Hosted annually by Northampton’s Green Street Brew, the Local Vocal Chord Bowl is an a cappella concert spin-off featuring a multi-generational lineup of high school, college and adult groups, all of whom make their home in the Pioneer Valley (that’s the Northamptones from Northampton High School pictured).
Set for April 7 at 7 p.m. at Amherst Regional High School, the concert is a benefit for the Northampton and Amherst school systems, with all proceeds earmarked for music and arts enrichment programs.
Tickets for adults and seniors are $12 in advance or $14 at the door; $8/$10 for children and students. Tickets are available at Coopers Corner, Florence; State Street Fruit Store, Northampton; A. J. Hastings, Amherst; and Atkins Farm Market, South Amherst.
“Do Doodlebugs Doodle?” That’s the question poised by local children’s book authors Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig in their new book “Do Doodlebugs Doodle? Amazing Insect Facts.”
On April 14 the authors will be hosting two events for families with younger children. Including readings followed by a nature walk to investigate the amazing world of insects. They’ll occur at 11 a.m. at the Edwards Library in Southampton and at 2 p.m. at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton. A book signing at Arcadia will benefit the sanctuary.
Pioneer Valley Ballet is set to present its full-length stagings of “The Little Mermaid” April 7 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Academy of Music in Northampton.
It’s an extravagant production based on the fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince.
Of special interest to families with younger children, however, is PVB’s plans to offer an additional, extra-family-friendly production of the show on April 14 at 1 p.m. at Yankee Candle Company in South Deerfield.
Set to Camille Saint Saens’ musical score, the show is approximately one hour. Pricing for this special “Mini-Mermaid” is $15 in person, $16 online for adults; $10/$11 for ages 12 and under. pioneer valleyballet.org
Held annually on April 26,National Poem in Your Pocket Day is part of the many celebrations of National Poetry Month. On this day each year people are encouraged to carry a copy of their favorite poem in their pockets and to share it with others everywhere they go.
Doing their parts, the Sunderland Public Library and South Deerfield’s Tilton Library have partnered to host a community hike on Mount Sugarloaf on April 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
People of all ages are invited tomeet in the parking lot at the base of Mount Sugarloaf and tote a copy of their favorite poem up the mountain. Once at the summit, everyone will read poems aloud and share light refreshments.
“So much of poetry is inspired by humanity’s connections to nature and their community,” says Tilton Library director Sara Woodbury: “I can think of no better setting than the beauty of Mount Sugarloaf, surrounded by old friends and new, in which to share our love of poetry.”
— Dan DeNicola