years old! Come purchase gifts for yourself, your friends, or family - for birthdays, fun surprises, or just because. You'll find jewelry, soaps, note cards, art, candles, food and more.
Alongside kid vendors will be local arts businesses: High Five Books, reading with families throughout the day and vending books and creative supplies. Art Always, selling ART TO GO kits and hosting a free Craft Bar where families can choose supplies to create with at home. Little Roots, offering a “Peaceful Percussion” Instrument Petting Zoo. Resilient Community Arts, hosting a tote bag-decorating table. Wake the Dead Donuts vending their hot, fresh mini donuts.
Shoppers are also encouraged to visit the second Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market at the Florence Civic Center, just up Pine Street from BOMBYX, to round out a craft-tastic day for families and craft supporters.
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information on this event.
Email BookbinderRose@gmail.com if your child would like to be a part of the makers market!
No RSVP required.
Mother’s Day Plant Sale at Wistariahurst Museum
Planning on gifting the motherly figure in your life flowers for Mother’s Day? Support a local garden by purchasing your blossoms from Wistariahurst Museum on May 11th, 2024 from 10 am to noon! Their plants are perfectly adapted to our unique climate and soil, making them ideal for your garden. With a variety of flora, including roses, daylilies, American wisteria, and kousa dogwood trees, there's something for everyone. Best of all, not only will your gift last for seasons to come, but your purchase also supports the maintenance of Wistariahurst’s historical museum and gardens.
Celebrate Mother’s Day by bringing your mom or motherly figure to Wistariahurst Museum during our Mother’s Day Plant Sale! Take a stroll through the enchanted garden and find the perfect gift to spruce up mom's garden. Show your mom some floral love by snagging her a selection of plants from their site. Don't miss this chance to shower your awesome mom with blooming affection!
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information.
This is a FREE event.
The UnNameable Children’s Project Presents: The Garden of Recycled Delights
As part of the "Moving Museum" free art pop-up series, the UnNameable Children's Project is collaborating with the Children's Museum at Holyoke on four art workshops, free to the public, and open to all ages. Each session will be an hour long led by an artist from the UnNameable Children's Project. Participants will collaborate with the artists to create fantastical garden installation out of recycled materials. Each artist will focus on a different component of the garden which will be put together into a whimsical and magical environment that visitors can walk through and performances can take place in. The project will emphasize group collaboration, imagination, and celebrating nature in spring!
Registration
This is a FREE event. Click the button below for more information!
Doodles & Donuts with Cece Bell
Registration
Join High Five Books and award-winning author, illustrator and graphic novelist Cece Bell for an early evening family art and music extravaganza—with hot, fresh donuts!
The beloved creator of #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning El Deafo (now an animated show on Apple TV+) and many other books that young people adore (Sock Monkey; Chick and Brain; Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover) will lead artists and readers through the process of creating her latest all-ages alphabet book Animal Albums from A to Z, a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art.
Cece will spin original tunes from Animal Albums, lead drawing demonstrations (and maybe a dance-a-thon!), discuss the new book and its connection to El Deafo, and answer all her fans’ questions.
Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing; all titles will be also available for purchase. Wake the Dead Donuts will have fresh mini donuts and donut sundaes for sale.
Tickets are available via Bombyx.live on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
Indie Bookstore Day at Federal Street Books
Federal Street Books is happy to announce their participation in the eleventh anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27, from 11am - 6pm.
This is the third year Federal Street Books has participated in the annual event. This year the store’s Prize Wheel returns, where any customer can spin to win a free sticker, pin, or other special exclusive prizes. Additional Indie Bookstore Day giveaways, including mugs, enamel pins, bags, and special edition books will be made available free while supplies last with minimum purchase of $25.
Hillary Hoffman, Federal Street Books co-owner said “Indie Bookstore Day is a chance to show our appreciation for our loyal customers, neighbors, and friends.”
“Independent bookstores work every day to build community around the written word,” said Beth Ineson, Executive Director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association.
“Independent Bookstore Day is a chance to celebrate and support their efforts, because we can all agree that bookstores make every neighborhood a more vibrant place.”
Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate, and highlight the value of the Independent bookstore community. The day has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013. This year there are over 900 stores participating across the country.
Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, that works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.
LEARN ABOUT FEDERAL STREET BOOKS
Click/tap the button below to learn more about Independent Bookstore Day.
This is a FREE event.