Berkshire County and the surrounding areas are having a variety of events this weekend including First Friday festivities, comedy, live music, and more.
Editor's Pick
First Friday
Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Shake off the winter blues with this month's First Friday Festivities centered around the theme "Cabin Fever."
The event features a variety of activities including local business bingo, girl scout cookie table, pizza and pajama party, live music, crafts, and more.
Dress on glittery gowns, sparkling accessories and dance to spins by DJ BFG, who will curate a playlist of classic diva anthems and contemporary beats including Beyonce's "Break My Soul," Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," and Britney Spears' "Toxic."
A free, opening reception to celebrate the opening of Community Access to the Arts (CATA) and Berkshire Botanical Garden's 30-plus works exhibit.
The exhibit features a collection of paintings, drawings, photographs, and collages inspired by nature, created by artists with disabilities. It will be on display Tuesdays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m until March 24.
Explore the rolling landscape at Greylock Glen, at the foot of Mount Greylock, with an "easy" hike led by Hilltown Hikers Liz Massa.
These free easy-paced, 1 to 3-mile guided hikes are geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Meeting location is the South Bellows Trail Parking Area at the end of Gould Road.
Dress in your best 90's themed outfit and dance to some of the 90's classic hits during this dance party. There is a $5 cover charge. More information here.
ZipStohr's Comedy
Holiday Inn & Suites, Pittsfield
Time: 8 p.m.
Comics Sean Donnelly, Bret Raybould, and Gary Sharp will be performing. Tickets range from $35 to $315. More information here.
Dr. Seuss Birthday Party
Springfield Museums
Time: 10 to 5 p.m.
The museum will be celebrating the 150th birthday of children's author and Springfield-native Theodor Seuss Geisel with free admission.
The event features meet and greets with some of Seuss's characters including The Cat in a Hat and the Lorax, puzzles, a reading of "The Cat in the Hat," balloon animal, crafts, and more.
Entry to the Dr. Seuss Museum is limited and will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Welcome Center on the day of the event.
Local musician Brian Benlien will be performing. Call the pub to make a reservation (413) 243-2662. Information here.
Like Magic: Screening Series
Mass MoCA, North Adams
Time: 2 p.m.
The contemporary art museum will be having the first in a series of screenings of short videos by artists and filmmakers addressing technologies of magic. This screening will feature films by Adrian Garcia Gomez, Colectivo Los Ingrávidos, and Bi Gan.
This event is free with museum admission. More information here.
Drag Story Hour Launch Party
34 Depot St., Pittsfield
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
Berkshire Pride will be celebrating the launch of Drag Storyhour Berkshires which celebrates reading through drag.
This is part of the nonprofit Drag Story Hour which "creates diverse, accessible, and culturally-inclusive family programming where kids can express their authentic selves and become bright lights of change in their communities."
First Child in the Woods: Caregiver and Infant/Young Child Walk
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
During this hour-long hike children from birth to 5 years old can discover the natural world around them. Admission is $5 but first time participants receive free admission. More information here.
Sunday
First Sunday Free Clark
The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
The Clark Art is offering free admission to the galleries, special exhibitions, and activities. This First Friday theme is "Center Stage."
The event will feature activities including crafting, an original theatrical performance, a pop-up installation of theater-inspired prints and drawings, and more.
Participants can transform a box into a miniature theater using special images from the Clark's collection, and create a comedy or tragedy mask.
Support the Cheshire Fire Department by attending a pancake breakfast. The breakfast does have a gluten free option available.
Admission is $12 for anyone 12 and older and $8 for children 6 to 11. Children 5 and under are free. More information here.
Livio Gravini Performance
Zinky's Pub, Dalton
Time: 2 p.m.
Chicopee songwriter Livio Gravini will be performing. His songwriting style reflects the cultural roots of blues and rock 'n' roll. More information here.
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has a "conservative" budget for fiscal year 2025 with a nearly 6 percent increase.
On Thursday, the commission approved a $6,640,005 budget for FY25, a $373,990 increase from the previous year. The spending plan saw less growth from FY24 to FY25, as the FY23 to FY24 increase was more than $886,000, or over 16 percent.
Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said there aren't any dramatic changes.
"This is very much different than a municipal budget in that it's not a controlling budget or a limiting budget," he said. "It is really just our best estimate of our ability to afford to operate."
The increase is largely due to new grants for public health programs, environmental and energy efforts, economic development, community planning, and the transportation program.
"We have a lot of grants and a lot of applications in. If any of those are awarded, which I'm sure there's going to be many of them, we would shift gears and if we have to add staff or direct expenses, we would," office manager Marianne Sniezek explained.
"But the budget that we have now is conservative and it covers all our expenses."
The budget was endorsed by the finance and executive committee before reaching the full planning commission.
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