Weekend Outlook: Hoedown, Free Museum Admission and More

Check out some of the events happening in the Berkshires this weekend, including dancing, celebrations, and volunteer work.

Editor's Pick

Cheshire Hoedown
Cheshire Community House, 191 Church St.
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy a day of activities like cow plop bingo, pony rides, face painting, and more. Listen to live music by Whiskey City and dance your heart out.

More information here.

Friday

90s/2000s DJ Dance Party
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 9 to midnight

Come dance your heart out at the newly rebranded Shire Tavern with DJ Justin. After dinner service ends at 8:30 p.m. the tables will be moved for people to dance. Reservations are recommended and there's a $5 cover. It will be 21-plus at 9 p.m.

More information here.

Chili and Chowder Fest
Camp Russell, Richmond
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy some unlimited chili and chowder samples from many different restaurants. As well as burgers, hotdogs, and sausage. You can also enjoy live music while taking in the views. This is 21-plus and tickets are $30 per person.

More information and tickets here.

Saturday

No Paws Left Behind One Year Celebration
No Paws Left Behind, North Adams
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the shelter's one year anniversary. Enjoy some refreshments and a food truck from Berkshire Blends. Dogs will also be out and walking so that you can potentially meet your next best friend.

More information here.

Meet the Minis at Balderdash
Balderdash Cellars, Richmond
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.

Enjoy time at Balderdash Cellars with a drink and meet some minis from Rising Starr Horse Rescue. The whole family is welcome for this event.

More information here.

Laurel Lake Water Chestnut Pull
Laurel Lake, Lee/Lenox
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.

Joining the Laurel Lake Weeders to help protect the lake from water chestnuts. Volunteers are needed to help. You can enjoy a day on the lake with your family while helping to keep the lake safe.

Email laurellakeweeders@gmail.com to RSVP. More information here.

Open Farm Day
Second Chance Stables & Draft Rescue Inc, Savoy
Time: noon to 2

Stop by and learn about Second Chance Stable and what it does. This is free for the family to stop by and visit some fun animals. There will be complimentary snacks and the farm stand will be open.

More information here.

Ice Cream Train Ride
3 Hoosac Street, Adams
Time:1:30 to 2:30pm, 3:00 to 4pm

Enjoy some ice cream on a train. It's $24 for adults and $18 for kids 3-13. $5 for a toddler or free if they won't have ice cream.

More information and tickets here.

Paranormal Investigation with David Raby
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
Time: 7 to 11:45 p.m.

Enjoy a paranormal investigation at the historic Ventfort Hall Mansion. Learn about the history of the mansion and some compelling evidence of its hauntings.

Tickets are $45 per person with a reduced rate of $25 for ages 12-18 and 19-23 with student ID. Reservations are recommended for entry. You can call (413) 637-3206 to reserve your spot.

More information here.

Rusted Chains at Shire Tavern
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.

Berkshire County’s Rusted Chains will be performing a tribute to the 90s and the MTV Unplugged era. Sing along and dance your night away.

More information here.

Comedy on Tap

Sunday

Community Day: Art in Action
The Clark, Williamstown
Time:  11 am to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a day at The Clark looking at new exhibitions. Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and special exhibitions all day, as well as special activities, art-making, artist demonstrations, and entertainment inspired by these special exhibitions.

More information here.

Cool off at the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department.

More information here.

Walking with WordxWord
2 Plunkett Street, Lenox
Time: 5 p.m.

Explore The Mount’s grounds and work in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. Listen to poets for free.

More information here. 

Movie Night at Joe Wolfe

Multiple Days

Trinity Irish Dance Company
Jacob's Pillow, Becket
July 10 thru 13

Enjoy watching the Trinity Irish Dance Company bring Irish tradition and flare to Jacob's Pillow.

More information here.

Farmers Markets

Great Barrington Farmers Market

18 Church St.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here. 

Lee Farmers Market 

The Town Park

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The market offers locally grown produce, prepared foods, locally created arts and crafts, and herbal products. YogaLee offers free community yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 on the first Saturday of each month.

The market accepts SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, and WIC Coupons and also offers Market Match. More information here. 

Lenox Farmers Market

St. Ann's Church

Friday: 11 to 3. 

This market is open every Friday through Sept. 12 and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more.

More information here. 

New Marlborough Farmers Market 

Village Green

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The market has local vendors that offer a variety of goods from produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, hand-knit items, maple syrup, and more. More information here. 

North Adams Farmers Market  

Main Street

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The south side of Main Street from American Legion Drive will be closed to make room for the city's weekly farmers market, which will kick off this Saturday. Explore downtown North Adams and discover local businesses and fresh produce from local farms. More information here. 

Pittsfield Farmers Market

Pittsfield Common

Saturday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Roots Rising, the region's first teen-run market, will hold an indoor farmers market this Saturday. The event will feature live music, chef demos, workshops, children's activities, and more. More information here

North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:34PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring  — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours. 

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls. 

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10  to 5 and Tuesdays 10  to 3 for the holidays. 

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.