It's not just ghosts and witches and mummies haunting Berkshire County neighborhoods during Halloween season anymore. Trick-or-treaters and party-goers are looking for a new look in 2007. This year, the hottest costumes have little to do with be frightening and a lot to do with being attention-grabbing.
In an unofficial survey performed by iBerkshires.com, area costume shops revealed what's been flying off the shelves this October and it's definitely not your traditional spooky garb.
Top Picks for Adults
According to Cheryl Borski, the purchasing manager at The Costumer in Albany, N.Y., and Kara Demler, the manager at Berkshire Masquearde in Pittsfield, the movies were a major inspiration for costumes this year. Some of the most popular items included:
* Costumes based on the film "300"
* Characters from the Will Ferrell/Jon Heder flick "Blades of Glory"
* Masks of Jason, the famed "Friday the 13th" villain
* Masks of Michael Myers, the "Halloween" killer (not the Austin Powers actor)
Other favorites in 2007:
* '20s-style gangsters and flappers
* '50s-inspired characters, including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and girls in poodle skirts
* Teletubbies
* Masks of Cavemen, a la the GEICO commercials and subsequent ABC sitcom
* Typical sexy girl costumes, such as "Hot Nurse," "Sexy Convict" and "Naughty Police Woman"
* A new line of Playboy-sponsored costumes - featuring such names as "Scandalous Pirate" and "Racy Referee" - were a hit at Spencer Gifts in the Berkshire Mall.
Top Picks for Children
The biggest seller for children this Halloween, undoubtedly, is the "Hannah Montana" costume, according to Borski and Demler.
"It's huge. We don't see the full costume but we've sold so many long blonde wigs," said Demler. Hannah Montana is the title character of a Disney Channel television show of the same name where a teenage girl (played by Miley Cyrus) is secretly a rock star.
Monique Suters at Persnickety in North Adams said pirates and princesses are the big sellers at her store.
Other must-haves for kids are:
* Disney Princesses and other Disney costumes, like Tinkerbell
* Pirates
* Star Wars characters
* Harry Potter and other characters from the popular book series
* Power Rangers
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Dalton Day Returns This Saturday
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's popular Dalton Day festival is returning this weekend after a year's hiatus.
The event will kick off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. in the field in front of the Senior Center.
The community celebration was established in 2023 by the Cultural Council in an effort to increase resident participation at town meetings while also showcasing the area's welcoming, diverse, artistic and sporty atmosphere. In 2024, the event brought together 300 residents.
"The primary mission of Dalton Day is to foster a strong sense of community, build civic pride, and bring residents together through a shared celebration of local culture, music, and food," said Jeannie Ingram, Select Board member and cultural council chair, and Lori Venezia, executive assistant to the town manager.
The event provides an accessible and free platform for "civic education, community bonding, and supporting local businesses, artisans, makers, and culture more broadly," they said.
The festival strengthens the fabric of the town both civically and economically by connecting grassroots organizations with residents, fostering a shared sense of belonging, and providing free, family-friendly entertainment.
It also serves as an opportunity for community members to meet with local officials and a couple of state officials. State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Leigh Davis will be coming from Beacon Hill to speak at the event.
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