image description — This year's tree lighting in North Adams will be held virtually because of the pandemic restrictions.

North Adams Plans Virtual Tree Lighting

11:52AM / Saturday, November 21, 2020Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams' holiday tree lighting will have a different look this year.

The annual event, which kicks off the holiday season in the city, will be held virtually beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. We respectfully ask that instead of gathering downtown, community members join the celebration by tuning into a special broadcast event in order to limit public gathering as part of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual tree lighting event will be broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television (NBCTC) channel 1301 and livestreamed on iBerkshires.com.

Mayor Thomas Bernard will kick off the event with an in-studio holiday message, joined by a special guest. Afterward, the ceremonial switch will be thrown, lighting up the holiday trees and Main Street. Following the tree lighting local favorite Rebel Beat Sound System will spin holiday music to lift everyone’s spirits.

"The public health guidance is clear and consistent — public gatherings, whether indoors or outdoors can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu," said Bernard. "A virtual celebration lets us all see and enjoy the spectacle of lighting up our downtown while ensuring social distancing and safety for everyone. It also allows family and friends who are unable to travel this year to get a taste of hometown North Adams spirit by tuning into the livestream event."

The city is offering thanks to Beth and Marcus Webb of Windsor for donating the tree at the top of Main Street, and to Debbie Sullivan of North Adams for donating the tree at City Hall in memory of Elizabeth Lavigne Patterson.

Thanks also to the city Department of Public Services, Wire & Alarm, and the Fire and Police departments for getting the trees downtown and set up, as well as to National Grid, Arbortech Tree Co., Atlantis Equipment, and Moresi & Associates for their assistance in the tree installation.

While this celebration looks a bit different this year the city said it is grateful to Berkshire Bank, Cascade School Supplies, First Baptist Church, the Drury High School band, MountainOne, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts for their many years of support for this special event.

Tags: Christmas tree, tree lighting,

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Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

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