PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village's "The Big Chill" event turned out to be chillier and snowier than expected. 

 

The event is to celebrate all things New England in the winter, said Caroline Holland, the Village's executive director and CEO. Photos from the event here. 

 

It featured maple tree tapping, blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations, live music, a fire pit, sledding and snow activities, live music, and more. 

 

However, the two-day event was cut short as snow and sleet covered the region.

 

Although it became a one-day event, the village is brainstorming ideas to make up for it. 

 

"We're a little sad that we had to cancel. We were thinking of, if we didn't do a Big Chill two-day festival, maybe we should do something like a big thaw festival in March," Holland said.

 

"So stay tuned for maybe a little something that we might add on to the calendar."

 

Hancock Shaker Village has a different feel in the winter than in the spring and fall, she said. 

 

"We literally have new life on the farm with our baby animals [in spring]. You can see the garden starting to come to life. The green, the apple blossoms are coming. So there's that feeling of newness, of greenness," she said. 

 

"But the winter is so different. It's beautifully stark, and it kind of has a similar Shaker theme. They're very simple, their lines are clean, and I think that in the winter, you can really celebrate the architecture, specifically because you get to really narrow in on the buildings, and they're outlined against the white snow. ...

 

"It's cold, it's quiet, and it's a very a nice contemplative place. I love this spot in the winter. It's cold, it's cold, it's a little windy, but it's got this like stillness that's very beautiful and peaceful."

 

The museum is well known for its Baby Animals festival that draws families to see the chicks, piglets, lambs and calves.

 

"A lot of people come in the summer, in the fall, in the spring, to see the village, but the winter is a very different feeling, and it's cool to share that with everybody," Holland said.

 

"The snow brings a different element. It's gorgeous in that New England winter way. And then we get to share a little bit about how the Shakers lived in the winter, some of their practices, and their history during winter time in New England." 

 

The event was part of the cities 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival, which officially kicked off last Thursday with an "Off The Streets" art exhibition and ends this weekend with fireworks. 

 

Holland said she loves working with local organizations like 10x10 and Cultural Pittsfield. 

 

When people think about visiting the Berkshires the first thing that comes to mind is the summer and fall activities, but winter is an amazing time to come as well, she said. 

 

There are winter activities such as skiing, sledding, and ice sports, in addition to the cultural attractions happening.

 

"So working with organizations to kind of highlight a week or two of the great things to do for our winter visitors is wonderful … it's fun to open the doors and welcome people in for the weekend when we were otherwise closed until April," Holland said.