The summer is winding down, and while the heat has its last gasp in August, schools will soon be open and everyone will soon unpack their autumn and winter clothing. Before your kids have to start going back to school and their schedules get swallowed up in homework, classes, and everything else, take some time to enjoy the summer with them for a little longer.
Below, we’ve got a variety of fun activities you can enjoy with kids of all ages, ranging from low-key evening outings to all-day adventures. The best part? With one exception, all these events are only a few minutes away!
Check out what’s going on around town below.
Live Music at Uno Pizzeria & Grill
Every evening through September 3rd, Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Springfield serves as the venue for a variety of classic rock, contemporary, and cover acts—a different act every evening! The live music begins at 6 pm and goes on until 10. For the nights where you want to sit under the stars, patio seating at Uno is popular for listening to live music.
Musicians play genres like:
- Top 40 hits
- Contemporary songs
- Classic rock
- Jazz and blues standards
There’s no cover charge—just show up early to get a table and get some good grub. For information about who is playing on what days, get info here.
Fly a Plane (Simulator) at the New England Air Museum
Every Sunday through August 20, the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks opens their doors for families to enjoy hands-on demonstrations, historic exhibits, and fun activities for kids of all ages. Their exhibits allow kids to sit in real-life cockpits, tour all types of airplanes from different eras, learn about the science of flight with hands-on demonstrations, and much more.
On Sundays only, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm, the Ercoupe Full-Motion Flight Simulator allows children 7 and up to fly a full-motion simulator crafted from an actual airplane. Children learn how to operate all parts of the plane—from the rudder to the throttle.
For younger children, there are coloring tables and peddle-planes to keep them engaged and happy while their older siblings fly the simulator.
Tickets prices:
- $12.50 for adults and kids 12 years and older
- $7.00 for children ages 4-11
- Free for children 3 and under
For more information, visit the NEAM site here.
Whitewater Rafting Adventure (in Charlemont)
About an hour north of Springfield in Charlemont, Crab Apple Whitewater offers different half-day and full-day packages for families who want to learn how to white water raft together. The different packages all correspond to different sections of the river, offering appropriate challenges for novice and experienced rafters.
If you’ve got older or adventurous kids, this might be a great way to send off the summer before school starts. If your children are pretty young, even an easy or beginner-level trip would be overseen by an experienced guide.
For more information, visit the Crab Apple site here.
Summer Spectacular Series at Springfield Museums
Until August 11, Springfield Museums is putting on a series of family-oriented activities and performances every single day! Some of the activities include hands-on artmaking in the quad tomorrow at 10:30 am, kid-friendly science demonstrations at 11:00 am, an exhibit on arctic animals on August 8, and much, much more.
If your children are in love with Disney movies and fairy tales, the Springfield Museums is hosting a traveling summer exhibit entitled “Once Upon a Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales.” This exciting exhibit allows your children to dress up and live out a fairy tale story, with a guide helping them learn about the story and the country it comes from.
The fairy tales on display include:
- Cinderella
- Beauty and the Beast
- Anansi and the Talking Melon
- Jack and the Beanstalk
As your child hears they story, they’ll have a chance to play through an interactive set filled with hands-on components and educational storytelling. The exhibit is staying with us until September 3.
The museum is open on Mondays thru Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm. Get more information here!
Ticket prices are:
- $25 for adults
- $13 for kids 3-17
We hope you take a day or two to check out these great exhibits and outings all over Springfield!