Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls … for the Birds!
2024-12-13 16:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Craft bird feeders for our winter friends as part of It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls —a town-wide RiverCulture event on December 13. Which birds show up at your feeder? What do they eat? Bird feeder making continues Saturday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m. For all ages. Free! Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice & Easy Walk
2024-12-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet outside the main entrance.

Grange Celebration! *
2024-12-07 17:00 - 22:00 | Montague Common Hall, 34 Main Street, Montague, MA, 01351, United States
Meet us at the Montague Common Hall at 34 Main Street in Montague Center for our Food, Farms, and Factories series closing event! Program includes a potluck dinner, a “History of the Grange” talk, and a Contra Dance! Music by All Over the Map. Calling by Steve Howland. Friendly for newcomers, -fun for everyone and all ages. Free.
Schedule of events:
5 p.m. Local Grange history talk by Will Quale, scholar and neighbor
6 p.m.-ish Potluck supper in the newly-dehumidified dining room
7 p.m. Community Contra dance. Beginner-friendly, family-friendly. Shy people welcome too. No special skills or experience needed. Steve Howland, ever-genial caller; Rebecca Weiss, fiddle; Becky Hollingsworth piano; and Friends.

Make Your Own Junior Duck Stamp!
2024-12-07 - 2024-12-08 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
In celebration of our Junior Duck Stamp exhibit in the Great Hall, have some hot chocolate And make your own Junior Duck stamp too! All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

A Ducky First Friday
2024-12-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Every First Friday of the Month, Turners Falls businesses and organizations stay open late, so join us for the first day of our Junior Duck Stamp exhibit in the Great Hall and enjoy hot chocolate and refreshments. You can make your own Junior Duck stamp too! All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Go Green on Black Friday Walk (and Nice & Easy Walk)
2024-11-29 13:00 - 14:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Forget shopping—let’s connect with nature and local history! Join us for a leisurely walk along the Canalside Rail Trail. The walk is about 3 miles-long, on a level paved surface. Makes for an easy stroll for adults and children ages 8 and up. Be prepared for cold weather, dress in layers. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Walk begins at the front entrance to the Great Falls Discovery Center. Inclement weather or icy trail conditions cancels.

Nice & Easy Walk (and Go Green on Black Friday Walk)
2024-11-29 13:00 - 14:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. The 11/29 Nice & Easy Walk coincides with our Go Green on Black Friday Walk, which ends at 2:30 p.m. Meet at the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Thanks to the Animals
2024-11-29 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors in the Connecticut River Watershed. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Make A Fairy House
2024-11-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3-16, accompanied by an adult. Children and teens are invited to build a fairy house using natural and recycled materials. Sponsored by Montague Public Libraries. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice & Easy Walk
2024-11-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Moose
2024-11-22 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

DCR Announces New Indigenous Peoples Partnership Coordinator – Meet and Greet: Leah Hopkins
2024-11-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Please welcome Leah Hopkins to DCR, serving as the newly-created Indigenous People’s Partnership Coordinator. An enrolled member of the Narragansett Indian Tribe, she brings two decades of experience building bridges between institutions & Tribal Nations. bit.ly/3URCx…
Join DCR as we welcome Leah Hopkins as she relates her experience as a subsistence practitioner and cultural worker grounded in the tradition of her ancestors, and opens the floor for a discussion about Indigenous connections to the land and her role at DCR.

A French/Breton Jam Session
2024-11-17 14:30 - 16:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
All ages. An informal group of musicians gathers to play the enchanting traditional dance music from France and Brittany, commonly known as bal folk. Please note, this is not a performance but rather a coming together of musically minded friends. The event is free and open to the public to come and go at will. Meet in the Great Hall.

The Nolumbeka Project Presents: Full Beaver Moon Gathering *
2024-11-16 13:00 - 15:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
The Nolumbeka Project presents the annual Full Beaver Moon Gathering with guest speaker Angela Marcellino, author of The True Natives of Cape Cod Massachusetts and their Food Ways. Raffle drawing. Free admission and all ages are welcome. For more information about the event visit nolumbekaproject.org. Meet in the Great Hall.

Climate Stories Music: Performance and Presentation *
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Find inspiration to address the climate crisis through the power of creativity and storytelling. Musician and director of Climate Stories Project, Jason Davis, discusses his work with climate narrative music, featuring recorded voices of people around the world speaking about their personal responses to the climate crisis. Jason also performs solo double bass musical pieces, which includes excerpts from recorded climate stories.
Climate Stories Project is an educational and artistic forum that shares personal stories about climate change. Learn how a local farm has been impacted by climate change. Refreshments included! Meet in the Great Hall. For ages teen to adult. ADA/Reasonable Accommodation: Call: 617-645-0358. Email: Moneesha.dasgupta2@mass.gov.
* This Food, Farms, and Factories event is supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, Montague Public Libraries, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, and funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and National Endowment for the Humanities. To learn more visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories.

An Autumn Orchard Saunter: Poetry, Presence, and the Power of Place *
2024-11-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Rd., Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
At Clarkdale Fruit Farm: The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association presents a Big Read event followed by cider and conversation. Enjoy an easy afternoon saunter through the orchard with writer, educator and songstress Erica Wheeler, who kicks off the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association’s National Endowment for the Arts Big Read of Ross Gay’s poetry, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. This guided experience includes stopping for reflection and conversation about our connections to place. Receive writing prompts and suggestions to capture the moment. Leave feeling more connected to yourself, your place and your community. All are welcome to soak up the creative inspiration! Meet at Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Rd., Deerfield, MA.
* Food, Farms, and Factories
In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Agriculture Exhibit Reception & Talk * - And That's the Way it Was!
2024-11-09 13:30 - 15:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Saturday, Nov. 9
Reception — Deep Roots: A History of Agriculture in the Connecticut River Valley, 1:30 p.m.
Join the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association for a reception in the Great Hall celebrating the opening of their exhibit in our Hallway Gallery.
Talk — And That’s the Way it Was! Glimpses of Deerfield’s Agricultural Heritage, 2:00—3:30 p.m.
Peter Thomas presents a recorded oral history and slideshow of farmers and farming, including experiences by descendants of Polish and Ukrainian immigrants. The Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources also discusses the state of farming today and looks to what might be coming in futures decades. For youth and adults. Meet in the Great Hall.
* Food, Farms, and Factories
In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Zydeco Connection
2024-11-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy Louisiana blues, boogie-woogie, two step and waltzes with Zydeco Connection. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Big Read Book Give Away * - Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude
2024-11-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Rd., Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
At Clarkdale Fruit Farm, Deerfield
Get a free copy of Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. Part of Cider Days, sponsored by Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and Montague Public Libraries. Clarkdale Fruit Farm, 303 Upper Rd., Deerfield, MA. Ciderdays.org.
* Food, Farms, and Factories
In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

A French/Breton Jam Session
2024-10-27 14:30 - 16:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
All ages. An informal group of musicians gathers to play the enchanting traditional dance music from France and Brittany, commonly known as bal folk. Please note, this is not a performance but rather a coming together of musically-minded friends. The event is free and open to the public to come and go at will.

Ongoing: StoryWalk® Series * - From Apple Trees to Cider, Please!
2024-10-27 - 2024-11-05 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Enjoy a story, and fresh air! Join us on the center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture books. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route.
October 27—November 5: From Apple Trees to Cider, Please! by Felicia Sanzari Cherneskey. For young readers ages 4—8, and everyone who loves the harvest season. Enjoy the 2024 CiderDays Trail at ciderdays.org, November 2—3.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Find Us at the Farmers Market! *
2024-10-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A between 6th and 7th Streets, Turners Falls, 01376
Montague Public Libraries joins us for Food, Farms, and Factories fun at the Farmers Market, featuring books and activities about growing food. The Great Falls Farmers Market is located between 6th and 7th streets along Avenue A at Peskeompskut Park. All ages welcome.
*Food, Farms, and Factories
In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Nice & Easy Walks
2024-10-25 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bats
2024-10-25 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors in the Connecticut River Watershed. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome.

The Commonality Project: A Performance Event on the Theme of Community
2024-10-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Different performance artists share their interpretations of community through performance and interludes. How has community supported us, or not? What are the challenges in creating community? Where do we find it, or don’t, and the different ways it can be and look? Through an entertainment lens let’s explore and be connected. This project was made possible from the performers hard work, the Great Falls Discovery Center, and a grant from the Mass Cultural Council of Montague, MA. All ages welcome.

Art Naturally: Leaf Printing
2024-10-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Discover nature and history through story, poetry, and art in our series of free art programs. Using words and images, instruction and techniques you create an art piece inspired by this place to take home. Capture the fall foliage season by making art prints with gel plates and colorful acrylic paints–suitable for framing or creating beautiful greeting cards! For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bear
2024-10-18 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Ongoing - Great Hall Exhibit: Day of the Dead Altar *
2024-10-17 - 2024-11-05 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
In the Great Hall, view a Day of the Dead altar built by local families, with support from Montague Catholic Social Ministries. Learn about the tradition of leaving messages of love to honor and commemorate loved ones.
* Food, Farms, and Factories
In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Box Shop Duo
2024-10-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy contemporary and original folk music from the Box Shop Duo. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. For all ages.
The Box Shop Duo consists of singer-songwriters Gene Stamell and Mitch Mulholland. Accompanied by acoustic guitars, they perform original songs and covers after the folk style, with some blues and rock; both humorous and serious.
