Community Events

Each year, the Hopkins Memorial Forest is the home to various events for the community of Williams College and the Berkshires.

Annual Events

Our three most notable are the annual Fall Fest, Maplefest, and Alumni Day. As always, these are family friendly events.

• Fall Fest: Generally held in late September or early October, the HMF’s fall fest is full of apple-themed treats, live music, and various traditional forestry-themed activities, such as hake-splitting, cross-cut sawing, apple butter and cider production, and apiary demonstrations. The event has also featured guided tours of the canopy walkway and various child-specific activities.
• Maplefest: The early spring brings the forest’s maple syrup production and our annual Maple Festival, which includes maple sugaring exhibits and demonstrations, in addition, of course, to syrup to be sampled on pancakes or on snow!
• Alumni Day: In May, during the Williams College alumni weekend, the Hopkins Memorial Forest host a day for alumni which includes abird walk, hike, canopy walkway, and children’s activities.

Other Special Programs

The Hopkins Memorial Forest, also hosts new and changing events each year, based on community interest and the availability of local collaborators. Common events in the past have been:

• Pollinator Walk with Williams College Professor Joan Edwards
• Animal Tracking with naturalist Dan Yacobellis
• Amphibian & Reptile Program with Berkshire Community College Professor Tom Tyning
• Wildflower Foray with Williams College Professor Hank Art