Holyoke Tourism Advisory Committee announces grant recipients, seeks new members
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Holyoke's Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) has awarded its first round of 2025 tourism event grants, funding 11 community events.
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The grant-supported events span a wide range of activities, from cultural festivals and historical tours to public art projects and sporting events, each chosen for its potential to promote tourism and showcase Holyoke's unique assets.
Among this year's funded events are:
Holyoke Pride Festival – June 11
Holyoke Paper Fest – June 7
Holyoke Historical Society Garden Tour – July 12
Paper City Oaks Semi-Pro Indoor Lacrosse at Fitzpatrick Arena – Summer 2025
The Great Holyoke Brink Race – October 11
Lemonade & Laughter at the Merry-Go-Round – Fall 2025
Holyoke Canals and Its Mills Tour – Fall 2025
Imagined Worlds Mural Project – in collaboration with the Holyoke Children's Museum
LOCULUS Presents: The Fourth Annual SIDEWAYS DOOR – A Festival of Ecstasies & Escape Routes – September 19–21
BBJ Spring Spectacular Showing: A Free Night of Musical Theater – Fall 2025
A full listing and event updates can be found at exploreholyoke.com.
In addition to celebrating these upcoming events, the TAC is actively recruiting new members to help shape Holyoke's tourism strategy. The committee is seeking individuals with experience in hospitality and tourism, including hoteliers, restaurant owners, and event planners. The city is especially interested in adding a youth member under 21 who resides in Holyoke and is eager to support and promote the city's cultural and recreational growth.
The Tourism Advisory Committee is composed of local experts and community voices, including representatives from institutions like the Wistariahurst Museum and the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Members help allocate tourism funding, advise on promotional strategy, and support projects that enhance Holyoke as a visitor destination.
Those interested in applying for a seat on the committee are encouraged to send a cover letter and resume to vegaa@holyoke.org, directed to the Office of Planning and Economic Development.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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