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.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.