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Weekend Outlook: Garlic Fest, Community Picnic, and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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There will be a variety of events in the Berkshires this weekend including a garlic festival, a community picnic, an artwalk, and more. 
 
Editor's Pick 
 
Garlic Town
Bennington, Vt. 
Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
 
Bennington is hosting its annual garlic festival this Saturday in celebration of all things garlic and agriculture.
 
Just 20 minutes from North County, the event will feature bands, beer, food trucks, and a curated group of more than 120 vendors.
 
The festival will run in two areas, or "cloves," on Main Street at the old Greenberg's and on Depot Street near Bennington Station. Participants can walk or take a shuttle between cloves. 
 
Tickets are $12; $5 for kids 12 and younger. For more information visit the website
 
Friday 
 
First Fridays Artswalk
Downtown Pittsfield 
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
 
It's the first Friday of the month, art enthusiasts know what that means — the city's First Friday Artwalk. 
 
The event features a dozen art shows and exhibits on view at venues around downtown Pittsfield. Most of the art is on display throughout Sept.
 
During the event, participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists. Download the Downtown Pittsfield Inc. app from the Google Play or App Store to get a virtual walking tour. 
 
Participating venues include Soma's Aromas, Clock Tower Artists, Marketplace Cafe, Witch Slapped, and more. 
 
 For a complete list of participating venues and artists visit the Art Walk website
 
FIRST Friday Community Picnic on Eagle Street
Historic Eagle Street, North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 
 
Historic Eagle Street will be closed to traffic to make room for music, food and events. Order takeout from a local restaurant or food truck and enjoy your meal with the community. 
 
The event features street games, live music, face painting, a bouncy house for kids, gallery openings, live music, shop specials, and more. 
 
More information here.
 
Saturday 
 
The Ice Cream Train
Hoosac Valley Train Ride
Time: 1 to 2 and 3:30 to 4:30 
 
Take a ride on the Hoosac Valley Train north and back to learn about the history of the region and tracks. 
 
The trip includes one ice cream voucher per ticket to redeem after the train returns to Adams. More information here
 
Second Street Second Chances Exhibit Opening
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield
 
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, Sept. 2 and remains on view through Sunday, Oct. 1.
 
Artists whose work is included in the exhibition will receive a cash award of $200, provided by 2nd Street, and a family membership to Berkshire Museum. 
 
If the artists choose, their works may be purchased by members of the public following the closing of the exhibition. In addition, 2nd Street has established a fund to acquire works for installation in its program space, located at 264 Second Street in Pittsfield.
 
More information here
 
'In the Round' Concert
The Guthrie Center, Great Barrington 
Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
 
Nonprofit, Music in Common, will present a live performance by four emerging local singer-songwriters. 
 
The performers, Katherine Winston, Bree, Glori Wilder, and Christine Bilé, will perform a variety of musical genres from pop, folk and R&B. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. 
 
More information here
 
First Saturday Open Studio
Clock Tower Artists, Pittsfield
Time: 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.  
 
Walk around and explore the studios of various artists involved in the Clock Tower Artists collaborative. Meet the artists, and maybe even acquire a piece of artwork to take with you. More information here
 
Sunday 
 
La Cocina Reunion 2023
Bounti Fare, Adams
Time: 2 p.m. 
 
Friends, former employees and patrons of La Cocina are invited to enjoy a day of food, music and social networking. 
 
Tickets cost $20 and kids 12 and under are free. Funds raised will benefit Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter and Kids4Harmony. 
 
More information here
 
Mini Maker Market
Greylock Works, North Adams
 
The market is a gathering of regional artisans that provides an opportunity for the community to connect and shop with local creatives. 
 
More information here
 
Farmer's Markets
 
North Adams Farmers Market
St. Anthony Municipal Parking Lot
Time: 9 to 1
 
The North Adams market is open every Saturday and offers produce and baked goods from local retailers including Red Shirt Farm, Fahey Family Farm, Bohemian Nouveaux Bakery, Mon Artistic Pets, and more. More information here
 
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common, Pittsfield
Time: 9 to 1. 
 
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine. 
 
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. For more information, visit the website.
 
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Time: 9 to 1. 
 
The market is open every Saturday.  Every week there will be locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors. More information here
 
Berkshire Area Farmers Market
Berkshire Mall parking lot, Lanesborough
Time: 8 to 2
 
The market is open every Saturday and features produce and products from Western Mass farms. More information here
 
Lenox Farmers Market
80 Church St., Lenox
Time: 11 to 3. 
 
This market is open every Friday and features fresh produce, breads, artisanal & specialty foods and crafts, and more. The market accepts SNAP. More information here

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Firm Chosen to Lead Study on 'Reconnecting' North Adams

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has selected a Boston firm to lead the $750,000 feasibility study of the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
 
Stoss Landscape Urbanism and its partners are charged with providing North Adams options for addressing the failing overpass to create a more connected and thriving downtown.
 
"The city of North Adams is thrilled to be working with Stoss and their partners to make sure that we make inform decisions about our future and that we explore every  opportunity to remedy disconnected traffic patterns downtown caused, in large part, by the Route 2 Overpass. It is imperative that, unlike the Urban Renewal programs of the past, we do so in an inclusive, collaborative way." said Mayor Jennifer Macksey in a statement announcing the selection. "We are excited by the possibility that this collaboration among the city, Stoss, Mass MoCA and NBCC will result in a truly transformative project that will benefit of the people of North Adams, surrounding communities and visitors to the city."
 
The city partnered with Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to apply for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The program is providing a $1 billion over the next five years for planning, construction and technical grants for communities affected by past infrastructure projects. 
 
Connecting the city's massive museum and its struggling downtown has been a challenge for 25 years. A major impediment, all agree, is the decades old Central Artery project that sent a four-lane highway through the heart of the city. 
 
The 171-foot span is in dire need of repair and deemed "structurally deficient" after the most recent inspection by the state Department of Transportation. A set of jersey barriers narrows the four-lane highway to two lanes at the midpoint. The last time it was overhauled was in 1992 with the federal government and state picking up the $2.1 million tab.
 
The museum and city are seeking options that include its possible removal and a reconfiguration of that busy traffic area. 
 
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