If you are looking for some family fun this weekend that includes award-winning authors, arts and crafts, games, puppetry, circus performers and lots of music, then head to The River’s annual Meltdown, a book and music festival for kids that will take place at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center and the Common in downtown Greenfield on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This free event, which started in 2009 and is now in its 16th year, is presented by The River, 93.9 FM. It originated in Northampton but moved to Hawks & Reed in Greenfield last year. The author appearances and the music will take place inside Hawks & Reed while acrobatic performances from Show Circus Studio as well as games, interactive exhibits and arts and crafts will be held outside on Court Square.

“We are thrilled to be presenting Meltdown to the community in the heart of downtown Greenfield,” said Stefan Ward-Wheten, the promotions director at Northampton Radio, in a press release. “Meltdown is a fun day out for families with young children, with music, games, acrobatics, book readings, and even live birds of prey with Tom Ricardi’s Rehabilitation Center.”

Authors Kaliis Smith, Hannah Moushabeck, Mk Smith Despres, and Molly B. Burnham will read from their works, and The Imaginary Bookshop in Greenfield will also present a book fair.

A variety of musical acts will be performing throughout the day, and you’ll hear a fun mix of tunes from local and touring musicians. Kids music has come a long way since the days of Barney.

One act you will not want to miss is The Rocking Puppies, the Greenfield-based punk duo of father and daughter Michael and Pema Crigler. The pair started making music together while stuck at home during the pandemic and eventually began playing their tunes for audiences. They soon won over fans with their high-energy shows. Pema, 8, is a natural rocker who can hold her own as a lead singer. “We are very excited to be playing Meltdown at Hawks & Reed,” Michael Crigler said. “This will be the first time we are playing this event.”

Their appearance at Meltdown is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting spring for the Rocking Puppies. They are gearing up for the release of their first album “Civilized Show-Off,” which will be followed by an album release show. They are also planning a small east-coast club tour and are also preparing for the launching of the The Rocking Puppies Fan Club.

Another local musician taking the stage at Meltdown is Liam Hurley, who performs as “Mr. Liam.” He plays drums and ukulele and puts a fun twist on some classic songs for kids. Then there is Marcy Gregoire, a performer and music educator who runs Under the Tree Music, who will lead the day’s closing ceremony. Also featured will be Tom Knight’s musical puppet show featuring silly puppets that sing about everything from jumping alligators to garbage monsters.

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All this music isn’t just about fun — there will also be some teaching and instruction happening.

Coming from Washington, D.C., will be Marsha Goodman-Wood of Marsha of the Positrons, a group that teaches science through entertaining songs. Marsha will be making her second visit to Meltdown, having first played the event in 2013. She calls her music ”kindie” — a mix of kids and indie rock — and specializes in fun, clever songs with titles like “Gravity Vacation” and “Hey Pluto” that are all about science and how the world works. I bet you will even learn what a Positron is during her set.

“This time, I’m not able to bring the Positrons from D.C.,” said Goodman-Wood. “But I will be joined on bass by Lloyd Miller of the DeedleDeedle Dees, who is also playing later in the day, and by local indie rocker, Candace Clement.” (Clement has played in such local bands as Bunny’s A Swine and All Feels.)

How does one get into singing about science?

Goodman-Wood is a former cognitive neuroscientist and says that a lot of her songs have come from conversations with her kids or with students. “I think of kids as natural scientists with lots of ‘why’ questions,” she said, “so some of the answers to those questions have become songs.”

Also playing at Meltdown will be the DeedleDeedle Dees, a Brooklyn-based band led by the aforementioned Lloyd Miller. This band, which has played Meltdown every year, draws from history, science and folklore in their music.

So you can expect a lot of music and a lot of fun packed into one day — and it’s all free.

Meltdown is a rain-or-shine event. There will be food on site from Cocina Lupita, Mohawk Falafel and Shawarma, Vegan Pizza Land, Bart’s Ice Cream, and other great local vendors.

You’ve probably noticed that the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls has been adding more nationally known touring acts to their calendar, and on Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m., the Shea will present the double bill of Robbie Fulks and Bill Kirchen.

Fulks came out of the Chicago music scene of the 1990s and started making his name in the alt-country world back when the term alt-country was just becoming commonly used. Some of you may remember his memorable 2000 Green River Festival performance — it was pouring rain that year and Fulks went wild playing on the wet stage. At one point, he was on his back, legs flailing in the air, looking like a turtle who had tipped over.

In 2017, Fulks released the highly acclaimed and Grammy-nominated album “Upland Stories,” and followed it up last year with “Bluegrass Vacation,” where he exhibited his love of bluegrass music. Over the years Fulks has been a frequent visitor to the Valley, delighting audiences with his always entertaining shows.

Kirchen, who is known as the “Titan of the Telecaster,” first made a name for himself in the 1960s as a co-founder of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After leaving that band, Kirchen went on to work with Nick Lowe before launching his solo career in the mid-1990s. His music is a mix of rockabilly, country, rock, and more. You might have caught his annual Christmas shows that would make a stop at the Iron Horse in Northampton.

This will be a memorable evening of music, so do take advantage of it.

I should also mention that the Whiskey Treaty Roadshow will be at the Shea on Friday night, April 12 at 8 p.m. The band is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and have played to enthusiastic crowds at the Shea in the past — and this show is close to selling out. Opening will be Peter Prince of Moon Boot Lover, a great guitarist and dynamic showman, so get there in time to catch his set.

Tickets for both shows are available at sheatheater.org.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.