Holiday Strolls in the Berkshires

Four Holiday Strolls and town celebrations are planned for the Berkshires, including the towns of North Adams, Williamstown and Stockbridge.  A fourth Holiday Stroll will happen in Great Barrington on Saturday, December 8th from 4-7:30pm. Take the family and stroll downtown, alive with holiday spirit!  Find out more about the Great Barrington Holiday Stroll on the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce website.

As the temperature slowly drops and the skies become increasingly more grey, towns across Western Massachusetts are beginning to look more and more festive by the minute!  Leafless trees now don coats of twinkling lights, streetlights are wrapped cozily in strands of deep green garland, and bright red bows decorate wreaths – welcoming both visitors and the holiday season.  Begin your family’s holiday season this weekend by visiting one of the holiday strolls being offered!

Downtown North Adams’ Hometown Holidays series continues on Thursday, November 29th from 5-8pm.  Local businesses will have extended hours and special deals for holiday shopping, and there will be fun family activities taking place throughout town.  Kids can get holiday masterpieces painted on their chilly pink cheeks, exercise their creativity making holiday crafts (which might also make great gifts!), and sing along to live holiday music.  More information available on the City of North Adams website.

Carolers, theatrical performers, horses, and even Santa Claus himself will be in Williamstown on Saturday, December 1st, for the town’s annual Holiday Walk!  The event takes place from 4-7pm, and features everything from holiday crafts and a bake-off to sleigh rides and a parade.  There will be live music throughout town for the duration of the event, including performances by jazz groups, a bell choir, and community chorus groups.  “A Christmas Carol,” will be performed at 5:45pm at The Log, the Reindog Parade will march down Spring Street at 4:15pm, and the Williamstown Cub Scouts will be collecting toys at 69 Spring Street all night!  The event ends with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, done by Santa himself.  A full list of events is available on the Williamstown Chamber’s website.

The town of Stockbridge will be celebrating the holidays all weekend – all over town!  On Saturday, December 1st, families can explore local historic properties on the Holiday House Tour.  The tour, which is self-guided and takes place from 11am-4pm, includes historic gems such as Naumkeag, The Mount, and Elms Cottage, and is a great way for older students to learn about local history.  That evening, downtown Stockbridge will be lit by candlelight during the annual Caroling Luminaria Walk, beginning at the Red Lion Inn (BYO candle or flashlight!).  The walk ends at the First Congregational Church, where Berkshire Lyric and the Blafield Children’s Chorus will perform holiday music.  Sunday, December 2nd, brings a second set of exciting holiday events in Stockbridge – including Main Street at Christmas, a re-creation of Norman Rockwell’s famous painting of the same name.  The town’s main street will be filled with antique cars and holiday decorations – transforming Stockbridge into a vintage wonderland!  There will be caroling, crafts, and sleigh rides, too.  For more information on locations and ticketing, visit the Stockbridge Chamber’s website.