Irish Heritage Month – Explore Western Mass

Where Fun Comes to Play during April Break!

[mk_page_section padding_top=”128″ padding_bottom=”128″ section_id=”welcome” el_class=”difFullHeight difd_add-triangle-top-left-orange” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left”][vc_custom_heading text=”Spring has officially sprung in Western Mass www.difhosting1.com bringing days filled with sunshine and chirping birds and also those necessary rain showers. No matter what the weather throws at us in April, Western Mass is bringing the fun this spring break! Here are a few of our best ideas:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_padding_divider][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/bbhof-scaled.jpg” image_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418182315{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame www.hoophall.com has unveiled newly reimagined and highly interactive new displays. Visitors can anchor a virtual sportscast alongside some of the best to ever do it and then download it. On center court, where visitors can shoot baskets on hoops from different eras, the Hall has added a second replica of Naismith’s peach basket. A 14-by-24-foot LED screen plays buzzer beaters and other memorable moments on a 15-minute loop. Elsewhere, items like an original pair of Air Jordans share space with Dennis Rodman’s boa and Lou Carnesecca’s sweater. An exhibit on basketball moves features the crossover dribble, the skyhook and now the Eurostep. Beginning on April 11^th, the Hall will be open daily but closed Easter Sunday.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/museums.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″ frame_style=”single_line”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418222476{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Springfield Museums www.springfieldmuseums.org has great options for the month of April including The Festival of Flowers: Reflection from April 7-10. Thoughtful interpretations will bring new perspectives to the objects and exhibits of the art, history, and science museums. The popular “Under the Arctic: Digging into Permafrost” exhibit is at the Springfield Science Museum through May 1^st. This interactive exhibit weaves together real narratives from people whose lives have been impacted by the changing global climate, highlighting the resiliency and ingenuity of everyday communities. Incorporating the sights and smells of the Western Hemisphere’s only permafrost research tunnel, and Ice Age fossils, Under the Arctic is an immersive exhibit experience for all ages.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/carle-museum-scaled.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418277348{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Eric Carle Museum www.carlemuseum.org has a variety of exhibits in April including “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley”. This exhibition explores the author/illustrator’s innovative techniques such as see-through paper, stickers, stencils, die cuts, optical illusions, clip art, and flip books. Emberley easily shifts artistic styles from technically precise engineer drawings to playful thumbprints he transforms with line drawings into witches, cats, owls, and flowers. Throughout his books, he sprinkles humor and wordplay.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/bounce.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418353415{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Bounce Trampoline Sports www.bouncespringfield.com is open daily with 6,000 square feet of different trampoline-based activities. This includes a large main court, 3 basketball dunk lanes, an over-sized foam pit, 2 Dodgeball courts, 2 complete junior areas, and 2 BOUNCE! Xtreme areas that will challenge all. In addition, Bounce offers laser tag, virtual reality and an arcade![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/yankee-candle-village-waxworks.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418413515{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Yankee Candle Village www.yankeecandle.com/south-deerfield-village is a candle-lovers dream with over 90,000 square feet filled with every scent and style you can imagine. Kids will love Wax Works where they can make their own candles and wax hands. Each weekend through April 16^th features an Easter Bunny Meet & Greet, too.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1649418463765{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Western Mass has plenty of outdoor adventures for the whole family that start with spring and keep going. Check out rafting trips with Crabapple Whitewater www.crabapplewhitewater.com/massachusetts-whitewater-rafting or Zoar Outdoor www.zoaroutdoor.com. Take a family hike guided by Adventure East www.adventureeast.com or visit our furry friends at the Zoo at Forest Park www.forestparkzoo.org and Lupa Zoo www.lupazoo.org.

This spring, Explore Western Mass www.difhosting1.com! Our attractions www. difhosting1.com/things-to-do, hotels www.difhosting1.com/lodging and restaurants www. difhosting1.com/food-drink are ready to welcome your whole family![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section bg_image=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/footer-section-bkg.jpg” bg_color=”#ffffff” bg_position=”center bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” speed_factor=”0.5″ bg_gradient=”vertical” video_color_mask=”#ffffff” gr_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” video_opacity=”1″ padding_top=”96″ padding_bottom=”96″ section_id=”footer-section” el_class=”difd_page-footer difd_add-triangle-middle-left-orange difd_add-triangle-invert-bottom-right-cyan-transform-scale_0.33_” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_column_text][vc_vulcanIncludePage page_title=”Featured Page Links”][vc_text_separator title=”Partner Ads” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_class=”grayText” accent_color=”#666666″][vc_vulcanIncludePage page_title=”Footer Ads”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section] READ MORE

May The Road Ride Up to Meet You in Western Mass

Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade:

It’s back after a 2 year hiatus! One of the largest and most notable St. Patrick’s celebrations in the US is right here in Holyoke. Get in the St. Patty’s Day spirit with marching bands, Mummer’s and floats on March 20^th but get your spot along the parade route early! The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. and roads start to close about one hour prior to that. For more information and a handy parade map click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/road-race-scaled.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″ frame_style=”single_line”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1646751039104{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

St. Patrick’s Day Road Race:

Start your celebration off with a 10K run through the hills of Holyoke with thousands of your closest and soon-to-be-closest friends. It’s a tough one but there are thousands of well-wishers and plenty of bands along the course to keep your spirits up. The Race kicks off at 1 p.m. and wraps up with one of the best city-wide celebrations in Western Mass! Get your race bib here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/12″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][mk_image src=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ycc.jpg” image_width=”375″ image_height=”250″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1646751064673{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Yankee Candle:

Celebrate all things green with their collection of St. Patrick’s Day candles and accessories including ‘Lucky Shamrock’ and ‘Emerald Isle’. Top off your visit by raising a glass at the Powder Hollow Brewery right on the Yankee Candle Village campus.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider margin_top=”40″ margin_bottom=”40″][vc_row_inner attached=”true” column_padding=”1″][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”82489″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1646751315166{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]What better place to celebrate Irish heritage than the Irish Cultural Center of New England? They’re featuring Irish dance, live music and a great selection of Irish spirits and beers at Trinity Pub.

What’s more traditional than an Irish Feast in the month of March?! Western Mass has plenty of options for dining in or take-out including Munich Haus. They’re serving corned beef and cabbage lunch and dinner from March 15-20. Champney’s Restaurant at The Deerfield Inn celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with live Irish music and special menu additions with an Irish twist on March 17^th. Springfield’s famous Student Prince hosts a ‘Luck of the Irish Whiskey Tasting Dinner’ on March 23^rd and a special evening with The Mummers on March 18^th! What’s more Irish than a chef directly from the Emerald Isle? That’s what you’ll find at The Delaney House! Their ‘Eat, Drink & Be Irish’ menu is available March 16-20^th and there’s live music all weekend long. Looking to hoist a pint of Guinness? Check out Murphy’s Pub then check out the great selection of local craft breweries on our Pour Tour.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”It’s been a while since we gathered to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in #WesternMass but the Irish spirit is back! Slainte!” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section bg_image=”https://difhosting1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/footer-section-bkg.jpg” bg_color=”#ffffff” bg_position=”center bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” speed_factor=”0.5″ bg_gradient=”vertical” video_color_mask=”#ffffff” gr_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” video_opacity=”1″ padding_top=”96″ padding_bottom=”96″ section_id=”footer-section” el_class=”difd_page-footer difd_add-triangle-middle-left-orange difd_add-triangle-invert-bottom-right-cyan-transform-scale_0.33_” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_column_text][vc_vulcanIncludePage page_title=”Featured Page Links”][vc_text_separator title=”Partner Ads” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ el_class=”grayText” accent_color=”#666666″][vc_vulcanIncludePage page_title=”Footer Ads”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section] READ MORE