Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this hot sunny weekend including pride nights, fundraising events, museum activities, and more.
North Adams PRIDE Night
Friday, June 24, Mass MoCA
North Adams holds second annual Pride night this Friday at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to recognize the 1969 Stonewall riots and raise awareness of equality for the LGBTQIA-plus community.
The event will be held at 6 p.m. in courtyard A at Mass MoCA and will be free and open to the public. There will be performances by Boxxa Vine and local drag queens Vuronika Baked and Jackie Leggs and attendees can purchase cocktails and food from Chingon Taco Truck and Door Prize.
"Pride Month is more than just hanging inclusive flags, it's about bringing the North Adams community and businesses together for a new tradition … to shine a light on the LGBTQIA groups in the region," Mass MoCA quoted The North Adams Pride Committee.
The North Adams Pride Committee organized the event that was made possible thanks to Mass MoCA, North Adams Chamber of Commerce, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition, Bright Ideas Brewing, Bear & Bee Bookstore, Common Folk Artist Collective, Savvy Hive, Terra Vintage, Chingón Taco Truck, Door Prize, Full Well Farm, and The Plant Connector.
Berkshire Rainbow Seniors and Berkshire Pride will be concluding pride month with a community picnic at the Pittsfield State Forest Lodge where the LGBTQIA-plus community and allies are encouraged to join them for an intergenerational focus.
Multiple community organizations focused on youth have been invited to participate and a boxed lunch will be provided.
Curator of Japanese Art at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and author of the book "Tattoos in Japanese Prints" Sarah E. Thompson will be speaking at the opening celebration of the "Living Ink: The Art of Tattoos" exhibit this Saturday.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Thompson's presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Participants will get a chance to get a temporary tattoo; there will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available.
General admission is $25 or $20 for members. Each ticket comes with drink ticket.
After a two-year hiatus, Bidwell House Museum is bringing back its Country Fair in celebration of the history of Monterey.
The fair runs from noon to 4; although the house is not open for tours, there will be a variety of activities during this community event.
Participants can view demonstrations including stone carving, timber framing and sawing, and blacksmithing while listening to music by Oakes and Smith and Paula Bradley.
Various family-friendly activities will include wool spinning, crafts, a scavenger hunt and more.
Flour Bin Catering and SoCo Ice Cream will be on-site selling food and free lemonade and watermelon.
Mount Greylock State Reservation hosts its annual Firefly Frolic this Friday in an effort to inspire children to respect nature and handle living creatures with care.
The reservation will kick off the event with a game designed to help instill these values in the Mount Greylock Visitor Center at 8:30 p.m.
This free program is open to all ages but children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration for the game is free and is first-come, first serve.
Up to 35 can participate in the game and indoor program that will teach safe "catch and release" methods for approximately 45 minutes and take a short walk in the lower fields to see nature's light show.
The reservation requests that individuals dress appropriately for the evening and to bring a flashlight or blue light headlamp. If you choose to wear bug spray do not handle any of the fireflies because it may harm them.
Participants can bring a small butterfly net but glass jars or any collection devices are prohibited.
For more information about the program call the Visitor Center at 413-499-4262.
Relay For Life of Berkshire County
Saturday, June 25, Guardian Life
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, held to honor and remember loved ones who struggled with cancer and raise funds for research and support, returns this year at Guardian Life's campus at 700 South St., Pittsfield.
The event starts at 10 a.m. and participants will have the opportunity to cheer for local survivors in the first lap of the day.
Local entertainers will help keep the energy high and, as it gets dark, luminaria bags that surround the track will be lighted.
The event will conclude at 10 p.m. For more information visit the Relay For Life website.
Burgers, Baseball and a Band
Saturday, June 25, Flat Burger Society
The Flat Burger Society, located at 75 North St., is hosting a fundraiser for the Wahconah Park Stadium and field supplies in collaboration with Berkshire Roots.
The event will start at 8 p.m. and will consist of live music from the Mid Life Crisis band and some Berkshire Roots staff chipping in to sing a few songs.
Space is limited and all attendees, over the age of 21, will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a gift card to Flat Burger, a special Berkshire Roots goodie bag, and two sets of tickets to the Pittsfield Suns' remaining home games.
Tickets cost $15 for advanced purchasing and $20 at the door. RSVP for the event here and more information here.
Farmers' Markets
Lenox Farmer's Market
80 Church St., Lenox
The market will be open in its new location 80 Church Street, formerly the Cafe Lucia, this Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Participants can pursue local vendors while enjoying food and listening to music.
The Sheffield Farmers' Market is open this Friday from 3 until 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church located at 125 Main St.
The market will feature healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors in an attempt to nourish the community by protecting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through Oct. 8.
Each week the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods by local vendors. Participants can shop for flowers, and artisan goods while listening to music and participate in family activities.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Retired Clarksburg Police Chief Reflects on Career
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Michael Williams signed off shift for the final time on Friday after nearly 40 years as a police officer in Clarksburg.
He retired 100 years after the Police Department was established with the appointment of Police Chief George Warren Hall of Briggsville, a former constable and a selectmen.
Williams joined the force on a "fluke" as a part-time officer in 1985 and became chief in 2003. Like in many small towns, public employees tend to wear many hats and take on outside tasks and the chief gradually took on other duties ranging from emergency management director to backup town treasurer.
During his tenure, he saw the police offices in lower level of Town Hall remodeled to provide safer and more efficient use for officers and the public, the police garage redone and new cruisers put on the road. Williams has also seen changes in policing from mainly catching speeders when he first signed on to issues with domestic abuse and drug use.
The police force itself had dwindled down from six to eight officers and a sergeant to the chief and one part-time officer. With Williams' departure on Friday, the Clarksburg Police Department ceased to exist for the first time in decades.
The Select Board last week voted to suspend operations and rely on the State Police for coverage, but have already asked if Williams could continue in some a part-time capacity.
His last official act as chief was escorting the remains of a World War II casualty missing for 82 years.
He retired 100 years after the Police Department was established with the appointment of Police Chief George Warren Hall of Briggsville, a former constable and a selectmen.
click for more
The crowd at 3 West at the Norad Mill were gathered to do some business, hear about the work being done by some of the 20 member agencies, and set a fundraising goal for next year of $475,000. click for more
West Dews ran for 137 yards, Landon Corcoran made big plays down the stretch and the Wahconah defense made the biggest stop of the night to stymie a comeback drive in the closing minutes of a 22-18 win over rival Hoosac Valley on Friday night.
click for more