North Adams Pride Returns to Downtown on June 12

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— North Adams Pride announced its return to downtown North Adams on Friday, June 12, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, for an evening of celebration, community, and Pride.

This year's event will feature live entertainment, local vendors, food, and activities designed to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for attendees of all ages.

Attendees can look forward to:

• Downtown businesses and eateries open throughout the evening

• A diverse lineup of local vendors

• Food from area favorites

• A family-friendly Drag Story Hour

• Author talks and book give-aways

• Live Drag Performances 

• A live DJ dance party in the streets

• After-parties at participating venues

The event will be hosted by North Adams' very own Drag Legends Vuronika Baked and Jackie Legs. BFG will be playing the music for the dance party. 

"Bringing Pride back downtown is about visibility, celebration, and supporting our local businesses," said North Adams Pride organizers Keifer Gammell and Suzy Helme. "We're excited to gather together in a space that reflects the heart of our community."

Northern Berkshire United Way: 1970s Has Its Ups and Downs

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
06:17PM / Wednesday, June 03, 2026

The Northern Berkshire United Way sets its highest goal yet in 1979, and the first time going over $200,000. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Over three decades, the Northern Berkshire United Community Services had raised some $3 million for its affiliated agencies. 

 

That number was announced that the organizations "fifth" annual meeting in 1974, marking the time since Adams had joined, and counting the funds raised by the North Adams Community Chest and the North Adams and Adams United Funds and Northern Berkshire United Fund. 

 

The report that year was dedicated to past 24 volunteer campaign chairs, of whom 17 were still in the area and three — Russell Lanoue, George Higgins and G. Churchill Francis — had since died.

 

The amount of money raised seemed significant for the time, but the united fund found itself struggling in the early '70s as the economy dipped and its the need for its services grew. 

 

The campaign in 1970 saw an ambitious goal of $184,952 to support 16 agencies, with Northern Berkshire Child Care as the latest addition. The drive kicked off that goal at the Midway with Chair George Bateman, but it reached only 80 percent of its goal by the end. 

 

Batemen said it might not be a financial success but "I believe it was a spiritual success" because of the hard work and enthusiasm of so many drive volunteers.

 

But President Henry Pierpan said there would be allocation cuts for 1971 despite "a substantial sum" voted from reserve funds.