The Great Greenfield DinoFest

7th Annual Festival: Saturday & Sunday, December 16 & 17, 2023!

DinoFest, presented by Piti Theatre and PVMA, is a celebratory in-person and online series of performances, films, interactive exhibits and activities for children and more celebrating our local dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts and related history. Why? Because this is where the first scientific study in the world of dinosaur footprints took place! You can learn more on PVMA’s award winning website “Impressions from a Lost World” . . . This year DinoFest will be a combo of in-person and streaming events.

Schedule: Saturday, December 16

“The Princes of Deerfield” at the Garden!

• 10:15 am: Doors Open @ The Garden Theater, 361 Main Street
• 10:30 – 11:45: Documentary Preview Screening: “The Princes of Deerfield” expands the lens of DinoFest to look at local history in Deerfield in the late 1700’s. The film blends documentary with a story that imagines a group of children in Deerfield gathering at the former barn of Lucy Terry and Abijah Prince. Lucy Terry is known as the first African American poet and we know she was popular among the children of Deerfield in part due to her storytelling abilities. Actors from the ages of 6 – 12 from around the region join Piti’s team as actors alongside Djeli (The Polar Express, The Bronx is Burning) and Amina Jordan-Mendez. Recommended ages 7+. Join us across the street afterwards for a reception in the community room of the new Greenfield Public Library.

Reception + Dino-Themed Version of “Story Wizards” @ The Library

• 12 – 12:30: Reception
• 12:30 – 1:15: Story Wizards: Dino Drama – Story Wizards is Piti Theatre’s latest family audiences show where the story is created (and performed) by the audience with Piti’s actors. In this special version, we will be asking for dino-themed characters and places. Learn more and watch a clip. Recommended for ages 6+.

The Everlasting Gobstopper at LAVA @ 7 pm

• Christopher Janke’s sculptural performance about the Connecticut River, lollipops, and deep time is appropriate for all brave ages, lasts about 30 minutes, and includes a conceptual gift bag for the future. Following the show, special guest Richard Little, Professor Emeritus, Greenfield Community College make a short presentation about Armored Mud Balls in the area. Professor Little will also be available to answer questions and bring some of his mud balls for display before the show beginning at 6:30. Local Access to Valley Arts (LAVA), 324 Main Street, Greenfield.

Schedule: Sunday, December 17

• 7:30 – 8:30 The Princes of Deerfield Live Stream + Q&A
• If you couldn’t go to “The Princes of Deerfield” in-person at the Garden, catch the preview version of the film on Zoom.