Berkshires County has a variety of events this cloudy hot weekend including craft fairs, plays, and comedy nights.
Third Thursday
The Common, Pittsfield
Downtown Pittsfield concludes the Third Thursday season this Thursday, August 18, with a "Love Pittsfield" theme.
The event includes snowcones, giveaways, a bounce house, vendors, food truck and performances by Zumba with Berkshire Pulse and Trio Candela.
The festivities will start at 4:30 p.m. In collaboration with Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, there will be a free performance of "The Comedy of Errors" at 8 p.m.
PSP's The Comedy of Errors
The Common, Pittsfield
Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park will not just be performing "The Comedy of Errors" during Third Thursday.
It will also be having free showings this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 7 p.m. in the Common.
Children and families are invited to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to watch the play about mistaken identity.
In the case of rain, the performance will be moved next door to the Zion Lutheran Church.
Egremont Barn's Comedy Night
17 Main St., South Egremont
Humorist Rodney Norman appears at the Barn this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. His videos have garnered millions of views worldwide. The evening is hosted by Jenny Rubin and features comedians Andy Pitz and Will Purpura.
The Community Recreation Association will hold its annual Crane Paper Sale from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, in the CRA gym, located at 400 Main St.
The event offers stationery, Christmas cards, invitations, and announcements at deep discounts.
A separate event for artists, designers, printers, and teachers interested in flat paper stock, artisan stock, and bulk cartons of envelopes will be held between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday at the warehouse in Ashuelot Park on South Street.
Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable shopping bags. All proceeds from the sale support the nonprofit CRA's youth, recreational, and wellness programs.
More information here or contact the CRA at 684-0260.
30th Annual Stockbridge Summer Arts & Craft Show
Town Offices and Bidwell Park, Stockbridge
Annual Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts Show returns this Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of the Town Offices and at Bidwell Park, located at 50 Main St.
This free event features more than 70 artists and crafters displaying their work. There will also be vendors selling jewelry, food, and more. The event starts at 10 a.m. and will run until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The Norman Rockwell Museum is having its annual Art of Brewing Festival featuring samples from local breweries and restaurants starting at 1 p.m. this Saturday, August 20.
Tickets cost $20 for members, and $35 for non-members, plus a processing fee. General admission to the museum and commemorative pint glass are included in the price.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars will be hosting a dance this Saturday starting at 9 p.m.
There will be drinks available for purchase. Information here.
The Granite State Sky Riders
Harriman & West Airport, North Adams
Harriman & West Airport is hosting the Granite State Sky Riders this Saturday starting at 3 p.m.
People are invited to watch the powered parachutes and paragliders and interact with the pilots. There will be ice cream available for purchase from Mr. Ding-A-Ling's truck.
Bright Ideas Brewing will be hosting a comedy performance by Myq Kaplan this Saturday starting at 8 p.m.
Kaplan has appeared on a number of popular talk shows and is known for his standup specials "Small, Dork, and Handsome," which are available on Amazon. He also has two podcasts, "The Faucet" and "Broccoli and Ice Cream".
The Flat Burger Society will be hosting a comedic performance by Adrienne Iapalucci this Saturday starting at 8 p.m.
Iapalucci is an award-winning comedian, writer, and podcast host who has been part of a variety of competitions and has been featured on talk shows including "The Late Show with David Letterman."
For this adult comedy show, all attendees should be 18+ years of age and tickets cost $20 per person. If participants want dinner during the show they need to arrive at least 1 hour prior to the start time.
The Clark will be hosting a free performance by local indie pop artist Ciarra Fragale this Friday at the Lunder Center Moltz Terrace starting at 6 p.m.
Fragale has performed at various venues in Western Massachusetts and is a member of the Common Folk Artist Collective.
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.
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Pittsfield Tax Rate May Drop But Bills Rise
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Peter Marchetti has proposed a decrease in the city's tax rate but because of rising property values, the average homeowner will see an annual increase of more than $350.
There will be a tax classification hearing during Tuesday's City Council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.
For fiscal year 2025, the first-year mayor has put forward a residential tax rate of $17.94 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial, industrial and personal property tax rate of $37.96 per $1,000 of valuation.
The rates use a residential factor of 0.827103 at a shift of 1.75 to the commercial side.
The $114,615,097 levy limit for fiscal 2025 includes $2,726,686 in new growth, a 4.72 percent increase from the previous year. Pittsfield's real and personal property valuation is $5,270,539,121.
In one year, the average residential property value has increased by $27,377, the median residential property by $22,850, and the median commercial property by $12,750.
The proposed residential rate is 51 cents lower than FY24 and the proposed commercial rate decreased by $1.65. In FY25, the average single-family home is valued at $295,291 for a tax bill of $5,297.52 annually, compared to the average FY24 home valued at $267,914, which paid $4,943.01.
The 7.17 percent increase would shake up to about $30 additional dollars per month for homeowners. The bill hike is less than FY24, which raised annual taxes by $397.82 for the average homeowner.
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