PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has had its ups and downs over the last decade but one thing has remained constant — Third Thursday.

 

Put on by the city's Office of Cultural Development, the street fair is held monthly throughout the summer is still going strong. At July's event, the organizers celebrated the 10 year anniversary.

 

"They come out through all of it and says 'this is our city.' It uplifts the community. It brings the city together. It's a great showing of community spirit in a half-mile radius," Director of Cultural Development Jen Glockner said.

 

Glockner and Office of Cultural Development Administrative Assistant Shiobbean Lemme rolled out a 65-foot banner honoring the anniversary. The annual ethnic fair was also wrapped into the event. The organizers handed out free cupcakes and stickers. Berkshire Young Professionals held a scavenger hunt. And Artscape unveiled the Paintboxes, a program in which local artists were commissioned to re-paint utility boxes in the downtown. All of that was to celebrate 10 years since the street fair's inception.

 

"Since Day 1 it has continued with a community feel. It is a community event featuring food, nonprofits, retail, music, performance of any kind. It just highlights Pittsfield," Glockner said.

 

The downtown street fair was started in 2006 by former Director of Cultural Development Megan Whilden in tandem with then Mayor James Ruberto. The concept was based on the city's history of General Electric workers getting their paychecks on Thursday and hanging out and visiting shops on North Street. Thousands of workers would crowd the street.

 

"Thursday night was the GE payday and that's what Megan and Mayor Ruberto said let's get people out Thursday night again, downtown. It started with downtown partners getting involved. I think a little bit of how it has evolved is the reason supporters of this event now are the vendors. The vendors have grown. We are up to almost 150 vendors and I think in the beginning it was 20 or 30," Glockner said

 

In the first year, the street remained opened and vendors set up on the sidewalks. After a few years, it became so popular the administration opted to start closing the road.

 

In more recent years, sections of North Street have been under construction and former Mayor Daniel Bianchi nearly canceled it in 2012 because of the ongoing work. But, ultimately he reversed his decision and worked with the construction companies in subsequent years to ease congestion to keep the event going. Current Mayor Linda Tyer took the reins and in the final year of North Street's reconstruction, she, too, has kept the event going by working with the construction crews. 

 

Days after Bianchi reversed his decision and opted to continue the event, a melee broke out in the first fair of that year leading the police to make multiple arrests. 

 

But none of those dark moments in the event's history made a difference this Thursday. Again, thousands of people descended on North Street to hear local bands, taste food from vendors from all over the region, preview Shakespeare in the Park, purchase goods from vendors, and spend time with friends and family. The monthly summer festival has shown a resiliency that few other events would have. 

 

"Through every thing Pittsfield has been through, Third Thursday shows residents and visitors what an amazing community this is," Glockner said.

 

Not only has the event grown in vendors and attendees, nonprofits have been jumping on board for fundraisers. Such events as the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to raise money for Elizabeth Freeman Center and other charity events have found a place during the street fair.

 

During election season, candidates for state and local office make sure to find their way to North Street and it's where signatures for ballot questions are collected. Local bands are booked to play at a number of stages. It's where businesses hand out balloons and other swag. Theater groups give previews of their shows. Rides are set up for children. There is face painting. There are balloon animals. The are health and social service agencies handing sharing information. And there is food, beer and performance art. 

 

"It has just grown; it exploded. We now get calls from people around the county and even in Springfield there was someone who just called that asked 'how can I be a part of this?'" Glockner said. "It is a free event for the community. It is for them to come out in one night, over the course of three hours to see what is available in the area."

 

Glockner says it is only going to get better. The next step is to try to incorporate North Street restaurants even more — the eateries are difficult to get a table at after the event as it is. This year she piloted getting one-day liquor licenses for restaurants to have outdoor seating. 

 

"We want to get the downtown restaurants and businesses again involved," Glockner said.

 

The message the 10th anniversary says about Pittsfield is "arts and culture are alive and well," she said.