Community Calendar

Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest
September 18-20, 2026

The International Mountain Climbing School introduces the Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, September 18–20, 2026. Inspired by a vibrant climbing community, a love for music, and the longtime success of the MWV Ice Fest, the team—alongside world-class guides—aims to build Rock Fest into the premier rock climbing festival in the East.

The weekend will offer clinics ranging from beginner-friendly to expert, across multi-day, single-day, and privately guided climbs. The "Sundown Showdown" bouldering competition will provide a platform for all levels. Beyond climbing, Rock Fest will feature music, presentations, camaraderie, and leading outdoor brands. Set in a community deeply rooted in adventure, Rock Fest welcomes outdoor enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Visit www.mwvrockfest.com to sign up for updates and additional information.

Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest
September 18-20, 2026

The International Mountain Climbing School introduces the Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, September 18–20, 2026. Inspired by a vibrant climbing community, a love for music, and the longtime success of the MWV Ice Fest, the team—alongside world-class guides—aims to build Rock Fest into the premier rock climbing festival in the East.

The weekend will offer clinics ranging from beginner-friendly to expert, across multi-day, single-day, and privately guided climbs. The "Sundown Showdown" bouldering competition will provide a platform for all levels. Beyond climbing, Rock Fest will feature music, presentations, camaraderie, and leading outdoor brands. Set in a community deeply rooted in adventure, Rock Fest welcomes outdoor enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Visit www.mwvrockfest.com to sign up for updates and additional information.

Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest
September 18-20, 2026

The International Mountain Climbing School introduces the Mount Washington Valley Rock Fest to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, September 18–20, 2026. Inspired by a vibrant climbing community, a love for music, and the longtime success of the MWV Ice Fest, the team—alongside world-class guides—aims to build Rock Fest into the premier rock climbing festival in the East.

The weekend will offer clinics ranging from beginner-friendly to expert, across multi-day, single-day, and privately guided climbs. The "Sundown Showdown" bouldering competition will provide a platform for all levels. Beyond climbing, Rock Fest will feature music, presentations, camaraderie, and leading outdoor brands. Set in a community deeply rooted in adventure, Rock Fest welcomes outdoor enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Visit www.mwvrockfest.com to sign up for updates and additional information.

Instructor: Sage Neighbors
Mondays from 5–7pm
Starting Sept 21
$225, $202.50 for Member’s (all materials included)

Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time, returning to drawing after a break, or sketching every day, local artist Sage Neighbors will help you build confidence in your artistic voice while exploring perspective, value, line quality, and learning to trust your eye. Through a variety of engaging exercises and longer-form projects using graphite, charcoal, pastel, and more, you’ll strengthen your skills in a supportive, fun environment.

Discover the beauty of alcohol inks as you create vibrant, expressive floral paintings. Through guided demonstrations and playful experimentation, you'll explore color, movement, and the magic of this fluid medium. No experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to play! You'll leave with a finished artwork, new techniques, and the confidence to continue creating. All materials included.

Instructor: Eggie Jovaisa
Saturday, September 26th from 11am–1pm
$20 (all materials included)

Students will explore imagination, spontaneity, collaboration, and playful experimentation through a series of surrealist-inspired creative games and mixed media drawing experiences. Inspired by the Surrealist movement’s interest in dreams, chance, music, and the subconscious mind, this energetic workshop encourages students to let go of perfection and embrace unexpected ideas through collaborative drawing, automatic mark-making, collage transformation, and imaginative thinking.

Using materials such as markers, oil pastels, paint sticks, collage imagery, and mixed media supplies, students will rotate through playful art-making stations that spark creativity, humor, curiosity, and freedom of expression while discovering how artists use experimentation and surprise to unlock original ideas.

Learn about Unitarian Universalism and Unitarian Universalist Society East at our next Intro to UU on Sunday, Sept. 27, 1-4 PM at UUSE, 153 Vernon St. West, Manchester.

The Rev. Josh Pawelek and the Membership Committee invite you to an informative seminar
which will include:
• A brief history and background of our theology
• UUSE’s mission, programs and facilities
• Opportunity to meet others interested in Unitarian Universalism
• Sharing of stories about what brings us together

RSVP is required by emailing uuseoffice@uuse.org or phoning 860-646-5151 by Thursday,
Sept. 24.

Childcare will be provided.

Questions? Contact membership@uuse.org or the Rev. Josh Pawelek at 860-646-5151 or minister@uuse.org

Join us for the 2nd annual Fodder: Stories from the Fields. Farmers across the region will take the stage to draw the audience into the fascinating, humorous, and sometimes shocking work of being a farmer in the Northeast. Storytelling maven Sheela Clary will MC. This year’s farmer storytellers include Mary and Beatrice Berle, Elizabeth Keen, Michael Mugridge, Krysia Kurz, Ashni Sunder, youth farmers, and others. Please join us to enjoy locally sourced food and social hour after the stories.

The afternoon is co-produced by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Berkshire Grown, Bridge, Farmsteads for Farmers, and Greenagers, and will be held Sunday, September 27, from 3 pm to 5 pm at Greenagers, April Hill, 62 Undermountain Road, South Egremont, MA.

A special thank you to Housatonic Heritage and Guido’s Fresh Marketplace for their support.

Fodder; Stories from the Fields, 2026
Sunday, September 27
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Doors open at 2:30 pm
April Hill, 62 Undermountain Road, South Egremont, MA
$15 for general public, Free for Farmers (but you must register to save your space)
Info: samantha@greenagers.org (413) 644-9090
Locally sourced refreshments will be served.

1 day workshop
Sunday, Oct 18th from 11-2pm
$65, $58.50 Member’s Price (all materials included)

Learn the art of dip pens and black ink with artist and UConn professor Christy Corey! Students will use a combination of ink washes along with pen and ink mark making techniques to draw plant studies (either from life or from photograph!) All artistic abilities are welcome.

All are welcome to a free showing of The Climate Future Film Festival - Chapter 2! on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at 2 PM at Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon St West, Manchester, CT, This new collection of 12 short films from around the world, explores the interior response to climate change - visceral, personal, artistic and emotional. Whether or not you have seen the original, chapter 1 set of films, shown at UUSE in September 2025, you will be moved by these powerful short films to renewed action to fight the causes of and mitigate the harms done by climate change. Come early to share info and ideas.
Sponsored by the Sustainable Living Committee at UUSE. For details, contact uuseoffice@uuse.org, call 860-646-5151, or visit uuse.org