Berkshire Pride Marks 10th Annual Pride Season

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Pride celebrates its 10th Annual Season of Pride celebrations throughout Berkshire County. 
 
During the month of June, a series of events in Pittsfield, supported by North Adams, Lee and Lenox will foster connection, visibility, and joy, reinforcing the region's commitment to an inclusive future. 
 
Berkshire Pride commemorates its 10th anniversary affirming "Every Day is Pride."
 
This June, celebrate Pride across the Berkshires with  celebrations in multiple communities:
  • "Pride on the Common" Parade & Festival: Our flagship event! Celebrate a decade of pride and community on Saturday, June 20 with a parade through downtown Pittsfield, starting at Park Square and marching to Pittsfield Common Park. After the parade, enjoy a free, family-friendly festival.
  • North Adams Pride Night: A vibrant north county celebration honoring LGBTQ+ culture on Friday, June 12 with entertainment, vendors, and deep community engagement.
  • Lee Pride: Returning for its second year on Saturday, June 13 with live music, vendors, and family-friendly activities.
  • NEW for 2026 – Lenox Pride: Organizers are planning an inaugural celebration on Saturday, June 6, further expanding the reach of Pride Month festivities across the Berkshires.
Pride All Month Long: Beyond festivals, Berkshire Pride's celebration is throughout June with workshops, social events, and creative showcases. From youth empowerment programs to the Berkshire Pride 5k & 1 Mile Walk on May 31, Pride events are continuous throughout the county. More information on these and other Pride month events to be announced
 
Sponsorship & Volunteer Support: sponsors are essential to sustaining Berkshire Pride month-long free Pride programming. Sponsorship ensures expanded programming and community impact all year round. Multiple sponsorship
tiers are available for a variety of events during June - sponsorship opportunities available.
 
Volunteer Kickoff Party: Interested volunteers are invited to the Volunteer Information Session & Pride Season Kickoff Party at Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield on Thurs April 23 at 5pm to meet organizers and learn more - all ages, groups and corporate volunteer teams are welcome.
 
"Celebrating 10 Seasons of Pride in the Berkshires, while continuing to expand celebrations across the county, is a powerful reflection of our community's strength, visibility, and unity," said Berkshire Pride Executive Director Cass Santos-China. "We are honored to share this milestone with our neighbors from Lee to Lenox, and from Pittsfield to North Adams. This 10th Annual Season is not simply a moment of reflection, but a declaration that Pride in the Berkshires is a permanent and growing part of our region's cultural and civic life. We move forward together, building on the past decade as a foundation for the future."
 
For the latest updates, parade and vendor registration, and a full calendar of June events, visit www.berkshirepride.org or follow @berkshirepride on Instagram and Facebook.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Recent E. Coli Detection in Pontoosuc Lake Confined to Lanesborough

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Only Lanesborough's portion of Pontoosuc Lake had a bacterial exceedance last week. 

During the Lake Management Commission's second meeting on Thursday, members received an update on the situation. 

On July 22, the Lanesborough Board of Health closed the Sunrise Street and Narragansett Avenue beaches due to high E. Coli levels.  They have since cleared. 

"We didn't have any bacterial exceedance in Pittsfield, so there's no concern at all last week for any E. coli concerns in Pittsfield,” Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reported. 

Regular monitoring for bacterial exceedances at swimming beaches across the Commonwealth is required.  Pittsfield's Board of Health tests Pontoosuc and Onota Lake weekly on Wednesdays throughout the summer. 

Lanesborough also conducts weekly testing through its Board of Health, and an exceedance was reported to the state at Sunrise Beach, at the very north end of Pontoosuc Lake. 

McGrath noted that he did not see Narragansett Beach on the state's dashboard. 

"The City of Pittsfield was made aware of the bacterial exceedance and we, of course, were concerned,” he said. 

"Our weekly testing happened the next day on Wednesday. Our results were returned Thursday morning. We did not have a bacterial exceedance at Pontoosuc Lake Park, where we test off of the wall on the north side of the channel, and also proximate to the boat ramp, at this point in time.” 

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