PassportHolyoke.org
Passport Holyoke Partners
Children’s Museum at Holyoke
Established in 1981 with a mission of enhancing the education and cultural awareness of all children in the arts, sciences, and the world around them in a museum environment which promotes enjoyable learning and self-discovery.
| hours: | Open Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Sundays 12:00-4:00 p.m. |
| admission: | $6.00 per person. Children under 1 free and adults over 61 $3.00 |
| location: | 444 Dwight Street Holyoke, MA 01040 413-536-KIDS |
| web: | www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org |
City of Holyoke
Holyoke was incorporated as a town in 1850 and became a city in 1873. It was the first planned industrial city in the world. At one time Holyoke was known as the “Paper Capitol of the World”. Today, Holyoke has a rich heritage with many ethnic and religious groups of people living in its boundaries.
Holyoke celebrates its rich heritage through many annual cultural events such as; the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Easter Drag, Celebrate Holyoke, Hispana de Familia and Founder’s Day. The City also helps sponsor a downtown Farmers’ Market every Thursday in Holyoke.
Holyoke’s governmental center is housed in a beautiful historic building built in 1873. The architectural style is Victorian Gothic style. There is a clock tower that rises 225 feet and has twelve sun catching stained glass windows in the Grand Ballroom.
| hours: | M-F 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| location: | 536 Dwight Street Holyoke, MA 01040 (413) 322-5510 |
| web: | www.holyoke.org |
Enchanted Circle Theater
Enchanted Circle Theater, founded in 1976, is a non-profit, professional educational theater company dedicated to engaging, enhancing and inspiring learning through the arts. Our programs integrate theater arts - theater, dance, music, visual and literary arts – with academic and social curricula. Our goal is to help youth become active and engaged learners; to support teachers in the development of creative curriculum programs; and to build community through creative education projects.
We offer touring and site-based performances, creative arts workshops, in-depth artist-in-residence programs, and professional development training for teachers. Our site-based and touring productions build community through creative education performances on topics of social relevance.
HONORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
ECT's productions and workshops have earned national acclaim. The company was in residence at the Smithsonian Institution's Discovery Theater and was voted "outstanding family theater" at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. In addition to thousands of schools and museums along the East Coast, the company has performed at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and the Jewish Museum in NYC, the Olney Theater in Maryland, and the Amaturo Theater in Miami. We have been in residence at the New York State Museum and Education Center in Albany, and have performed at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for over two decades.
| hours: | Please call for availability and fees. |
| location: | Various educational locations up and down the East Coast. Bring us to your site! (413) 534-3789 |
| web: | www.enchantedcircletheater.com |
Friends of Pulaski Park
Friends of Pulaski Park is a park advocacy organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation and improvement of Pulaski Park for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Pulaski Park is located in downtown Holyoke, along the Connecticut River.
| location: | 4 Open Square Way, Suite 214, Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| web: | www.friendsofpulaskipark.org |
Holyoke Civic Symphony
Holyoke Civic Symphony is in its fifth decade of performing accessible, beautiful, live symphonic music. This is a season of 21st Century originality and beloved longtime treasures.
THE HOLYOKE CIVIC SYMPHONY
The Holyoke Civic Symphony is a non-profit community orchestra and cherished local institution that provides to the people of Holyoke and surrounding towns opportunities to perform and enjoy great works of music.
CONCERTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE
Visit the HCS symphony and learn about our
upcoming concerts.
Concerts are free of charge except for an annual fundraising concert when ticket prices are modest. We are grateful for support from local businesses, arts agencies, and from our friends in our audiences that make it possible to bring great music to Holyoke free of financial barriers. Holyoke Community College provides the symphony with rehearsal and concert space, instrument loans, and other services.
THE SYMPHONY WELCOMES
The symphony welcomes a wide variety of participants from all walks of life. Guest soloists and new works by local and regional composers are featured. Rehearsals are Monday evenings at Holyoke Community College; new members are invited to audition.
DAVID KIDWELL
David Kidwell has been Music Director and Conductor of the Holyoke Civic Symphony since 1997, longer than any conductor in the orchestra's history. He has expanded the orchestra’s commitment to education by adding educational and partnership concerts with local school groups and has reinforced the HCS commitment to performing new music and music by living American composers.
| admission: | Free Admission |
| location: | Concerts are presented in the Forum, Building C, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA |
| web: | www.holyokecivicsymphony.org |
Holyoke Community College
The Commonwealth’s oldest community college, Holyoke Community College is an accredited, public community college serving Western Massachusetts and beyond. Throughout the year, HCC hosts a variety of recreational and cultural activities for students and the community.
HCC’s theater arts program produces two plays annually in the 316-seat Forum Theater, “second stage” productions, and sponsors playwrighting and other workshops.
HCC’s music program, one of only a handful of community college programs accredited through the National Association of Schools of Music, offers faculty and student concerts and sponsors the annual spring Jazz Festival with headliner jazz artists and instrumental workshops for area high school students and community members.
The Taber Art Gallery hosts exhibits by a variety of artists throughout the year.
All plays, concerts, and exhibits are open to the public. Most are free; some charge minimal admission fees.
| hours: | Please call for specific information or visit www.hcc.edu |
| location: | 303 Homestead Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 (413) 538-7000 |
| web: | www.hcc.mass.edu |
Holyoke Creative Arts Center
The Holyoke Creative Arts Center at the end of I-391 in Holyoke is a learning center dedicated to the instruction of a wide range home arts and crafts with dozens of adult classes and challenging youth programs.
The center promotes values such as individual creativity, and skill development. Students reap not only the learned educational skills, but gain social, economic, and therapeutic benefits as well. An invaluable resource and teaching facility for 90 years, the center provides a variety of educational programs and services to the Pioneer Valley.
| hours: | Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday mornings |
| location: | 400 South Elm Street, Holyoke (South St. Plaza, top level) (413)532-0465 info@holyokeCAC.org |
| web: | www.holyokeCAC.org |
Holyoke Heritage State Park
Holyoke Heritage State Park is owned and operated by the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and Recreation. The park Visitor's Center offers group tours and historical and environmental programming year-round and features exhibits about water power, paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial and social history. The eight-acre urban site also contains the Children's Museum at Holyoke, the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and the Volleyball Hall of Fame.
| hours: | Open Tuesday – Sunday, noon – 4:00 pm; other times by appointment. |
| admission: | Free. |
| location: | 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. (413) 534-1723 |
| web: | www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/hhsp.htm |
Holyoke Parks and Recreation
Holyoke Parks and Recreation seeks to develop and promote a wide variety of recreation opportunities and to encourage and inspire all Holyoke residents to come out and play in Holyoke .
| hours: | Office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm |
| location: | Administrative Offices are located at 536 Dwight Street. Programs and Events are held at various locations around the City |
| web: | www.holyoke.org |
Holyoke Public Library History Room & Archive
Discover the lively history of the City of Holyoke and its inhabitants through the use of local history books, carefully preserved documents and a broad range of historical city images.
| hours: | Current Hours beginning September 2, 2008 Call 413-552-2842 for up-to-date hours for the week. Monday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday Evening 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday closed Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday: 8:30-12:30 Saturdays by appointment |
| admission: | FREE! Includes access to extraordianary historical resources and expert assistance of professional research staff. |
| location: | Temporarily housed at Holyoke Community College Library 303 Homestead Ave. Donahue Bldg #204 Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| web: | www.holyokehistory.blogspot.com |
Massachusetts Academy of Ballet
MAB is located in beautiful Open Square. The Academy offers high quality training for ages 5 and older, including a special Adult program. Advanced students take daily lessons and are offered many performing opportunities. Artistic directors Rose and Charles Flachs have danced professionally with the Nashville Ballet, Ballet West and the Cincinnati Ballet.
Photo courtesy of Clive J. Mealey www.mealey.com
| hours: | Morning Afternoon and Evening Classes |
| location: | 4 Open Square Way Suite #403 Holyoke MA 01040 Phone: 413.536.6200 |
| web: | www.massacademyofballet.com |
MIFA- Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts & Victory Theatre
MIFA/Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts & Victory Theatre brings audiences the finest examples of contemporary practice in opera, theatre, dance, film, music, literature and the visual arts.
| admission: | prices vary depending on the event. Senior ticket prices are for ages 65 and older. We also offer a student rate for tickets. |
| location: | 56 Suffolk Street, Suite 300 Holyoke, MA 01040 call: (800) 224-MIFA fax 413.540.0225 email: info@mifafestival.org |
| web: | www.mifafestival.org |
Open Square
Open Square is a modern mixed-use community where Business, Art and Cultural life merge. Our company enlivens communities by creating well-designed, walkable urban environments for people to live, work and thrive.
| location: | Open Square 4 Open Square Way Holyoke, MA 01040 (413) 532 5057 |
| web: | www.opensquare.com |
The Canal Gallery
The Canal Gallery is a nonprofit contemporary art organization located in the historic district in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Set in a 19th century paper mill, this building has been a facility for the arts for over 30 years. The Canal Gallery and artist studios has become a unique venue where new artwork is created and presented through exhibitions, installations, performance, and public events.
| hours: | Mon - Thur 9-5 |
| location: | The Canal Gallery 380 Dwight Street - PO Box 6183 Holyoke, MA 01041 |
| web: | www.thecanalgallery.com |
The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round located at Heritage State Park, is a beautifully preserved 1929 Philadelphia Toboggan Carousel that originally resided at Holyoke’s Mountain Park. The carousel is a great place for a child's birthday party which can be scheduled during operating hours or privately. It can also be rented privately for family celebrations, school field trips, reunions, community and corporate events, weddings, wedding receptions and pictures.
We hope you'll "Come Along for the Ride!"
| hours: | Open Saturday & Sunday 12 noon - 4 p.m. September - June; also open Monday holidays & school vacations. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:30 - 4 p.m., July 1 - September 1, Labor Day |
| admission: | Rides $1. per person or 6 rides for $5. $.50 per person rate for non-profit, daycare & camp groups. |
| location: | 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke MA 01040 (413) 538-9838 |
| web: | www.holyokemerrygoround.org |
The Trustees of Reservations
Together with our neighbors, we protect the distinct character of our communities and inspire a commitment to special places in Massachusetts. Here in Holyoke, we invite you to visit Dinosaur Footprints.
The Trustees have joined with the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club and state and federal consevation agencies to purchase the land at the former Mt. Tom ski area. Today we are helping Holyoke children discover nature in our community and look forward to opening a new reservation to the public in a few years when the quarry ceases operations. Our passion is to share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures we care for.
| hours: | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| location: | Pioneer Valley Office 193 High Street Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| web: | www.thetrustees.org |
Volleyball Hall Of Fame
The Volleyball Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit that exists with community support. The Hall honors volleyballs finest, and also has information on the history and evolution of the sport. Also located at the Hall is a unique gift shop that carries wonderful gifts for volleyball fans of all ages.
| hours: | Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4:30 |
| admission: | Adults $3.50 Seniors $2.50 Children $2.50 Children under 5 Free |
| location: | 444 Dwight St. Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| web: | www.volleyhall.org |
Wire Monkey Dance
Wire Monkey Dance creates highly physical dance installations that transform towers of steel scaffolding into multimedia dance events. Addressed are timeless human themes such as the struggle for power, tenderness and longing. The company creates a unique genre of movement on scaffolding, blending contact improvisation, Body-Mind Centering, Modern dance and Arial Dance techniques. WMD tours internationally to Macao China, Taiwan, Berlin Germany, Boston and New York City.
| location: | 108 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 (413) 536-8059 x3 |
| web: | www.wiremonkeydance.com |
Wistariahurst Museum
Wistariahurst Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the former home of William Skinner and his family featuring parquet floors, vaulted ceilings, elaborate woodwork and two marble lions that have guarded the entrance since the late nineteenth century. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Holyoke and to inspiring an appreciation of history and culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events.
| hours: | Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons from 12 - 4 p.m. |
| admission: | $5, $3 for students and seniors |
| location: | Wistariahurst Museum 238 Cabot Street Holyoke, MA 01040 |
| web: | www.wistariahurst.org |