Pittsfield Halloween Parade Returns with Hollywood Theme

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city's historic Halloween parade rises from the dead this year with a Hollywood theme.

On Monday, the Department of Community Development Recreation Program announced that the "Spooky Hollywood" parade will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. on Tyler Street.

Aside from the usual ghouls, goblins, and superheroes, there will be an abundance of spooky pop culture icons. Think the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus," Michael Myers from the "Halloween" franchise, or even Casper the Friendly Ghost.

"Participants are encouraged to base their float designs, decorations, and/or costumes around their favorite Halloween movie," the department wrote. "Every school and community/civic group is encouraged to participate in this great Pittsfield tradition."

This will be the 78th Halloween parade in the city. It was originally held on North Street and was moved to Tyler Street in 2011.  

Trick-or-treat is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. rain or shine. Participants are asked to leave their porch or exterior light on.

Every parade unit needs to review the application packet posted on the city website and a representative from interested parties must attend a float seminar on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. in Room 203 at City Hall.

Berkshire Habitat ReStore Overwhelmed With Unwanted Donations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
07:21AM / Saturday, March 22, 2025

The lot is under surveillance and the stores is considering cracking down on dumpers.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity ReStore won't be taking any donations on Saturday — because it's already overloaded with items dumped on its property.

 

ReStore on Hubbard Avenue sells donated furniture, building supplies and home improvement materials to help keep bulky items out of landfills and to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

 

But people have been dumping their unwanted items on the property without an appointment and sometimes after hours. That's left a pile of trash for the nonprofit to deal with. 

 

"So people just, you know, came and even if it's closed, I personally catch several people in the camera out of hours," said ReStore general manager Alex Valdivieso.

 

Valdivieso has been the general manager for less than a year but says last summer was a big problem with dumping and with the weather getting nicer, people have started to come again to dump their unwanted items. 

 

To help get rid of the waste, 20 to 25 teens are volunteering from Lenox High School to help fill dumpsters and clean up the lot that's now littered with items needing to be thrown away.

 

Valdivieso says he has two 30-foot-long trash roll-offs that will be filled this weekend.