image description — The annual city street fair returns after a one-year absence caused by the pandemic.

North Adams Downtown Celebration Set Wednesday; Rain Date Thursday

02:44PM / Monday, August 16, 2021Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Downtown Celebration returns this Wednesday from 5:30 to 9 after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.

This 24th annual event is free and open to the public. Long-range forecasts show a chance for thunder showers, so an announcement will be made on Wednesday morning whether to use the rain date of Thursday.

Main and Eagle streets will closed as will Ashland between Summer and Main and Holden from Main to the entrance of the Berkshire Plaza parking lot. All vehicles must be off the street by 3 p.m. and North Church will revert temporarily to two-way traffic with no parking between noon and 10.

The street festival will feature live performances by the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers, and Patrick Gray Jr. and Friends, as well as local groups including Berkshire County Line Dancers, J Star Gymnastics, North Adams Youth Cheerleaders, Drury High School Cheer, Dancecapades, In Motion Dance Academy and Berkshire Dance Theatre at various points around the downtown.

There will be face painting, balloon animals and magic along with other children's activities and giveaways in the Kid Zone at the Main Street entrance of Steeple City Plaza. A number of local child and youth organizations will have booths set up there as well, including Child Care of the Berkshires, Head Start, Northern Berkshire United Way, Roots Teen Center and the North Adams Public Schools.

The popular Copsicle frozen treat van will be at the top of Main Street with local first-responders, the Fire Department's ladder truck and the 911 Mobile PSAP Unit and more. Northern Berkshire EMS will be offering free car-seat safety checks near the Kid Zone (use Summer or American Legion Drive to access the parking lot).

Downtown restaurants and stores will be open for dining and shopping along with popup shops, bake sales and street food.

The full roster of event participants will be updated on the North Adams Tourism Facebook page.

The event is sponsored by MountainOne and the city of North Adams, and supported by the many local businesses and organizations that participate in the festivities.

Tags: downtown celebration,

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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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