Community Calendar

Invertir Holyoke and the Greater Holyoke Chamber are thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual Paper City Food Festival which will be held on Saturday, October 15, from 3pm-9pm on High Street between Appleton and Dwight Streets. The Paper City Food Festival is thrilled to celebrate Holyoke’s diversity and heritage through its food and aims to uplift the businesses and people of our community. Invertir Holyoke y la Cámara del Gran Holyoke están encantados de anunciar el 2º Festival Anual de Comida de la Ciudad de Papel que se celebrará el sábado 15 de octubre, de 3pm a 9pm en High […]

Join Bob Comeau for a great late afternoon tour of Gateway City Arts, formerly the historic Judd Paper Company, and the Canal District area. This tour will take place on the same day as Doors Open Holyoke - October 15th. After the tour you can enjoy a few cocktails and/or dinner at Judd's Restaurant (reservations suggested). At 7:00 there is a free lecture in GCA's Divine Theater by Laurence Cotton, writer, public historian and filmmaker who originated and served as Consulting Producer to the NEH-funded, nationally broadcast PBS special “Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America.” Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/frederick-law-olmsted-bringing-nature-to-the-city-by-laurence-cotton-tickets-415974219087?aff=ebdsoporgprofile https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gateway-city-arts-and-canal-district-tour-with-dining-option-available-tickets-423785222007

Laurence Cotton will give a visual tour of "Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., as well as his two sons and the Olmsted Bros. landscape architecture firm, as the footprint of their works literally stretch across the entire continent of North America, with something of a focus on New England, in particular Massachusetts. The Olmsted firm worked on over 20 projects in the city of Holyoke. Laurence Cotton is a practicing public historian, and writer/producer of historical films for PBS including "Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America". He was trained as a cultural anthropologist and brings that lens to bear on much of […]

Converting the power of falling water to usable energy takes age-old technology. It’s what birthed Holyoke, and continues to power the city to this day. An introduction to waterpower and the vision of Holyoke’s founders begins in the Holyoke Heritage State Park Visitor Center. The tour continues outside as we walk along the canals and view revitalized mills. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call Nancy at 413-534-1723.

Creep through the darkened hallways and rooms of the spooky Wistariahurst Mansion. Explore the home by candlelight and feel the energy of those who lived here and those who worked here. Learn about the Skinner family, how the house came to Holyoke, and how silk, wisteria, and antique musical instruments transformed the building. Listen to stories of happenings in this house sure to make you shudder. This is a rare opportunity for a guided tour at night.  This tour takes place on the first and second floor of the historic mansion. The second floor is accessible only via stairs. Advance reservation […]

This lecture will explore the settlement of Puerto Ricans in public housing in New York City between 1945-1970.  Drawing on demographic data, city documents, and housing statistics from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the lecture will highlight the history of Puerto Ricans in public housing in the mid-twentieth century in relation to Operation Bootstrap and colonialism on the island.  Drawing from Latina feminist methodologies, Rosa’s investigation challenges culture of poverty narratives and instead focusses on the gendered and racialized dynamics of public housing. Rosa's work gives broader context to Holyoke's local Puerto Rican diaspora. This is a hybrid […]

Converting the power of falling water to usable energy takes age-old technology. It’s what birthed Holyoke, and continues to power the city to this day. An introduction to waterpower and the vision of Holyoke’s founders begins in the Holyoke Heritage State Park Visitor Center. The tour continues outside as we walk along the canals and view revitalized mills. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call Nancy at 413-534-1723.

The Holyoke Canal System Walking Tour is in its 7th year.  Walk along the First and Second Level Canals to learn how they function and about the history of the mills.  The tour will be 2.5 miles so be prepared for that.  Sign up at the Eventbrite link and bring a friend.  Presented by the Historical Tours of Greater Holyoke and hosted by the Holyoke Preservation Trust.

Bob Comeau will narrate an informative walking tour of the historic Holyoke Canal System with the focus on the 1st and 2nd level canals.  Be prepared to walk 2.5 miles.  Bring your camera!

Czechtoberfest is back! It’s been a long three years, and we’re ready to bring back the Beer Garden’s season-closing event. Come for the beer, come for the food, music, art…it’s all here! Hang out in the beer garden, sample Czech fare (made right here by Vitek!), and take a look around at the Small Works Gallery show.