About Springfield, Massachusetts
As the third largest city in Massachusetts, there is no shortage of fun and interesting events, activities, and special locations to visit in Springfield for food, arts, culture, history, athletics, and more. Springfield College is proud to be located in an area known as the "City of Firsts," relating to its history of innovation. The surrounding communities also offer visitors a wide variety of interesting venues to go and experience.
There's a lot to do in the city of Springfield.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is where basketball’s legends live on—and where visitors can hone their basketball skills through the Hall’s interactive exhibits. Interesting fact: the Hall of Fame was originally located on the campus of Springfield College!
Six Flags New England, located in nearby Agawam, is a popular amusement destination featuring 150 thrilling rides, top shelf entertainment, food, games, and fun.
The Springfield Museums include four distinctive history and arts museums along with a whimsical tribute to Springfield’s favorite native son, Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, at the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden.
Music-lovers can enjoy an evening at the pops with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall. National music acts also make the MassMutual Center a stop on their touring schedules.
If you're a hockey fan, you're in luck. The Springfield Thunderbirds, an AHL affiliate of the NHL's St. Louis Blues, play out of the MassMutual Center.
Movie-lovers can be seated in front of dozens of screens to view new releases at Regal MGM Springfield theaters in downtown Springfield, and across the Connecticut River in West Springfield at the Cinemark theaters.
How could you not love western Massachusetts?
Western Massachusetts is filled with seasonal wonders, including spectacular New England foliage—and popular annual events.
The region’s most popular annual autumn fair—the Eastern States Exposition, or Big E—is located just across the Connecticut River in West Springfield. The fair runs for two weeks beginning in September and is the largest of its kind in the Northeast. The Big E showcases New England’s agriculture and food, and its entertainment schedule features many national rock, country, and hip-hop acts. Throughout the year, the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition are host to many other events—from dog shows to trade shows.
Starting in late November and running through January, Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield presents the largest and most popular holiday display in New England.
Being a Springfield College student has its advantages in the City of Springfield and the Pioneer Valley. Students receive tons of discounts and tickets to a variety of events and venues including the Big E, Symphony Hall, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
And, there's a lot of things going a short drive away, too.
A 30-minute ride to the north leads to Northampton, the arts, dining, and cultural epicenter of the Pioneer Valley.
A bit further north is the town of Deerfield, which boasts a historic village and the flagship store of Yankee Candle Company.
For day-trippers looking for a longer trip, Boston is an hour-and-a-half drive on the Massachusetts Turnpike east, the Berkshires are an hour west on the Pike, and Hartford, Conn., is 30 miles south of the campus.
The beaches of Cape Cod and the islands on the eastern shore of Massachusetts are a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the east, and New York City is three hours south.
Get out and get active.
Whether you like to snowboard, ski, hike, kayak, or just enjoy the simple pleasure of being a part of nature, the Pioneer Valley is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
Some of the best skiing is enjoyed in the picturesque Berkshires, and nearby Vermont and New Hampshire offer trails that draw skiers from around the globe. Located just a quick drive from campus are world-renowned resorts like Stowe, Sugarloaf, Mount Snow, Killington, and much more.
Massachusetts and the New England region showcase nature at its best. At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock, located in the Berkshires, is the highest point in Massachusetts. Rising above the surrounding Berkshire landscape, it offers a stunning view that expands almost 90 miles into the horizon.
A bit closer to home, in neighboring Belchertown, is Quabbin Reservoir. Quabbin is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the country and provides the perfect setting for outdoor activities, including biking, hiking, and snowshoeing.
Passing right through the Berkshires en route to Maine is the amazing Appalachian Trail and its scenic vistas. Within the boundaries of the city of Springfield is Forest Park, considered one of the largest municipal parks in the United States with 735 acres of beautifully landscaped green space and a zoo.
