GREETINGS! Massachusetts is rich in arts & culture, so it's no surprise that exciting events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 16 regions all year long. Find out more!

  

Credit Tim Grafft, MOTT

QUICK TAKE: Sea captains' homes and cobblestone streets; stunning beaches and wild open spaces. SEE & DO: Experience Nantucket's maritime history at the Whaling Museum. The ocean can be perilous as the  Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum attests. Brant Point Light stands watch over the harbor. See how island life influences art and craft at the Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. Take a  guided walking tour of the Old Historic District or explore the trails of the Middle Moors. The African Meeting House is a legacy of a thriving 19th-century African American community. STAR BRIGHT: Explore the night sky at the Loines Observatory's Stargazing Nights (Fridays in October). EAT & SLEEP: Dine at Black-Eyed Susan's; stay in the historic Jared Coffin House. Note: some museums close for the season on Columbus Day weekend
  

Plan your next cultural getaway to Massachusetts!

The Pioneer Valley celebrates all things spooky with Zombiefest 2013, a region-wide promotion featuring a full roster of events for all ages! Highlights include Six Flags New England's Fright Fest (Sept/Oct) in Agawam, Tales from Haunted New England at Storrowton Village (10/18) in West Springfield, Dining in the Dark at the Delaney House (10/18) in Holyoke, Zombie Walk in downtown Springfield (10/19), Candlelit tours of Wistariahurst Museum (10/26) in Holyoke, Historic Springfield, Holyoke and Stockbridge Cemetery Tours (10/23 & 27), Ghosts of the Quadrangle at Springfield Museums (10/31), and the Witches Ball at Chandler's Restaurant at Yankee Candle Village (10/31) in South Deerfield.  Embrace the season and plan an overnight visit to take in all the fun!  For more information, visit www.zombiepioneervalley.com.

For more information on Greater Springfield, click here.  

Courtesy Tiwani Contemporary London; photo by Remi Abudu

The University Museum of Contemporary Art at the Fine Arts Center presents the legacy of the late civil rights leader, writer and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois in a landmark exhibition, Du Bois in Our Time. UMCA commissioned all new works by ten internationally acclaimed artists whose work offers an aesthetic contribution to a modern rethinking of Du Bois. Full schedule of events online; exhibition is open through December 8th and UMCA has free admission.

Click for more information on Hampshire County. 

For more information on Johnny Appleseed Country, click here.

Join in all the fun throughout the entire month of October as Martha's Vineyard celebrates autumn with tons of festivals and events that showcase the extraordinary visual arts, dance,
theater, music, film and more of our Island community!  From Food & Wine to Artisans & Chocolate, there's something for everyone! For more information and a calendar of events, visit artsmarthasvineyard.org. For everything you need to plan your trip, including great lodging deals, visit MVY.com.

For more information on Martha's Vineyard, click here.

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams presents Shen Wei Dance Arts on October 26th and 27th in the Hunter Center! Sculpture, painting, and video wind their way into the works of Shen Wei Dance Arts, where a gesture as simple as an outstretched arm becomes a revelation. Don't miss these two unforgettable performances, co-presented with Jacob's Pillow dance! Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

For more information on the Mohawk Trail Region, click here. 

On the first weekend in October, catch the region's two largest fall festivals taking place back-to-back in the nearby towns of Franklin and Hopedale! On October 5th, Oktoberfest in Hopedale  offers its 10,000 attendees a biergarden, car show, model plane demonstrations, a stagecoach and railroad exhibit, in addition to musical entertainment, food and kids' activities.  On October 6th, Franklin Downtown Partnership's Harvest Festival brings more than 6,000 people to sample mouthwatering food choices. Browse crafters, artist & business booths, along with entertainment on several stages.

Nantucket Conservation Foundation's 11th Annual Cranberry Festival will be held Saturday October 12th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come out to the Festival grounds and watch the berries being harvested, learn about the history of cranberry farming on Nantucket, participate in the family activities or just kick back and enjoy the music and the spectacular autumn scenery of one of the most unique and beautiful places on our Island.  Don't forget to bring home a pound, or two, of Nantucket Cranberries for the Holidays!

For more information on Nantucket Island, click here.

The 14th Annual Manjiro Festival will be held Saturday, October 5th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in historic Fairhaven! This Japanese-American festival features arts & crafts, food, entertainment, Taiko drumming, tea ceremony, tours of the Manjiro Trail and more. The festival is sponsored by the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society and commemorates Manjiro Nakahama, the first Japanese person to live in America and the town's Sister City connection with Tosashimizu, Japan.

For more information on Southeastern MA, click here. 

The Fall kicks off with some great performances in the Greater Merrimack Valley! Take a visit to historic Downtown Lowell and visit the newly renovated Merrimack Repertory Theatre as they kick off their 2013-2014 season with God of Carnage. Experience the works of The Lexington Symphony at Cary Hall as they pay homage to some of classical music's distinguished composers in their 2013-2014 season!

For more information on Greater Merrimack Valley, click here.

From October 11-13, the 2nd Annual Civil War Experience & Living History Weekend will be taking place at Green Hill Park in Worcester! This two-day recreation of the 1860s American Civil War period will include presentations from historical impersonators, a full-scale fictional battle reenactment, a formal military ball, a "Historical Education Day" for local schools, and several other opportunities to immerse event-goers in the atmosphere of the American Civil War.

For more information on Central Massachusetts, click here.  

The Fall for the Arts Festival will be celebrated September 28-November 2 across the Cape and Islands! Highlights include live performances by local musicians, open houses at cultural venues, readings & lectures, art activities for children, guided heritage walks, plein air painters, special exhibits and more! Other upcoming events include the Yarmouth Seaside Festival October 12-14, Wellfleet Oyster Fest October 19-20 and Halloween in Provincetown October 25-November 3! Click here for all our Fall happenings.

 

For more information on Cape Cod, click here.