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Weekend Outlook: Fall Foliage Week

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Berkshire County will be kicking off the glorious fall season with a variety of events including a parade, pumpkin shows, car shows, and more. 
 
66th Annual Fall Foliage Parade
Main Street, North Adams 
 
The 66th annual Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade, sponsored by 1Berkshire, begins on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m.
 
This year's theme is "Holidays on Parade" and the 2022 grand marshals are the Arnolds and the Kings, two families who have brought good cheer and a festive spirit to the city of North Adams for decades.
 
Be a spectator along the 1.2-mile parade route from the intersection of State Street and Old State Street, along Main Street, to the intersection of Ashland Street and Washington Avenue, or on Community Television, channel 1301.
 
Due to the new starting location and staging area, through traffic is able to detour on Old State Street to access parts of Curran Highway. The road will be fully shut down along the parade route starting at 12:30 p.m.
 
More information here
 
The Children's Parade steps off from Monument Square at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and marches to City Hall. The theme is the same as the main parade and costume and float winners will be invited to participate in Sunday's Fall Foliage Parade. 
 
The Children's Fair and Race will be held on Saturday at the North Adams Armory (venue change because of rain) from 10 to noon. Races for all ages begin at 11:15 a.m. 
 
 
Kids Spooky Terrariums
The Plant Connector, North Adams
 
Following the parade, walk down to The Plant Connector starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday to make a terrarium. 
 
Parking is also available in the back. Each terrarium costs $25. 
 
The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show
Naumkeag, Stockbridge
 
Start off your spooky season early with Naumkeag this Friday at 5 p.m. for the annual pumpkin show. 
 
Explore the museum's gardens that have been decorated with more than 1,500 jack o' lanterns, hundreds of mums, pumpkins and countless gourds — most of which were grown at Naumkeag. 
 
Hot cider and fall treats will be available for sale on-site.
 
Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required. Tickets will not be sold on-site. Ticket time represents your arrival window.
 
No parking is available onsite with this general admission ticket but designated parking spaces are available on both sides of Town Hall located at 50 Main St., along Main Street or Elm Street. 
 
The first shuttle will leave downtown Stockbridge at 5 p.m. and run every 5 to 10 minutes through the run of the show, the last shuttle will depart no later than 8 p.m.
 
Ticket prices and booking here
 
'HallowQueen with Boxxa Vine & The Sanderson Sisters'
Naumkeag, Stockbridge
 
Naumkeag will also be hosting local drag queen Boxxa Vine and her sisters in the Chinese Garden to interpret the film "Hocus Pocus" through story, song, and lip sync. 
 
The event is limited to those ages 18 and older and is this Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. 
 
This event has limited capacity. Ticket price includes a drink of choice but additional beverages will be available for purchase during the event.
 
Parking for this event will be onsite at 5 Prospect Hill Road.
 
This event does not include a ticket to the Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show. 
 
Pricing and booking here
 
Central Berkshire Record Show
The Stationery Factory, Dalton
 
After a successful inaugural event in the spring, the Central Berkshire Record Show is returning this Sunday at the Stationery Factory.
 
Hosted by Berkshirecat Productions, it will feature two dozen vinyl dealers, CDs, cassettes, music memorabilia, food truck fare, local craft beer and drinks, and consistent DJ sets.
 
DJs include Tim Dupree as Pup Daddy Productions and Michael Keleher as DJ Ketchabone.
 
Biggins Diggins food truck will be serving fare and a full bar with craft beer and more will be available.  To enjoy the offerings, there are comfortable places to sit as well as free wi-fi.
 
The Stationery Factory is wheelchair accessible and has ample on-site parking.
 
Tickets are available at the door and in advance through Eventbrite.
 
Fall Annual Bazaar
VFW Post 996 North Adams
 
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 996, located at 573 Mohawk Trail, is holding a Fall Bazaar this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
 
There will be a chinese auction, fish bowl fun for all ages, delicious home-baked goods, baked beans, and lunch.
 
More information here
 
VFW Saturday Dance Party
VFW Post 996, North Adams
 
The post will also be hosting a dance this Saturday starting at 9 p.m. 
 
There will be drinks available for purchase. Information here
 
First Sunday Free Clark 
The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
 
The Clark Art is offering free admission to the galleries, special exhibitions, and activities. 
 
This month's theme is "Meanderin" in celebration of the special exhibition "Tauba Auerbach and Yuji Agematsu: Meander."
 
Free admission will be all day and activities will be held in the Lunder Center's Hunter Studio from 1 until 4 p.m.
 
More information here
 
Alex's Car Show
Silver Lake Boulevard, Pittsfield
 
There will be a car show this Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. to raise funds for the epilepsy foundation. 
 
Car show entry costs $10. Non-car show entry is $5. Cornhole tournament is $30 per team.
 
More information is here
 
Animal Support Project Halloween/Autumn Photos
Benson's Pet Center, Pittsfield 
 
Benson's Pet Center is hosting a photography session so pet parents can purchase a 4-by-6-inch framed keepsake photo to raise funds for pets in need. 
 
Have your pet photographed from noon until 3 p.m. More information here
 
Farmer's Markets 
 
Lenox Farmer's Market
80 Church St.
 
The Lenox Farmers Market, located at 80 Church St., formerly the Cafe Lucia, will conclude its season this Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
 
Participants can peruse local vendors while enjoying food and listening to music. 
 
For more information visit Lenox's Chamber of Commerce page.
 
Sheffield Farmers' Market
125 Main St.
 
Open Friday from 3 until 6 p.m. at First Congregational Church located at 125 Main St. 
 
The market will feature healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors in an attempt to nourish the community by protecting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."
 
For more information visit the market's website.
 
Pittsfield Farmers Market
The Common
 
Powered by Roots Rising, the market is open every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through 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. 
 
For more information, visit the website
 
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
 
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. until the end of October.  
 
Every week there will be locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors. 
 
For more information, visit the website.
 
Lee Farmers Market
Town Park, Main and West Park Streets
 
This market is open every Saturday from 10 until 2 p.m. It accepts SNAP/HIP, Senior Coupons, WIC coupons, and offer market match. 
 
More information here.
 
North Adams Farmers Market
St. Anthony Municipal Parking Lot
 
The market is open every Saturday from 9 until 1 p.m. into October in the parking lot across from St. Elizabeth's Church.
 
More information here.
 
Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street, Williamstown
 
The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. into October in the parking lot at the bottom of Spring Street. 
 
This year the market will feature returning and new vendors, including a fishmonger, knife sharpener, baker, chef, and much more. 
 
More information here.

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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