Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center
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.
An exhibit on Polish and other Eastern European immigration stories and their contributions in the Connecticut River Valley. Presented by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and funded by Mass Humanities as part of the Expanding Massachusetts Stories initiative. In collaboration with the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s Mass Humanities 2024 Food, Farms, and […]
3/16—4/2: Explore the lives of emerging spring wildlife in 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk. 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 […]
For all ages. View student artwork in our Hallway Gallery from the Gill-Montague Regional School District depicting visions of what a new or renovated town library might be like. Coordinated by Jocelyn Castro-Santos, with Montague Public Libraries.
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 highlights along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels.
This 1998 New England Public Media documentary explores the history of Polish immigrants in the Connecticut River Valley and includes vibrant images of this still thriving community, from its distinctive music and art to its strong faith and traditions. Sponsored by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and Mass Humanities for both Expanding Massachusetts Stories and […]
For this drop-in program, learn about our solar system while viewing the solar eclipse safely! Find out what an eclipse is, make your own sun clock, follow our planetary trail, and while supplies last, get a free pair of safe eclipse viewing glasses. Peak viewing here is at 3:30 p.m. In Massachusetts, we will not […]
Enjoy a story, fresh air, and exercise! Join us on the Discovery Center’s grounds for free self-guided StoryWalks® featuring children’s picture books. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. Spring is Here! by Heidi Pross Gay is for ages 2—8 and everyone looking for the first signs of spring. The StoryWalk® Project was created […]
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.
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 highlights along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels.
Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy a variety of traditional and poetically inspired acapella originals from the band, Big Woods Voices. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. Meet in the Great Hall. Full schedule […]
Join us at the welcome desk during school vacation week for activities to inspire taking care of where we live. Enjoy indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, crafts, and activities to honor the Earth, our shared home. Includes the indoor StoryWalk® — One Earth by Eileen Spinelli, which is an invitation to both celebrate our planet and […]
Discover culture and nature through story, poetry, and art in our series of free Art Naturally programs. Using words and images, instruction, and techniques you create an art piece inspired by natural or cultural history to take home. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. […]
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Polish and other Eastern European immigrants arrived in the Connecticut River Valley to begin new lives as small farmers and factory workers. Learn about this migration in a talk by Robert Forrant, Distinguished University Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is co-editor with […]
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.
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 highlights along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels.
Discover how Eastern European immigrant families influenced and enhanced life in the Connecticut River Valley. Join Helena Alves and Patty Solomon, Museum Educators from the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association’s Deerfield Teachers’ Center, for drop-in family craft activities. Explore pysanki egg painting, paper cutting designs and see traditional clothing and costumes that can be fitted for […]
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. For any special accommodations or needs you may have for the day, please call (413) 863-3221. Bring your own water and snack. Registration: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day. For ages 6 […]
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. For all […]
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 highlights along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Friday 4/26: Our Food, Farms, and Factories* Fourth Friday topic is: […]
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.
Take a literary journey around the world as a storytelling naturalist from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum shares tales of animals and magic from around the world. With each story, a live animal will visit to bring a natural history piece to the myth and legends! Sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries. For ages […]
Join Polish Folk artist Susan Urban for a slide presentation of costumes from various regions of Poland, along with a regional costume map and handmade miniature samples of each costume. This event is presented by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and funded by Mass Humanities as part of the Expanding Massachusetts Stories initiative. Meet in […]
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. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult, siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.
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 at the main entrance.
Join DCR staff and the Friends of the Center at Peskeompskut Park for family activities about food and growing food. The Great Falls Farmers Market is located between 6th and 7th Streets along Avenue A at Peskeompskut Park. Part of our Food, Farms, and Factories project. * Food, Farms, & Factories - In 2024, the […]
The exhibit What’s On Your Plate? asks artists to investigate the entanglement of food, time, commitment, and ecology. Curated by Exploded View, in collaboration with our 2024 Food, Farms, and Factories project and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. * Food, Farms, & Factories - In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and […]
This exhibition in the center’s Hallway Gallery explores products currently made in Montague. Some of these products have a long local history and others are on the cutting edge of technology. Curated by Anne Harding and Michaela Henry for our Food, Farms, and Factories project in collaboration with Exploded View. * Food, Farms, & Factories […]
Cultural archivist Christian McEwen gathers stories ranging from feasts and family recipes to the growing challenges of everyday life. Stop by Christian’s ear and share your stories! In collaboration with Exploded View and our 2024 Food, Farms, and Factories project and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Appropriate for all ages. Meet in the Great Hall. * […]
“8” is a new interdisciplinary work by Exploded View. This performing arts group explores the themes of food, farms, hope, community, and climate through art, word, and performance. The reception is from 2 - 4 p.m., with the performance of "8" at 3 p.m. In collaboration with our 2024 Food, Farms, and Factories project and […]