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Weekend Outlook: A Weekend of Music, Film and Fun in the Berkshires

Rebecca Dravis Print Story | Email Story
The Rasa String Quartet performs at Williams College on Thursday night.

Fall is still in full swing, both indoors and outdoors this weekend.

Editor's Pick

Tamarack Hollow Berkshire Drum and Dance Fest
Windsor Town Hall, Windsor
Saturday

The 17th annual Tamarack Hollow Berkshire Drum and Dance features multi-level drum, song and cultural classes with master drummer and cultural ambassador of the Malinke people Namory Keita from Sangbarala, Guinea, West Africa and guest dancer and drummer Seny Daffe also from Guinea! Plus, a community performance and interactive dance class featuring Namory Keita, Seny Daffe, Aimee Gelinas and Dan Cohen with members of Gaia Roots, the Berkshire and Valley Rhythm Keepers, Offbeat Womyn Drummers and guests TBA. Drum classes are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; registration required. An intergenerational community concert and interactive community dance class featuring Namory Keita, Seny Daffe, Aimee Gelinas, Dan Cohen members of Gaia Roots, the Berkshire and Valley Rhythm Keepers and the Offbeat Womyn Drummers will be held at 3 p.m.

Registration and information here.

 

Multiple Days

Stockbridge Film Festival
Berkshire Waldorf High School, Stockbridge
Friday–Sunday

The Stockbridge Film Festival’s inaugural year provides live screening opportunities for audiences, as well as connections, and professional resources for visionary and progress-eliciting filmmakers from around the globe. The event offers a new cinematic hub in the Berkshires, with a rich lineup of short films, documentaries, narrative features, live Q&As, and industry-led panels. Friday kicks off with a welcome reception and screening. Saturday features A full day dedicated entirely to screening the festival's diverse Official Selections. Sunday concludes the festival with more Official Selections and a formal awards program.

Tickets and information here.

 

Thursday

Moira Smiley and the Rasa String Quartet
Chapin Hall, Williams College, Williamstown
7:30 p.m.

The Williams College Department of Music presents special guests of the Visiting Artist Series, Moira Smiley and the Rasa Quartet. Singer / Composer Moira Smiley has toured the world and recorded with Indie-pop favorites, Tuneyards, performing with them on all the late-night TV shows, opening David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in NYC with Chris Thile, Hilary Hahn and Brad Mehldau. Rasa String Quartet explores the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. This concert is free and open to the public.

Information here.

 

Friday

Live Comedy
Images Cinema, Williamstown
8 p.m.

An intimate night of stand-up comedy with headliner Dan Altano and host Charlie Nadler. Dan Altano has carved a name for himself in stand-up comedy by blending brutal honesty, sharp wit, and genuine heart into high-energy performances. Charlie Nadler owes his existence to a TV show; his parents met while writing together on Laverne & Shirley. He performs around the country at clubs, colleges, and festivals, and recently recorded an album with Comedy Dynamics.

Tickets and information here.

 

Planetarium Show
Milham Planetarium, Williams College, Williamstown
8–9 p.m.

Weekly planetarium shows are held on Friday nights at the Milham Planetarium to see all that night sky has to offer, from mythology to astrophysics and cosmology.

Registration here.

 

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
6 p.m.

Information here.

 

Saturday

Creative District Cleanup
Downtown North Adams
9 a.m.

North Adams’ newly designated Creative District will kick off its three-year pilot with a community cleanup day, bringing residents, businesses, artists, students, property owners, and community organizations together to improve the district and build shared ownership of its future. Volunteers will work in teams at locations throughout the district. Volunteer check-in is at 9 a.m. at Hotel Downstreet.

Information here.

 

Fall Festival
Hopkins Forest, Williamstown
10 a.m.–1 p.m.

This event celebrates the changing of the seasons and the bounty of our wooded environments, and features traditional wood-working demonstrations, hikes, music, cider production, children’s activities, hands-on activities, such as a cross-cut saw competition, and more.

Information here.

 

Halloween Pumpkin Extravaganza
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield
11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Kick off the Halloween “season” and celebrate autumn with a day for families of all definitions at Hancock Shaker Village. Do the Spooktacular Scavenger Hunt (and earn a treat bag!), decorate a pumpkin (and take it home with you), visit our Fortune Teller, meet the Shaker Garden Wizard, hear a Shaker “spirit” story, learn about Shaker fall foodways, and enjoy a leisurely guided fall walk on the Farm and Forest Trail.

Information here.

 

It’s Alive! Kids' Zone
St. Joseph’s Church, Pittsfield


11 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Downtown Pittsfield It’s Alive! Kids’ Zone will feature a bounce house, Halloween-themed arts & crafts, games, face painting, balloon twisting, giveaways, a live DJ, and more. All Kids’ Zone activities are free, and costumes are encouraged.

Information here.

 

Dave Zerbato Wiffle Ball Tournament Fundraiser
Deming Park, Pittsfield
11 a.m.–4 p.m.

This event brings together players, families and community members for a day of Wiffle ball while raising money for the Dave Zerbato Scholarship Fund. The annual tournament honors the memory and legacy of Coach Dave Zerbato, who was a longtime part of Pittsfield’s youth baseball community and coached the Berkshire Bank Little League team in the Pittsfield American (South) Little League. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Dave Zerbato Scholarship Fund and help ensure that scholarships can continue to be awarded to deserving Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School seniors in Dave’s memory.

Information here.

 

Skatepark Grand Opening
Stetson Road, Williamstown

1-5 p.m.

The festivities will feature a demonstration by a professional skateboarder, food and music. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the park to Max Rothschild will be held at 2 p.m.

 

Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge Walking Tour
Main Street, Stockbridge
1-2:30 p.m.

Take a guided walking tour of downtown Stockbridge and discover how the town and its inhabitants both inspired Norman Rockwell and appeared in some of his most iconic works of art. Explore the history of this 1734 village–including its Mohican origins. Stops will include Norman Rockwell’s home on South Street, his first studio on Main Street, the Old Corner House (site of the original Norman Rockwell Museum), Chief John Konkapot’s property, the Red Lion Inn, the former site of Alice’s Restaurant, and more. Reservations required.

Tickets and information here.

 

Sheffield Fall Festival
Town Green, Sheffield
3–9 p.m.

The Sheffield Fall Festival features live music, children’s activities, hayrides, a costume parade (4 p.m.) and more between 3 and 7 p.m. Special “after hours” from 7 to 9 p.m. will include bonfires, music/entertainment and refreshments.

Information here.

 

Benefit Concert
Adams Theater, Adams
7:30 p.m.

In Good Company is an intimate, genre-bending celebration of the songs that bring us together. Presented as a special benefit evening supporting The Adams Theater. While Season Pass holders are warmly welcome to use their pass for complimentary tickets, purchasing a ticket or adding a donation directly bolsters the theater’s 2027 season and helps sustain its future.

Tickets and information here.

 

Sunday

Verdi’s MacBeth: Met Opera Live
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington
1 p.m.

The Met: Live in HD presents a thrilling take on the immortal Shakespearean tale of the scheming couple determined to seize power at any cost. Following past triumphs in many of Verdi’s signature baritone roles, Quinn Kelsey is the Scottish king haunted by the ghosts of his murderous ascent to the throne, opposite Lise Davidsen—the world’s reigning dramatic soprano—as the power-mad Lady Macbeth, whose ruinous ambition damns them both. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for a penetrating production by Louisa Proske.

Tickets and information here.

 

Farmers Markets 

Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 

The market is open every Saturday through Nov. 14. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers double SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. 

Information here. 

 

New Marlborough Farmers Market
Village Green
Sundays 10 a.m.–1 p.m.  

The market has local vendors that offer a variety of goods, including produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, hand-knit items, maple syrup, and more through October.

Information here. 

 

North Adams Farmers Market
Main Street
Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

The south side of Main Street from American Legion Drive will be closed to make room for the city's weekly farmers market through Oct. 31. Explore downtown North Adams and discover local businesses and fresh produce from local farms. 

Information here.  

 

Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street
Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 

The market focuses on a wide range of local food and artisan vendors, as well as local services and music through Nov. 7.

Information here.


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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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