Berkshire Botanical Garden's Harvest Festival Returns

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. —Berkshire Botanical Garden will hold its annual Harvest Festival, Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Every October, the Garden's 24-acre grounds undergo a transformation celebrating community, the natural world and the region's agricultural heritage. This year, the Garden will present an array of family-friendly activities, live music, a scarecrow design contest, a clothing and accessories sale, and a wide selection of regional artisan food and crafts vendors.
 
Children's activities include pony rides, a haunted house, a hay maze and hay jump, face painting, hayrides, a petting zoo, square dancing, and more. A full lineup of live entertainment for all ages will take place on the Main Stage, featuring the Wanda Houston Band, the O-Tones, the Sunday Strummers Ukulele Ensemble, and Katherine Winston.
 
The event is also a prime shopping opportunity with 50 craft vendors, a plant sale and the "Accessorize" pop-up shop, offering gently used clothing, jewelry, hats, scarves, and housewares.
 
New in 2025 is the Scarecrow Walk and Design Contest. Businesses, non-profit organizations and community groups are invited to design scarecrows for display in the Garden's Daylily Walk. Entries will be judged by Harvest Festival attendees, with fabulous prizes for the first and second place winners.
 
Buy tickets in advance and save. Advance tickets are $12 for adults; children under 12 are free. Same-day tickets will be available at the gate (Adults $15, children under 12 free). There is no charge for parking in the Garden's adjacent fields. Pets (with the exception of registered service dogs) are not permitted. ATMs will be available on-site.
 
Harvest Festival's lead sponsor is Blue Q. Other event sponsors are Berkshire Bank, Bartlett Tree Experts, and Element Lenox Berkshires. The Festival's in-kind sponsors include Berkshire Green Septic, Lime Rock Park, Meadow Farm Equipment, Naumkeag, The Red Lion Inn, Robin's Candy Shop, Sandisfield Orchard, and Six Flags New England.
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Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer. 

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said. 

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward." 

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio. 

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units.  A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched. 

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.  

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant. 

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