Americana acts to take stage at Great Falls Coffeehouse
Austin & Elliott and The Boxcar Lilies will perform at the Great Falls Coffeehouse in Turners Falls on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
Austin & Elliott is comprised of singer/songwriters Chris Elliott, who plays guitar, and Lisa Austin, who plays percussion. After years of performing as solo artists, the duo began collaborating in 2003, with Austin adding harmony vocals to Elliott’s songs. The Boxcar Lilies’ Jenny Goodspeed and Stephanie Marshall have made a name for themselves with their signature mix of folk, country, blues and bluegrass-tinged Americana music.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is available on a suggested sliding-scale donation of $7 to $20, with free entry for children. Proceeds support the Friends of the Discovery Center’s free nature programming. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be available. For more information, call 413-863-3221 or visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org.
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association to present concert series in August
The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association will present its Old Deerfield Sunday Afternoon Concert series this August in the Music Room at Memorial Hall Museum, located at 8 Memorial St., at 3 p.m. The series features chamber music performances in the museum’s Victorian setting, including Ken Forfia and Amy Gates on piano on Aug. 2 and the Fiske-Liu Piano Duo, featuring Jane Fiske and Cynthia Liu, on Aug. 9. The Aug. 9 program will be dedicated to Dr. Joseph Fiske, a 1776 Patriot Doctor.
Other performances include Carol Hutter on viola, Gary Fieldman on percussion, Beth Welty on violin and Boris Kogan on cello on Aug. 16; Michael Nix on banjar and Chris Devine on violin on Aug. 23; and Georgy Valtchev on violin and Lora Tchekoratova on piano on Aug. 30.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for seniors and students, available at the door. The 2026 season is underwritten by Martha and Thomas Terry and Tim Neumann and Tom Mershon. Attendees are encouraged to visit deerfield-ma.org for last-minute changes.
Ashfield FilmFest deadline for submissions is Aug. 15
Filmmakers have until Aug. 15 to submit entries for the 18th annual Ashfield FilmFest, scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19 at Ashfield Town Hall. Short films must be five minutes or less and have a connection to western Massachusetts. This year’s festival introduces the Hillywood Award, a cash prize for the best film by a female filmmaker, alongside other cash awards, including a youth category for filmmakers 18 and younger. The festival opens Sept. 18 with a screening of the documentary “Girl Climber,” about professional climber Emily Harrington’s attempt to free-climb El Capitan’s Golden Gate route in Yosemite National Park in under 24 hours, followed by a panel discussion. The film was executive-produced by Galen Knowles, who grew up in Ashfield and began his career with award-winning entries in the Ashfield FilmFest as a teenager. Films should be submitted through FilmFreeway. A link and additional information can be found at ashfieldfilmfest.org.
Library to host art exhibit, craft sessions
The Greenfield Public Library is hosting an Elementary School Art Exhibit in the Children’s Room through August, featuring abstract artwork by 99 second-, third- and fourth-grade students from Federal Street School, Four Corners School and Newton School. Inspired by children’s librarian Mike Rawls, known as “The Book Wrangler” on social media, students created works based on zoomed-in sections of their favorite book covers using markers, colored pencils, watercolor and oil pastels. A community celebration will be held Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 6 p.m., coinciding with Summer Eats. The exhibit showcases artwork created in the classrooms of Tina Clark and Sara Lyons with assistance from elementary school librarian Rachel Dowd.
The library will also host two teen craft sessions, “Decorate Your (Dorm) Room!,” on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 12, from noon to 3 p.m. Participants can create dorm- and bedroom-themed decorations, including felt pennants, paper chains, rag garlands and pony bead fairy lights, with supplies provided. Trader Joe’s snacks will be served.
Scott Strong Hawk Foster’s photography on display
The Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls is hosting “Ways of My Ancestors – Imagery: Lighting the Path to Awareness,” a photography exhibit by Native American photographer Scott Strong Hawk Foster, through Aug. 26. Featuring images from powwows, cultural events, workshops and Indigenous traditions across New England, the exhibit highlights the enduring cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples. Foster’s heritage includes Hassanamisco Nipmuc, Mohegan and Cherokee ancestry. The exhibit is open to all ages.
The LAVA Center to host art exhibit in August
The LAVA Center in Greenfield will host “Marlboro Remainders,” an exhibit of ceramics, painting, photography and printmaking by Marlboro College alumni, throughout August. Organized by Kevin McCamant, Annie Quest and Lindy Whiton, the show features artists from across the Northeast, many of whom live in the Valley. An opening reception will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the gallery, 324 Main St. For more information, visit thelavacenter.org/exhibits/marlboro-remainders-2026.
Peskeompskut Park to host marionette puppet show
The No Strings Marionette Company will present a free, family-friendly performance at Peskeompskut Park in Turners Falls on Friday, July 31, from 10:30 a.m. to noon as part of the Summer Reading Program for Montague Public Libraries. The annual event features humor, music and marionette puppetry to celebrate storytelling, creativity and the joy of reading for audiences of all ages.
Used book sale on Saturday
The Friends of the Montague Public Libraries will hold a used book sale at the Carnegie Library basement, 201 Avenue A in Turners Falls, on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale will feature fiction, paperbacks, children’s books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks, including hundreds of recent donations. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Montague Public Libraries.