Weekend Outlook: Last First Fridays of Summer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:14PM / Thursday, September 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Check out the events happening this weekend, including the two cities' First Fridays, picnics, and more.

Editor's Picks

Ice Cream Social: Sweet Scoops and Live Tunes
320 Main St., Williamstown
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the Williamstown Youth Center with live music from Vermont's TechnicalDUFFiculties and ice cream. Every scoop Saturday benefits the youth center's afterschool program for Grades 1 through 6.

More information here.

Franklin County Fair

Wisdom Way, Greenfield

Time: opens Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m.

The 176th Franklin County Fair features a midway, demonstrations, truck and horse pulls, demolition derby, animals, agricultural competitions and exhibits, vendors and performers.

Admission is $10 to $15; ticket purchases and more information here.

First Fridays

Downtown Pittsfield
Time: 5 p.m.

The city center will be alive with activities, including a maker's market and family fun zone on North Street, live music at Persip Park, a dance zone at Dunham Mall, an art walk, and more.

More information here.

Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.

Music, art, and games will fill the downtown for the event themed "Play Downtown." DJ Rebelbeat Soundsystem will perform at the Eagle Street Pocket Park for a dance party with the Hatchlings.

There will be games, art, special events, and downtown and businesses will have extended hours. More information here.

Friday

Back to School Carnival
491 Berkshire School Road, Sheffield
Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Celebrate back to school with live music, games, hayrides and more. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate. Kick off the school year on a fun note.

More information here.

September Ghost Tours

The Mount, Lenox

Time: 8:30 p.m.

The spooky season begins with nighttime ghost tours at Edith Wharton's summer home each Friday. Tours last around two hours and include outside areas, uneven terrain and stairs. Not appropriate for young children.

More information and tickets here.

Saturday

Coffee Tasting Event

Adams Theater, Park Street

Time: 9 a.m.

Wake at the Adams Theater by going "Around the World in 80 Cups," a tasting event from 11 to noon featuring coffee and pairing from Oaxaca, Mexico. Theater opens at 9 for a la carte coffee and baked goods from Shire Cottage Bakery.

Tickets are $12; more information and tickets here.

Sheffield Fair
Frederic Lane, Sheffield
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m

Enjoy a day at the fair with food, hayrides, vendors, cars, music, food and livestock competition.

More information here.

Sunday

Puppet Workshop

Adams Theater, Park Street

Time: 11 a.m.

David Lane of New England Puppet Arts and collaborators host a family-friendly puppet exploration with craft paper and masks. Intended for ages 8 and up accompanied by an adult.

Free admission but capacity is limited; RSVP at info@adamstheater.org.

Lane also brings a puppetry adaptation of Emile Zola's novel "The Belly of Paris" on Saturday night at the theater. Tickets and more information here.

Sunflower Sunday

225 Peckville Road, Shelburne

Time: 10 to 3

Apex Orchards hosts a sunflower fair with pick your own flowers, wagon rides, crafters and vendors, food and coffee, doughnuts and brewery. Live music by Tobey Sol La Roche at noon.

Free admission; more information here.

Jimmy Bernardo Memorial Ride

63 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield

Time: 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This motorcycle ride honors the life of Jimmy Bernardo, who was murdered at the age of 12, and raises essential funds for Berkshire County Kids' Place to help children and families heal from abuse and violence. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., the ride at 11. The 90-minute ride ends at the Tavern on the A; the after party is open to the public.

More information here.

Tree ID Walk

Kennedy Park, Lenox

Time: 10 to noon

Join Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team for an informative walk, during which participants will learn key characteristics of commonly encountered trees. Walk is 1 to 1.5 miles long, lasting around 2 hours, and will include many slow-paced stops. Meet in the parking lot of Lenox Commons off Route 7.

Limited to 15 participants; register at chelsey@thebeatnews.org. 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.

Sheffield Farmers Market
125 Main St.
Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m.

The market features healthy food and products from a variety of local vendors, aiming to nourish the community by supporting "local small farms, land, bees, and economy."

More information here.

Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market features a diverse range of local food and artisan vendors, along with local services and live music. More information here.

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Pittsfield Committee Recommends Scanlon for City Audit

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:30AM / Thursday, August 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After the bid for a new auditing company came back over 30 percent higher, Pittsfield will stick with Scanlon and Associates.

On Tuesday, the Auditing Services Evaluation Committee voted to advance Scanlon to the City Council for an independent audit. CliftonLarsonAllen also responded to the bid, but came in costing $120,000 more.

"I have to go with saving money for the city. I mean, the discrepancy is too much of a difference," committee member Karen Kalinowsky said.

"The city could have use for that difference over the next three years."

This process was prompted by Rule 40 of the council rules and the City Charter, where in any year the City Council votes to hold a procurement process for an independent certified public accountant or firm to audit Pittsfield's books and accounts, the city must, through its Finance Committee with the assistance of the purchasing department, solicit requests for proposals or invitations for bids before June 1.

The council in March recommended that the purchasing agent draft a request for proposals and put it out to bid.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, who has been vocally in favor of the independent audit for years, said the city doesn't have to follow a bidding process for the professional service, "We are doing this so the public knows that we're being professional, and a looking for other options, looking at what the best options are, and comparing them based on what they can offer and what the cost is."

Board member Kathy Amuso said both CLA and Scanlon have equitable reviews with high recommendations. Especially considering the budget crisis Pittsfield is in, she moved to recommend Scanlon to the full council.

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