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Weekend Outlook: Easter & More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Hippity Hoppity the weekend is on its way and there will be a number of events in the Berkshires to celebrate Easter. 

Easter Events: 

Saturday 
 
Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt 
The Common, Pittsfield 
Time: 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. 
 
The city will be having its 78th annual Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt. Children are required to bring their own baskets. During this free event, Bowie the clown will be twisting balloons, children can meet the Easter Bunny and search for the golden egg. 
 
Schedule as follows:
  • Ages 9 to 11 search at 10:30
  • Ages 7 and 8 search at 10:40
  • Ages 5 and 6 search at 10:55
  • Ages 4 search at 11:10
  • Ages 2 and 3 search at 11:25
Information here
 
Easter Festival 
North Adams Armory
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
 
This free event features games, crafts, photos with the Easter Bunny and cottontail obstacle races. The races begin at 12:30 p.m. Information here
 
Easter Egg Scramble
Lilac Park, Lenox
Time: 11 a.m. 
 
Bring you baskets and cameras and line up before the scramble begins at 11 a.m. Information here.
 
Dalton Easter Egg Hunt
CRA Memorial Lawn
Time: 1 to 3:30 p.m. 
 
The event will include a visit from the Easter Bunny. In case of rain the event will be moved indoors at the youth center. 
 
Schedule as follows:
  • Toddler to kindergarten search from 1 to 1:30 p.m. 
  • First and second grade search from 2 until 2:30 p.m.
  • Grades 3 to 5 search from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
 
Spring Hoppening
Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
 
The garden will be having a variety of activities to celebrate Easter including pony rides, crafts, a story walk, games, egg hunts, and more. Take a photo with the Easter Bunny and shop at the gift shop for some last-minute gifts.
 
Admission is $10 per person for members, $15 for non-members. Free admission for all children under the age of 4. Information here.
 
Egg hunt schedule as follows:
  • Children 3 and younger at 10:30 a.m. 
  • Ages 3 to 6 at 10:45 a.m. 
  • Ages 7 through 12 at 11 a.m. 
Older children are welcome to come help their younger siblings and friends. 
 
Hop 'Til We Drop Egg Hunt Party
Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Great Barrington 
Time: 10 to noon
 
Celebrate Easter with music, craft activities, snacks, and of course egg hunts. Entry fee is $10. There is a 10 percent discount for any additional siblings. Free entry for parents or guardians. Information here
 
Egg hunt schedule:
  • Ages 18 months to 4 years at 10:15 a.m. 
  • Ages 5 to 9 at 10:45 a.m. 
  • Ages 10 to 12 at 11:15 a.m. 
 
High Lawn Farm Easter Celebration
High Lawn Farm, Lee
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
 
The farm will be having a free Easter celebration featuring games, activities, ice cream, cotton candy, pizza, and an egg hunt. Tickets are required for participation in the egg hunts, which begin at noon, and can be purchased at the farm's store for $5. Egg baskets will not be provided.
 
More information here
 
 
Berkshire Emporium Easter Egg Hunt
Berkshire Emporium, North Adams 
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
 
Berkshire Emporium & Antiques and Emporium Snack Bar on Main Street will be celebrating Easter with an egg hunt for kids 12 and younger. Each child gets to find one egg.
 
There are hundreds of eggs all over the store. The eggs will contain more than $500 in prizes including toys, candy, $25, $50 and $100 gift certificates
 
The event will also feature a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny and treats including cookies, doughnuts, hot chocolate, and more. 
 
More information here
 
Annual Cheshire Police Association Easter Egg Hunt
Cheshire Elementary
Time: noon
 
The hunt takes place behind the Community House, formerly the elementary school. Information here
 
Easter Cookie Walk
Hinsdale Fire House
Time: 9 to noon
 
Information here.
 
Bunny Hop Train Rides
3 Hoosac St., Adams
Time: 11:30, 1:30 and 3 p.m.
 
Bunny Hop rides are available on Saturday. Kids can ride with the Easter Bunny, who will be giving out colored eggs. 
 
Ticket prices and more information here.
 

Other Events this Weekend 

Friday 
 
Red & Black Gala
101 Restaurant & Bar
Time: 9 p.m. 
 
Dress in classy casual attire to celebrate DJ Champ's birthday. Hoodies, ripped jeans, and boots are not allowed. This event is for ages 25 and older. Tickets are $10 before the event and $15 at the door. Information here
 
Beach Dance Party with DJ BFG
The Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
Can summer not come soon enough; no worries dust off your beach outfit and dance the winter blues away to some summer jams. Tickets cost $20 per attendee. Funds benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness Berkshire County. Information here
 
Berkshire County Suicide Prevention 
Hot Plate Brewing Co, Pittsfield 
Time: 6 p.m. 
 
There will be a discussion on how to shine a light on mental health awareness in our community by teaming up with with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Out of the Darkness. Information here
 
Saturday 
 
Trans Day of Visibility Event
34 Depot Street, Pittsfield
Time: 6 p.m. 
 
As part of the Berkshire Queer History Project, Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition is partnering with Berkshire Pride to debut trans-focused interviews which celebrate trans history-makers in the community.
 
More information here
 
Victorian Maple Day Gathering
Ashfield Historical Society and Museum
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
The museum at 29 Baptist Corner Road hosts a day of sap boiling, sugaring games and  a sing-along starting at 2 p.m. Free maple ice cream provided by the Ashfield Hardware Store. A Victorians of the Hilltowns programs; free and open to the public. 
 
More information here
 
Mike Duffy Performance
Methuselah Bar and Lounge, Pittsfield
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
Local musician Mike Duffy will be performing. Information here.

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North Adams, Pittsfield Mark King Day With Calls for Activism

By Tammy Daniels & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Alÿcia Bacon, community engagement officer for the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, speaks at the MLK service held Price Memorial AME Church in Pittsfield. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Wendy Penner can be found pretty much everywhere: leading local initiatives to address climate change and sustainability, championing public health approaches for substance abuse, and motivating citizens to defend their rights and the rights of others. 
 
That's all when she's not working her day job in public health, or being co-president of Congregation Beth Israel, or chairing the Williamstown COOL Committee, or volunteering on a local board. 
 
"Wendy is deeply committed to the Northern Berkshire community and to the idea of think globally, act locally," said Gabrielle Glasier, master of ceremonies for Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's annual Day of Service. 
 
Her community recognized her efforts with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award, which is presented to individuals and organizations who have substantially contributed to the Northern Berkshires. The award has been presented by the MLK Committee for 30 years, several times a year at first and at the MLK Day of Service over the past 20 years. 
 
"This event is at heart a celebration of our national and local striving to live up to the ideals of Dr. King and his committed work for racial equality, economic justice, nonviolence and anti-militarism," said Penner. "There is so much I want to say about this community that I love, about how we show up for each other, how we demonstrate community care for those who are struggling, how we support and and celebrate the natural environment that we love and how we understand how important it is that every community member feels deserves to feel valued, seen and uplifted."
 
King's legacy is in peril "as I never could have imagined," she said, noting the accumulation of vast wealth at the top while the bottom 50 percent share only 2.5 percent the country's assets. Even in "safe" Massachusetts, there are people struggling with food and housing, others afraid to leave their homes. 
 
In response, the community has risen to organize and make themselves visible and vocal through groups such as Greylock Together, supporting mutual aid networks, calling representatives, writing cards and letters, and using their privilege to protect vulnerable community members. 
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