A French / Breton Jam Session
2026-08-16 14:30 - 16:30, 2026-09-20 14:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
An informal group of musicians gathers to play the enchanting traditional dance music from France and Brittany, commonly known as bal folk. 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. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-08-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-08-27 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-17 10:00 - 11:00 | 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 older adults, but open to all. Enjoy some natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Who Lives in a River?
2026-08-21 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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

8/21: Who Lives in a River?*
8/28: Butterflies

Find Us at the Farmers Market!
2026-08-22 10:30 - 13:00 | Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A between 6th and 7th Streets, Turners Falls, 01376
Join DCR staff for family activities at the Great Falls Farmers Market, located between 6th and 7th streets along Avenue A at Peskeompskut Park. For all ages.

Drop-in and Chill-out Activities: Sploot! How Animals Keep Their Cool
2026-08-23 10:30 - 12:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us inside the Center for drop-in family-friendly activities and crafts all about how animals keep cool, including a story about splooting squirrels. What can we learn from animals during the heat of summer? What’s your plan to keep cool? Come on in and chill out and make your own Flat Squirrely to take on cool adventures and consider painting a scene with acorn cap ink. For ages 4 and up including youth and adults.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Butterflies
2026-08-28 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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

8/28: Butterflies

River Baron Walk: Reshaping New England’s Longest River
2026-08-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Experience America’s longest log drive through the photos and stories of locals, laborers and the infamous River Baron, George Van Dyke. Join us for an easy 1.25-mile hike through downtown Turners Falls and along the Canalside Rail Trail. This walk is scheduled for rain or shine. For adults and children ages 9 and up. Meet at the main entrance.

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.

Ongoing – Indoor StoryWalk® – Change is in the Air
2026-09-02 - 2026-09-30 | MA
Enjoy our indoor StoryWalk, Change is in the Air by Rebecca Donnelly, about the hidden discoveries of Eunice Newton Foote, the first climate scientist. For ages 6 and up and everyone who loves science.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Great Hall Art Exhibit: Stitched Through the Seven Sisters
2026-09-04 - 2026-09-29 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Stitched Through the Seven Sisters is a location-specific series about honoring an almost-daily practice of communing with nature as visual artist Kerry St. Laurent stitches herself through her local trail system. Matte hot press photographic prints are layered with matte gouache that nods to mapping and ink and colored pencil stitching that references both woven comfort and the idea that wandering counters life’s unraveling and knits us back together.

First Friday: A Sampling of Labor Sentiments
2026-09-04 16:00 - 17:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
As we head into Labor Day weekend this year, join us on a walk along the Canalside Rail Trail in view of the factories—now gone or about to be demolished–and share a sampling of snippets from our local newspaper archives. Get a glimpse into the sentiments of workers, owners, and newspaper editors regarding shifts, pay, unions, and strikes during the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Labor History Talk: The Keith Paper Mill Strike of 1937
2026-09-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
How far would you go to keep your livelihood? Learn about the 90 women and 8 men who struck during the Depression at the Keith Paper mill, through newspapers, maps and photos with DCR staff. Meet in the Great Hall. Ages 8 and up.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Skunks
2026-09-11 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult.

9/11: Skunks
9/18: Snakes
9/25: River Otters

Great Falls Coffeehouse: Jenny Burtis Duo
2026-09-11 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. The Jenny Burtis Duo offers originals favoring the Romantic tradition with irony and humor. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, in support of educational programming at the Center. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

It’s Weird Duck Season: Waterfowl of the Connecticut River
2026-09-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join Chad Witko, ornithologist and founder of Birding University, for an engaging introduction to North America’s waterfowl. As fall migration reaches the Connecticut River Valley, discover how to identify ducks, geese, and swans, explore their remarkable migrations, and learn why the Connecticut River is such an important stopover and wintering habitat throughout their annual cycle. Meet in the Great Hall. All ages.

Constitution Banner Program
2026-09-13 14:00 - 16:00 | 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. In case of rain, meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Snakes
2026-09-18 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult.

9/18: Snakes
9/25: River Otters

30th Anniversary Source to Sea Cleanup
2026-09-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Hard work, real fun, true impact: the annual fall trash cleanup of the Connecticut River and its tributaries. Join DCR staff to clean up the Canalside Rail Trail. To register, visit sourcetoseacleanup.org/event/dcr-canalside-rail-trail-cleanup-group/, or contact DCR staff at (413) 863-3221 for more information. Meet at the main entrance. For ages 8 and up.

Artist Reception: Kerry St. Laurent’s Stitched Through the Seven Sisters
2026-09-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Meet the artist, Kerry St. Laurent, who created a unique journey through the Seven Sisters of the Holyoke Range through art. Light refreshments. Meet in the Great Hall.

Art Naturally: Leaf Prints for Leaf Peepers
2026-09-20 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 inspired by autumn using paint, paper, gel and even leaves for adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up. Free. All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30 a.m. for complete instructions.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-09-24 10:00 - 11:00 | 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 older adults, but open to all. Enjoy some natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance. Note that there is no walk on September 3.

Canal Draw Down History Stroll
2026-09-24 15:30 - 17:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Check out the annual draining of the Turners Falls canal, take a stroll along the Canalside Rail Trail, and absorb local history with Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center staff and DCR staff. Meet at the entrance of the Center for this free two-mile walk on flat terrain. Meet at the main entrance. For adults and youth.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - River Otters
2026-09-25 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult.

Find Us at the Farmers Market!
2026-09-26 10:30 - 13:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Montague Community Fair at Unity Park
2026-09-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Discover us at Unity Park (at 56 First Street)! Celebrate “Good Neighbor Day” with an afternoon of free family activities and learn about local community organizations. Join DCR staff at the fair to learn all about our animal neighbors at our activity table with crafting. The fair has light refreshments, music, and fun activities for all ages, in collaboration with Montague Public Libraries.

Art Naturally: Paper Marbling and Mini Books
2026-09-27 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. Inspired by the Montague Paper Company’s history of making book paper, we’ll celebrate the book arts—right here in the building that was once the company’s machine shop. With instruction and technique, you create an art piece to take home using Suminagashi techniques (the Japanese art of marbling) and making small accordion-pleated books. 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.
