Community Calendar
2024 Events from our Community Partners - - - > Visit the Community Guide to Learn More
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Pride Sensual, Sexy Dance Class
On Friday May 3rd from 7pm - 8:30pm, join Kaci Kokoski of Empowered Movement in the Valley for a Pride themed sensual, sexy adult dance class at Northampton Center for the Arts. No experience necessary, this is a safe, inclusive, welcoming space to move your body and build confidence.
Registration
Drop-ins are welcome! Sliding scale $15 - $25 via Venmo
Direct Message @empoweredmovement_inthevalley on Instagram to sign up or get more info
Hampshire Pride
Hampshire Pride returns on Saturday, May 4, 2024!
Hampshire Pride is a grassroots organization that formed in 2023. Pride has always been an important part of the fabric of Northampton, and western Massachusetts in general. After not having an event since pre-pandemic, Clay Pearson, along with Celina Almendarez and Kayla Abney felt the calling to bring Pride back to Hampshire County.
With only nine weeks to plan, no prior experience in putting on an event like this, and $0 to start, they brought in several other members and all worked non-stop around the clock to make the event happen on the traditional first weekend of May that started in 1982 (the first pride outside of NYC!) as a response to Stonewall.
The hard work and dedication of all involved certainly paid off as Hampshire Pride 2023 went off with a huge success, estimating around 15,000+ attendees. They are back again this year for Hampshire Pride 2024 and can't wait to celebrate again with you all!
Hampshire Pride is committed to creating a space where people of all genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, and ages can come together in a day of joy.
Click/tap the button below for more information.
Holyoke Arts League Annual Spring Exhibition
During the month of May, the Wistariahurst Museum at 238 Cabot St. in Holyoke will host an exhibition of artwork by members of the Holyoke Arts League (HAL), founded in 1923 and celebrating its 101st year in Holyoke. The League holds artist demonstrations and weekly adult figure drawing sessions.
You are cordially invited to join them at their opening reception on Saturday, May 4th, from 2-4pm. This event is complimentary and welcomes all.
Throughout May, the exhibition will be accessible during the museum's usual operating hours on Mondays (10am-2pm) and Tuesdays (4:30pm-6:30pm) until May 28th. The juried exhibition will showcase diverse entries such as oil and pastel, watercolor, acrylic, tempera, gouache, non-oil wet media, graphite, charcoal, printmaking, graphic media, sculpture, and ceramics.
Registration
Click/tap the button below for more information and to RSVP.
This is a FREE event and is open to the public.
Community Day at Double Edge Theatre
Community Day is almost here!
Join Double Edge on Sunday May 5th from 1 PM to 4 PM for a special iteration of Community Day and experience the magic of flying, singing and playing music. We want to share this day with you as we celebrate 30 years in Ashfield.
Around 1 PM join them as they present two awards to uplift those that have made their mark on the theatre and Ashfield.
Laura Bessette & Nancy Hoff from the cultured Ashfield Hardware Store will receive the John and Mary Snow Living Culture Award.
The Institute for the Musical Arts will receive the Living Culture Community Organization Award.
Registration
Click/tap the button below for more information on this event.
This is a FREE event and suitable for all ages.
An Evening with Elliot Page: Fireside Chat and Birthday Benefit for Transhealth
An Evening with Elliot Page: Fireside Chat and Birthday Benefit for Transhealth
Purchase VIP Seating to attend a Post-Show Meet & Greet!
Join Transhealth for an unforgettable evening with Elliot Page on Sunday, May 5th, at 7:30pm at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. Celebrate and support Transhealth’s mission of expanding access to gender-affirming care with a powerful fireside chat that illuminates the power of hope, the warmth of joy, and the courage required to live authentically.
Let us celebrate, enjoy each other’s company, make a wish, and blow out the candles as we burst with pride and intention into Transhealth’s fourth year of providing life-saving care and community. Their birthday wish? For all trans and gender-diverse people to have the freedom to be their authentic selves and to have access to the compassionate, comprehensive healthcare they deserve.
In their conversation with Elliot Page, Transhealth will explore his personal journey and delve into the challenges he’s faced, the milestones he’s celebrated, and the lessons he’s learned along the way, offering a unique lens through which we can examine the struggles and triumphs of the trans community and the transformative impact of compassionate, comprehensive gender-affirming care. This event is an opportunity to reflect on how personal narratives like Elliot’s contribute to our collective understanding, strengthen community, and inspire advocacy, driving us forward in our quest for a more inclusive and supportive world.
About Elliot Page
Elliot Page is an Academy Award®-nominated actor, a director, a producer, a writer, and a New York Times bestselling author known for his indelible on-screen presence in both tentpole and art house films. His love for storytelling and passion for social justice has taken him behind the camera as a producer and documentary filmmaker whose work answers the call to action of a generation. A tireless champion of the under-represented, Elliot uses his global platform to shed light on important social and LGBTQ+ issues. Elliot’s work and advocacy are motivated and informed by the urgency of global issues which impact the most marginalized among us.
In 2020, Elliot announced in a moving message on social media that he is transgender. After coming out, Elliot received overwhelming support from the LGBTQ+ community and is now using his voice to speak out on issues of violence perpetrated against trans bodies, as well as confronting political leaders who seek to criminalize trans healthcare. In March of 2021, Elliot became the first transgender man to be featured solo on the cover of TIME.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Ticket Prices:
$39.99 - $77.98 ($46.86 - $87.94 after Fees)
VIP Meet & Greet: $274.09 after Fees
Where/How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Purchase online using the button below, or you may visit or call the Academy of Music box office at 413-584-9032 ext. 105. Box Office Hours are 3pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday.
Deep Listening Circles
Facilitated by M Rudder
Dates: May 8, June 12, July 10
Hosted by Bloom Local
What are Deep Listening Circles?
In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.
Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other.
All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle.
Registration
Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle meeting. $5-$30 sliding, advance registration is requested.
Accessibility
Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs.
About the Facilitator
M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing. They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.
About Bloom Local
Bloom Local is a homegrown network of creative entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community of the CT River Valley. Our Mission is to unite locals with LGBTQIA+-friendly businesses and organizations, nurturing a community where a culture of support blooms.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
Volunteer Saturdays at The J.S. Bryant School
Registration
Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?
Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!
Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.
To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!
Mother’s Day Plant Sale at Wistariahurst Museum
Planning on gifting the motherly figure in your life flowers for Mother’s Day? Support a local garden by purchasing your blossoms from Wistariahurst Museum on May 11th, 2024 from 10 am to noon! Their plants are perfectly adapted to our unique climate and soil, making them ideal for your garden. With a variety of flora, including roses, daylilies, American wisteria, and kousa dogwood trees, there's something for everyone. Best of all, not only will your gift last for seasons to come, but your purchase also supports the maintenance of Wistariahurst’s historical museum and gardens.
Celebrate Mother’s Day by bringing your mom or motherly figure to Wistariahurst Museum during our Mother’s Day Plant Sale! Take a stroll through the enchanted garden and find the perfect gift to spruce up mom's garden. Show your mom some floral love by snagging her a selection of plants from their site. Don't miss this chance to shower your awesome mom with blooming affection!
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information.
This is a FREE event.
Peer Support Group: Ages 30 & Up
Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 30+. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.
Dates: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
Volunteer Saturdays at The J.S. Bryant School
Registration
Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?
Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!
Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.
To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!
Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market
The goal of "Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market” has always been to support newcomers. Lead by M Rudder and Jey Weisgerber, YAQPUM is a fledgling pop-up market centering LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and emerging artisans and makers exploring their craft. They believe there is always room for more spaces in our community to support the financial success of BIPOC, queer, and trans makers, artists, crafters, creators, and entrepreneurs. Their hope is to provide the additional support they have been looking for in preparing for a craft or maker market as a newcomer.
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information on this event.
This is a FREE to attend event.
Kids Makers Market at BOMBYX
Young crafters, makers, cooks, and creatives are invited to vend their handmade wares on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 2-5pm, at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity.
Little Roots, Bombyx, Art Always, & High Five Books are excited to present a Spring Kids' Makers Market. Featuring kids as the makers, ranging from 6-14 years old! Come purchase gifts for yourself, your friends, or family - for birthdays, fun surprises, or just because. You'll find jewelry, soaps, note cards, art, candles, food and more.
Alongside kid vendors will be local arts businesses: High Five Books, reading with families throughout the day and vending books and creative supplies. Art Always, selling ART TO GO kits and hosting a free Craft Bar where families can choose supplies to create with at home. Little Roots, offering a “Peaceful Percussion” Instrument Petting Zoo. Resilient Community Arts, hosting a tote bag-decorating table. Wake the Dead Donuts vending their hot, fresh mini donuts.
Shoppers are also encouraged to visit the second Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market at the Florence Civic Center, just up Pine Street from BOMBYX, to round out a craft-tastic day for families and craft supporters.
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information on this event.
Email BookbinderRose@gmail.com if your child would like to be a part of the makers market!
No RSVP required.
Rethinking Art and Business: Discovering Old Beliefs to Connect with Flow
The intersection of art and business is complicated. Creativity requires freedom and flow, a capacity to tune into your artistic vision. And, yet to maintain and sustain yourself, money is required. Yet often the need for financial nourishment feels like compromising your values, selling yourself short, or becoming dependent on others in a way that feels icky. In this workshop, we’ll rethink the meeting point of creativity and business from a place of ease, integrity, and purpose.
This includes:
— Identifying limiting beliefs that keep you out of flow on the business side of your work.
— Reimagining business growth from a place of creativity and self-trust.
— Crafting action steps that feel nourishing and in alignment with both your artistic vision and financial goals.
Beth Pellettieri is a Creative Business Coach and Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach. She works with heart-centered, creative business owners to find fun, fulfillment, and financial peace. You can learn more about her work at www.bethpellettieri.com or IG @bethpellettieri.
Registration
Click/tap the link below for more information on this event and to register.
Sunday May 19th from 3:30 pm — 5 pm at Northampton Center for the Arts.
Sliding scale pricing.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
Volunteer Saturdays at The J.S. Bryant School
Registration
Interested in an up close and personal experience with goats, burdock root, perennial gardens, a paintbrush, hammers, nails, saws or some other tool or task while you learn about the vision for J.S. Bryant School?
Join the team from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM most Saturdays to give time and labor to the many physical tasks of bringing this school to life. We find joy in sharing this labor of love and invite you to be part of it!
Stay for as little or as long as you like. The team welcomes the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of their community.
To join the fun, send an email to rsvp@jsbryantschool.org!
Radical Rest: Queer & Trans Restorative Yoga
Relieve deep-set tension with yoga instructor Sebastian Merrill (he/him) and licensed massage therapist el nyberg (they/them). Sebastian will guide the class through a meditative sequence of gentle, floor-based, prop-supported restorative postures with long holds (5-12 minutes per shape).
While breathing and settling into rest, Sebastian and el will offer optional hands-on support and bodywork. This workshop is designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community to provide a supportive space to slow down, receive healing touch, and practice self-care in service of our own well-being and the well-being of our relationships and communities.
This workshop is appropriate for many levels of experience and ability, including beginners and those who struggle to access stillness and relaxation. All bodies, sizes, and abilities are welcome and celebrated.
Please note: Masks are required for this workshop.
Registration
Saturday, May 25th, 12-2pm (in-studio only)
Sliding-scale workshop pricing: $30-50.
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Support Group for Trans and Gender-Diverse Parents
Transhealth invites you to join their hybrid support group for parents who identify and belong to the trans and gender-diverse community. Facilitated by one of our experienced trans Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), this group is free and open to all!
Dates: Last Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
This is a FREE support group.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Transforming Parents Support Group
Transforming Parents is a peer support group for parents or caretakers of children who identify beyond the gender binary, including, but not limited to, transgender, non-binary, queer, trans-masc or trans-fem. Some of the children are exploring and questioning their gender identity. The group has been meeting since 2012 to provide information and support. The participants usually have adolescent or adult children; they welcome families with elementary age children. Join them to receive and provide support and learning.
Dates: First Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
Please email Transhealth at transformingparents@gmail.com and a member of the team will contact you. They look forward to hearing from you!
Peer Support Group: Ages 13-18
Transhealth offers a peer support group for our patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 13-18. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.
Dates: First Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Deep Listening Circles
Facilitated by M Rudder
Dates: May 8, June 12, July 10
Hosted by Bloom Local
What are Deep Listening Circles?
In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.
Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other.
All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle.
Registration
Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle meeting. $5-$30 sliding, advance registration is requested.
Accessibility
Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs.
About the Facilitator
M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing. They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.
About Bloom Local
Bloom Local is a homegrown network of creative entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community of the CT River Valley. Our Mission is to unite locals with LGBTQIA+-friendly businesses and organizations, nurturing a community where a culture of support blooms.
Franklin County Pride
Franklin County Pride returns on June 15, 2024!
Franklin County Pride is a non-profit organization run by a committee of dedicated volunteers. Franklin County Pride’s mission is to create a community in which all LGBTQIA+ youth, adults, and families can enjoy the freedom to live safely, openly, and genuinely, free from discrimination due to race, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. They aim to be as representative as possible of the diverse experiences and identities of the LGBTQIA+ community. They strive to be honest about who is and isn’t in the room, whose voices are and are not at the table, and to support other groups doing the work they are not.
The first Franklin County Pride March & Rally on June 24, 2017 was created and organized by a handful of dedicated lesbian and queer women in reaction to the charged political climate after the 2016 presidential election and the growing threat to marginalized people in their community (i.e., undocumented people, people of color, women, and LGBTQIA people).
This all-volunteer event drew broad participation from diverse members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, and was made possible by overwhelming support from local businesses and individual sponsors. The event drew over 400 marchers and 600 rally participants, with musical performances from local entertainers, and speeches from local community groups and leaders.
Click/tap the button below for more information.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Peer Support Group: Ages 30 & Up
Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 30+. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.
Dates: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.
Dungeon Delvers Summer Series
Registration
Step into a new world of adventure with the Dungeon Delvers Summer Series! This year, Dungeon Delvers is offering two five-day programs for players ages 10–15.
From June 24–28, players can experience a super-sized Dungeons & Dragons campaign with our Epic Adventures program!
Then, from July 8–12, kids can go behind the Dungeon Master's screen and learn how to design their own adventures at our Dungeon Master Academy. From newcomers to veterans, there's something for everyone!
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Support Group for Trans and Gender-Diverse Parents
Transhealth invites you to join their hybrid support group for parents who identify and belong to the trans and gender-diverse community. Facilitated by one of Transhealth’s experienced trans Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), this group is free and open to all!
Dates: Last Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration Info
Tap/Click the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
This is a FREE support group.
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Dungeon Delvers Summer Series
Registration
Step into a new world of adventure with the Dungeon Delvers Summer Series! This year, Dungeon Delvers is offering five-day programs for players ages 10–15.
From July 8–12, kids can go behind the Dungeon Master's screen and learn how to design their own adventures at our Dungeon Master Academy. From newcomers to veterans, there's something for everyone!
BIPOC Joy Group - Transhealth
Transhealth’s BIPOC Joy Group is a 12-week therapeutic group for BIPOC* transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people ages 18+ who are looking to build community and connect with others in the area who have shared lived experiences. Group members are invited to explore, journal, play, create, and brainstorm with one another. Discussions will be centered around our experiences of pleasure, aliveness, and joy as a tool for individual, and collective, resilience. Group members do not need to have previously established care at Transhealth to join.
** BIPOC refers to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color
Dates: Wednesdays from May 22, 2024 – August 7, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 7:15pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available. Scholarships may be available for interested individuals who are uninsured/underinsured.
For more information or to schedule a group screening please email: BIPOCJoyGroup@transhealth.org
Deep Listening Circles
Facilitated by M Rudder
Dates: May 8, June 12, July 10
Hosted by Bloom Local
What are Deep Listening Circles?
In a deep listening circle, the experience is one of inclusion and care. An intimately-sized group co-creates and defines the values, practices, and questions that are important during our time together. Moving from ‘I’ statements and inside of a confidential space, there is a choice to share to the degree that feels best to each person, including choosing to sit in silence for a moment or simply passing to allow the next person to speak, with no pressure, expectations, or judgment. What rises from each round of sharing feeds and informs the next round of sharing and listening. This is a space of exploring and re-weaving your stories, a place of resonance with others and deep acceptance for the wholeness of who you are.
Grow another root of your LGBTQIA+ community virtually by joining this intimate gathering of entrepreneurs, artists, healers, and leaders from around the region! Together we’ll co-create a culture of care, joy, vulnerability, and connection as we dive into what needs to be spoken about from the heart of our lives and our work in these times, laugh together, and learn from each other.
All members of LGBTQIA+ professional and small business communities near and far are welcome to gather in this virtual space. Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle.
Registration
Only 8 – 10 spaces are available in each circle meeting. $5-$30 sliding, advance registration is requested.
Accessibility
Captions will be turned on during meetings. If you have accessibility needs related to connecting in a virtual forum such as Zoom, please email luc@bloomlocal.live or message us @bloomlocal413 on Instagram, and we will gladly work with you over email or via phone to determine how we can best meet your needs.
About the Facilitator
M Rudder (they/them) is a Japanese-American non-binary, trans, and queer facilitator, spiritual director, and artist, living on unceded Nipmuc & Pocumtuck land, who centers agency, connection, liberation, presence, and wholeness. They hold spiritual care for the queer and trans community at the forefront of their work, whether through deep listening circles, facilitation, communal seasonal rituals, spiritual accompaniment, or creating works of art or writing. They cultivate opportunities to explore a deep sense of belonging to oneself, each other, the natural world, and the sacred. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, an MSc. in Applied Conflict Studies, and a certification for Spiritual Direction from Still Harbor. Their time spent with elders from indigenous traditions of China, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, West Africa, and the US also deeply informs their worldview and approach to the wholeness of their life.
About Bloom Local
Bloom Local is a homegrown network of creative entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community of the CT River Valley. Our Mission is to unite locals with LGBTQIA+-friendly businesses and organizations, nurturing a community where a culture of support blooms.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.
Peer Support Group: Ages 13-18
Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 13-18. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.
Dates: First Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.
Transforming Parents Support Group
Transforming Parents is a peer support group for parents or caretakers of children who identify beyond the gender binary, including, but not limited to, transgender, non-binary, queer, trans-masc or trans-fem. Some of the children are exploring and questioning their gender identity. This group has been meeting since 2012 to provide information and support. The participants usually have adolescent or adult children; they welcome families with elementary age children. Join them to receive and provide support and learning.
Dates: First Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please email Transhealth at transformingparents@gmail.com and a member of the team will contact you. Transhealth looks forward to hearing from you!
The UnNameable Children’s Project Presents: The Garden of Recycled Delights
As part of the "Moving Museum" free art pop-up series, the UnNameable Children's Project is collaborating with the Children's Museum at Holyoke on four art workshops, free to the public, and open to all ages. Each session will be an hour long led by an artist from the UnNameable Children's Project. Participants will collaborate with the artists to create fantastical garden installation out of recycled materials. Each artist will focus on a different component of the garden which will be put together into a whimsical and magical environment that visitors can walk through and performances can take place in. The project will emphasize group collaboration, imagination, and celebrating nature in spring!
Registration
This is a FREE event. Click the button below for more information!
Doodles & Donuts with Cece Bell
Registration
Join High Five Books and award-winning author, illustrator and graphic novelist Cece Bell for an early evening family art and music extravaganza—with hot, fresh donuts!
The beloved creator of #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning El Deafo (now an animated show on Apple TV+) and many other books that young people adore (Sock Monkey; Chick and Brain; Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover) will lead artists and readers through the process of creating her latest all-ages alphabet book Animal Albums from A to Z, a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art.
Cece will spin original tunes from Animal Albums, lead drawing demonstrations (and maybe a dance-a-thon!), discuss the new book and its connection to El Deafo, and answer all her fans’ questions.
Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing; all titles will be also available for purchase. Wake the Dead Donuts will have fresh mini donuts and donut sundaes for sale.
Tickets are available via Bombyx.live on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!
Your Soul’s Music: A Writing, Movement, and Sound Workshop
More about this offering:
This workshop is for anyone wanting to find, deepen their connection to, or reawaken their voice. Through guided meditation, journaling prompts, intuitive movement, and mindful movement/Alexander Technique, Threadgill will lead you on a journey to your creative voice. Bring a notebook or journal, wear clothing comfortable to move in, and expect to explore sounds of your voice.
Find out what past participants had to say about this workshop.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Sliding-scale workshop pricing: $30-$50
Student price: $15
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Spring Fashion Market at The Majestic Saloon
More about this offering:
Join BUFFET, Shapeshifters, Styles by Shimmer, Autumn Wilde Arts, and the Majestic Drag Collective for a FAT, QUEER, VINTAGE fashion market at The Majestic Saloon in Northampton on Saturday April 27th from 12pm - 5pm.
Registration
No registration required, this event is FREE to attend.
Click/tap the button below to learn more about The Majestic Saloon.
Indie Bookstore Day at Federal Street Books
Federal Street Books is happy to announce their participation in the eleventh anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27, from 11am - 6pm.
This is the third year Federal Street Books has participated in the annual event. This year the store’s Prize Wheel returns, where any customer can spin to win a free sticker, pin, or other special exclusive prizes. Additional Indie Bookstore Day giveaways, including mugs, enamel pins, bags, and special edition books will be made available free while supplies last with minimum purchase of $25.
Hillary Hoffman, Federal Street Books co-owner said “Indie Bookstore Day is a chance to show our appreciation for our loyal customers, neighbors, and friends.”
“Independent bookstores work every day to build community around the written word,” said Beth Ineson, Executive Director of the New England Independent Booksellers Association.
“Independent Bookstore Day is a chance to celebrate and support their efforts, because we can all agree that bookstores make every neighborhood a more vibrant place.”
Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate, and highlight the value of the Independent bookstore community. The day has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013. This year there are over 900 stores participating across the country.
Independent Bookstore Day is organized by the American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, that works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.
LEARN ABOUT FEDERAL STREET BOOKS
Click/tap the button below to learn more about Independent Bookstore Day.
This is a FREE event.
Community Work Parties: Planting An Apple Tree Orchard at The J.S. Bryant School - Day 2
Registration
Join the J.S. Bryant School team April 26th & April 27th from 9:30am-1:30pm (Rain Dates: May 10th & 11th)
There are many physical tasks to be completed in preparation for opening their doors in 2025; this Spring they’re planting over 200 apple trees so that when their students arrive for their first months, they will have an orchard full of apples as part of their educational and culinary experience!
They welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community work party. Join them for a day of connecting with the earth, with others in the community, and delicious snacks!
Lost & Found: Finding the Power In Your Voice Book Reading & Concert
More about this offering:
Join vocalist/composer, voice and movement teacher, and author Pyeng Threadgill as she reads excerpts from her recent memoir, Lost & Found: Finding The Power In Your Voice, and shares a special evening of music.
Growing up in the 1980s in the heart of New York City's downtown music and art scene became fertile ground for seeds of creativity, doubt, and eventual empowerment for Pyeng Threadgill. From motherhood to travel, from ancestry to the body—evolving from a passionate performer to injured performer, from voice student to voice and movement teacher—Lost & Found examines the visceral and ephemeral experiences of the voice, for the body and for oneself in the world, as both a spiritual and political act. Threadgill is joined by guest guitarist and Amherst local John Caban.
Find out what readers are saying about Lost & Found.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Donation-based pricing: $10-$40
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Community Work Parties: Planting An Apple Tree Orchard at The J.S. Bryant School - Day 1
Registration
Join the J.S. Bryant School team April 26th & 27th from 9:30am-1:30pm (Rain Dates: May 10th & 11th)
There are many physical tasks to be completed in preparation for opening their doors in 2025; this Spring they’re planting over 200 apple trees so that when their students arrive for their first months, they will have an orchard full of apples as part of their educational and culinary experience!
They welcome the hands and hearts of all generations, identities, and abilities into the mix of our community work party. Join them for a day of connecting with the earth, with others in the community, and delicious snacks!
Mindfulness at the Museum: A SonorousLight Sound Bath
Join Wistariahurst Museum as they present Mindfulness at the Museum: A SonorousLight™ Sound Bath. This immersive experience is meant to heal and melt away all stress and tension as a cocoon of sound surrounds guests. Unwind and relax as the soothing vibrations of crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, and other instruments wash over you. These tranquil sessions are led by the amazingly serene Donnabelle Casis, who uses her training with KIN Unified Health Institute in Sound Therapy to help others use sound to help promote physical health and emotional well-being.
Mindfulness at the Museum will be held every fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. For a one-hour sound bath meditation, bring comfortable clothing, a yoga mat, blankets, a pillow, an eye mask (optional), and a water bottle.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, with doors closing at 6:25 pm and the session starts promptly at 6:30 pm.
Space is limited and reservations are required to attend this event. Don’t miss this chance to relax and unwind through the healing power of sound inside Wistariahurst Museum.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Cost: $35 per person, with a $5 discount for museum members with the code WISTY.
Pre-registration is required, and tickets are non-refundable.
Support Group for Trans and Gender-Diverse Parents
Transhealth invites you to join their hybrid support group for parents who identify and belong to the trans and gender-diverse community. Facilitated by one of their experienced trans Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), this group is free and open to all.
Dates: Last Wednesday of Every Month
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.
This is a FREE support group.
Writing to Heal: Narrative Processing Group
Transhealth invites you to join Writing to Heal, a narrative processing group led by experienced Transhealth therapists, that fosters a safe, supportive, and validating environment to explore through written word the complexity of one’s experience, develop skills to increase self-acceptance, shift troubling life narratives, and practice the use of writing as a grounding technique in moments of distress.
Open to Queer, Trans, Gender-Diverse individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, and mental health difficulties, 18 and older.
Dates: Wednesdays until April 24, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 5pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available.
This is a closed group: anyone interested must complete an intake screening prior to acceptance. To sign up or for questions, email narrativegroup@transhealth.org.
The Fairy Circus Puppet Show - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Join The Tanglewood Marionettes for a puppetry demo and Q&A session with an award winning puppeteer on Sunday 4/21 from 1pm - 2pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This event is FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Yoga for Creativity: A Writing & Yoga Workshop in Participation with the Northampton Literary Walk
More about this offering:
With Award-Winning Poet and Yoga Instructor, Sebastian Merrill, this writing and yoga workshop will include an asana practice designed to spark our creativity, followed by generative writing. We'll cultivate a sense of wonder, intuition, and magic with various tools including meditation, bibliomancy, and tarot.
The act of writing is an act of revelation: this workshop will provide you with techniques and skills to act as a medium for your writing, discovering new ideas, shapes, and forms through your own subconscious. This workshop is for anyone who wants tools and structure for supporting their own creative practice.
This event is open to the general public, but we hope to hold space for Northampton Literary Walk Participants. If you would like to participate in the Northampton Literary Walk, learn more here.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Pay-what-you-can, by donation: $0-$40
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Uncanny Valley Night Market
A makers market featuring a selection of artist, makers, and purveyors of the strange and unusual from The Valley and across New England.
Water Marbling Workshop with Sam Lou Design - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Get hands on experience in the Art Studio with guest artist Samantha Louise and bring home your crafty creations! This session will be held on Saturday 4/20 1pm - 3pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This event is FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Mini Adventures with Dungeon Delvers - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Join Dungeon Delvers and Children’s Museum at Holyoke for a 30 minute mini session of Dungeons and Dragons for kids with a professional game master. A game of imagination, math, and teamwork. Some reading and math skills required. Get a free set of dice for every player!
Four sessions on Friday 4/19 10am, 10:35am, 11:10am, 11:45am.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
These events are FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Peer Support Group: Ages 30 & Up
Transhealth offers a peer support group for their patients and clients as well as trans and gender-diverse community members ages 30+. This group is non-clinical and is not intended as group therapy. Rather, this group is for trans and gender-diverse individuals to build support and community through discussions and activities.
Dates: Third Thursday of the month
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm EST
Location: Join either in-person at the Transhealth Community Room or virtually via zoom
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This is a FREE support group.
To register, please complete this form. For more information, please email thcommunity@transhealth.org.
Papermaking with Sam Lou Design - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Get hands on experience making paper in the Art Studio with guest artist Samantha Louise and bring home your crafty creations! This session will be held on Thursday 4/18 10am - 12pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This event is FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Writing to Heal: Narrative Processing Group
Transhealth invites you to join Writing to Heal, a narrative processing group led by experienced Transhealth therapists, that fosters a safe, supportive, and validating environment to explore through written word the complexity of one’s experience, develop skills to increase self-acceptance, shift troubling life narratives, and practice the use of writing as a grounding technique in moments of distress.
Open to Queer, Trans, Gender-Diverse individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, and mental health difficulties, 18 and older.
Dates: Wednesdays until April 24, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 5pm EST
Location: Virtual
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Cost: Insurance accepted. Private pay options available.
This is a closed group: anyone interested must complete an intake screening prior to acceptance. To sign up or for questions, email narrativegroup@transhealth.org.
Kids Circus Workshop - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Step into the big top and learn the basics of being a circus performer with two instructors from SHOW Circus Studio.
Two sessions on Wednesday 4/17 10am - 11am, 11am - 12pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
These events are FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
All Ages Scavenger Hunt - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Solve a series of riddles and clues designed for all ages of kiddos and families on a search through the Children’s Museum at Holyoke. All participants will leave with a prize and a special scavenger hunt sticker badge.
This event will be held on Tuesday 4/16 10am - 3pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This event is FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Buildwave Workshops - April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Join Buildwave and Children’s Museum at Holyoke to boost your child’s STEAM interest with Buildwave. This is a building event that feels like a gameshow, where participants will build with waves of diverse materials.
Two workshops on Monday 4/15 10am - 11am, 11am - 12pm.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
This event is FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
Bloomfest: A Springtime Gathering for Creative Minds
Join us for an afternoon of professional and creative networking curated by and for the local LGBTQIA+ and queer-allied community!
Come prepared to make new connections, get creative with The Color Collaborative, and enjoy a delicious taco bar from Crave Holyoke! Lower lighting and sound area and “ice-breaker” conversation tables will be available.
Sharona Color of The Color Collaborative will lead a community collage centering the idea, “Change is coming. What do we need to imagine?” inspired by the song “Change is Coming” by local Jewish Queer musician Molly Bajgot.
Bloomfest is hosted by Bloom Local with support from these Q/T-run and -allied orgs and small businesses:
Access Details
Accessible Parking & Entry Ramp
Lower lighting & sound area
Masks required when not consuming food & beverage
Registration
$0-$40 suggested sliding scale entry in advance & at door.
Contact hello@bloomlocal.live with any questions or access needs.
Our Way Home: A Writing and Somatic Healing Experience with Sherry Sidoti
More about this offering:
Is healing found in “letting go” as the spiritual teachings insist, or is it found by digging our heals deeper into the earth and holding on to our humanness?
Join Sherry Sidoti, yoga teacher and author of the memoir A Smoke and a Song, to explore movement, meditation, and memoir writing as muse for meaning-making and healing.
The two-hour workshop includes a thirty- minute accessible movement and contemplation practice, a writing prompt and time for free writing, group sharing (optional) and Q & A.
No writing or yoga experience necessary–just a willingness to show up authentically and an openness to discover what wants to find you in the process.
Themes we explore:
Cellular memory and the stories homed in our bodies
Transgenerational inheritance and dharma
The complexity of memory/What is truth?
Movement and contemplation practices we explore:
Gentle yoga practice
Five Sense Awareness
Inner and Outer Resourcing
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
Sliding scale workshop pricing $40-$50
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
April Break at Children’s Museum Holyoke
Children’s Museum at Holyoke has nine days of fun planned for April Vacation!
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about these offerings.
These events are FREE with the price of ticket admission to the museum.
A Smoke and Song Book Talk
More about this offering:
Join us in this candid “behind the book” conversation of Sidoti’s A Smoke and a Song, moderated by local author and writing teacher Celia Jeffries. We’ll explore the writing process, risks and rewards of sharing our stories, and the healing potential of embodied writing. Bring your memoir writing and publishing questions!
Sherry Sidoti is a yoga teacher, writing teacher, and award-winning author. Her debut memoir, A Smoke and a Song, earned the Gold Medal for Inspirational Memoir of 2023 with the Living Now Book Awards and the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Five Gold Star Memoir. Sherry lives on Martha’s Vineyard.
Celia Jeffries is a writer, editor, and memoir writing teacher. Her debut novel, Blue Desert, was a finalist for both the Sarton Historical Fiction award and the IPNE Literary Fiction award, and was the February 2023 Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society.
Registration
Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering.
A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings:
Sanctuary has a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email them at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.
Queer & Trans Yoga with Sebastian Merrill
This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment.