Summer may not officially arrive until June 21, but Western Massachusetts is already heating things up with a full schedule of festivities.
From arts festivals to food fests, fireworks and town fairs, there promises to be something for everyone.
The season begins with the Paradise City Arts Festival, scheduled this year for May 27 to 29 in Northampton. A harbinger of summer festivals, the three-day show will bring a collection of more than 200 artists and crafters to the Three County Fairgrounds.
Other major events to look forward to include:
Arabian Horse Show of New England: May 26-28, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. Free, easternstatesexposition.com
Asparagus Festival: June 3, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Hadley Town Commons, Hadley. Free, https://www.nepm.org/nepm-events/2023-03-09/nepm-asparagus-festival
LGBTQ+ Pride Parade: June 3, starts at noon at STCC, followed by a block party at Stearns Square from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; springfieldprideparade.org/
Connecticut Morgan Horse Show: June 7-10, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. Free, easternstatesexposition.com
Granby Charter Days: June 9-11, Dufresne Park, Granby; facebook.com/granbyvolunteers/
Pride March: June 10, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Greenfield, starts at Greenfield Middle School and ends at Energy Park, where a Pride Rally will follow. Free, franklincountypride.org
Chicopee Pride Fest: June 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m., flag raising, panel and discussion at Chicopee Main Library; June 10, 3-9 p.m., Pride Fest at Szot Park with entertainment, food trucks, vendors, park parade.
IronMan 70.3 Western Massachusetts: June 11, downtown Springfield. Registration costs vary, https://www.ironman.com/im703-western-massachusetts
Juneteenth Jubilee: June 16-18, downtown Springfield. Events include flag raising, block party, live music, pony rides, facebook.com/JuneteenthSpfldMA2023/
Holyoke Pride Fest: Veterans Park, June 17, noon-6 p.m.; local artists, vendors, live music, food trucks and more, holyokepride.org
Worthy Craft Brew Showcase: June 17, noon-4 p.m., 201 Worthington St., Springfield. $10-$50, theworthybrewfest.com.
Green River Festival: June 23-26, Franklin County Fairgrounds, multiple stages with live music. Tickets range from $59.99-$349, greenriverfestival.com
Northampton Family Fourth Celebration: June 24, Look Memorial Park, Northampton, starting at 5 p.m. Rain date June 25, northamptonfamilyfourth.com.
Monson Summerfest: Fireworks on June 24 at Quarry Hill School, 198 Main St., 5-11 p.m. Parade on July 4, starting at 10 a.m. on Main Street. Activities, music, and beer garden later in day, monsonsummerfestinc.com.
Holyoke Independence Day: June 30, 9-10:30 p.m., Holyoke Community College grounds. Raindate July 7, holyoke.org
Independence Day Fireworks: Beacon Field, July 1, 4-10-30 p.m.; live music, food and vendors, as well as a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. shot over Poet’s Seat Tower. Rain date July 15, greenfieldrecreation.com/fireworks.html
South Hadley Fireworks: Michael E. Smith Middle School, 100 Mosier St., July 1, 6-9 p.m. Rain date July 2, southhadley.org
Six Flags July 4th Fest: Six Flags New England, July 1-4, festivities and fireworks while the park is open, sixflags.com/newengland/events
Independence Day Celebration: Old Sturbridge Village, July 1-4, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Activities include 19th century games, daily flag raising ceremonies and parade, osv.org/event/independence-celebration/
Star-Spangled Springfield: Riverfront Park, July 4, 6-10 p.m., free. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., spiritofspringfield.org/events/star-spangled-springfield.
Circus Smirkus: July 7-9, Three County Fairgrounds, “A Midsummer Night’s Circus,” 3countyfair.com/events
Pro Motocross National: July 8, gates open at 7 a.m., The Wick 338, 46 Powder Mill Road, Southwick, thewick338.com
Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show: Route 20, Brimfield; July 11-16, times vary, brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com/2023-brimfield-show-dates-brimfield-ma.
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival: Look Park, Northampton; July 15, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with entertainment in the Celtic Pub until 8:30 p.m. Rain or shine, glasgowlands.org.
Springfield Comic Con: MassMutual Center, July 15, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and July 16, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $50, springfieldcomiccon.com
Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival: Stearns Square, July 21-22, free, springfieldjazzfest.com
New England Morgan Horse Show: Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton, July 24-29, nemha.com/nemhs/
Viva La Fiesta: Six Flags New England, weekends, July 21-Aug. 20. Vibrant musical performances and hands-on activities to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx traditions, sixflags.com/newengland/events/viva-la-fiesta-7
Dragon Boat Festival: North Riverfront Park, Springfield, July 29, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., pvriverfront.org/dragon-boat-festival
Brew at The Zoo: The Zoo in Forest Park, Springfield, Aug. 5, 1-5 p.m. Attendees must be 21 and older, forestparkzoo.org/brew
Middlefield Fair: Aug. 11-13, 7 Bell Road, featuring live music, activities for all ages, animals, and truck pulls, middlefieldfair.org
East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show: Aug. 11-13, Better Living Center on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, easternstatesexposition.com
Westfield Fair: Aug. 18-20, 137 Russelville Road, featuring live music, touch-a-truck, hay bale tosses, Midway rides and games, thewestfieldfair.com
Cummington Fair: Aug. 24-27, 97 Fairgrounds Road, featuring live music, animals, Midway and rides, antique engines and tractor shows, cummingtonfair.com
Three County Fair: Sept. 1-4, 54 Fair St., featuring live music, agricultural exhibits, Wee Wee Wee Racing Pigs, marketplace, 3countyfair.com
Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Show: Route 20, Brimfield; Sept. 5-10, times vary, brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com/2023-brimfield-show-dates-brimfield-ma.
Franklin County Fair: Sept. 7-10, 89 Wisdom Way, Greenfield, featuring livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, live music, fcas.com/
Glendi: Sept. 8-10, Greek Cultural Center, 22 St. George Road, Springfield; family-friendly celebration of Greek culture, stgeorgecath.org/glendi
Mattoon Street Arts Festival: Sept. 9-10, on Mattoon Street, Springfield. Free parking, mattoonfestival.org
The Big E: Eastern States Exposition grounds, West Springfield; Sept. 15-Oct. 1, thebige.com
Belchertown Fair: Sept. 22-24, featuring Midway rides and games, parade, live entertainment, 4H tent/petting zoo, belchertownfair.com/
Old Deerfield Fall Arts & Crafts Festival: Sept. 23-24, Memorial Hall Museum, 8 Memorial St., Deerfield; rain or shine, deerfield-craft.org/
Puerto Rican Parade: Downtown Springfield, Sept. 17, 11 a.m., celebration of Puerto Rican culture, springfieldprparade.com