Memorial Day weekend, happening May 23rd - 25th, always feels like the unofficial start of summer in Western Massachusetts! After a long winter and muddy spring, everything is finally starting to come back to life. The trees are green, flowers are blooming, farm stands are reopening, and towns all across Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire County start filling up with people out enjoying the long weekend.
One of the best things about Memorial Day weekend in Western Mass is that there’s something for everyone to do. You’ll find local parades, veterans ceremonies, tag sales, open houses, farmers markets, hiking, fishing, camping, outdoor dining, live music, and people just slowing down a little to enjoy life and everything Western Massachusetts has to offer.
If you’re looking for local Memorial Day weekend events, here are a few happening around the area:
Franklin County
Greenfield
The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will take place Monday, May 25th at 10:00 AM. The parade starts near Greenfield Middle School and heads downtown to Veterans’ Mall for the ceremony.
Shelburne Falls
The annual Memorial Day Parade begins Monday, May 25th at 10:00 AM starting near McCusker’s Market and moving through the village with remembrance stops along the way. Memorial Day weekend is also one of the busiest and prettiest weekends to spend time in Shelburne Falls with shops, restaurants, tag sales, and the whole village coming alive for the season.
Deerfield / South Deerfield
Events begin Monday, May 25th around 8:00 AM with a ceremonial gun salute followed by the parade around 8:20 AM and a Town Common ceremony around 8:45 AM.
Ashfield
Ashfield’s Memorial Day observance begins Monday, May 25th at 10:00 AM on the Town Common.
Colrain
Veterans ceremonies and remembrance events begin Monday, May 25th at 10:00 AM at West Branch Cemetery.
Hampshire County
Northampton is always packed Memorial Day weekend with outdoor dining, shopping, live music, and people walking around downtown enjoying the warm weather again. This is one of the best weekends to grab brunch, browse local shops, and spend time outside.
Amherst also tends to get busy with college students gone for the summer and locals out enjoying the quieter pace, local trails, farmers markets, and restaurants.
Look Park in Florence is a great stop for families this weekend with walking trails, playgrounds, mini golf, and picnic spots.
The Norwottuck Rail Trail is perfect this time of year for biking and walking between towns while everything is green and blooming again.
Berkshire County
The Berkshires really come alive Memorial Day weekend. Great Barrington, Lenox, Stockbridge, and North Adams all tend to be busy with visitors coming out for the long weekend.
Mount Greylock is one of the best hikes this time of year with incredible views once everything greens up.
Tanglewood area restaurants and shops start getting busier as summer season approaches, and many local businesses begin opening full seasonal hours again.
The Berkshires are also perfect for:
-
scenic drives
-
antique shops
-
garden centers
-
local art galleries
-
breweries and wineries
-
hiking trails and waterfalls
-
outdoor dining with mountain views
Hampden County
Hampden County always gets busy Memorial Day weekend with local parades, tag sales, open houses, outdoor dining, and community events happening throughout the area.
Springfield, Westfield, Longmeadow, and surrounding towns usually have Memorial Day ceremonies and plenty of people out enjoying the long weekend. Forest Park in Springfield is a great local spot this time of year for walking, picnics, and family outings. Six Flags in Agawam always draws big crowds for the holiday weekend kickoff to summer!
But honestly, some of the best Memorial Day weekend plans in Western Mass are usually the simplest ones:
-
grabbing coffee in a small town
-
checking out local tag sales and yard sales
-
visiting open houses
-
stopping at farmers markets
-
hiking local trails or waterfalls
-
driving the Mohawk Trail
-
shopping at local nurseries and farm stands
-
gardening and backyard cookouts with family and friends
Memorial Day weekend is also one of the biggest weekends of the season for real estate activity! Buyers are out exploring towns, visiting open houses, and getting a feel for different communities while everything looks its best. Sellers are busy planting flowers, cleaning up yards, opening pools, and getting homes ready for summer showings.
But most importantly, Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember and honor the veterans and service members who sacrificed so much for our country and our communities. While the weekend brings parades, gatherings, and the unofficial start of summer, it’s also a reminder to pause and appreciate those who served and the families who carry that sacrifice every day. Small towns across Western Massachusetts do an incredible job keeping that tradition and respect alive year after year.
From Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden County to the Berkshires, Memorial Day weekend is always a reminder of why so many people are proud to call Western Massachusetts home.