This year, our troupe has partnered with grassroots organization Gateways to Nature to celebrate greenspace within the four towns of Holbrook, Abington, Whitman and Rockland. Each day, we will hold daily public hikes through a variety of town properties and each evening perform a free community concert. Our musical group will feature MWT co-founders Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards, accompanied by Vito Caccavelli, Kyle Swartzwelder, and Eli Go. See our complete schedule for all the details!
First of all what an amazing experience we had on the Appalachian Trail. Thank you to all of you who fed us, housed us, let us shower, hugged us, listened to us, hiked with us, checked in on us, slack packed our stuff, encouraged us, bought CDs, donated and the list goes on and on and on. We would not have survived this hike without your support. THANK YOU. Sincerely. Check out the pictures of our journey on the 2022 page
Truthfully we are all sad to be off the trail. One of the ways to overcome the post hike boo hoos is to plan the next adventure so we are on the hunt for the next trail! Here’s where we’ve been….
Email us masswalkingtour@gmail.com
After a two year hiatus, the Massachusetts Walking Tour prepares for its 11th annual trek, performing 10 free community concerts sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and organizing daily public hikes along the famed Appalachian Trail! Stay tuned for detailed descriptions of our hikes, including where you can meet us along the way. Would you like to perform at one of the concerts? Reach out to mark@masswalkingtour.org for more info on how you can participate in this ten day journey.
See complete tour dates and details on daily hikes
And make sure to be following on Facebook and Instagram!
Sad but true. We are heeding the sage advise of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to defer out tour for one more year. We did get a nice support letter (see below) though indicating the readiness of the ATC to help us get the word out for next year. Please find your own trails in the meantime and if we can pull together any small events we will let folks know. We miss everyone!
M&R
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) wishes to express its support for Massachusetts Walking Tour’s (MWT) Appalachian Trail Community Concert Tour once the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is deemed under control by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The ATC is currently discouraging long distance travel on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in order to minimize the spread or contraction of COVID-19 among A.T. travelers and Trailside community members. Many A.T. Communities have expressed concern in anticipation of a busy 2021 thru-hiking season, which poses risks to community members who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, many communities have expressed a lack of resources and readiness should an outbreak occur.
MWT is an incredible opportunity for local artists, trail volunteers, and community members to gather in support of conservation and art throughout the state. The musicians carry all supplies and instruments with them on their trek in a true mark of strength and dedication to their craft. When the CDC deems the COVID-19 pandemic under control, ATC is excited to support MWT’s 11th annual tour in 2022.
Sincerely,
Julie Judkins
Director of Education & Outreach
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
First of all it was a really tough decision to postpone and reschedule the whole tour to June 2021. We are very grateful to all the venues who have accommodated us so far and to the Local Cultural Councils who have offered us extensions on our grant funding. THANK YOU! We really want to have the most full and fun experience for all while visiting the Appalachian Trail here in Massachusetts.
Wednesday May 13 at 7pm the AMC Berkshire Chapter has invited us to do a meet and greet/interview/live concert via Zoom to give us the chance to introduce ourselves to the Western MA community. Participation is open to all. Please Register Online for the Free Zoom meeting in advance. And Yes there will be Ukulele.
Please send us all the best possible luck you can for getting our grant support from the Local Cultural Councils in the towns of Sheffield, Egremont, Dalton, Tyringham, Washington, Great Barrington, Lee, Adams, Cheshire and North Adams. These are the towns which the Appalachian Trail snakes through in Massachusetts. For many years the MWT has been funded mainly by this program which is administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and implemented by volunteer councils in every town. We sent in our applications along with support letters from the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Berkshire Chapter of the AMC. Fingers Crossed!
The 10th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour has succeeded in organizing eleven free community concerts from Holliston to Swansea and leading daily group hikes through properties covered in Marjorie Turner Hollman’s Easy Walks in Massachusetts. Special thanks to all who attended and each who walked with us. Check out images from this year’s tour.
Stay tuned as we begin to discuss logistics for our 2020 trek of towns along the Massachusetts section of the Appalachian Trail.
Are you a performing artist in one of the walking tour towns? We would LOVE to include you in our program. Please email us to reserve a local artist slot at one of the programs. 2 songs or 10 minutes. All ages welcome. masswalkingtour@gmail.com
This year’s Massachusetts Walking Tour poster has been completed and the dates/venues announced!
MWT Tour veterans Hoot and Holler and have decided to brave the New England winter weather and head north. For one night only (until June!) the MWT ensemble will reunite showcasing original tunes from both duos as well as some favorite songs from the tour. We hope you will mark your calendar and join us on Saturday February 23 at Gateway City Arts. Doors open at 7 pm.
Tickets are available now online.
