A presentation on Victorian mourning jewelry and gravestone symbolism with Joanne and Dennis Picard.

Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to bring another fang-tastic and ghoulishly delightful sensory-friendly event into our halls for the Halloween season! Our bewitching trick-or-treat event will let you and your little goblins enjoy an adventure in our haunted halls designed for families with sensory. Monsters of all ages will have a chance to collect six spook-tacular items through gentle exploration throughout the museum and choose from prizes ranging from candy to fidget toys. Guests are welcome and encouraged to wear their fun, festive costumes throughout their journey through the museum.

Wistariahurst Museum’s "Skeletal Secrets" tour unveils ghostly guides and eerie tales of death and spirits. Do you dare to learn more? As the night grows long and a chill lingers in the air, Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to announce a new, frightfully fantastic character tour: Skeletal Secrets with the Skinner Servants. Join a ghostly guide as former residents of this historic house manifest to speak of eerie events and strange happenings that occurred during their mortal lives. Discover dark tales of death, loss, and spirits that are said to still roam our halls to this day as you wander through the home.

Step back in time and into the halls of Count Orlok's castle during a screening of the 1922 silent film Nosferatu. This horror classic is the perfect way to enjoy the Halloween season. This film screening will take place outdoors in the gardens of Wistariahurst Museum, on a large 12-foot screen courtesy of One Holyoke. Bring your own blankets and chairs to get comfy in the historic gardens and enjoy this cult classic.

Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to welcome guests for our Darkened Hallways Tours this fall. Immerse yourself in an evening of spine-tingling discovery and feel the lingering energy of past inhabitants and workers that once occupied these haunted halls. As our docent leads you through the home by candlelight, you will uncover stories of the Skinner family, the tragedy that moved their home and business to Holyoke, and other chilling tales from the mansion's history.

Step past the cemetery gates and peer behind the veil with Wistariahurst as our volunteers channel the spirits of Holyoke's ancestors, leading you through the meandering paths of Forestdale Cemetery. Established in 1860, Forestdale Cemetery is a serene yet beautiful landscape and the final resting place for many of Holyoke's founding families, politicians, and other notables who helped breathe life into the city. Guests will walk amongst the monuments, markers, crypts, and crosses to discover the mystique of Holyoke's vibrant heritage.

Wistariahurst Museum will be welcoming October with a haunting exhibit all about death and dying in the Victorian era. Visitors will see historic items relating to mourning, while learning what mourning customs were common in the late 1800s. Wistariahurst opens Memento Mori just in time for spooky season, on October 1st, 4:30-6:30 pm.

Photographer Charles Abel is bringing an exhibit to Wistariahurst Museum’s Gallery that shows visitors a view of Holyoke they’ve never seen before. Pictorally Speaking features cameras from Wistariahurst’s archive alongside photos Abel has taken of Holyoke. Abel captures views of modern-day Holyoke from a historical perspective- literally.

Dino Day at Sensory Friendly Sunday Funday will entertain you and the little ones with dinosaur-themed activities galore! Wistariahurst Museum has a new, fun dino-themed scavenger hunt to celebrate Dino Day. Follow alongside Patty the Dinosaur and learn all about Massachusetts's state dinosaur, Podokesaurus Holyokensis.

The Dino Double Header Track Exploration at Wistariahurst & The Trustees Dino Track Site in Holyoke is perfect for paleo- curious explorers of all ages.

On June 19th, Wistariahurst Museum and Genuine Culture welcome guests to the Wistariahurst gardens for our annual Juneteenth event, Celebrate Juneteenth! This event commemorates freedom and the country’s second independence day through community and celebration.

Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to announce that on April 21, it will exhibit, reveal, and demonstrate the secret language of the Victorian hand fan. The event will feature an exhibit of beautifully crafted fans and a live demonstration of how “fan language” was used to communicate without speaking a word.

Have a creative kiddo in your life? Don't miss the next Kids Art class at Wistariahurst Museum. Instructor Laura Amazeen-LaPlante will instruct children ages 6-12 in this guided painting class.

Wistariahurst Museum is excited to announce an upcoming performance sharing the story of Elizabeth “MumBet” Freeman in celebration of Massachusetts’ 250th anniversary. This historical interpretation from Freeman’s perspective will highlight her experiences and contribution to Massachusetts history. This event will be held Sunday, March 15th during Civic Learning Week.

Learn about getting involved in local government from Holyoke’s City Council President Tessa Murphy-R

Come view the opening reception of Wistariahurst Museum's 4th Women's History Month art showcase "Liberty and Labor"

Wistariahurst Museum is excited to announce the upcoming exhibit Metamorphosis, opening January 6th, 2026. This exhibit features artists who have attended one or more of the artist sessions held at Wistariahurst Museum.

There’s snow place like Wistariahurst during the holiday season! Wistariahurst’s upcoming Holiday Open House and Festive market is perfect for those pine-ing for some holiday cheer, gifts from local businesses and artists, and family fun. The museum will be open December 6th and 7th from 11:00am-2:30pm for this joyous event.

There’s snow place like Wistariahurst during the holiday season!Wistatiahurst’s upcoming Holiday Open House and Festive market is perfect for those pine-ing for some holiday cheer, gifts from local businesses and artists, and family fun. The museum will be open December 6th and 7th from 11:00am-2:30pm for this joyous event.

Learn about symbolism found in tattoos, their cultural significance and more at this talk with Donnabelle Casis.

Stop by Wistariahurst Museum for a unique chance to connect with the rich tapestry of Dia de Los Muertos and contribute to a vibrant, communal ofrenda. Dia de Los Muertos is a special tradition that allows people to celebrate and remember deceased loved ones by decorating an ofrenda, a communal altar dedicated to those dearly departed.

Stop by Wistariahurst Museum for a unique chance to connect with the rich tapestry of Dia de Los Muertos and contribute to a vibrant, communal ofrenda. Dia de Los Muertos is a special tradition that allows people to celebrate and remember deceased loved ones by decorating an ofrenda, a communal altar dedicated to those dearly departed.

Stop by Wistariahurst Museum for a unique chance to connect with the rich tapestry of Dia de Los Muertos and contribute to a vibrant, communal ofrenda. Dia de Los Muertos is a special tradition that allows people to celebrate and remember deceased loved ones by decorating an ofrenda, a communal altar dedicated to those dearly departed.

Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to bring another fang-tastic and ghoulishly delightful sensory-friendly event into our halls for the Halloween season! Our bewitching trick-or-treat event will let you and your little goblins enjoy an adventure in our haunted halls designed for families with sensory. Monsters of all ages will have a chance to collect six spook-tacular items through gentle exploration throughout the museum and choose from prizes ranging from candy to fidget toys. Guests are welcome and encouraged to wear their fun, festive costumes throughout their journey through the museum.

Get ready for another amazing Dia de Los Muertos celebration with Attack Bear Press and Wistariahurst Museum with a special calaveras (skull) painting event. Dia de Los Muertos is a special tradition that allows people to celebrate and remember deceased loved ones by decorating an ofrenda, a communal altar dedicated to those dearly departed. On October 19th, we invite you to paint your clay calaveras to add to the annual ofrenda hosted at the museum again this year

Wistariahurst Museum is delighted to welcome guests for our Darkened Hallways Tours this fall. Immerse yourself in an evening of spine-tingling discovery and feel the lingering energy of past inhabitants and workers that once occupied these haunted halls. As our docent leads you through the home by candlelight, you will uncover stories of the Skinner family, the tragedy that moved their home and business to Holyoke, and other chilling tales from the mansion's history.

Step past the cemetery gates and peer behind the veil with Wistariahurst as our volunteers channel the spirits of Holyoke's ancestors, leading you through the meandering paths of Forestdale Cemetery. Established in 1860, Forestdale Cemetery is a serene yet beautiful landscape and the final resting place for many of Holyoke's founding families, politicians, and other notables who helped breathe life into the city. Guests will walk amongst the monuments, markers, crypts, and crosses to discover the mystique of Holyoke's vibrant heritage.

Wistariahurst Museum is thrilled to announce our upcoming exhibit this October, Identity in Ink: The Art of Tattooing. Despite its more modern surge in interest, the art of tattooing is one of the ancient traditions in human history.

Join Jeanne Douillard as she presents a unique approach to a relatively unknown tale. In her talk, “Silent Presence The French in New England,” she weaves together her personal narrative with the historical story, attempting in its essence to get at the heart of a people. The results of her research and personal reflections offer unique insights into the story of an “invisible” people. With compassion and understanding, she unravels a long and complex history in an attempt to make it understandable for all.

Part concert, part puppet show, part ghost story. This 50-minute multimedia performance reimagines classic literary monsters through queer, musical shadow theater and features a world premiere video. Join ensemble Shadow, Sound, Spectacle for a fresh perspective on the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Emily Dickinson, Anne Rice, and others, told through live music, shadow puppetry, video, and narrative. All are welcome, but recommended for adults and teens. Q&A to follow. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.