Welcome to Springfield
The campus of Western New England University is located in a residential neighborhood of . Springfield is the third largest city in Massachusetts with about 154,000 residents. It is less than 90 miles/150 km west of Boston and less than 140 miles/230 km northeast of New York City.
Local Landmarks
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history right in downtown Springfield. The city's entertainment district has been energized by MGM Springfield. Springfield Symphony Hall serves as a major focal point for classical music, Broadway tours, concerts, and stand-up comedy in the Pioneer Valley. The MassMutual Center is the premier arena and convention center in western Massachusetts. It is home to the American Hockey League's Springfield franchise, the Thunderbirds.
The Quadrangle is the site of the Springfield City Library and the city’s five major museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss, which celebrates the Springfield native.
Known as The City of Homes, Springfield residents enjoy its 42 parks. Forest Park, the city’s largest, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New York City’s Central Park.
Annual Events
The Big E, also known as the “Eastern States Exposition” is one of the largest fairs in the nation. Each year, the fair opens on the second Friday after Labor Day (First Monday in September) and runs for 17 days. In 2023 杏吧直播app, 1.4 million people visited The Big E.
Since 1991, the Parade of Big Balloons has helped to usher in the holiday season in Springfield. Inflatable big balloons, bands, and colorful marching contingents parade through Springfield’s center at 11 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving (the third Thursday in November) entertaining crowds estimated at 75,000.
During the holiday season, enjoy over 600,000 lights illuminating a 2.5 mile/4.0 km driving tour of Bright Nights in Forest Park. Bright Nights at Forest Park starts the week before Thanksgiving and runs through the first week of January.
Seven miles/11 km north of Springfield’s center, the small city of Holyoke, Massachusetts stages the United States’ 2nd-largest, annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade (larger than Boston’s and Chicago’s, but slightly smaller than New York City’s).
The city invites residents and visitors to bring their appetites to the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, an event held on a Saturday in May. The event draws over 30,000 people to Main Street, where approximately 60,000 pancakes are served.
Places to Visit
Yankee Candle Village is one of New England’s most popular destinations! Yankee Candle Village offers an entertaining charm, hands-on interactive candle-making, and unique shopping.
Storrowton Village Museum is where New England village living comes to life, through an authentic re-creation of 18th and 19th century buildings. These structures were moved from various New England locations and have been reassembled surrounding a beautiful village green typical of colonial days.
Six Flags New England is New England’s biggest, most popular theme park. It features dozens of thrill rides, family rides, shows, dining, shopping, and water activities.
The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. It is the primary water supply for Boston. The reservoir is a popular spot for hiking and other outdoor activities.
The Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, just 11.1 miles/17.8 km from campus, is one of the largest malls in New England, featuring more than 200 stores.
Situated in the beautiful Pioneer Valley, Springfield is an easy drive to outdoor recreational activities from skiing to hiking, kayaking to ziplining. It is also just a 2-3 hour trip to some of the best beaches in New England.
Major Employers in the Region
- MassMutual Financial Group
- Baystate Health Systems
- LEGO Systems
- MGM Springfield
- RTX
- The Hartford
- Pratt & Whitney
- Stanley Black and Decker
- Travelers
- Big Y Foods
The Knowledge Corridor
The region offers a wide variety of academic institutions, including 40 colleges and universities, through its location along New England’s “.”