Events

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.

  • Nice and Easy Walk

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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.

    Free
  • Kidleidoscope Story Hour – Who Lives in a River?

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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

    Free
  • Find Us at the Farmers Market!

    Peskeompskut Park Avenue A between 6th and 7th Streets, Turners Falls

    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.

    Free
  • Drop-in and Chill-out Activities: Sploot! How Animals Keep Their Cool

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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 […]

    Free
  • Nice and Easy Walk

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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.

    Free
  • Kidleidoscope Story Hour – Butterflies

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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

    Free
  • River Baron Walk: Reshaping New England’s Longest River

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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 […]

    Free
  • Art Naturally: Source to Sea Mosaics

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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 […]

    Free
  • Ongoing – Indoor StoryWalk® – Change is in the Air

    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® […]

  • Great Hall Art Exhibit: Stitched Through the Seven Sisters

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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 […]

    Free
  • First Friday: A Sampling of Labor Sentiments

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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, […]

    Free
  • Labor History Talk: The Keith Paper Mill Strike of 1937

    Great Falls Discovery Center 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 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.

    Free