Known as "the asparagus capital of the world," western Massachusetts is still home to hundreds of working farms and many more locally-owned restaurants and breweries. Now in its 11th year, the NEPM Asparagus Festival returns.

The family-friendly NEPM Asparagus Festival features a full day of fantastic local food, drink, music, games, and fun for everyone.

The NEPM Asparagus Festival is free and open to all with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family to support public media in western Mass.

Farmers and Makers Market:
Stroll through this section of the festival to find arts and crafts, get info from local organizations, pick up some delectable goodies, and meet farmers. Don’t forget to buy a bunch or two of asparagus!

Family fun:
There’s no shortage of fun for kids, including a chance to meet PBS Kids characters Curious George and Nature Cat. Families can find out how fast they can pick asparagus with the Asparagus Valley Pick game or join Wild Garden of Childhood Nursery for arts and crafts.

The Fabulous 413 Stage:
Musical guests taking the Fabulous 413 Stage throughout the day include headlining Haitian musician Paul Beaubrun, known for his impeccable guitar skills, rich vocals, musical ingenuity, and deep cultural roots, who will deliver a smooth mélange of English, French, and Creole. Also performing are local bands Splendid Torch, LeFever, and The Greys.

Farmers and Makers Market:
The popular Farmers and Makers Market will be open for the full day so attendees can have more opportunities to explore and connect with more than 75 local vendors and artisans featuring crafts, cultural items, nonprofit initiatives, agricultural products, and more.

The Provisions Beers and Spears Tent:
The Provisions Beers and Spears tent will feature local craft breweries including Amherst Brewing Company, Bright Ideas and more. In addition, the festival will offer a wide selection of food trucks serving up delicious food from asparagus fries to asparagus flavored ice cream.

Asparagus Festival Comedy Show:
Right after the NEPM Asparagus Festival, catch some of the best touring comedians in the country at the Hadley American Legion for a stand-up comedy show to benefit NEPM and its efforts to keeping public media alive and well in the Pioneer Valley!

Produced by Hadley native Tony Sykowski (Time Out NY, Second City), the show will feature performances from Tony, local comic Alex Paquin, Caitlin Reese (HBO Women in Comedy Festival, Sirius XM) and Rob Christensen ("The Problem with Jon Stewart," Comedy Central)

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