By Megan McGuinness, Staff Writer
As the weather gets colder and we near December, you may wonder: Are there any fun places that I can go to get in the holiday spirit that are not too far from Springfield? Well, the answer is yes! Whether you are looking for a festive activity to go to with friends, a unique date idea, or a cool place to bring your family when they come visit, the Greater Western Massachusetts area has something for everyone!
First up, we have Six Flags New England’s Holiday in the Park event. Running select days from November 26, 2021 – January 2, 2022, Six Flags offers both a walk-through and drive-through lights experience. For this event, the park is decked out in Christmas lights which are synchronized to holiday tunes. And there are fire pits located throughout the park, which guests can use for both warmth and to make smores!
In addition, there is a nightly “tree lighting” event along with stations throughout the park to get a cup of hot cocoa or a yummy treat! With Six Flags New England located only 25 minutes from Western New England University and tickets as low as $14.99/person, this is a great local spot to go to get in the holiday spirit.
Next up, we have Bright Nights at Forest Park. This annual light-show spectacular is running from November 24, 2021 – January 2, 2022, and it is put on by Springfield’s Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management in collaboration with the non-profit organization The Spirit of Springfield.
Bright Nights is a drive-through lights experience with around 675,000 lights and a gift stop, where visitors can park and get out of their cars to go shop, get a snack, and maybe even see Santa! Tickets are $23/car, with select Tuesday rates of $10/car. Located only 12 minutes from Western New England, this is a nice location for a quick holiday pick-me-up.
Another fun attraction is the annual Festival of Trees Event, running from November 26 – December 12, 2021 at the MassMutual Center, located only 12 minutes from campus. At this event, a multitude of unique holiday trees sponsored by local businesses, families, and organizations are displayed and raffled off — In recent years, Western New England has even sponsored a tree!
In addition to a raffle, Santa Claus is present and there are photo spots for family fun! This event is hosted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield and the funds raised from this event directly support these organizations.
A fourth fun and festive holiday attraction that is only a 10 minute drive from campus is Grinchmas at the Springfield Museums! From November 26, 2021 – January 2, 2022, the Springfield Museums will be hosting a gingerbread exhibit called “Gingerbread: Under the Sea,” which is composed of traditional and “under the sea” themed gingerbread creations submitted by community members.
In addition to the gingerbread exhibit, there are 5 unique museums on site to explore! Admission to Springfield Museums is free for Western New England University students with their ID, so this attraction is a fun, affordable option!
One fifth and final popular spot to visit in December is Yankee Candle Village, located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, which is about a 40 minute drive from campus. Yankee Candle Village houses 200,000 candles, thousands of Christmas ornaments, a toy shop, a general store, gift boutiques, a candy shop, a brewery/pizza cafe, Santa, and more! Thus, Yankee Candle is a great place to go to check off some names from your holiday shopping list!
Hopefully by now, you feel excited and knowledgeable about the five aforementioned festive locations, each under a 45 minute drive from campus! These locations are only a few of the many places within the greater vicinity of Western Massachusetts that you could visit for some holiday fun, but hopefully these suggestions give you a place to start when thinking about where to find some holiday cheer! Enjoy the holiday season!
