Taste of Northampton preps for another year
NORTHAMPTON — The Taste of Northampton returns downtown Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Downtown Northampton Association announced.
New to the free festival this year are two live music stages, along with a Health & Wellness Hub with demonstrations and activities from local health and fitness organizations. The music lineup has not yet been announced, but will include a mix of regional favorites, local performers, and headlining acts to be announced in the coming weeks.
Food remains at the heart of the festival, with more than 30 restaurants expected to showcase their creations. Visitors can sample everything from local favorites to new flavors while exploring downtown’s collection of independent shops, galleries and businesses.
Families will also enjoy an expanded Kid Zone, presented by A2Z Science & Learning and WillowRoot, featuring hands-on educational activities, creative play and engaging experiences designed especially for children throughout the weekend.
“The Taste of Northampton is all about celebrating what makes our downtown such a special place,” said Amanda Shafii, chair of the Downtown Northampton Association.
Additional announcements, including the music lineup, participating restaurants, vendors, exhibitors and festival attractions, will be released soon. For the latest updates and event information, visit the Taste of Northampton website or the Downtown Northampton Association’s social media pages.
Movie under the stars in Granby
GRANBY — The Granby Cultural Council will show “Raiders of the Lost Ark” outdoors Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. at Cindy’s Drive-In on Route 202, in the field behind the ice cream stand.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. In case of rain, the movie will be postponed to Aug. 29, with updates posted on the Granby Cultural Council’s Facebook page.
The program is funded by a grant from the Granby Cultural Council, supported by the Mass Cultural Council.
Corduff named grand marshal of Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade
HOLYOKE — Michael “Mick” Corduff, a longtime Holyoke hospitality executive and Irish immigrant, has been named grand marshal of the 74th Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke announced.
The parade will take place March 21, 2027. Grand marshal is the highest local honor bestowed by the committee, recognizing an individual’s devotion to family, career, community and Irish heritage.
“Mick has been part of the fabric of this community and the Parade for decades,” said Stephanie Joyce, the parade’s 2027 president. “From the Citizenship Award he received with Peter and Larry in 2003 to the honor of serving as Grand Marshal today, Mick has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to bringing people together, supporting his community, and celebrating his Irish heritage.”
Corduff, a native of County Kerry, Ireland, grew up in West Kerry and immigrated to the United States after graduating from Christian Brothers School of Dingle in 1989. He began his career with the Marriott Corporation’s management training program and later spent seven and a half years as banquet chef at the Springfield Marriott.
In 1997, Corduff joined Peter Rosskothen and Lawrence Perreault at The Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House as executive chef. He became a partner there in 2002 and joined the partnership at The Delaney House the following year. He was named vice president of both businesses in 2008, and in 2023 became a majority shareholder alongside Frank DeMarinis. The hospitality group has since expanded to include The D. Hotel Suites and Spa and, most recently, the reopened Schermerhorn’s Seafood Restaurant & Market in Holyoke.
“It’s hard to put into words what this honor means to me,” Corduff said. “From the moment I first came to Holyoke, this community welcomed me like family. The Parade has always been a joyful celebration of our heritage and our bonds as neighbors.”
Corduff and his wife, Dana Corduff, who manages The D. Hotel Suites and Spa, live in Holyoke with their four children.
He will be formally honored at the Grand Marshal’s Reception on Jan. 15, 2027, at The Log Cabin in Holyoke. More information is available at holyokestpatricksparade.com.
Museum to continue Wednesday Folk Traditions
HADLEY — The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum will continue its 45th season of Wednesday Folk Traditions on Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by Whisper in Mid-Zone, featuring Jim Matus, Bob Markey and Michel Moushabeck.
The concert will be held in the Sunken Garden at the museum, 130 River Drive (Route 47), Hadley. Admission is $12, $2 for children 16 and under. Picnickers are welcome on the grounds starting at 5 p.m.; the site is smoke-free.
Whisper in Mid-Zone blends the musical traditions of its three members: Matus, a Berklee-trained jazz musician; Markey, a classically trained sitar player; and Moushabeck, a Lebanese percussionist.
For more information, call 413-584-4699 or visit pphmuseum.org.