Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

Ongoing - Great Hall Art Exhibit: All Our Relations – To Honor the Wampanoag Supreme Sachem Pometacomet on the 350th Anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre
2026-04-02 - 2026-05-28 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
This exhibit in the Great Hall, features work by Deborah Spears Moorehead, Seaconke Pokanoket Wampanoag, and Robert Peters, Mashpee Wampanoag, focusing on pre-colonization, the 350th Anniversary of Metacomet’s (King Philip’s) War and the Great Falls Massacre of 1676. Learn about Indigenous history and their continued presence here and throughout the Northeast. Sponsored by Friends of the Center, the Nolumbeka Project, and funded by the Montague Cultural Council. a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council. For all ages. Accessible during open hours.

National Poetry Month Author Reading Featuring Bob McNeil
2026-04-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us in celebration of National Poetry Month with Bob McNeil, writer, editor, cartoonist, and spoken-word artist, who recites with special guest musician Steve Koziol. In Bob’s single author anthology Compositions on Compassion and Other Emotions, he explores the importance of love and hope in healing from the pandemic and endemic violence. Proceeds from this work fund the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Steve Koziol, best known for playing in the bands Dingo Roi and Span of Sunshine, is a songwriter and musician, who has contributed guitar, keyboard, bass, alto sax, and vocal harmonies to many bands and performers throughout Hampshire and Franklin Counties. From youth to adults, all are welcome at this event, sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center and RiverCulture.

Flight Path Program: Montague Public Libraries Presents Window Decals for Bird Safety *
2026-04-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Carnegie Library, 201 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376
Design your own window decals, inspired by local and migratory birds, and apply them to windows to reduce bird collisions. For all ages. Meet at the Carnegie Library at 201 Avenue A, Turners Falls. Sponsored by Montague Public Libraries as part of Flight Path bird programming all month long.
* Special “Flight Path” Programs
Look for the asterisk! Those bird programs are a special collaboration with the Great Falls Discovery Center, thanks to a Flight Path Grant from Star Net Libraries. For more information visit www.starnetlibraries.org.

Webinar Talk With the Artists: All Our Relations – To Honor the Wampanoag Supreme Sachem Pometacomet on the 350th Anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre
2026-04-25 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
The Nolumbeka Project presents a talk via Zoom with Deborah Spears Moorehead (Seaconke Pokanoket Wampanoag), and Robert Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), our Spring artists. Facilitated by David Brule. Deb and Robert speak about their art and share history about their ancestor Metacom. Meet them in person at the Great Falls Discovery Center where they will be Honored Guests for the Day of Remembrance proceedings on Saturday, May 16. Sponsored by the Nolumbeka Project. For Zoom registration visit nolumbekaproject.org/events. For youth and adults.

Artist Reception: All Our Relations - To Honor the Wampanoag Supreme Sachem Pometacomet on the 350th Anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre
2026-05-16 11:00 - 12:30 | MA
Enjoy conversation and coffee with Wampanoag artists Deborah Spears Moorehead and Robert Peters in the Great Hall to view and learn more about their shared exhibit. Sponsored by Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Nolumbeka Project, and funded by the Montague Cultural Council. a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. For all ages.

Ongoing - Great Hall Art Exhibit: Nature’s Colors
2026-06-05 - 2026-06-28 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Kate Marion Lapierre in her exhibit of paintings, Nature’s Colors, emphasizes the colors and beauty of landscapes and flowers particularly during the Spring and Summer season. Kate’s paintings are abstract and expressionistic, created with acrylic on canvas or watercolor on paper. Please come enjoy the colorful beauty that nature brings through Kate’s artwork. An artist reception is held on June 7, from 12–2 p.m. For all ages.

Artist Reception. Nature’s Colors
2026-06-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join painter Kate Marion Lapierre for an artist reception celebrating her exhibit, Nature’s Colors. Come experience the colorful beauty that nature brings through Kate’s artwork and enjoy light refreshments. Meet in the Great Hall.

Art Naturally: Fields & Forests — What Do Bees Need?
2026-06-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
In honor of Pollinator Week, make your own native bee habitat by “painting” with yarn, fleece, pre-felt shapes and water. Will your bees live in a tree trunk or holes in the ground, in a nest made of mud or leaves? Learn how important native bees are, especially for growing food. For ages 4 & up, including teens and adults! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Designed for families. All are welcome! Meet in the Great Hall.

Ongoing - Great Hall Art Exhibit: Ways of My Ancestors – Imagery: Lighting the Path to Awareness
2026-07-02 - 2026-08-26 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Scott Strong Hawk Foster is a Native American photographer whose proud roots include Hassanamisco Nipmuc, Mohegan, and Cherokee lineage. His exhibit captures travels throughout the ancestral homelands of the Native American Peoples of New England. While attending powwows, cultural events, workshops, and Indigenous practices that span millennia, Scott’s passion highlights the rich, resilient, diverse cultures and history
of the Indigenous peoples that are still here and living amongst us. Scott’s tagline, Capture the Moment…Share the Experience©, expresses his philosophy that life is filled with unique and fleeting moments that must be captured and imprinted or they could be lost forever. For all ages.

Dino Trail Week* – Art Naturally: Gel Printing Trace Fossils
2026-07-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Discover nature and pre-history through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. Create an art piece inspired by the valley’s fossilized dinosaur footprints using paint, paper, and gel, with instruction and techniques. For adults, teens and children ages 6 and up. All art materials provided. Arrive at 10:30 a.m. in the Great Hall for complete instructions.
* Dino Trail Week
An asterix identifies Dino Trail Week programs, part of a celebratory week in July of performances, films, talks, exhibits, and activities inspired by dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Look for events from our partners during Dino Trail Week: Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Piti Theatre, the Beneski Museum, the Trustees of Reservations, Springfield Science Museum, Wistariahurst, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Visit the website dinotrail.org to learn more.

Constitution Banner Program
2026-07-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Help us create a “We the People” banner together inspired by the United States Constitution. Pick out core statements, phrases or meaningful words from
our Constitution and place them on the banner. You are also invited to place your handprint on the banner (non- toxic washable paints). Come learn about the Constitution, how our government was structured, and enjoy a fun and creative afternoon with our community. Prizes for young folks who show up with the Preamble to the Constitution memorized! Sponsored by Indivisible Montague. For all ages, meet in the courtyard.

Artist Reception: Ways of My Ancestors - Imagery: Lighting the Path to Awareness
2026-07-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join photographer Scott Strong Hawk Foster, whose proud roots include Hassanamisco Nipmuc, Mohegan, and Cherokee lineage, for an artist reception. While attending powwows, cultural events, workshops, and Indigenous practices that span millennia, Scott’s passion highlights the rich, resilient, diverse cultures and history of the Indigenous peoples that are still here and living amongst us. Light refreshments. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Art Naturally: Cyanotype Sun Prints from the Garden
2026-08-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Discover nature through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. Create cyanotypes—or sun prints— to take home with sensitized paper, plants or stencils, glass, and the power of UV light. Rain or shine (we’ll use special light boxes if it rains). For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up. All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30am for complete instructions.

Art Naturally: Source to Sea Mosaics
2026-08-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, 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, marble and glue, inspired by the Connecticut River’s annual Source to Sea Clean-up in September. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30am for complete instructions.
