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Weekend Outlook: Hot Glass Shop, Zucchini Festival

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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There are a variety of events this weekend, including a Zucchini Festival, live music, and more. 
 
See a list of Farmer's Markets here
 
Editor's Pick 
 
West Stockbridge Zucchini Festival
Saturday, Aug. 10
 
This year's festival will have a day filled with local vendors, artists, food, handcrafted zucchini games, contests, live music, and fireworks. Admission is free. More information here
 
The following streets will be closed for the festival: Depot Street will be closed from Friday at 6 p.m. through Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Center Street will be closed on Saturday from 4:30 until 11 p.m.
 
Multiple Days
 
Corning Glass Mobile Hot Shop
The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown 
Aug. 5 to 11; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
 
In conjunction with one of the museum's newest exhibits, "Fragile Beauty" in the Michael Pavilion, the Corning Museum of Glass presents a Mobile Hot Shop. More information on the exhibit here
 
This event allows visitors to see live glassblowing demonstrations by the Corning Museum's team of expert glassmakers. 
 
Full lineup here
 
Friday 
 
Swamp Rats Perform 
Hot Plate Brewing Co., Pittsfield 
Time: 7 to 10 p.m. 
 
There will be an evening of traveling punk-inspired folk and bluegrass duo Swamp Rats. More information here
 
Outdoor Movie 
Clapp Park, Pittsfield 
Time: 8 p.m.
 
The city will be concluding its outdoor movie series with the showing of the Nickelodeon film "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie." More information here
 
Saturday
 
Teen End of Summer Reading Party 
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield 
Time: 1 to 3 p.m. 
 
There is a beach-themed party for teens to mark the end of Summer Reading. The event will feature crafts, games, snacks, and more.
 
The winners of the Young Adult Short Story Contest will also be announced. The party is open to all 12- to 18-year-olds, whether they participated in Summer Reading or not.
 
More information here
 
Lonny Jarrett and Friends Performance
Dotties Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield 
Time: 6 to 9 p.m. 
 
There will be a jazz and fund performance by guitarist Lonny Jarrett, drummer Ben Gross, saxophonist Aeden Madden, and bass player Fran Tokarz. There is no cover charge. Information here
 
Outdoor Movie 
Noel Field Athletic Complex, North Adams 
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition will be having a free outdoor family movie night. Information here
 
Totally MAD! Artmaking Activities
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Join the museum for an afternoon of art-making inspired by the magazine MAD every Saturday this summer. 
 
Projects will highlight different aspects of MAD magazine, featuring recurring characters, comic strips, bits, and other highlights of its history through drawings, collages, and more. 
 
This event is free with museum admission. More information here
 
Townwide Tag Sale
Adams
Time: 8 to 4
 
Look for bargains galore at the annual Adams Townwide Tag Sale. Find a map of all the registered tag sales here.
 
Open Farm Day
Second Chance Stables & Draft Rescue Inc, Savoy 
Time: 2 to 4 p.m. 
 
Visitors are welcome to visit Second Chance Stables & Draft Rescue for its open farm day, during which they can meet the crew and learn about the farm. The event has free entry, complimentary drinks, and snacks. More information here
 
Folk Festival
Bousquet Mountain, Pittsfield
Time: 4 to 10 p.m. 
 
There will be performances by folk musicians Session Americana with Kris Delmhorst, Johnny Irion & U.S. Elevator, and Glori Wilder.
 
Tickets range $5 to $25. More information here
 
24 Annual August Craft Fair and Festival 
Lee Congregational Church, UCC
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
 
Support your local crafters by visiting the fair featuring crafts, music, and food. Admission is free
 
Annual Art of Brewing
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Spend an afternoon sampling local and regional beer, wine, cider, distilled drinks, and coffee. Enjoy food from local eateries, start a friendly competition with some lawn games, and  talk with the some of the brand artists. Free commemorative beer glass while supplies last. 
 
Ages 12 and older; tickets $30 to $40. More information here
 
Sunday 
 
Walking with WordXWord
The Mount, Lenox
Time: 5 p.m. 
 
WordXWord poets will lead an exploration of the grounds and selected works in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. 
Poets scheduled to appear include CD Nelsen, Danielle Langin, Jaclyn Stevenson, Grace Rossman, Loren Nazarov, Kori Alston, Melissa Quirk, and Curtis Elfenbein.
 
The program meets at the Stable Auditorium, adjacent to the Upper Parking Lot. The event is free and open to all, but some poems may contain content or language suited for teens and adults. Participants should wear walking shoes as the event will involve standing and/or modest walks.
 
In case of rain, the event will take place in the large event tent. More information here
 
North Adams Yoga 
26 Holden St., North Adams 
Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. 
 
There will be a guided meditation session. More information here
 
Berkshire Lyric Concert 
Various times and locations
 
Berkshire Lyric will hold a concert to benefit local food programs. The young a cappella chamber choir will present Ubi Caritas in three choral concerts over the course of Sunday afternoon. 
 
Concert 1: 3 p.m. at St. Mark's Church, Pittsfield,
Concert 2: 5 p.m. at Joseph's Church, Stockbridge,
Concert 3: 7 p.m. at Old Parish Church, Sheffield
 
More information here
 
The Music Inn Festival
The Triplex Cinema, Great Barrington
Time: 1 to 8 p.m. 
 
The Triplex Cinema will host a one-day festival celebrating The Music Inn. 
 
The event will feature panel discussions, a feature film, a lecture, a short film program, an interview with David Rothstein, and a feature-length documentary film. Musicians who played at the Music Inn will also participate in panel discussions.
 
More information here

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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