Grand opening for new Forbes outdoor stage set for Sept. 13

An artist’s rendering of the new Hass Performance Stage at Forbes Library.
Reminder Publishing file photo

NORTHAMPTON — Forbes Library will celebrate the official opening of the new Hess Performance Stage on its west lawn on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m., with an event featuring live music and remarks from library staff.

The stage is open air with a covered roof and ramped handicap access. It has lights and electricity and soon will also feature a sound system. Forbes Library Director Lisa Downing told Reminder Publishing that this project is intended to provide the necessary infrastructure for outdoor programs and events at the library, as well as serve as a new community gathering space.

The celebration event will also feature a performance from the O-Tones, who will be showcasing their variety of styles through playing swing, Blues, Soul, Motown, Latin and R&B.

“That day is going to be a real celebration because this project has been many years in the making. To see this stage actually constructed, and so beautiful, it’s exceeded expectations around just how attractive it is and how well it’s sited, and how nicely it complements the building. I think it’s really going to set us up for some great outdoor programming,” shared Downing. “The day will just be to celebrate and to thank everyone who’s made it possible, enjoy some good music and hopefully good weather.”

The library has a long tradition of outdoor programming with the first photographed event hosted in 1918, when an overflow crowd got together on the library grounds to sing patriotic songs in celebration of the end of World War I.

Through an AARP grant, which is helping pay for some of the sound system, one of the grant requirements was that the library hosts at least five programs on the new outdoor stage that are intergenerational or of interest to those aged 50 and up before the end of the calendar year. Downing said they will use upcoming programs this fall as a test run into next spring as they will still be identifying a full policy for the stage and its uses both in-house and for community groups.

In the meantime, library programming is being set for this fall to break in the new outdoor stage and let the public become familiar with this latest addition. Downing added Northampton Neighbors is planning to host a Beatles sing along event, and there have been discussions for Forbes to host a pumpkin painting and music event for families.

She also mentioned hopes are to host some sort of event around Veterans Day at the stage where local vets could showcase their musical or artistic talents via the new stage. Downing said these events and more to come this fall from library programming will be posted and updated on the library’s website if and when they become finalized.

The stage and the library grounds are free and open to the public during daylight hours when not in use by library programming. Beginning in 2026, community groups will be able to book the stage for public events as they do with the library’s meeting rooms.

“The community component — we’ve always intended this spot to be something that’s available for partnership programs,” said Downing. “[This fall, plans are] figuring out our policy and what parameters will make sense so we can provide it in an equitable, fair way that’s based on the libraries values and supports the community needs. We want to trial it in house this fall, and it will be our goal to finish that up over the winter, so then we can start and have community groups come out in the spring and beyond.”

The stage was designed by HAI Architects from Northampton and built by Campora Construction Incorporated from Ludlow. The outdoor stage has a steel structure and curved roof profile inspired by the arches of the library’s building and featuring colors that also reflect the sandstone and granite of the building.

The project was funded by substantial gifts from Majorie Hess and Rudolph Talaber for whom the stage is named, along with additional support provided by the Friends of Forbes, city of Northampton, the state Office of Travel and Tourism, MassDevelopment, AARP Massachusetts and many individual donors.

Downing also specifically thanked Debin Bruce, chair of the library’s Building and Grounds Committee, for working tirelessly to see the stage to completion.

“We would not have this stage without Debin and all of the generous support of our community,” shared Downing.

Programs on the stage will continue into the fall with events that are free, open to the public, and of interest to all ages. For more information, visit forbeslibrary.org/events to view the library’s events calendar.

Downing added there is much excitement in the air at Forbes Library for the stage’s official opening and celebration, and that it will be another great moment as part of the library’s legacy.

“This building has been here for 131 years I think now, and we’ve had no external changes to our footprint. A lot of buildings either completely get knocked down and rebuilt or have additions. This building is the shape and the size it was back then, which is awesome and makes it so special. But to have the opportunity to create something new and really create — I think — something that feels very organic and natural to the way the space was used, but amping it up so now we have electricity, we have the lights, it feels really, really good. I think we’re all really proud of it,” said Downing. “It’s fun to see even passively since we took down the snow fencing now that the grass is grown in, and just to see people sitting there, just sitting enjoying the afternoon is really, really nice. We have lots in our minds about what’s possible there. It’s opened up a bunch of new possibilities.”