iBerkshires.com - The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.

'THE NUTCRACKER' AT THE COLONIAL THEATER
Pittsfield, 1:30 pm

Tickets for the 50th annual production of Albany Berkshire Ballet's "The Nutcracker" are available now through The Colonial Theater box office by calling (413) 997-4444, with options for both in-person and online purchases at www.albanyberkshireballet.org/nutcracker-2024.

'ANNIE' AT THE MAC CENTER

Vermont, 2 & 7 p.m.

The Monument Arts & Cultural Center presents the Broadway hit show "Annie" for the holiday season. Featuring children from the surrounding area in the roles of the orphans and Annie herself, performances will run Dec. 5-8 and 12-14.

Tickets and showtimes available at www.MonumentCenterVT.org.

DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD FESTIVE FROLIC
Pittsfield, 5 - 8 p.m.

Downtown Pittsfield Festive Frolic: Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7

Saturday, December 7:

12-3PM: European Holiday Market on Dunham Mall

12-3PM: Free Photo Ops with Santa on Dunham Mall

12-2:30PM: Free Kids’ Paint & Sip at St. Stephen’s Church

11AM-5PM: Berkshire Holiday Bazaar at Holiday Inn & Suites

1-5PM: Tinsel and Bling Holiday Art Opening with the Clock Tower Artists

12-3PM: Free Drop-In Art Making at Berkshire Art Center

12-3PM: Free Create Your Own Star Ornaments at Peace Train Tees

11:30AM-2:30PM: Free Build Your Own Cotton Ball Snowman at Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery

12-3PM: Free Holiday Card Making Drop-in at the Berkshire Athenaeum

12-3PM: Free Festive Bookmark Making Drop-in for Adults at the Berkshire Athenaeum

10AM-2PM: Oral History Event at the Berkshire Athenaeum

12-3PM: Free Holiday Pot Decorating at The Plant Connector; Kids’ mini winter-themed terrariums for $12.

1-2PM: Free Class: Balloon Twist for Beginners at Nene’s Deco

12-3PM: Free Photo Frame Decorating at Witch Slapped

See full details at https://downtownpittsfield.com/2024/11/festive-frolic-in-downtown-pittsfield-dec-6-7

'THE NUTCRACKER' AT THE COLONIAL THEATER
Pittsfield, 5 pm

35TH ANNUAL STOCKBRIDGE MAIN ST AT CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONCERT AND GROUP SING-ALONG

Stockbridge, 5:00 pm

Join us for the 35th Annual Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Holiday Concert and Group Sing-Along featuring The Berkshire Bach Players at the First Congregational Church Stockbridge.

A Baroque lite program, including a Christmas Concerto. Some of the most beautiful and enduring pieces of all time by Bach and Handel. A bit of violin pyrotechnics from a composer inspired by his Baroque models. AND a rousing sing-along, including Hallelujah! from Handel's oratorio Messiah.

Tickets are $40 per person. Tickets here: https://stockbridgechamber.org/visit/stockbridge-main-street-at-christmas/

Program benefits the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce.

DALTON TREE LIGHTING
Dalton, 5:00pm

Dalton's festivities begin at 5:00pm on Saturday, Dec. 7, and conclude with the tree lighting at 8. Santa will be making stops around town.

MOVIE NIGHT FOR ADULTS

Becket, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

The movie with the most votes as of noon on November 30 will be shown Movie starts at 7pm Popcorn, candy, & non-alcoholic beverages provided You're welcome to bring your beverage of choice (including alcohol) Older children, 13+, may come with an adult at the discretion of their guardian Masks optional. RSVP appreciated @BecketAthenaeum

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Lenox, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Breakfast With Santa at the United Methodist Church of Lenox on December 7th from 9:00am-10:30am. Join us for a morning with breakfast, crafts, picture opportunities, and Santa arriving on a fire truck with his friends. This is a free event (dentations welcomed). Come join the fun!

ST. MARY'S CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

Cheshire, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

White Elephant Tag Sale
Christmas Crafts & Gifts
Santa's Cafe - Polish, Italian, American, & More!
Baked Goods & Candy
Jewelry
Religious Goods
Adult & Children's Chance Auctions
Money Raffle
Scratch Ticket Raffle
Large Item Raffles - Cord of Wood, Generator, & More!
50/50 to benefit the Cheshire Food Pantry!

Join us for a live auction featuring local gift certificates, items, a pallet of pellets, 100 gallons of fuel oil, & more! This auction is fun and an easy way to start if you have never been to an auction before!

Food will be available along with leftover White Elephant tag sale items from the day before!

SAVOY CRAFT FAIR & BAKE SALE

Savoy, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

SAVOY CRAFT FAIR & BAKE SALE TO BENEFIT THE HILLTOWN HOSE COMPANY.

It's that time of year again when we're gearing up for our annual Craft Fair & Bake Sale to benefit Savoy's volunteer fire department. When: 12/7/24 9:00 am. - 3:00pm Where: 17 Center Road Savoy, MA Come and see what our hilltown vendors have to offer.

PHOTO OPS WITH SANTA (FESTIVE FROLIC JUNIOR)
Pittsfield, Noon to 3 p.m.

Santa will be outside on Dunham Mall near City Hall welcoming children and families to visit with him and take photos! Please bring your own camera or cell phone to capture your own photos of this special moment. There will not be a photographer on site.

This event is a part of the Festive Frolic Junior which is happening on Saturday, December 7 from 12 to 3 pm. For a full event listing, visit downtownpittsfield.com/2024/11/festive-frolic-in-downtown-pittsfield-dec-6-7

OUTDOOR EUROPEAN HOLIDAY MARKET
Pittsfield, Noon to 3 p.m.

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will host a European Holiday Market outside on Dunham Mall (100 North Street) from 12 to 3 pm on Saturday, December 7. Vendors include Baked Pastries & More, Birdseye Woodcrafts, Holmes Candle Co., Maria Ortiz, MasonAiry Craft Co., Mountain Girl Farm, Inc, St. Eithne Rd., and xtwii. Shop baked goods, handmade earrings and winter hats, hand-crafted goat milk soap, small batch candles, fine custom wood cutting boards, crystals and original artwork, and pre-Columbian art and jewelry.

PLAY WHERE’S WINSTON' DEC. 7 – JAN. 3
Pittsfield

Play Where’s Winston? Saturday, December 7, 2024 through Friday, January 3, 2025!

How to play: Go to the Children’s Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum to pick up your Game Card. Then go to the locations on the Game Card, find the Winston posters, and write down the words. Bring your Game Card back to the Children’s Library to claim your prizes! (Library is closed Sundays)

Children who find any 2 words will win a Winston Sticker.

Children who find any 6 words will win a Winter Winston Pin.

All children who turn in their Game Card to the Children’s Library will be entered to win a Winston plushie! Each word found counts as a chance to win a Winston.

Stickers and pins will be available while supplies last and no purchase is required. Be sure to review the business hours of participating locations before you begin your search!

Game cards will be available starting Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Preview the locations now at downtownpittsfield.com/2024/11/play-wheres-winston-dec-7-jan-3

Winston Art by Jay Miller!

SUNDAY - DECEMBER 08, 2024

'THE NUTCRACKER' AT THE COLONIAL THEATER
Pittsfield, 1 pm

OPENING RECEPTION: MEMORIES IN WATERCOLOR BY MARGUERITE BRIDE
Pittsfield, 10 a.m. to Noon

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework will feature Memories in Watercolor by Marguerite Bride, December 8 through December 23 at Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (437 North Street).

Memories in Watercolor is comprised of favorite scenes, both originals and fine art reproductions, that Marguerite Bride has painted over the years of the Berkshires and nearby regions. In the spring of 2025, after 30 years of living in the paradise that is the Berkshires, Bride will be taking on a new adventure and moving to Plymouth, New Hampshire. This show is a reflection by Bride on her memories since 1995, when she moved here from the Boston burbs, and started painting our idyllic Berkshires.

For more information, on Marguerite Bride visit Margebride-Paintings.com; and for more information on Memories in Watercolor presented by Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., call Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at 413-443-6501.

2ND ANNUAL COOKIES & COCOA WITH THE CLAUSES AT CHRISSEY FARM

Great Barrington, 10am-12pm

Crissey Farm and Drag Story Hour Berkshires are thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual Cookies & Cocoa with the Clauses event, in partnership with Cakes in the Wild, and The Bookloft. This fun, family-friendly event will take place on Sunday, December 8, 2024, with two sessions at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington, MA.

This year’s event will bring holiday magic to the Berkshires with:

Santa and Mrs. Claus – Presented by Drag Story Hour, families can meet the Clauses, take photos, and enjoy holiday cheer.
Cookie Decorating – Cakes in the Wild will provide delicious, freshly baked cookies for kids to decorate.
Hot Cocoa – Warm up with a cozy cup of cocoa, provided by Barrington Brewery.
Storytime – Enjoy classic holiday stories read aloud, spreading the joy of the season.
Book Giveaway – Each child will receive a gently used holiday book to take home and continue the tradition of holiday reading.

Additionally, The Bookloft will have a special table with books, crafts, and holiday items available for purchase, and every child attending the event will receive a coupon to spend at their store. This is a great way to support a local bookstore while nurturing children’s love for reading!

“Cookies & Cocoa with the Clauses is about bringing families together to celebrate the season in a joyful and inclusive environment,” said Poppy DaBubbly, Chapter Director of Drag Story Hour Berkshires. “We’re excited to collaborate with amazing local businesses to make this year’s event even more special.”

Cost: $20 kids, $5 adults. Tickets available at www.crisseyfarm.com

426 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington

HOLIDAY MARKET

Great Barrington, 10am-3pm

Delightful & Delectable Holiday Market, best of the berkshires's handmade gifts and delicious giftable treats. St. James Place.

'ANNIE' AT THE MAC CENTER

Vermont, 2 & 7 p.m.

Tickets and showtimes available at www.MonumentCenterVT.org.

DEWEY HALL: STAGED READING OF REPLACING PRANCER
Sheffield, 3 pm

Dewey Hall and The Foundry are co-producing a staged reading of a new Christmas play by Tom Truss called Replacing Prancer. Tickets are $10. Children 12 and under are free.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE TREE LIGHTING
W. Stockbridge, 4:30pm-6:00pm

West Stockbridge's annual "Sparkles" event hosted by the town's Parks & Recreation will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 4:30 to 6 p.m, with the tree lighting at 5. Join the parade from Congregational Church to Town Hall for music, and gifts from Santa.

ST. MARY'S LIVE AUCTION

Cheshire, Noon

TUESDAY - DECEMBER 10, 2024

BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUP @BECKETATHENAEUM

Becket, 10 to 11 a.m.

Circle time, stories, movement, music and play for kids birth through age 3. Siblings are always welcome. Coffee and tea for caregivers, snacks for kids. Masks optional.

RSVP appreciated.

CLARK ART LECTURE ON DOLLS AND MODERN GERMAN CULTURE
Amherst, 5 pm

The Clark Art Institute’s Research and Academic Program presents a talk by Christophe Koné (associate professor of German and director of the Oakley Center for Humanities and Social Sciences at Williams College) on his new book, "Uncanny Creatures: Doll Thinking in Modern German Culture." The event is free, and will take place in Manton Research Center.

ADVOCACY 101: HOW TO BE THE BEST ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD
Northampton, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

This workshop led by Alison Greene will teach you the ins and outs of advocating for your child: How to be more successful by focusing on the most impactful activities that will result in quality supports and services for your child. Learn the processes that turn the wheels of special education, as well as tips for maintaining both a good relationship with the school and high standards for your child.

WEDNESDAY - DECEMBER 11, 2024

TUNNEL CITY WRITERS GROUP SHOWCASE

North Adams, 5:30 p.m.

Visit the North Adams Public Library to join the Tunnel City Writers Group for a free evening of original poetry & prose! Readers include:
Deborah Brown
Adrian Dunn
Jennifer Glaser
William Oberst
Rose Oliver
Dianne Olsen
Sarah Sutro 3rd floor community room. All are welcome. Any questions, please email Assistant Library Director Ryan Miller at rmiller@northadams-ma.gov, or give us a call at (413) 662-3133. The North Adams Public Library is located at 74 Church Street, North Adams, MA, 01247.

HOW TO RECOVER FROM A TICK BITE AND POSSIBLE INFECTION

Pittsfield, 6 p.m.

Berkshire Lyme Alliance Public Meeting Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield Library) Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Ground Floor Auditorium, 6 PM 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, Mass. 01201 Tick borne illness is now a pandemic. Ticks are active on warmer days during winter. 68% of ticks, of any size, now carry disease; one hundred strains of Lyme disease in the US as well as over 350 possible co-infections. Learn where to send a tick in for analysis, the best testing available if you become infected to see what you have been infected with and the best treatments for healing. We at the alliance are healing and you can too. We also have tips everyone should know on how to protect you and your loved ones from tick bites and the deadly bacterial diseases many ticks carry, because unlike other diseases that affect percentages of population Lyme Disease and Co-Infections threaten all of us. Contact: Elizabeth Kulas 413-443-5348 All Are Welcome First to Arrive Wins A Door Prize

BERKSHIRE GREEN DRINKS
Pittsfield, 6 pm

Join Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for their final Green Drinks presentation of 2024, where BEAT staff will talk about the organization's work of this past year and explore what comes next as the new year approaches. Registration is required to attend this virtual event. Register at https://tinyurl.com/Dec2024-Berks-Green-Drinks.

THURSDAY - DECEMBER 12, 2024

CURATING YIDDISH CULTURE WITH DAVID MAZOWER

Amherst, 7 p.m.

Free online talk | Thursday, December 12, 7:00 p.m. ET, on Zoom

Join us for a talk with David Mazower, the Yiddish Book Center’s research bibliographer and the chief curator and writer of the Center’s acclaimed permanent exhibition, Yiddish: A Global Culture. David will share his favorite objects and images from the exhibition, stories of the search for original artifacts, and reflections on how the exhibition speaks to us about the past, present, and future of Yiddish culture and community.

'ANNIE' AT THE MAC CENTER

Vermont, 7 p.m.

Tickets and showtimes available at www.MonumentCenterVT.org.