Springfield
Around Springfield
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Massachusetts · 464k people
Springfield
Locals say Pioneer Valley · “City of Firsts”, “City of Homes”
Where the river meets the mountains and history lives.
Thunderbirds RedRiver BlueValley Green
Welcome to the Pioneer Valley, where the Connecticut River winds through historic mill towns and farm country. Whether you're here for the Big E, a Thunderbirds game, or just to explore the trails, you'll find a community that loves its seasons and its local flavors. Make yourself at home.
Clubs for Springfield
No clubs for Springfield yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Springfield. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Springfield. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Basketball Hall of Fame The birthplace of basketball's hall of fame.
- The Quadrangle Five museums and the Dr. Seuss sculpture garden.
- Forest Park A 735-acre park with a zoo, trails, and a Victorian carousel.
- Connecticut Riverwalk A scenic path along the river with views of the city.
- Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden Sculptures of Seuss characters in the Quadrangle.
- The Big E (Eastern States Exposition) Home of the largest fair in New England.
- Outdoors Hike Mount Tom
- Outdoors Bike the Connecticut Riverwalk
- With kids Visit the Zoo in Forest Park
- With kids Explore the Springfield Museums
- Evenings Catch a Thunderbirds game at the MassMutual Center
- Evenings See a concert at the MassMutual Center
- Locals love farm stands
- Locals love apple orchards
Through the year
- The Big E September Largest fair in New England with food, rides, and exhibits.
- Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement September Annual ceremony honoring basketball legends.
Springfield has four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters; warm, humid summers; and crisp, colorful springs and falls. Best: Fall for foliage and spring for mild temps.
Talk like a local
- “The Big E”
- The Eastern States Exposition fair
- “The X”
- The downtown Springfield district
- “The Q”
- The Quadrangle museums
- “Grinder”
- A sub sandwich
Getaways
- Amherst College town with bookstores, cafes, and the Emily Dickinson Museum.
- Hartford Connecticut's capital with the Mark Twain House and science center.
- Greenfield Historic town at the head of the Connecticut River.
- Pittsfield Gateway to the Berkshires with cultural venues.
Local flavour
Teams
- Springfield Thunderbirds AHL
Also rooting for Boston Red Sox (MLB), New England Patriots (NFL), Boston Bruins (NHL), Boston Celtics (NBA)
Eat and drink
- Grinder (sub sandwich) Springfield claims to have invented the sub-style sandwich, locally known as a grinder.
- Springfield-style hot dog A steamed natural-casing dog with mustard, onion, and a special meat sauce.
- Maple syrup The Pioneer Valley is a major producer of maple syrup and sugar houses dot the hills.
- Apple cider Local orchards and cider mills are a fall staple.
Where people go
- Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring the sport's birthplace.
- The Quadrangle A cluster of museums and galleries in the heart of Springfield.
- Forest Park A large urban park with a zoo, gardens, and trails.
- Connecticut Riverwalk A scenic riverfront path with views of the water and city.
- Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden A tribute to the beloved author, who was born in Springfield.
- Victorian architecture The city is known for its historic homes and neighborhoods.
- The Big E (Eastern States Exposition) A massive fair held annually in West Springfield, drawing visitors from all over New England.
Heritage and traditions
The Pioneer Valley takes pride in its industrial heritage, its role as the birthplace of basketball and volleyball, and the rich cultural traditions of its Irish, Polish, and Puerto Rican communities.
This time of year in Springfield
- Apple picking and cider season September-October Fall is prime time for visiting orchards, picking apples, and enjoying fresh cider and donuts.
Say it like a local: “grinder” — a sandwich (sub or grinder, but 'grinder' is common)
Festivals
- Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade March One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in New England, held in March with a related road race.
- Puerto Rican Cultural Festival Summer Celebrates Puerto Rican heritage with music, dance, and food, usually in Holyoke during the summer.
- Chicopee Polish Festival August Highlights Polish culture with pierogi, kielbasa, folk dancing, and a mass in Polish.
- Springfield's Jazz and Blues Festival Summer A multi-day outdoor concert series featuring local and national acts (already listed in events, but we can mention it as a festival).
Landmarks with a story
- St. Michael's Cathedral The seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, a historic Gothic-style church in the city center.
- Holyoke Heritage State Park Preserves the industrial canal system and offers a visitor center, carousel, and walking paths.
- Volleyball Hall of Fame Located in Holyoke, celebrates the sport's invention there and honors players and coaches.
- Wistariahurst Museum A historic mansion in Holyoke that showcases the city's silk and paper manufacturing era.
- Polish National Home A community center in Chicopee that has hosted Polish dances, weddings, and cultural events for over a century.
- Springfield Armory National Historic Site The first U.S. armory, now a museum (already mentioned in landmarks, but we can list it here as a heritage site).
Food traditions
- Pierogi and kielbasa at Polish festivals Chicopee's Polish community brings these dumplings and sausages to summer festivals, often served with sauerkraut and rye bread.
- Puerto Rican pernil and mofongo Holyoke's Puerto Rican community shares these dishes at family gatherings and local restaurants, especially during Christmas and festivals.
- Irish corned beef and cabbage A St. Patrick's Day staple in Holyoke, often served with boiled potatoes and soda bread.
- Paczki on Fat Tuesday Polish pastries filled with jam or custard, bought in Chicopee bakeries before Lent.
- Cider and donuts in the fall Local orchards press fresh cider and make apple cider donuts, a seasonal tradition for families.
Music and arts
- Springfield Symphony Orchestra A professional orchestra that has performed in the city for decades, offering classical and pops concerts.
- Puerto Rican music scene in Holyoke Salsa, reggaeton, and bomba y plena are alive in Holyoke, with live bands at festivals and clubs.
- Polish folk music and dance Chicopee's Polish community keeps traditional polkas and folk dance groups active, especially at festivals.
- Holyoke Civic Orchestra A community orchestra that performs in Holyoke and surrounding towns.
A little history
- 1786-87 Shays' Rebellion
- 1794 Springfield Armory established
- 1891 Basketball invented by James Naismith
- 1895 Volleyball invented by William G. Morgan
- 19th century Industrial boom in Holyoke with textile and paper mills
Rivalries
- Thunderbirds vs. Hartford Wolf Pack AHL hockey rivalry with close games.
- UMass Minutemen vs. UConn Huskies College basketball and hockey matchups.
- Game day Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Road Race
- Game day Springfield College basketball heritage
- Outdoors Walk the Holyoke Canal Walk
- Outdoors Visit the Holyoke Heritage State Park
- With kids Volleyball Hall of Fame
- With kids Carousel at Holyoke Heritage State Park
People in the Springfield area speak with a typical Western New England accent, often dropping the 'r' in words like 'car' and 'park.' They use 'wicked' for emphasis and call a liquor store a 'packie.' The pronunciation of local towns is distinctive: 'Holyoke' is 'HOLE-yoke' and 'Chicopee' is 'CHICK-uh-pee.'
Only here
- The birthplace of basketball (Springfield, 1891) and volleyball (Holyoke, 1895).
- The Holyoke Canal System, a network of canals that powered the city's mills and is now a historic park.
- One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in New England, held in Holyoke.
- The Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden in Springfield, honoring the beloved author who was born here.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce the town names: 'Holyoke' is HOLE-yoke, 'Chicopee' is CHICK-uh-pee, and 'Agawam' is AG-uh-wam.
- Expect snowy winters and pack a good coat; the region gets significant snowfall from December through March.
- Try a grinder (a sub sandwich) from a local deli, and don't miss a Polish pierogi from a Chicopee bakery.
- The Big E in September is a huge fair, but it's very crowded on weekends; go on a weekday if possible.
- If you're into sports history, visit the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke and the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
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Part of Springfield area
Nearby
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Springfield, MA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.