Berkshire Pride Announces Expansion and 2025 Event Schedule

04:05PM / Sunday, January 26, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Pride has unveiled new initiatives and events aimed at fostering inclusivity across Berkshire County.

Highlights include the integration of North Adams Pride, the launch of Lee Pride, and the addition of Drag Story Hour, Berkshire Chapter, as a program under Berkshire Pride.

North Adams Pride, known for events like Pride Night and the Northern Lights Ball, will now collaborate with Berkshire Pride to expand resources and programming in North County. Meanwhile, the newly launched Lee Pride will focus on serving the LGBTQIA+ community in Lee and surrounding areas with events celebrating diversity and inclusion. Drag Story Hour, Berkshire Chapter, joins Berkshire Pride to bring affirming, literacy-focused experiences to LGBTQIA+ youth and families.

Berkshire Pride's 2025 schedule features a variety of events, including:

February 14: Eternal Flame Valentine Dance Party – Stationery Factory with DJ BFG and a dazzling drag show.
March 1: Northern Lights Ball – Elks Lodge, North Adams.
May 10: Youth Prom – An inclusive prom experience for LGBTQ+ youth.
May 31: Flag Raising Ceremony & Block Party – Pittsfield City Hall & School St.
June 1: Rainbow Run 5K & Youth Pride – Family-friendly run and youth celebration.
June 7: 9th Annual Berkshire Pride Festival & Parade – The Common Park, Pittsfield.
June 13: Berkshire Pride Party-Stationery Factory with DJ BFG , VIP is back!
June 14: Lee Pride – Celebrating inclusion and community spirit in Lee.
June 20: North Adams Pride Night – An evening of celebration in North Adams.
June 28: Berkshire Pride Night at Berkshire Busk – Showcasing LGBTQ+ performers in Great Barrington.
October 10: Prideoween- Stationery Factory with DJ BFG and a dazzling drag show.

To support these efforts, Berkshire Pride has launched a "Pride Without Borders" campaign to raise $75,000 for expanded programming and safe spaces. The organization also announced the return of the Pride Guide, inviting local organizations and businesses to participate by listing events or advertising.

For more information, visit www.berkshirepride.org or contact Executive Director Cass Santos-China at Cass@berkshirepride.org.

Tags: pride,

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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