Summer at The Carle

Come relax and savor a season of stories, art, and live music for visitors of all ages. Throughout the week, families can enjoy beloved Museum traditions from daily storytimes and gallery exploration to hands-on art making in the Art Studio. Whether visiting for the first time or returning as a regular, summer offers countless opportunities to discover the joy of picture books and creativity together.

Enjoy breezy, late Thursday evenings while you picnic on our beautiful grounds and take in the rhythms of live jazz and global music performed by local artists.

Order food to-go from area restaurants, or bring your own. Feel free to bring your own blankets or lawn chairs. Check out our picnic partners. We’ll be hosting local food trucks periodically throughout the summer.

To get into the summer spirit, check out The Carle Bookshop’s Summer Road trip bundles!

Join The Carle as a member and enjoy free admission and shop discounts year-round.

See a full list of events and activities below. Live music is free with Museum admission. We can’t wait to see you!

July & August Hours

Wed & Fri 10am–4pm
Thurs 10am–8pm
Sat 10am–5pm
Sun 12pm–5pm

Learn more about Group Tours

Sunset Thursdays with live music

On Thursday evenings throughout the summer, the Museum stays open late from 4–8 pm for Sunset Thursdays, a special summer tradition that brings the community together for lively, intergenerational evenings of art and live music. As the sun begins to set, the grounds come alive with live outdoor jazz performed by local musicians curated by Northampton Jazz Festival along with artists of all ages drawing together, hands-on art activities, storytimes for all ages, local food vendors, and more.

Sunset Thursdays take place every Thursday evening July 2–August 27. All events are held outdoors (weather permitting) in Bobbie’s Meadow, nestled within the Museum’s beautiful 100-year-old orchard. In case of rain, programs will move indoors to the Museum’s “Jazz Café.”

Relax on the lawn, explore the galleries, and enjoy the creative energy of the season!

Live Performances

July 2 Bob Ferrier (guitar) and Stephen Page (piano)

July 9 Doug Hewitt (guitar and vocals) and Mitch Pine (piano)

July 16 Carolyn Dufraine

July 23

July 30 Dylan Walter (piano)

Aug 6 StarCats (eclectic jazz trio)

Aug 13

Aug 20 Daniel Friedman (sax) and Morgan Kelsey (keyboard)

Aug 27

*Co-presented with Northampton Jazz Festival

Free with Museum admission and free for Museum members! Events will be held outdoors or moved indoors during inclement weather.

Collage of squiggly lines in many colors

Sketch the Music on Sunset Thursdays

Artists of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to bring sketchbooks and draw the musicians as they perform. Visitors may bring their own materials, and the Museum will also provide a selection of basic drawing supplies for anyone who would like to join in.

Whether you are a professional illustrator, a practicing artist, or simply curious to try, the evening becomes a shared creative moment where music and drawing meet.

Artist Sketching Guidelines

Join us in drawing performers during Thursday evening concerts.

Visitors may bring their own materials or use basic supplies provided by the Museum.
Permitted materials include pencil, charcoal, and pastel.
Ink, paint, water-based media, and other wet materials are not permitted.
If the event moves indoors due to weather, additional material restrictions may apply.

Exhibitions

This summer’s programming celebrates the East Gallery exhibition Soul, Sound and Voice: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, opening June 20. The exhibition explores the profound influence of music in Jerry Pinkney’s life and work, highlighting how spirit, sound, and storytelling can help young people find their voice and agency. Celebrated as one of America’s greatest watercolorists, Pinkney transformed children’s literature by illuminating Black histories and expressing his enduring belief that art and music can help us find common ground and heal our shared past.