March Fun for Families in the Berkshires

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Celebrate Read Across America Day with the 3rd Annual "Green Eggs and Ham" event in Pittsfield this Saturday, March 5th!

Cabin Fever got you going a little stir crazy? Me too. So much so that for my birthday I treated myself to four days of freedom — from work, from my husband and from my kids — and headed to Florida with a friend. (As you read this I am probably basking in the sun, enjoying a good read and perhaps a tasty cocktail). But if a trip to Florida is not in your future, here are a few upcoming events in Berkshire County to help mix it up, combat the winter boredom blues and get you (and the kids) out of the house.

KID-FOCUSED FUN FOR THE WEEKEND

Much of my time during the winter weekends has been spent at various basketball games and tournaments, but on the rare occasion we have a day off I’ve found there is always something geared towards families happening in the Berkshires — and this weekend is no different. On Saturday, March 5, there are a few events for families that span the county. First up there is a family screening of the movie Everyone’s Hero at 10 a.m. at Images Cinema in Williamstown. The event is sponsored by The Family Beat (yes, that is where I work), the North Adams SteepleCats, and the Little Red School House (Williamstown Cooperative Nursery School). The movie morning features a screening of the baseball movie Everyone’s Hero, raffle of a SteepleCats package, a baseball signed by Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie and baseball prizes for kids who wear a baseball uniform or shirt. Images Cinema is located on Spring Street in Williamstown. ($)

Also on March 5 Chapters Bookstore on North Street in Pittsfield will host the third annual “Green Eggs and Ham” event, in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day (which was celebrated nationwide on March 2). The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include a snack of green eggs and ham and a reading of my favorite Dr. Seuss book. “I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere.” Yes, I can recite most of the book without looking at the pages! For more information about the event visit chapterspittsfield.com or call 413-443-2665.

If you want to head south, to South Berkshire County, that is, Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Passport to Adventure! A Magic Tree House Live Reading Tour, also on March 5 at 2 p.m. in the festival’s Unicorn Theatre on its Stockbridge campus. Passport to Adventure is a national tour, sponsored by Random House Children’s Books, that brings Jack and Annie — characters from Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved Magic Tree House series — live and in-person to meet their fans. Fans will enjoy Jack and Annie’s magical traveling adventures through live, theatrical performances and songs based on the best-selling Magic Tree series. To make advance reservations for the event, call 413-448-8084 ext. 15. More information can be found at berkshiretheatre.org. ($)

TWO EVENTS CIRCUS-TYPE FUN

Last summer my family and I caught Circus Smirkus, an all-kids, all-acrobatics circus and it is something we will be sure to attend should they make their way back to the Berkshires this year, but you don’t have to wait until summer to see some high-flying, circus acts in the area. This Saturday, March 5 (that is definitely a busy day in the Berkshires), the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located on Castle Street in Great Barrington, will host the Flying Karamazov Brothers at 7 p.m. The Flying Karamazov’s will perform their combination of humor, both physical and verbal, that employs a blend of music, comedy, dance, theater and juggling. Cool! For ticket information call the box office at 413-528-0100 or visit online at mahaiwe.org. ($$)

The second Berkshire County circus-like fun offering, minus the animals (which is better that way anyway in my opinion, but that is another type of column altogether) is the biannual circus presentation also in Great Barrington at the Rudolf Steiner School. Circus Coast to Coast, with seventh- and eighth-graders at the school demonstrating their amazing juggling, tumbling, twirling, clowning, balancing and jumping skills that they have learned under the direction of physical education director Krista Palmer and master clown Laura Geilan. The performance will begin at 2 p.m. in the Kirpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock College. For more information call 413-528-4015 or visit gbrss.org. ($)

FUN AT YOUR LIBRARIES

I recently wrote an article on local libraries for The Family Beat and found out that libraries are much more than just a place to house books. They also are a great place for fun, free, family entertainment. Here a few upcoming events at Berkshire area libraries in the upcoming weeks:

The Lenox Library will be hosting a reading and signing of the newly released, highly-praised picture book I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen and Marc Rosenthal 11-12:30 p.m. March 12, featuring monkey drawing lessons by Rosenthal treats and more. The Lenox Library is located on Main Street. More information can be found at lenoxlib.org or 413-637-0197, ext. 105.

The Berkshire Athenaeum will host “A Berkshire Beach Event” from 10:30- noon on March 12 that will feature a craft activity, stories, movie and snack. The library is located on Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield. Contact 413-499-9480, ext. 5, with questions.

And on March 13 the Ramsdell Public Library in Housatonic will host a magician and storyteller Debbie O’Carroll at 3 p.m. The library is located on Main Street. For more information call 413-274-3738.

TWO MORE FOR THE 12th

There are two more family-friendly best bets for March 12 and both of them are in Williamstown (and at the same time) so you are going to have to make a difficult choice. First off is the First Congregational Church’s annual children’s fair themed “It’s Not Easy Being Green” (one of my favorite Kermit songs by the way). The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include games, a fortune-teller, face painting, and more. The church is located on Main Street. For more information call 413-458-4273 or visit firstchurchwilliamstown.org.

Also on March 12 and taking place at St. Patrick’s Parish Center on Southworth Street in Williamston is a puppet show based on Aesop’s Fables: The Fox and the Crow, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Donkey and the Lap Dog and The Fisherman and his Catch. The show begins at 11 a.m. Call 413-664-4821 for more information.

JUST FOR PARENTS

Everyone knows parents need a break, too, especially after a long winter (and recent February vacation) with the kiddos. One upcoming opportunity takes place in my hometown of Dalton, and dedicated to providing parents with a much-needed night out with proceeds benefiting a local school. The St. Agnes School’s Beer/Wine-tasting and Dance Party set for 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 12, at the Wahconah Country Club, Orchard Road, Dalton. The night of festivities will include silent and live auctions, raffles, music, dancing and more. All proceeds benefitting multicultural and arts enrichment programs at the school. For tickets call 413-684-1973 or e-mail judypollard@hotmail.com. (FUNDRAISER)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Bevan McIlquham ♦ Berkshire Family Fun

Kelly Bevan McIlquham writes our bi-monthly column, Berkshire Family Fun, sharing update, events and activities for families in the Berkshires.  Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, a chocolate lab, a very fat cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate and the Editor of The Family Beat in the Berkshires. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her non-fiction published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing or editing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com — Check out Berkshire Family Fun the first and third Thursday of each month.