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The annual Halloween Parade is set for Friday, Oct. 25, on Tyler Street.

Pittsfield Halloween Parade Returns with Hollywood Theme

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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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.


The deadline for completed forms is Friday, Oct. 11.

A new participant meeting will also be held on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. in Room 203 at City Hall.

The popular event returned from a COVID-19 hiatus in 2022 and attracted about 5,000 people for the spooky procession and float contest.

In 2020, Pittsfield Community Television teamed up with the city's Recreation Program for a television event to air in place of the canceled parade. It aired "Haunted Streets: A Celebration of 25 Years of Halloween Parades" in place of live coverage and looked back at some of the best floats and moments of the past 25 years of PCTV's parade coverage.

In 2021, the city hosted virtual Halloween contests for costumes, pumpkin decorating, and home decorations.

For more information, contact the Department of Community Development at 413-499-9371 or parks@cityofpittsfield.org.

 


Tags: Halloween,   parade,   

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Berkshire Mall Owners Press for Road District Dissolution

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings says without a dissolution of the Baker Hill Road District, the potential sale and redevelopment with the mall would fall through.
 
The Select Board last week authorized two of its members to work on a compromise between the JMJ and the road district. The two entities have been at loggerheads over assessments to the district — and the district's purpose.
 
Tim Grogan, development consultant for JMJ RE Holdings, recently responded to iBerkshires' coverage of the meeting, during which the board discussed mediation but took no comments from the public or the mall owners. 
 
Grogan said JMJ has been under purchase contract with real estate developer Cypress Equities since May and has an intention to close in the fall.
 
"We are contractually obligated to deliver the property with the BHRD dissolved. If that does not happen, the mall will not get redeveloped. If the BHRD is not dissolved, the transaction with Cypress cannot close," said Grogan over email. "That is not a position JMJ adopted as leverage. It is the express term of a fully executed purchase and sale agreement. Should the town proceed in a manner that departs from the existing settlement framework, JMJ will evaluate all available claims to protect its contractual rights."
 
The town had initially agreed to seek the dissolution of the district through the Legislature based on JMJ paying $1.1 million to resolve all tax disputes. But that article was pulled from the annual town meeting when town officials said the mall's owners failed to make payment by the deadline. 
 
The road district was established 40 years ago to maintain the Connector Road between Routes 7 and 8 and assess the mall for fire and police protection. The mall closed in 2019 and its various owners since then have sought to redevelop the property. 
 
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