Week of Aug 11 - 17
Upcoming Events in Western Mass | LGBTQ+ Community Resources & More
The news trickles in late Summer, but our event calendar is bursting with local happenings. Here’s the lineup…
Northampton Parents Center Free Summer Playgroups - Final Summer Tuesday!
Tuesday, Aug 12, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
📍Jackson Street School, 120 Jackson St., Northampton, MA
FREE drop-in playgroups for kids 0-5 and their caregivers. Big siblings always welcome! ALL welcome!
* FREE PROGRAM *
Death Mother Circle with Jovan Sage
Thursday, August 14, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
📍Virtual
This circle centers curiosity around transformation, grief, and death. We get to explore the questions close to your heart. I will share my grief + death knowing, practices to support us and resources to nourish us.
* PAY WHAT YOU WANT *
Song Share Sessions for Nonbinary, Trans, and Women Singer Songwriters
Thursday, Aug 14, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Drawing Board Brewing Company, 36 Main St., Florence, MA
Calling all nonbinary, trans, and women singer-songwriters! Our next Song Share Session happens the second Thursday of every month. We kick off at 7 PM with a community check-in and intention setting. Want to refine your performance? Get feedback on a new song? Connect with fellow artists? This space is for YOU. If you’d like feedback, bring copies of your lyrics!
* FREE PROGRAM *
*Opening Reception*
Creating COA Artists
Thursday, Aug 21, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍 Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA
Wistariahurst Museum is excited to welcome senior artists into the gallery for “Creating COA Artists” this August 2025. This exhibition features artists involved in Holyoke’s senior center and Council on Aging. Participating artists have anywhere from months to decades of experience, and this exhibition celebrates artists at all stages. A variety of mediums are featured in this exhibition from watercolor, to acrylic, to ceramics and textiles. This diverse selection of artwork shows both a range of experience and mediums, coming together to form a truly unique exhibit.
* FREE PROGRAM *
Queer Country Night with Jess, Emmett & Kim
Saturday, August 23, 7:00 PM
📍Luthier’s Co-op, 108 Cottage St., Easthampton, MA
Get ready for queer country with a twist! Jess Martin, Emmett Troxel, and Kim Hoff saddle up for a night of boot-stomping tunes, heartbreak harmonies, and just the right amount of political mischief. Classic sounds meet sharp turns as these three spin country music through a queer and subversive lens. If you don’t laugh, we’re doing it wrong.
* NO COVER *
Instrument Petting Zoo & Open House
Tuesday, August 26, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
📍 Northampton Community Music Center, 139 South Street, Northampton, MA, USA
Explore the world of musical instruments at your community music center:
Strings, percussion, piano, wind, and faculty who teach it all! Come meet NCMC's teaching faculty and find the right instrument for your child and/or you! This event is free and open to the public; no RSVP or musical experience required. Ages 4+
* FREE PROGRAM *
Opening Reception: Blooms by Lora Barrett
Tuesday, September 2, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
📍Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA
Come view 99 stunning floral paintings at the opening reception of "Blooms" by Lora Barrett!
* FREE PROGRAM *
‘The Library of Unruly Treasures’ Book Launch with Jeanne Birdsall
Sunday, Sep 14, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
📍 BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity, 120 Pine St., Florence, MA
Celebrate the release of the latest book from the National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, Jeanne Birdsall: THE LIBRARY OF UNRULY TREASURES! Join High Five Books, Jeanne herself, and community star Monte Belmonte for an unforgettable celebration.
* FREE PROGRAM *
Hosting an upcoming event? Let us spread the word!
Calendar listings and event promotion in this newsletter are benefits of Bloom Local’s Partner Program, however, we welcome listings from non-partners. To submit an event listing without a partner network membership, email your event details to: Hello@BloomLocal.live. A sliding scale fee of $5-$30 (payable via Venmo) applies to each accepted submission.
ICYMI
Quick Links to Rad Stuff + Stuff We Covered Last Week
Visual Spells by Brenda Roswess is on view at Small Victories this month
Shop our Gift Guide featuring affirming items and experiences from the Bloom Local Partner Network
Explore new additions to our Community Guide and keep supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses and orgs
Access Free Notary Services
Forbes Library (Northampton): (413) 587-1011
Easthampton Public Library: (413) 527-1031
Chicopee Public Library: (413) 594-1800
You can also try (fees may apply): your local town hall, AAA, banks
Legal Aid for Immigrant Families
The Immigrant Defense Hotline (617-988-0606) is staffed by attorneys from Lawyers for Civil Rights’ pro bono network. Callers who leave a message will receive same-day response to questions about immigration enforcement and reports of immigration raids. Please reach out to Hotline@LawyersForCivilRights.org if you would like to get involved.
Trans Relocation Support (TRS) Western MA
TRS is committed to helping people move to Western Mass from states with anti-trans legislation. They aim to connect people with networks of mutual aid, resources, and community in this area. The process is a temporary support bridge that facilitates long-term local int(ter)dependence. TRS seeks to grow community care, mutual aid, and alternative systems of care for gender diverse people.
Connect with TRS: Learn & Volunteer | Give Support | Get Support
Seeking community? Join the Bloom Local Partner Network
It’s’s a pivotal time to build and bolster local networks of care — and we remain dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ and ally entrepreneurs in and beyond our region. If you are an LGBTQ+ creative, healer, educator, or entrepreneur of any focus or an ally business serving communities throughout Western MA, we invite you to join our queer-grown network of community partners.
What are the benefits? (1) an active listing in our Community Guide (2) visibility in our weekly newsletters (3) access to partners-only resources and opportunities including monthly network meet-ups.
No-Fee Network Membership for QTBIPOC Entrepreneurs
As one of our commitments to reparative justice, we offer one year of no-fee partnership to QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) small business owners. This initiative is one move we’re making to foster a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in the River Valley.
If you are a QTBIPOC small business owner and you are interested in becoming a partner, we invite you to apply and check where indicated if you would like to access one year of no-fee membership.
Learn more about the program at: BloomLocal.Live/Partner-Program and contact us with questions anytime.
Keep Connecting
Email Hello@BloomLocal.Live
Learn about the Partner Program