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.
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.
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 […]
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.
It’s planting time! Be creative and experience the beauty and colors of seeds while making scenes in dough! Join Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center volunteer, Dawn Marvin Ward, and DCR staff at the Great Falls Farmers market on opening day (between 6th and 7th streets along Avenue A at Peskompskut Park). For all […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Ongoing, May 9—June 25 Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the Center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson, for readers ages 3-7 and everyone who celebrates birds. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. The StoryWalk® Project was […]
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.
Come to the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy folk music for modern times with Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards with refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. appropriate for all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.
Learn how to create your own pollinator-friendly meadow with landscape designers Tom Sullivan and Peter Wackernagle, and then take a short walk to see pollinator gardens in downtown Turners Falls. In collaboration with Exploded View and our 2024 Food, Farms, and Factories project. For ages 12 and up. Meet in the Great Hall. * Food, […]
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.
Commemorate the 348th Anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre and the 20th anniversary of the Reconciliation Ceremony, outdoors weather permitting, or in the Great Hall. Tribal members and non-Tribal public are welcome. Honored guests include: Liz Coldwind Santana Kiser, Elder, Council Woman, and Tribal Historical Preservation Officer for the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians; Elnu […]
Many invasive plants, like garlic mustard and goutweed, are tasty and nutritious additions to our diet. Author/illustrator Blanche Derby brings samples of her wild and cultivated plant friends for this indoor presentation in the Great Hall. In collaboration with Exploded View and our 2024Food, Farms, and Factories project. For ages 12 and up. Meet in […]
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. Today's topic is Sea Lamprey, as part […]
Discover nature and culture 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 the natural world to take home. Learn how the shad’s shape helps it swim upstream. Make a wet-felted underwater scene. For adults, teens, and […]
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 […]
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.