Pittsfield's 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival Returns with Music, Art, and Outdoor Activities

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 14th annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival, presented by the City of Pittsfield and Barrington Stage Company in partnership with Mill Town Foundation, will take place February 13-23, 2025.

The festival features a range of events including theater, music, visual arts, dance, outdoor activities, and fireworks.

Highlights include the 10x10 New Play Festival at Barrington Stage Company, A Taste of Downtown coordinated by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., and beer releases at Hot Plate Brewing Company. The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will showcase OFF the STREETS, a group exhibition of local mural artists, from February 5-28, with an opening reception on February 13.

Outdoor activities include the Winter Festival at Clapp Park on February 17, featuring sled races, snowshoeing, and a snow sculpture contest. Ice sculptors Peter Vacchina and Robert Markey will create installations at Palace Park on February 14, weather permitting. The festival's fireworks display will take place at 6 p.m. on February 22 at the Common on First Street, with a pre-fireworks event hosted by Berkshire United Way.

Additional programming includes dance workshops at Jacob's Pillow, historical exhibits by the Berkshire Historical Society, and Hancock Shaker Village's The Big Chill event. For more details, visit the festival's official website or social media pages.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.