Nice and Easy Walk
2026-05-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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 - Fish
2026-05-08 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.

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Lara Herscovitch & The Highway Philosophers
2026-05-08 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Lara Herscovitch & The Highway Philosophers offer a rich tapestry of songs with themes that will stay with you. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, in support of educational programming at the Center. All ages.

Battlefield History Walking Tour with David Brule
2026-05-09 10:00 - 11:00 | MA
May 19th marks the 350th anniversary of the massacre at Peskeompskut. Join David Brule, local historian and coordinator of the Battlefield Advisory Committee (a National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP)-funded study), to learn about this attack and its significance within the King Philip’s War. This program will take place along the bike path where new interpretive panels (going up this month) detail the findings of the Battle of Great Falls/Wissantinnewag-Peskeompskut study. David will provide further context and develop more on the stories highlighted in the panels.
We will meet outside the Great Falls Discovery Center at 10am to walk to the panels as a group. Registration is not required, but is encouraged for planning purposes.

Park Serve Day: Pick a Park, Give a Day, Make a Difference
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 | MA
The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to the Great Falls Discovery Center to lend a hand during this day of volunteer service to our state parks. Bring your own water and snack. For registration visit mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day. For ages 6 and up. Meet at the main entrance.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 | MA

Ongoing - Chill Out Indoor StoryWalks® - We Are Water Protectors
2026-05-16 - 2026-06-16 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
StoryWalk®: We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom
Come on inside and Chill Out with DCR! You can find “COOL” activities for kids and families inside, including indoor StoryWalk® all summer long! Meet at the welcome desk. Accessible during open hours.
This story honors Indigenous-led movements across the world to protect water. For ages 3–7 and everyone ready to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm.
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.

Ongoing - Outdoor StoryWalk® — We All Play
2026-05-16 - 2026-06-30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Enjoy a story, fresh air, and exercise! Join us on the Discovery Center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring We All Play by award winning Cree artist Julie Flett. For all ages 0–7 and anyone who loves to play, this story is a beautiful ode to the animals and humans we share our world with.
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.

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.

The Nolumbeka Project Presents: Day of Remembrance
2026-05-16 12:30 - 15:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
A commemoration of the Great Falls Massacre, May 19, 1676, and Metacom’s Resistance (aka King Philip’s War) 350 Years Ago, 1676-2026. Tribal members and non-Tribal public are welcome. Honored presenters include: Eastern Medicine Singers, Strong Eagle Many Feathers’ Daly, Liz Coldwind Santana-Kiser, Roger Longtoe Sheehan, Dr. Margaret M. Bruchac, Martín Espada, Deborah Spears Moorehead, Robert Peters, Jose Ite’ Santana, Diane Travis, Pat Allen, Carol Letson, and David Brule. For more information visit nolumbekaproject.org. Free and open to all. Held rain or shine.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-05-21 13:00 - 14:00 | MA
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: there is no walk on April 16.

Find Us at the Farmers Market!
2026-05-23 10:30 - 13:00 | MA
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.

Eyes on Owls Presents: Owls Up Close
2026-05-23 13:00 - 14:15 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Everyone loves owls! Come see them up close and enjoy a slide presentation and introduction to six live owls including hooting lessons. Learn about field marks, owl pellets, tips on how to protect owls, and the importance of owls and other birds of prey in the ecosystem. For adults, youth, and children ages 5 and up (accompanied by an adult). Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center and Rescue Franklin County Wildlife, a group of community volunteers committed to raising awareness about the harms of pesticides to birds of prey and encouraging the use of wildlife safe alternatives.

Art Naturally: Tissue Paper Blooms
2026-05-24 10:30 - 12:00 | MA
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 tissue paper, pipe cleaners and jute. All art materials are provided but feel welcome to use your own. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30 a.m. for complete instructions. For adults, teens and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult).

A French / Breton Jam Session
2026-05-24 14:30 - 16:30 | MA
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.Find Us at Música Franklin’s Fun Fest! Saturday, May 30, 12:30-5 p.m.Música Franklin has all the fun, and we want to join in! Find us at Unity Park on First Street in Turners Falls at our River’s Edge investigation station. Fish sustain life throughout our valley, from eagles to otters, even other fish. See how your wingspan compares to that of an eagle’s. Learn how you can be part of this year’s fish migration through games and more. Learn more about the festival by visiting musicafranklin.org/fun-fest. For all ages.

Montague Plains: Enjoy a moonlit bird walk with MassWildlife
2026-05-29 19:00 - 21:30 | Montague Plains, Montague, MA, United States
The walk is scheduled for 7:15 – 9:15 p.m. at the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area. The restored habitats of Montague Plains offer the perfect place to experience the iconic whip-poor-will call, along with American woodcock peents, firsthand. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. Participants should be prepared for a ~1.5 mile walk and dress for the weather and walking on uneven ground.
Limited spots available. Registration is required. Register using Mass Wildlife’s bird walk form: MassWildlife 2026 Spring Bird Walks | Mass.gov

Moved to Rain Location: Find Us at Musica Franklin's Fun Fest!
2026-05-30 13:00 - 17:00 | MA
Musica Franklin has all the fun, and we want to join in! Find us the rain location for this event at Greenfield Middle School (195 Federal Street) to see our River’s Edge investigation station. Fish sustain life throughout our valley, from eagles to otters, even other fish. See how your wingspan compares to that of an eagle’s. Learn how you can be part of this year’s fish migration through games and more. Learn more about the festival by visiting musicafranklin.org/fun-fest. For all ages.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-06-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

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.

First Friday: Turners Falls Brick-by-Brick Tour
2026-06-05 16:00 - 17:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Under every cornice is a building with a story. This First Friday, learn about the brickmakers, builders and businesses behind the designs of the village blocks. Meet DCR staff outside the Great Hall for a 1.2-mile guided walk through downtown Turners Falls. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Ages 8 and up. Meet at the main entrance.

19th Annual Free Family Fishing Day!
2026-06-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Barton Cove Day Use Area, Barton Cove Road, Gill, MA, United States
19th Annual Free Family Fishing Day!
At Two Locations.
Our annual Family Fishing Day, at Barton Cove, with additional activities at the Great Falls Discovery Center. Join us for a day of FREE fishing fun. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Event is held rain or shine. Parking is free. Free shuttle bus between sites.
At Barton Cove Campground: Barton Cove Road in Gill.
§ Free fishing from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. All ages welcome.
§ Fishing equipment provided – limited supplies available. Bring your own pole if you have one. No MA fishing license needed.
At Great Falls Discovery Center: 2 Avenue A.
§ Fly lure tying demonstrations.
§ Come see an impressive guest fish from the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab.
§ Fish printing: The art of Gyotaku, 11 am –2 pm.
§ CATCH THE FISH BUS HERE! Free shuttle bus to and from Barton Cove, as needed, 10 am –2 pm.
For information call 413-863-3221.

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.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Turtles
2026-06-12 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: On the Lam
2026-06-12 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. On the Lam offers sweet harmonies and harmony-heavy Americana. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, in support of educational programming at the Center. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Find Us at the Farmers Market!
2026-06-13 10:30 - 13:00 | Peskeompskut Park, Avenue A between 6th and 7th Streets, Turners Falls, 01376

Pride Hike
2026-06-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Connect with nature and community by hiking along the Canalside Rail Trail! Learn about birds, beavers and each other as we walk and talk beside a historic canal. This is a 2.6-mile hike on a flat, paved trail. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. For ages 10 and up. Meet outside the main entrance.
Celebrate Pride month by getting outdoors and on the trails on one of our Pride Hikes!
All DCR programs are welcoming and inclusive, these hikes are geared towards our
LGBTQIA+ communities, their families, and allies; providing an enjoyable and safe
opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. For ADA/reasonable accommodations: call (617) 645-0358, or email moneesha.dasgupta2@mass.gov.

Ongoing, Chill Out Indoor StoryWalks® - Fatima’s Great Outdoors
2026-06-17 - 2026-06-30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
StoryWalk®: Fatima’s Great Outdoors, by Ambreen Tariq
Come on inside and Chill Out with DCR! You can find “COOL” activities for kids and families inside, including indoor StoryWalk® all summer long! Meet at the welcome desk. Accessible during open hours.
Enjoy a family camping adventure, a love letter to the outdoors, and a reminder that public land belongs to all of us. For ages 4–8 and everyone who’s ready to go camping!

Nice & Easy Walks
2026-06-18 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: we are transitioning to our summer schedule of hosting walks at 10 am. to avoid afternoon heat.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Hummingbirds
2026-06-19 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
