NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The theme for the 67th annual Fall Foliage Parade is "Once Upon a Time in North Berkshire" and this year's grand marshal is James Holmes, a longtime North County teacher. 

 

The parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, from the intersection of State Street and Old State Street and marches 1.2 miles through downtown North Adams. It is presented by 1Berkshires.

 

The theme is a celebration of children's books and fairytales. 

 

Holmes has been connected to education in North Berkshire for decades having been a teacher and a School Committee member. Most recently, he has been working with the North Adams Police Department on its reading program, in which officers read books to children on Facebook. In 2013, he was to be selected as North Adams' Marion B. Kelley Teacher of the Year. 

 

While working at what was then North Adams State College, Holmes decided to begin a career in education. He earned his degree in 1996 and began a 20-year teaching career. He credits his cooperating teacher Lynn Reilly with advice that he carried with him for his entire career: "Don't worry about the kind of teacher you want to be, but know the kind of teacher you don't want to be."  

 

"As I began my teaching career at [the former] Conte Middle School, I promised myself I would call at least one parent every week over the course of the school year to say something nice about their children," Holmes said.

 

Holmes began working with the police as a teacher because he "felt it was imperative that students have positive interactions with the North Adams Police Department." He developed a forensics program that ran for many years until his retirement. Afterward, he stayed involved with the department and many of their officers. 

 

"When COVID hit and school was not in session, we began reading to students and their families and to this day Officer Erik Thomas and I have kept the reading alive," he said.

 

Holmes hasn't completely given up teaching as he is a substitute teacher at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Adams. He credits his family, in particular his best friend and significant other Denise, and his daughters Jessica, Stephany and Allyson, with giving him the support to pursue his dreams and remain involved all these years.

 

"I am so excited to have Jim Holmes as our grand marshal," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "Jim truly cares for the youth of our community and knows the importance of reading to children. Jim is a true example of what giving back to the community is and means.

 

"I am honored to have him in our community and thank him for the time he invests in North Adams."

 

The parade committee invites the entire Berkshire community to participate in this year's parade. The theme of "Once Upon a Time in North Berkshire" invites a lot of creativity. There are a variety of ways to get involved including, but not limited to, signing up to have a float, entering a band/music unit, or a marching unit. Volunteers are needed to serve on the the committee, help on parade day with the lineup or as a banner carrier. Lastly, sponsorship of the parade helps with making the parade bigger and better each year. For more information about how to help, visit 1berkshire.com.