The LAVA Center in Greenfield celebrating fifth anniversary this weekend

The LAVA Center on Main Street in Greenfield is celebrating its fifth anniversary this weekend.

The LAVA Center on Main Street in Greenfield is celebrating its fifth anniversary this weekend. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/VANESSA QUERY

Staff Report

Published: 01-31-2025 4:21 PM

GREENFIELD — Coinciding with the 103rd annual Winter Carnival, The LAVA Center at 324 Main St. is celebrating its fifth anniversary this weekend.

All events are free to attend, though donations to support future LAVA Center programming are welcome. The celebration marks five years of community arts, theater, literature, storytelling, comedy, music, film, photography, history, humanities and more.

The lineup of events for the weekend is as follows:

Saturday, Feb. 1

■Noon — Live music by the Farley String Band, consisting of nine local musicians playing traditional folk tunes. They will entertain with old-time fiddle tunes, jigs, reels, airs and slow waltzes.

■2 p.m. — Book launch and reception for “Valley and Beyond: A Writers Read Anthology.” The anthology showcases the work of many who have read at The LAVA Center’s monthly reading, Writers Read. Visitors are invited to come hear pieces read from the anthology by their authors.

■4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Improv comedy workshop with Henry Balzarini. The focus of the workshop will be to prepare a skit or improv game to perform for the public during The LAVA Center’s Open Stage, happening at 7 p.m. Space is limited so sign-up is required. To sign up, email Balzarini at hbquit@hotmail.com.

■7 p.m. (sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.) — Open Stage @ LAVA, hosted by Kemah Wilson. The LAVA Center’s Open Stage is similar to an open mic, featuring theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, storytelling, magic, puppetry, circus and sideshow, comedy, improv — any form of art or entertainment that can be staged, in any stage of development.

Sunday, Feb. 2

■1 p.m. — First Sunday Word (formerly the Third Tuesday Word), a long-running literary event hosted by Paul Richmond of Human Error Publishing. Doors open at 1, open mic starts at 1:30 and featured speakers start at 2:30. Sliding-scale admission is $1 to $5. Books will be for sale.

February exhibit

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Additionally, the exhibit on display for the month of February is “History of LAVA: Memorabilia and Photography,” a display of memorabilia and photos depicting the growth of the arts at The LAVA Center over the past five years.

For updates and more information, visit thelavacenter.org/events/lavas-5th-birthday-party or facebook.com/events/1652689092042669.