Bagels, Ice Cream, and a Lotta Yard Sales
By Neal Quesnel ·
Fiestas Patronales returns to Heritage Park in Holyoke this Friday through Sunday for its fifth year, expected to draw over 40,000 to one of only two Puerto Rican Cultural Districts in the country, with live music, food, and a lot of fun. Easthampton received a $500,000 MassTrails grant for repairs to the Manhan Rail Trail, covering cracked pavement and root damage. The Belchertown Community Yard Sale runs Friday through Sunday with 90 household sales and 12 vendors at Town Fields, and Herrell's Ice Cream holds its Amherst grand opening ribbon cutting Friday at 6pm. The O'Connor Animal Center in Springfield reopened after a July shutdown and is waiving adoption fees on cats over a year old starting Thursday. Mortgage rates ticked up this week, with the 30-year fixed at 6.58% and the 10-year Treasury jumping 11 basis points to 4.71%, offering no summer relief for waiting buyers. Full week ahead.
This Weekend
§ 01- № 01
Belchertown Community Yard Sale, all 102 of them
Fri Jul 31 to Sun Aug 2 · 8am to 3pm · BelchertownThe third annual Belchertown Community Yard Sale runs Friday through Sunday, 8am to 3pm each day, with 90 household sales scattered across town plus 12 vendors gathered at Town Fields, 60 State Street.
- № 02
Herrell's Ice Cream grand opening in Amherst
Fri Jul 31 · 6pm · AmherstHerrell's Ice Cream holds its Amherst grand opening and ribbon cutting Friday at 6pm, hosted by the Amherst Area Chamber. The Herrell's name is one Valley ice cream regulars will recognize from its Northampton run.
- № 03
Heritage Pops at Arts in the Park
Fri Jul 31 · 6:30pm to 8pm · Daley Field, EasthamptonThe 20-piece Heritage Pops Orchestra plays Easthampton's Arts in the Park series on Daley Field, at Williston Avenue and Lownds Avenue. Big band sound, outdoors, Friday 6:30pm to 8pm.
- № 04
Creamery Station on Elm Street
Fri Jul 31 · 7pm to 9pm · 48 Elm Street, WestfieldCreamery Station headlines Westfield's Downtown Live Friday Night Summer Concert Series at 48 Elm Street, 7pm to 9pm. Free, outdoors, downtown.
- № 05
Community Stories, Community Foods picnic
Sat Aug 1 · 2pm · Annex, 52 Main Street, EasthamptonThe Emily Williston Memorial Library hosts a neighborhood potluck picnic at the Annex, 52 Main Street, Saturday at 2pm. Bring a dish that tells your story, grandma's pasta salad or something from the old country. Registration requested through the library.
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Lindsey Labelle at the Boathouse
Sat Aug 1 · 7pm · The Boathouse, South HadleyLindsey Labelle plays The Boathouse on the South Hadley waterfront Saturday at 7pm.
- № 07
Smells Like Nirvana at the Drake
Sat Aug 1 · 8pm · The Drake, AmherstSmells Like Nirvana brings its MTV Unplugged set to The Drake Saturday at 8pm, working through the acoustic Nirvana catalog as a tribute act.
- № 09
Fiestas Patronales returns to Holyoke for a fifth year
Fri Jul 31 to Sun Aug 2 · Fri 5pm to 10pm, Sat + Sun noon to 10pm · Heritage Park, Dwight Street, HolyokeThe Valley's biggest Puerto Rican cultural festival, hosted by Nueva Esperanza in one of only two Puerto Rican Cultural Districts in the country. Live music, food vendors, dance, and the Miss Fiestas Patronales pageant. This year honors Naranjito, Puerto Rico. Draws around 40,000. Thursday opening night starts at 5pm.
Kids Corner
§ XX- № 02
Bruins Storytime
Wed Jul 29 · 11am · South Hadley Public LibraryAges · Ages 2 to 6Cost · FreeBruins Storytime brings Blades, the Boston Bruins mascot, to the Storytime Room at South Hadley Public Library for a special reading. Kids meet the mascot and hear a story; photos welcome.
- № 02
Playgroup at Magic Wings
Wed Jul 29 · 1pm · Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, Turners FallsAges · Ages 0 to 5Cost · Cost not postedPlaygroup at Magic Wings sends Montague Public Libraries staff to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in Turners Falls for stories, songs, and activities inside the greenhouse. Circle time surrounded by hundreds of live butterflies is the pitch.
- № 03
Comic Workshop with Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Thu Jul 30 · 6pm · Town Hall Auditorium, BelchertownAges · Ages 7 and upCost · FreeComic Workshop with Jarrett J. Krosoczka runs at the Belchertown Town Hall Auditorium as a live webinar with the New York Times-bestselling graphic novelist behind the Lunch Lady series. Kids draw along and can collaborate on comics with JJK in real time.
- № 04
No Strings Marionette Company at Peskeompskut Park
Fri Jul 31 · 10:30am · Peskeompskut Park, Turners FallsAges · All agesCost · FreeNo Strings Marionette Company plays Peskeompskut Park in Turners Falls as part of the Montague libraries' Summer Reading Program. An outdoor family show with music, humor, and full-scale marionette puppetry.
- № 05
Monarchs on the Move
Sat Aug 1 · 10-11:30am · Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, EasthamptonAges · Ages 5 to 12Cost · $12-15 per personMonarchs on the Move at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton is a Mass Audubon program built around the monarch butterfly. Expect fieldwork in the meadows and a close look at monarchs across their life stages.
- № 06
Drumming with Otha Day
Tue Aug 4 · 2pm · Chicopee Public LibraryAges · All agesCost · FreeDrumming with Otha Day fills the Bazan Community Room at Chicopee Public Library with a community drum circle led by Otha Day. Hand drums provided; kids and families welcome.
Real Estate Pulse
§ XXThis Week’s Rates
Freddie Mac PMMS · July 23, 2026
| Instrument | This Wk | Last Wk | Yr Ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-yr fixed | 6.58% | 6.55% | 6.74% |
| 15-yr fixed | 5.96% | 5.93% | 5.87% |
| 10-yr Treasury | 4.71% | 4.60% | — |
All three rates moved up, with the 10-year Treasury jumping 11bp to 4.71% and pulling both mortgage rates along for the ride. The 30-year is still 16bp below where it sat a year ago, but the 15-year has now crossed above its year-ago mark, which narrows the case for trading a longer term for a shorter one. Valley buyers waiting for a summer break in rates are not getting it this week.
Around Town
§ 03- · Opening
Cornucopia Natural Wellness Market is back at 384 Dwight St. in downtown Holyoke with organic groceries, supplements, and wellness goods. The reopening fills a longtime gap for shoppers who had been driving to Northampton or Easthampton for the same shelf.
- · Notice
Holyoke Mall says remediation in the food court is still underway five months after the February fire, with no reopening date announced. If you're heading in for back-to-school shopping, plan to eat before or after.
- · Town
Deerfield Riverfest is Saturday, August 1, marking a milestone for long-term whitewater access on the Deerfield River. Expect the usual crowd of paddlers, tubers, and riverside vendors at the Riverfest grounds.
- · Heads up
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $12.3 million in grants to prepare students for life sciences careers, with Springfield among the districts in line for funding.
- · Notice
The Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield reopened Friday after a July shutdown for two contagious animal viruses, and starts waiving adoption fees on cats over a year old this Thursday (at least 12 available). Dogs and two chinchillas also up for adoption. Wet food donations still wanted.
- · Opening
Tandem Bagel Company opened its seventh cafe Monday at 460 Newton Street in South Hadley, in the reworked former TD Bank building (drive-through pulled for more parking). Same daily hours as the other six, 6:30am to 2:30pm, same 60 bagel flavors. Ribbon cutting Aug 5 at 9am with the Chamber and State Rep. Homar Gomez.
- · Heads up
The Carriage House at Storrowton in West Springfield hosts the Summer Lovin' luncheon show Tuesday, Aug 4, with a three-course meal and Ludlow native Jimmy Mazz singing a set of summer and love standards. $49 all-in, tax and gratuity included, cash bar on the side. Reservations close Friday, July 31, at 413-374-5890.
- · Heads up
Treehouse Brewing in Charlton is unloading a mountain of used bourbon barrels for the planter and furniture crowd. 5-gallon $25, 10-gallon $35, 53-gallon $65. First come, first served, in-person only at the brewery, while supplies last.
Local Wins
§ XXThe City of Easthampton was awarded a $500,000 MassTrails grant on June 24 to fund repairs to the Manhan Rail Trail, the paved corridor that runs from Nashawannuck Pond out toward the Northampton line and carries roughly everyone in town at some point in a summer. Anyone who has ridden it lately knows the money is welcome.
The grant covers repairs rather than an expansion, so the trail stays the trail, just in better shape. Work timing has not been announced yet; watch the city's public works updates for the closure schedule, I'll be on the look out as well. In the meantime the trail is open.
Valley Fact
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Elvis Presley performed a live concert at the Springfield Civic Center in late July 1976, driving local fans into a massive frenzy. After the show, the King of Rock and Roll stayed overnight just south of the Pioneer Valley at a hotel in Enfield, Connecticut. Let me know if you were at the concert!
That’s the week. Say Hi to a stranger. Talk on Tuesday.
– Neal