NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The circus has come to town for this year's Fall Foliage Festival.   In line with this year's parade theme of Berk du Soleil, Mill Town Circus's bright yellow and blue tent went up this week at Noel Field Athletic Complex and will open on Friday night with a 90-minute production inspired by the city's manufacturing history. The performances will run this weekend and next.    Ringmaster and storyteller Carlo Pellegrini and Hilary Sweeney, founder of Westchester Circus Arts, are promising innovative and acrobatic performances by talented and experienced ...

All year long Halloween enthusiasts hide away their pointed hats and pause their D Minor music awaiting their beloved holiday's return. What better way to celebrate its return than by visiting a few of Berkshire County's Halloween activities; here are our must-do Halloween activities in Berkshire County.  13 Nights at Jiminy Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock  Terror begins Friday, September 27th and runs through Oct. 31    The mountain resort known for its snowy hills and winter recreation is transformed into a fright destination.  Many locals fly to Jiminy Peak M...

There are a variety of events this weekend, including a country fair, live music, and more.    See a list of Farmer's Markets here.   Editor's Pick    Country Fair  Hancock Shaker Village Sept. 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.    The village is hosting its annual county fair, which will feature live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, workshops, demonstrations, an antique quilt show, a farmer's market, an antique car show, a timber framing workshop, face painting, and craft vendors.    There will also be freshly made cider donuts an...

Spend the day at Whitney's Farm Market & Garden Center. Let the kids venture off into the corn maze or make a new acquaintance at the petting zoo that includes a mini pony, baby goats, sheep, and a peacock. Children can scale different structures in the play yard and once they have worked up an appetite, pick up lunch in the farm market. Whitney's is located at 1775 South State Road in Cheshire and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Naumkeag's Pumpkin Show runs every Wednesday thru Sunday starting Sept. 27 to Oct.27. The center is also holding its Pumpkin Fest, which features ...

What's a better activity on a blue-sky fall day than picking pumpkins? Here are some of our favorite places for buying pumpkins and other favorite autumn items.  In Williamstown, head down Luce Road and visit Chenail's Farm Stand. Pick out a pumpkin, maybe two, from the rows of pumpkins set out for your consideration. The farmstand is located at 481 Luce Road and hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. At Hancock's Ioka Valley Farm you can actually pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. The Farm's Fall Fun Weekends are in full swing until the end of October so  come for the pumpkins,...

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and the holidays are approaching. Artisans and craft enthusiasts know what that means. It's craft fair and bazaar season! From local church fairs to artisan festivals, the Berkshires offer various goods.  Here's a list of some of the best: admission is often free, but some venues charge.  *This list will be updated throughout the Fall and Winter season. Berkshire Botanical Garden Harvest Festival Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13 The 24-acre garden offers two days of family entertainment, a botanical bakery, food trucks, craft vendors, ...

 To many people, fall is seen as the saddest season. The end of the warm months, the bright flowers, and the heralding of the bone-chilling winter. To me it is one of the most beautiful and exciting times of the year. Fall means cool nights by the warm fire, apple picking, pumpkin everything, and so much more.    Fall in the Berkshires is a mystical time of year that brings travelers from all over the world seeking the opportunity to see the changing of the leaves.    Here are my five must-see destinations to experience in the final days before the fall foliage season ...

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city's historic Halloween parade rises from the dead this year with a Hollywood theme. On Monday, the Department of Community Development Recreation Program announced that the "Spooky Hollywood" parade will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. on Tyler Street. Aside from the usual ghouls, goblins, and superheroes, there will be an abundance of spooky pop culture icons. Think the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus," Michael Myers from the "Halloween" franchise, or even Casper the Friendly Ghost. "Participants are encouraged to base their float designs, decorati...

The Berkshires turns gold and red every year during the autumn months, bringing visitors from afar to take in the scenic views. Here are some of our favorite sites for Instagram-worthy photos. Mt Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts being 3,489 feet. More information here. 1. Mount Greylock: You can't beat the scene from the summit of Massachusetts' tallest mountain. Visitors can take in a 90-mile vista across the Hoosac Range, learn the history of the War Memorial Tower, and stop for a bite to eat at historic Bascom Lodge. The summit is free but there is a parking fee during t...

ADAMS, Mass.—The site of Mt. Greylock is a mystical one full of history and beauty. World renowned authors and artists have been inspired by the sight. Hikers are surrounded by the sound of the forest as they begin their incline up the majestic mountain. All the sounds of nature come together and guide the hikers that dare adventure there from the high pitch squeaking from the cluster of Cedar waxwing, the scuffing of the scavenging Red Squirrel, to the clashing of the trees. In the Fall, you are surrounded by an array of beautiful colors. The vibrant yellow, orange, and green give...

Windsor, Mass. — Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center's annual Berkshire Drum and Dance Fest Fall will be held on Oct. 12. Proceeds support participating artists and the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center. More information here.    The center houses a rare spruce-fir Taifa habitat, which can be found in small pockets of high-elevation forests. The habitat is rare and declining in Massachusetts, as is some of the wildlife it inhabits. It is home to many rare and declining Massachusetts wildlife species, including the white-throated sparrow, ruffed Grouse, ...

LENOX, Mass. — Smell the freshly cut grass while having a glass of wine and a picnic on Tanglewood's lawn. If you don't feel like bringing a cooler along, you can grab something to eat and drink from a variety of vendors. The Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home offers a wide array of performances and learning opportunities in a relaxing atmosphere on the 210 acres of lawn and meadows that was previously the Tappan estate.  Tanglewood's season kicks off on June 20 with a performance by American singer-songwriter and guitarist John Fogerty. List of concerts this 2024 season here...

Mass MoCA Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams combines art and culture and presents it to its patrons to inspire, impact, and entertain.  This museum is known for its contemporary art, education programming and performance events including the bi-annual Solid Sound Festival, the annual FreshGrass Festival, and many more performances.  Mass MoCA hosts permanent and temporary exhibits in its 250,000 square feet of galleries. This museum has free parking, dining, cafe and brewery on the campus and is located within walking distance of North Adams' downtown shop...

Berkshire County has a variety of waterfalls that can take the breath away from any curious traveler willing to spend some time hiking.  Tannery Falls Savoy, Mass The hike to the majestic Tannery Falls is no easy feat. Bumpy terrain and steep steps lead to a peaceful bubble untouched by the outside world.  The journey to the 80-foot falls starts at Savoy Mountain State Forest and a bumpy gravel road that leads to the trailhead; a longer trail will avoid the road and bring you to the falls as well.  Roots rise above the ground, greeting the hikers as they follow the rushin...

Wahconah Falls State Park Dalton, Mass.   Wahconah Falls is a must see when coming to Central Berkshire County. It is a world of its own that stands alone from other sites in the area, especially in the Fall. To many people, Fall is seen as the saddest season.   It is the season that warns us of the oncoming dreadful bone chilling winter. The season of death from the dying vegetation. But to me Fall is seen as the last moments of happiness before the oncoming storms. The kind mother lulling the vegetation to sleep with her lullaby and bright colors of orange and red as they mix ...

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden is a 24-acre botanical garden that showcases horticulture and garden design through its dozens of displays.   Starting May 1 the garden's grounds are open daily from 9 until 5 daily. Visitors can roam the grounds freely with no duration limit, but the average visitor often spends approximately two hours exploring.   The garden's mission is to educate and inspire the art and science of gardening and preserve the local environment.   This not-for-profit, membership-supported organization offers classes, lectures, workshop...

Berkshire County unites the natural environment with the industrialized world. Its distinct area combines art, culture, technology, and nature, creating an eclectic range of activities for residents and visitors.   Berkshire County is generally divided into three sections: Northern, Central, and Southern. The Northern Berkshires comprise Williamstown, North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, New Ashford, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Savoy and Windsor. Each community has a unique history and offers explorers a variety of activities.   Deciding where to go for the first trip to Northern Be...

Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this weekend including Art Festivals, Comedy Nights, and Jazz Performances.    Lenox Jazz Stroll Lilac Park, Lenox   The third annual Lenox Jazz Stroll will be taking place this weekend throughout Lenox providing free jazz programming for through Sept. 17.    The programming starts this Thursday, Sept. 15, at Lenox Library with the documentary "The Modern Jazz Quartet: From Residency to Legacy” by George Schuller.    The rest of the week will feature a variety of jazz performances including the Te...

Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this warm, sunny weekend featuring concerts, fairs, festivals, and more.    Hawk Henries Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield   Start your weekend off early this Thursday by listening to original flute music by Hawk Henries, a member of Nipmuc's Chaubunagungamaug band, in Zion Lutheran Church's Common Room starting at 7 p.m.   His music has been described as being able to carry listeners across musical and cultural boundaries. His artist statement says he is committed to music "as a traditional art form and as a v...