Weekend Outlook: Spring Cleaning, Baby Animals

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:37PM / Friday, April 24, 2026Print Story | Email Story

Check out the events happening in the Berkshires this weekend including clean ups, jazz night, and more.

Editor's Picks

Baby Animals
Hancock Shaker Village
Time: 11 to 4, through May 10

A sure sign of spring is the arrival of baby animals at Hanock Shaker Village in Pittsfied. See lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kids and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village, from daily talks about the farm and the Shakers to craft demonstrations to walks along the Farm & Forest Trail.

Admission is $8 to $20, free for children 12 and younger. More information here.

Jazz Crawl
Pittsfield
Time: 5 to 10 p.m.

The annual Pittsfield Jazz Festival concludes with a jazz crawl atlocal establishments, including Methuselah, BB’s Hot Spot, Rare 297, Tito's Mexican Bar and Grill, and Wander Berkshires.

More information here.

Saturday Earth Day Cleanups

Clean Up with Hoosac River Revival
Noel Field, North Adams
Time: noon

Celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up and supporting the development of a community walking loop trail along the river atop the berms behind Noel Field. Supplies will be provided but bring your own if you have them.

More information here.

Springside Clean Up
Springside Park, Pittsfield
Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Join the Friends of Springside Park for the 45th year of cleaning up the park. Bring gloves, bags, and more to help keep the park clean.

More information here.

Adams Community Clean Up Day
Adams Visitor Center
Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Join the 4th annual clean up to help keep the neighborhoods clean and safe. If you can, bring your own gardening tools and enjoy pizza at the end of the cleanup. There will also be a friendly competition for a chance for prizes.

More information here.

Multiple Days

'James and the Giant Peach'
The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Roald Dahl's classic adapted as a musical adventure for all ages.

More information and tickets here.

Friday

'By Association Of' Closing Reception
Future Labs Gallery, North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

See the artwork of 20 local artists before the exhibit closes at 43 Eagle St.

More information here.

Bring your own Vinyl Night
Hot Plate Brewing Co., Pittsfield
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.

Bring your favorite record for DJ Pup Daddy to spin or pick from his stack.

More information here.

Ghost Tours
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
Time: 8 to 10 p.m.

The Gilded Age museum hosts a tour with "Ghosts of the Berkshires" author Robert Oakes, who will lead guests through the rooms and halls of the estate, sharing tales of its hauntings. All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Admission is $31 and the minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are required. Purchase tickets here.

Saturday

Free Ride Day
Berkshire Carousel, Pittsfield
Time: noon to 5 p.m.

UCP of Western Massachusetts is sponsoring free rides on the carousel. UCP will also showcase assisted technologies with low vision, sensory integration, daily living skills, and more. Other department members will be there as well with information.

More information here.

Broad Brook Dam Community Walk

Broad Brook Trail, Pownal, Vt.

Time: 1 p.m.

Join Trout Unlimited's Taconic Chapter, and the Hoosic River Watershed Association for a walk along Broad Brook to the dam that will be removed this July. Meet with TU reps who can answer questions about this dam removal.

Constituents who are concerned about native flora, especially spring ephemerals, will discuss tagging and where onsite to relocate plants who may be impacted by equipment used in the area during the dam removal process. This program will last approximately 1 hour.

More information: Zach Adams at zach.adams@tudot.org.

La Cocina 50th Anniversary Reunion

Bounti-Fare, Adams

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Friends, former employees and patrons of La Cocina are invited to enjoy a day of great food, music and a chance for old school social networking. The restaurant was a popular spot in Pittsfield starting in 1976 for both food and music, and operated a second location on State Road, where Stop & Shop is now, for about a decade. Both locations closed in 1990.

The event benefits the Kids 4 Harmony program of 18 Degrees Family Services for Western MA.

Buffet is $25, 12 and younger free; cash bar. Tickets available at the Bounti-Fare at 413-743-0193 or on the website. Weather permitting, the patio will be open.

'Stockbridge-Munsee Community: Past, Present, Future'

Williamstown Historical Museum

Time: 11 a.m.

Williams College students from the Mohican Homelands Education Initiative will lead this program as part of the partnership between Williams College and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. They will explore the community's history in the region, life on the present-day reservation, and ongoing cultural and political presence.

Free and open to the public at 32 New Ashford Road. More information here.

Sunday

2 the Moon Card Show
North Adams American Legion
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy the first annual card collectors show with multiple vendors for cards and collectables. Buy sell or trade and enjoy a ton of giveaways.

More information here.

Mountain Mindfulness: Spring Walk
Greylock Glen Center, Adams
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.

Connect with nature and de-stress with meditation skills and more. Space is limited, register at 413-499-4262.

More information here.

Troy Ramey An Evening of Songs and Stories
Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 7 p.m.

"The Voice" singer Troy Ramey perform at the factory. Portions of the funds from the tickets will support nonprofit Sound Mind Live.

More information and tickets here.

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Second Streets Second Chances Awarded $85K for Workforce Re-Entry Program

By Brittany Polito03:00PM / Monday, September 28, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local program for formerly incarcerated citizens seeking a technical career received $85,000 from the state.

On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $2.25 million in Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants to 12 organizations that will provide job training, career support, and employment opportunities to 445 formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.

Second Street Second Chances was allocated $84,712 to partner with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office to offer a training program to 12 returning citizens with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.

The funds will be used to put 12 returning citizens through a training program with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in manufacturing and welding roles at Onyx Specialty Papers and Hi-Tech Mold and Tool.

The program was one of 12 awardees, a majority on the eastern side of the state; Greenfield also saw funding.

"When people return to their communities, they should have a real opportunity to get a good job, support their families and build a stable future," said Gov. Maura Healey in a press release.

"These grants connect people with the training and experience they need to succeed and with employers that are ready to hire."

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said successful reentry means making sure people have the tools and opportunities to move forward, and these programs bring together community organizations, public safety partners, and employers to connect people directly with training and jobs.

Launched in 2022, Second Street Second Chances' mission is to provide a central point of access for medical and mental health, housing, job training, legal services, and more for a successful reentry into the community.

Early this year, the nonprofit saw an $89,000 grant from the program. Executive Director Lindsay Cornwell at the time said this funding allowed 2nd Street to expand its mission of supporting returning citizens in Berkshire County through meaningful workforce opportunities and a pathway toward sustainable employment.

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