Berkshire County will be offering a variety of indoor and outdoor events this hot cloudy weekend including museum activities, concerts, fundraising walks, and farmers markets.
Third Thursday
Pittsfield Common, East Street
Third Thursday runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Common after a two-year hiatus.
This month's theme is youth and the evening will include entertainment on the mainstage and activities, food and vendors.
The presenting sponsor is General Dynamics Mission Systems, which will offer catapult building using household objects; the Flying Cloud Institute and Berkshire Art and Technology Charter School with also be offering interactive STEAM experiments.
Some highlights will be screen printing of a custom Pittsfield poster with the Blog Bus; crafts and more with Berkshire Macaroni Kid; pottery wheel demos with Jim Horsford; the Berkshire Athenaeum Book Bike; Thistle & Thorn Floral and the Plant Connector.
The Pittsfield High School Orchestra performs at the Foundry, located at 2 Harris St., this Friday at 6 p.m.
The concert is directed by Alla Zernitskaya with solo performances by PHS seniors Leila Paredes and Joseph Weinberg.
The students will be performing a variety of works including major chamber works and pieces from professional and individual artists.
The orchestra has been awarded for most original music selection and has performed in venues including Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood and the David Geffen Hall Stage at Lincoln Center.
Admission for the event is free and seating and bar open at 5 p.m. All guests will be required to wear a mask when they are not eating or drinking and proof of vaccination will be required at the door.
Arlo Guthrie's 'Historic Garbage Trail Walk to Massacree'
The Guthrie Center, Great Barrington
The annual fundraising walk for Huntington's disease that has raised more than $185,000 to support related causes returns in person this Sunday with registration beginning at 8:45 a.m.
The goal is to raise funds for lesser recognized Huntington-related charities, especially newer ones.
Registration is free with a $25 donation option to receive a 2022 HD Walk T-shirt. Registration will be taking place at the Guthrie Center until 9:45 a.m.
After registering, participants will get a ride to Theresa's Stockbridge Cafe, where they will be presented with a free continental breakfast. The walk will begin at 10.
There will be stops along the way with water, refreshments, music and small parties, as well as fingerprinting on a souvenir card at the police station. A light lunch and music will follow at the Old Trinity Church.
For those who are unable to complete the 6-mile course, there will be Volkswagen drivers circulating along the route to drive participants back to the center to await the arrival of the fellow walkers.
Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes, located at 192 Henry Wood Road, will be having an open house this Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
Participants will have the opportunity to see vintage motorcycles, boots, and trophies from races past collected by owner, restorer, and curator Jim Hoellerich.
Hoellerich collection is vast and consists of antique and hard to find motorcycles from a variety of manufacturers.
"Inside are more than 80 antique OSSAs and more than a half-dozen Bultacos, as well as hard to find marquees such as Penton, Dalesman, Yankee and Rokon, brands that are likely unfamiliar to street riders. Just how many bikes Hoellerich has is hard to peg because he's always adding more," Motorcycle Classics wrote in "Destinations: Museum of Vintage Trail Bikes, Cheshire, Massachusetts."
Ghost Tours with Robert Oakes
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Lenox
Author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires" Robert Oakes is leading a tour through the historic estate while sharing stories of the hauntings.
"Stand in the places where the eerie encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation," Ventfort Hall's website says.
Reservations are required and tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. Proof of vaccination is also required. Participants must be 12 years or older and cost $27. Tickets can be purchased by calling .413-637-3206. For more information, visit Ventfort Hall's website.
Farmers Markets
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common, Pittsfield
Powered by Roots Rising, the market will be open this and every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. until Oct. 8.
Each week the market will have fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods by local vendors. Participants can shop for flowers, and artisan goods while listening to music and participate in family activities.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.
Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain.
The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.
The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.
We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.
What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?
Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.
What was your first impression when you walked into the home?
The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.
How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?
This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.
What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?
This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.
This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.
What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?
Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.
Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?
Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.
Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.
You can find out more about this house on its listing here.
*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.
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