Are We There Yet?: Finally, fun!

Berkshire County children are excited to (finally) be out of school after what turned out to be a really looooong year, thanks to lots of snow days plus a "no power day" in North Berkshire in May. But there is a group of kids probably really looking forward to school starting again in the fall: the kindergartners who will be the Class of 2027.

Whoa.

If you have one of them in your midst, bring 'em over to the Berkshire Museum this Saturday, June 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. for WeeMuse: Welcome to Kindergarten. Presented in partnership with Pittsfield’s Transition Team, the event is free and open to the community. Designed for children to experience with their parents or caregivers, children getting ready to start kindergarten can try taking a ride on a school bus or packing their backpack. Welcome to Kindergarten is an opportunity to take the “jitters” or anxiety some children may feel about starting school. Activities include model classrooms and activities that invite children and their parents to have a typical kindergarten experience. Adults can ask education staff questions they may have about the kindergarten registration process, child development milestones, and how to help their child be ready for school. Special performances, guests, and activities for the whole family will be part of the event. And while you are there, check out the live butterfly pavilion. It's pretty cool!

Also on Saturday, June 28, is one of many library programs being held around the region. I have talked many times before in this column about the role libraries play in the community, but during the summer, that's especially true. This year's summer reading program is "Fizz Boom Read," which ties together reading and science in many forms - like hula-hooping. Hey, it takes a lot of physical coordination to hula-hoop. Anatomy and Physiology 101. Anyway, the kids can hula-hoop at the Milne Library in Williamstown at 10:30 a.m. with Pinto Bella Hoops. I do not have the space in this column to mention all of the library programs in every town over the summer, but suffice it to say, they're out there if you look for them - and they are on our very own iBerkshires calendar page, too!

On Sunday, June 29, you have your choice of bouncy family fun in North County or a cultural and literary experience in South County. You be the judge!

From noon to 6 p.m., the Canal Street Family Fair will be held on Canal Street in North Adams. The fair will feature music, kids games, raffles, a Chinese auction, food, bouncy houses and independent retail vendors. All proceeds collected by the organizers will go directly to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children in Springfield. 

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Mount in Lenox, the home of Edith Wharton, will be open with free admission. You can tour the house, explore the gardens and trails, and enjoy the surroundings, and there will be activities throughout the day.

I don't know about you, but I plan on having an awesome Berkshire summer with my little one who is not so little anymore. At 8 she still wants to hang out with me. I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

Rebecca Dravis is the community editor at iBerkshires. She can be reached at rdravis@iberkshires.com.