Berkshires Arts Festival Returns For 11th Year
More than 8,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s festival, an annual juried show that features more than 200 artists and artisans with exceptional original works for display and sale in ceramics, painting, jewelry, glass, wood, mixed media, sculpture, fashion, and photography. The producers of Berkshires Arts Festival are Richard and Joanna Rothbard, artistic directors of American Art Marketing and owners of An American Craftsman galleries with locations in New York City, Savannah, Ga., and Stockbridge.
Ski Butternut is located on Route 23 and the festival hours are: Friday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Featured performances and activities at the 11th Annual Berkshires Arts Festival include:
Friday, July 6
Straight Ahead, performing from 1 to 3 p.m. The jazz trio is composed of guitarist John Myers, who directs the jazz program for Bard College at Simon’s Rock, flugelhornist Karl Easton and bassist Pete Toigo.
Ryan Hollander, a solo acoustic guitarist playing vibrant and passionate folk and blues music.
Saturday, July 7
The Lucky 5, performing from noon to 3 p.m. The Lucky Five is a hot jazz and swing quintet that band brings verve, high energy, and an unpredictable impulse to the tradition of jazz music from the 1920s through the 1940s. The band is composed of Kip Beacco on guitar and vocals, Matt Downing on bass, Pete Adams on pedal steel guitar, and Jonathan Talbott and Lukas Schwartz on twin fiddles.
Ryan Hollander, a solo acoustic guitarist playing vibrant and passionate folk and blues music.
Alotta Hoopla, Hoop Dance Workshop from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Greenfield-based Alotta Hoopla, a hooping entertainment company, will demonstrate and perform hooping with handmade hoops of all sizes, weights and colors. Alotta Hoopla teaches the hoop dance through a variety of moves, exercises and technique, making it engaging, progressive, and accessible for all ages and abilities.
Sunday, July 8
Barrington Stage Company Youth Theatre, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Two performances of excerpts from the company’s productions of Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast” by the talented BSC Youth Theater, comprised of young Berkshire County actors, ages 13 to 19.
Admission to the Berkshires Arts Festival is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; $5 for students; and is free for children under 10. A weekend pass for the three-day festival is available for $13. Ample parking is available free of charge. The show will be held, rain or shine, under tents, outdoors, and in the air-conditioned lodge at Ski Butternut. Ample free parking is available. For more information about the festival, including a full list of exhibitors and works for sale, go to berkshiresartsfestival.com or call 845-355-2400.
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