Parties in the Park returns to Northampton

Pulaski Park will again be the site of Parties in the Park.
Reminder Publishing file photo

NORTHAMPTON — The city’s free Parties in the Park weekly outdoor DJ series is returning with its 2026 lineup and is set to kick off July 8 for another summer of good fun and music in downtown Northampton.

The event is hosted by the Northampton Arts Council and the city of Northampton. Every Wednesday from July 8 to Aug. 26, the series will run from 6-9 p.m. at Pulaski Park, featuring a vibrant, open-air dance floor celebrating community, music and the cultural viability of the city’s downtown.

The 2026 season is set to feature an eclectic, rotating cast of premier regional DJs spinning everything from reggae and global beats to classic soul, rare grooves and disco.

“Parties in the Park is more than just a dance party — it’s a weekly celebration of community and creativity in the heart of our downtown,” said Brian Foote, director of Arts and Culture. “We invite everyone to come down early, support our local downtown businesses, grab some dinner, and enjoy the incredible energy under the summer sky.”

The 2026 lineup is set to feature:

• July 8: DeeJay Theory
• July 15: Studebaker Hawk
• July 22: DJ Trends
• July 29: Apel Beats
• Aug. 5: DJ Donuts
• Aug. 12: Iosnua (with Quills)
• Aug. 19: Wooly Bully
• Aug. 26: Malik Abdul-Rahmaan

Foote told Reminder Publishing that the goal behind Parties in the Park is to activate the beautiful shared public spaces in downtown Northampton. He added that the event also aims to create an open, accessible and high-energy environment where the community can gather and connect with one another while letting loose to some good music and good vibes.

“By bringing free music and open-air dancing directly into the heart of downtown, we wanted to celebrate the cultural vitality of Northampton while offering an entirely free, multi-generational space for everyone to enjoy,” said Foote.

Russell Caldwell, a local favorite, will serve as host and bring his well-known infectious energy to the park, Foote said.

“What makes him such a fantastic host is his innate ability to connect with a crowd, read the physical energy of the space, and keep the vibe universally welcoming, casual and fun for all ages. He sets the perfect tone for our fantastic, rotating cast of regional DJs,” said Foote.

The high-energy event fits right in with other summer series set downtown throughout the season like the Salsa in the Park series and Bands on Brewster, an intentional effort from Foote and the city to build on the cultural impact downtown has on the community.

“Parties in the Park functions as a key pillar in a broader, intentional effort by the Arts Council and the city to keep downtown vibrant and alive almost every night of the week during summer,” added Foote. “While we have Salsa in the Plaza on Mondays and Bands on Brewster on Thursdays, Wednesdays belong completely to Parties in the Park at Pulaski Park. Our ultimate goal in programming these diverse weekly series — ranging from live acoustic bands and Latin dance to cinema and electronic DJ sets — is to ensure that there is always a creative heartbeat downtown. We’ve seen an incredible impact on overall community morale; these events transform downtown into the city’s shared ‘living room,’ bringing immense joy, boosting foot traffic for local businesses and giving residents a weekly ritual to look forward to.”

All performances are weather-dependent. In the event of inclement weather, a cancellation or postponement notice will be posted by 10 a.m. on the day of the event via Instagram (@nohoarts) and on the city of Northampton’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.

Parties in the Park is presented by the city through its Economic Development Department, with organizational support from Northampton Arts Inc., and funding in part from the Mass Cultural Council, Greenfield Savings Bank and Monadnock Community Investments. For more information, visit www.northamptonartscouncil.org or contact the Arts Council office at arts@northamptonma.gov.

“Our expectations for the summer ahead are sky-high. After seeing how much people love coming together in Pulaski Park, we anticipate great crowds and a lot of high-energy Wednesday nights,” said Foote. “Beyond just being a dance party, this event brings a vital sense of shared ownership and cultural celebration to Northampton. It proves that public spaces are at their best when filled with art, music and people.”