Events

The Great Falls Discovery Center hosts community programs and events, rotating art exhibits in our Great Hall and a Coffee House hosted by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.

  • Ongoing – Great Hall Exhibit: Day of the Dead Altar

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    View a Day of the Dead Altar built by local families with support from the Heartwing Center. Learn about the tradition of leaving messages of love to honor and commemorate loved ones. For all ages.

    Free
  • Art Naturally: Leaf Prints for Leaf Peepers

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Discover nature through story, poetry and art! Create an art piece inspired by autumn using paint, paper, gel and even leaves, with instruction and techniques. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). Free. All materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30 a.m. for complete instructions.

    Free
  • Ongoing- Great Hall Exhibit: Migrations

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Migrations paintings, curated by GuateMaya Art and Culture Connection, celebrate the human and natural diversity of the upper Connecticut River Valley and the Americas. Colorful works depict scenes integral to village life, Mayan culture, and the history of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. For all ages.

    Free
  • Great Hall Reception — Migrations: A Celebration of Art, Birds, and the Day of the Dead

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    First, join us for a talk from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. by ornithologist Chad Witko on bird migration (described above). Then enjoy refreshments, view paintings from Guatemalan artists, and visit our Day of the Dead altar. Learn about the tradition of leaving messages of love to honor and commemorate loved ones. The altar is on […]

    Free
  • Ongoing – Great Hall Exhibit: Home

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    From forest floor to canopy, Will Close’s exhibition of original watercolor and mixed media paintings invites viewers to rediscover the beauty and complexity of the natural world that surrounds us. Accompanied by thoughtful text and quotes from experts and longtime New Englanders alike, each piece reveals the hidden stories, characters, and connections that shape the […]

    Free
  • Art Naturally: Felting Life Under the Snow

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Discover nature through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. Create a wintry landscape “painting” with wool, fleece, pre-felt and water. Learn how different animals adapt to snow, whether foraging or waiting out the cold. For teens, adults and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All materials provided. […]

    Free
  • Art Naturally: Gel-Printing Snowflakes

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Discover nature through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. Get inspired by the story of Vermont’s Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley. Build your own blizzard with paper snowflakes through instruction and gel-printing techniques. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up accompanied by an adult. All materials provided. Meet in the […]

    Free
  • Artist Reception and Nature Journal Demonstration

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    From forest floor to canopy, Will Close’s exhibition, Home, of original watercolor and mixed media paintings invites viewers to rediscover the beauty and complexity of the natural world that surrounds us. Join Will Close for an artist reception and for a demonstration on nature journaling. Refreshments include hot chocolate and cookies! For all ages.

    Free
  • Ongoing – Great Hall Exhibit: Maps of River History by Joe Kopera

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Come see the secret histories of your favorite rivers! Geologist and cartographer Joe Kopera has studied the New England landscape for over 25 years. View the land like a geologist: Maps of River History, reveals the hidden details in the topography of rivers and their floodplains, clues to the past 15,000 years of their work […]

    Free
  • First Friday: Zine on the River

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Drop in and make a Connecticut River zine! Zines are small booklets usually made from a single piece of paper. Share your message about the Connecticut River or keep it as a unique nature journal. For teens and adults, and children with a solid grasp of scissors. Meet in the Great Hall.

    Free
  • Art Naturally – Watershed Mosaics

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, United States

    Discover nature through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. With instruction and technique, you create an art piece to take home from tile, pebbles, marbles and glue, inspired by nature in wintertime. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. Meet […]

    Free