Check out the events happening this weekend, including holiday-themed parties and events. Find all the craft fairs and bazaars happening here.
Editor's Pick
Adams Holiday Light Parade
Downtown Adams
Sunday at 6 p.m.
Santa is visiting Adams before his big night. Join the first responders, police department, and more as they escort Santa around town. The parade will start at Liberty Street and end at Hoosac Street. More information and route here.
Friday
Family Movie Night 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
BArT Charter Public School, Adams
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Bring the family to see the first Harry Potter film. It's $5 per person and snacks and drinks will also be available for purchase.
RSVP is required to attend as there is limited capacity. Fill out the Google Form or email your reservation request.
Raise funds for the Berkshire Carousel while singing your heart out. Spend the night enjoying food, and a night out with your friends or family to help raise money. There is a $5 cover to help keep the carousel spinning.
Southern Berkshire Community, Advocacy and Resources for Everyone is having its 9th annual holiday party providing a sensory friendly atmosphere to meet Santa.
There will be snacks, drinks, arts and crafts, Christmas movies, photos, and more. More information here.
Saturday
Stockbridge Christmas Concert
Stockbridge Congregational Church, Main Street
Time: 4 p.m.
There will be a concert of traditional and contemporary carols sung by the 85 voice Berkshire Lyric joined by young women's ensemble Melodious Accord and by Lyric's Resident Vocal Artist John Demler.
The Lyric Children's Chorus will receive a visit from Santa Claus during the event. Ticket are $20 and will be sold at the door. Admission is free for children and students 18 and under.
Enjoy a mindful meditation with Sandrine Harris during which you will learn to slow down and tune into the seasonal shift. Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. More information and tickets here.
Mrs. Claus Cookie Express
3 Hoosac St., Adams
Time: 1:30 or 3:30 p.m.
During this one day event, meet Mrs. Claus while enjoying a festive ride on the train featuring holiday music and a warm cookie. More information and tickets here.
Gingerbread House Decorating
Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Get into the holiday spirit in the historically decorated holiday town of Stockbridge and create a gingerbread house to take home and display. There will also be delicious snacks. More information and tickets here.
Sunday
Holiday Dessert Tea Party
76 Spring St, Williamstown
Time: 12 to 2 p.m.
Enjoy a tea party with cucumber sandwiches and more treats with tea. Tickets are $35 per person with an add on if you want to decorate a sugar cookie.
Reservations are required by calling (413) 884-6006. More information here.
Festival of Lights Walk
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
Celebrate Winter Solstice and enjoy the traditional Festival of Lights. There will be activities, a sunset walk, hot cocoa and more. Registration is required by calling (413) 499-4262.
Enjoy a holiday cabaret with Bob Shephard and Sherri James Buxton. The performance concludes with a sing along and a rousing reprise of a Ventfort Hall favorite, The Twelve Days of Christmas.
There will also be tea served after the concert. Tickets are $45. More information and tickets here.
Multiple Days
Nightwood
The Mount, Lenox
Dec. 18-23, 26-31
The Mount has decked out its grounds for the annual Nightwood installation with lights and music to provide an immersive experience to its visitors. More information here.
Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers Markets
Housy Dome, Great Barrington, Saturday, Dec. 20
GreylockWorks, North Adams, Sunday, Dec. 21
Times are 10 to 1 both days. Flowers, produce, baked goods, herbs, teas, seasonings, dairy, jams and jellies, artwork, crafters, jewelry and more.
Tickets are $20. Children 12 and younger are always free. Berkshire Museum and Hancock Shaker Village members are free. More information here.
Cheshire Festival of Trees
Community House, Cheshire
Now through Dec. 31.
The town's festival of trees will be on display Monday through Thursday from 10 to 4, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 8, and Sunday from 10 to 5 until Dec. 31. The building will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Free and open to the public.
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Cheshire Speed Limits Reduced, Code of Conduct Mulled
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Some streets will soon be slower for cars with the Department of Public Works replacing the speed limit signs in response to community concerns.
The town adopted Chapter 90, Section 17C to reduce some local road speed limits to 25 mph. Twenty-three streets are approved by the state; signs are ordered from the state Department of Transportation and should arrive within a couple weeks.
DPW Director Corey McGrath told the Selectmen at last Tuesday's meeting that the department had received concerns from residents wanting people to be slower on the following streets:
Church Street
East Main Street
portions of Wells Road
Main Street
Furnace Hill Road
Flaherty Road
Pit Road
Prospect Street
Dean Street
Richmond Street
School Street
Railroad Street
Depot Street
Richardson Street
5th Avenue
Meadowview Drive
Wood Lane
Dean Street Extension
portions of Ingalls Road
Devonshire Drive
Yorkshire Drive
Berkshire Drive
Wilshire Drive
Chair Michelle Francesconi asked McGrath to look into the signs solar-powered "slow down" signs. She also spoke about increasing problems with electric bicycles and similar devices.
Young people are going 30 to 40 mph, often on sidewalks, weaving between cars, cutting through private property and town property and riding in the road, she said, and brought up how other towns are creating bylaws to address these problems. Francesconi thought the board should look into it as well as a matter of public safety.
The state is currently revising related laws, so the board will see what the Legislature passes and then model bylaws on other communities.
Francesconi also said that since there is limited police coverage at night during most of the behavior, she suggested shifting some patrol hours to evenings to address youth riding behavior.
Later in the meeting, Francesconi also brought up code of conduct for town employees as she has been receiving numerous reports regarding professionalism, boundaries, confidentiality, and internal relationships and communication among town hall staff, department heads, and with the public.
She said town counsel has recommended adopting a code of conduct as well as providing training. After some discussion, the board decided to get a catalog of training options and identify mandatory and optional trainings. Members are also thinking of doing them in-person.
In other news, the Fire Department's rescue boat missing from the water because motor is broken and is in the process of being replaced.
There are two applicants in the running for the police chief position who will be doing the assessment center on Aug. 17. The Selectmen will get their resumes afterward and decide on interviews.
Wilk-Chaffee joined two of her fellow Beautification Group members in an appearance before the Selectmen to update the elected officials on the non-profit's activities around town and explain its role in town.
click for more
The overhaul of 21 Park St, is complete, with all 10 two-bedroom apartments nearly rented. There are also three units on the second floor available for rent that will be move-in ready in September. click for more
On Wednesday, the select board approved a framework for a candidate screening committee and heard a potential timeline for making a decision to appoint the next leader of the 18-officer department. click for more
As America celebrated its 250th anniversary, Adams looked toward the future by creating a time capsule to preserve pieces of the community for future generations.
click for more
The fundraiser will be held at Turn Hall, 6 Turners Ave., beginning at 5 p.m. with a spaghetti dinner, followed by Santos' performance at 7:30 p.m. click for more
Town officials are seeking community input on the issues residents believe are facing the community and the leadership qualities they would like to see in the Police Department's next leader click for more