Metamorphosis in Late Summer
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…
*Opening Reception*
Creating COA Artists
Thu, Aug 21 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
📍Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St, Holyoke, MA
Exhibition featuring artists at all stages who are involved in Holyoke’s senior center and Council on Aging. A variety of mediums are featured in this exhibition from watercolor, to acrylic, to ceramics and textiles.
* FREE ADMISSION *
✨ Featured Event
Metamorphosis: Echoes, Mirrors, and Portals of Life Unfolding
Fri, Aug 22 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Holyoke Media, 1 Court Plz, Holyoke, MA
Join coACT's First Queer & Trans, Black, Brown, and Indigenous Adults for an Original Play: “Metamorphosis: Echoes, Mirrors, and Portals of Life Unfolding.” A vulnerable reimagining of personal stories told through sweet, humorous, and bold ripples and reflections. Masks mandatory. More details, access info + tickets can be found here.
* SLIDING SCALE TICKETS *
Queer Country Night with Jess, Emmett & Kim
Sat, Aug 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 *
The Queer Joy Collaborative Open Rehearsals
Mon, Aug 25 | 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Hartsbrook School, 193 Bay Rd, Hadley, MA
The Queer Joy Collaborative is opening its doors—and its music—to anyone curious about joining their community choruses. Open Rehearsals are for people who are considering joining, but want to try a rehearsal out before registering.
* FREE EVENT *
Instrument Petting Zoo & Open House
Tue, Aug 26 | 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
📍Northampton Community Music Center, 139 South St, Northampton, MA
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 *
HYPHAE Community Info Session & Mini Skills Workshop
Tue, Aug 26 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Location shared after sign up - Cummington, MA
Register now for HYPHAE’s Community Info Session & Mini Skills Workshop on Tuesday, 8/26! We’ll gather in Cummington, MA from 6P-8P, sharing more about our dream to support 2SLGBTQIA+ & BIPOC artists and makers in Western Mass and creating a bit of artistic magic together.
* FREE WORKSHOP *
Sustainable Birthwork: Continuing Education Workshop for Doulas
Wed, Aug 27 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
📍Warm Welcome Doula Academy, Northampton, MA (location shared after sign up)
This heartfelt class invites you to explore sustainable, effective, embodied self-care—not as a luxury, but as a vital element of the work we do. Through reflection, mentorship, and practical tools, we’ll explore navigating the inevitable challenges of this path without burnout or martyrdom.
* $175 WORKSHOP TUITION *
Opening Reception: Blooms by Lora Barrett
Tue, Sep 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! An avid gardener, Lora Barrett maintains her gardens as a reference and muse for her highly colored paintings that push the vibrancy of flowers to the limit.
* FREE PROGRAM *
✨Featured Event
Gentle Yoga at Forbes with Fran Astino
Sat, Sep 6 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍Forbes Library, 20 West St, Northampton, MA
Explore a variety of yoga postures and breathing techniques, practicing in a way that feels authentic to you. All experience levels welcome. Rain or shine (indoor location if needed).
* FREE PROGRAM *
‘The Library of Unruly Treasures’ Book Launch with Jeanne Birdsall
Sun, 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? Bloom Local can help spread the word!
Calendar listings + 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, please contact us.
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.
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