Hilltown Families 
Berkshire Family Fun: November 2018
Berkshire County Highlights for Families:
November 2018
Find out about community events and learning opportunities happening throughout Berkshire County for the month of October. We’ll be adding to this list as the month progresses, so be sure to check back each week. Do you have an event you’d like to include in this list? Email us at info@hilltownfamilies.org.
To find out what’s happening throughout the four counties of Western MA, check our comprehensive list of Weekly Suggested Events, published every Thursday!
Berkshire Family Fun, a project of Hilltown Families, is sponsored in part by MASS MoCA:
Berkshire Family Fun is also supported in part by a grant from the Hinsdale/Peru, Mount Washington, Monterey, North Berkshire, Pittsfield, Washington, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
North Berkshire
Adams | Cheshire | Florida | Hancock | Lanesborough | Monterey | North Adams | Williamstown | Windsor
Central Berkshire | South Berkshire
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Berkshire Arts And Technology Charter School. 1 Commercial Street.
Adams Visitor’s Center. 3 Hoosac Street.
Adams Library. 413-743-8345. 92 Park Street.
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. 413-743-7121. 67 East Road.
Abbot School. 56 North Country Road.
Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 W Housatonic St. 413-443-0188
Bascom Lodge 413-743-1591. 30 Rockwell Road.
Lanesborough Library — 413-499-5981. 83 North Main Street.
Mt. Greylock — 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road.
Bidwell House Museum – 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road.
Ashintully — 413-298-3239. Sodom Road
Monday, November 5, 10-11am
STORYTIME/FREE PLAY
Listening to stories is a great way for children to build language acquisition and literacy. On the most basic level, children learn language by hearing language. Seeing the relationship between words and pictures, and how books work, is a key part of literacy. This special storytime, featuring crafts and free play, is designed for children ages 3 to 5. Clarksburg Town Library. 711 West Cross Road, North Adams, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, November 21, 6-7pm
PLACEMAKING/TREE LIGHTING
The custom of the Christmas tree is originally derived from Northern European pre-Christian tree worship. Among the ancient Scandinavians, Celts, and Germans, trees were venerated as sacred to particular deities and their holy groves are thought by historians to pre-date the earliest temples. After Northern Europe was Christianized during the Middle Ages, this ancient practice was preserved in the custom of the Christmas tree. This Wednesday, come celebrate the Annual North Adams Tree Lighting, with live music and a visit from Santa! Downtown North Adams. North Adams, MA (FREE)
Windsor Lake. Kemp Avenue and Bradley Street.
The Maker’s Mill. 100 Eagle Street.
DownStreet Art. Main Street and downtown.
North Adams Farmers’ Market 413-664-6180. St. Anthony Drive & Route 8.
Western Gateway Heritage State Park 413-663-6312. 115 State Street.
North Adams Public Library 413-662-3133. 74 Church Street.
MASS MoCA 413-662-2111. 1040 MASS MoCA Way.
Haskins Community Center 413-664-4821. 210 State Street.
Natural Bridge State Park — 413-663-6392. McCauley Road.
Sunday, November 11, 11am-12pm
ART STUDIES/NATURE STUDIES
The late 18th and early 19th century Romantic period in music, art, and literature was primarily marked by an emphasis on the emotional state of the artist. As a reaction against the rationalism and industrial logic of the so-called Enlightenment, Romantic artists privileged the intuitive realm and portrayed the natural world as the site of sublime revelation. Thus, artists of this period were drawn to extreme natural phenomena, such as storms, mountain peaks, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Join curator Michael Hartman for lecture on the fascination with extreme nature found in 19th century art. The Clark Art Institute. 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA (FREE W/ MUSEUM ADMISSION)
Milne Public Library 413-458-5369. 1095 Main Street.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation 413-458-2494. 671 Cold Spring Road.
Clark Art Institute 413-458-2303. 225 South Street.
Images Cinema. 413-458-5612. 50 Spring Street.
Sweet Brook Farm — 413-884-4246. 580 Oblong Road.
Williams College Museum of Art — 413-597-2376. 15 Lawrence Hall Drive.
Williamstown Youth Center — 413-458-5925. 270 Cole Avenue.
Notchview Reservation 413-684-0148. Route 9. Windsor, MA.
Central Berkshire
Becket | Dalton | Hinsdale | Lee | Lenox | Peru | Pittsfield | Richmond | Stockbridge | Tyringham | Washington | West Stockbridge
North Berkshire | South Berkshire
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BECKET
Jacob’s Pillow Dance. 413-243-9919. 358 George Carter Road. Becket, MA. (FREE)
Dalton Free Public Library 413-684-6112. 462 Main Street.
Crane Museum of Papermaking. 413-684-2600. 30 South Street.
Spectrum Playhouse – 413-394-5023. 20 Franklin Street.
South Berkshire Kids – 413-464-5095. 100 Main Street.
Lee Library – 413-243-0385. 100 Main Street.
Friday, November 9, 9:30-10:30am
STEM/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Calling all scientists ages 2 to 8! Berkshire Museum is taking its science and culture program on the road to the South County. The November program, held in Lenox, will be focusing on fun, icky, messy, gooey experiments. Lenox Community Center. 65 Walker Street, Lenox, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 23, 5:30-7pm
ORNITHOLOGY/OWLS
Night is often the best time to observe animals in the wild. This is especially true for the majestic owl. It can be easy to forget that owls are all around us save for the occasional mournful hoot one hears late at night in the depths of the forest. This moonlight owl prowl will explore fields, forests, and wetlands, in search of owls and other nocturnal creatures. Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley. 472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA ($)
Friday, November 30, 9:30-10:30am
STEM/SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
In order to make high quality STEM events and activities available to the community at large, Berkshire Museum is going on the road! This month, come down to the Lenox Community Center for a morning of icky, messy, gooey science experiments with educators from the museum. This event is designed for children ages 2 to 8. Lenox Community Center. 65 Walker Street, Lenox, MA (FREE)
Lenox Community Center. 413-637-5530. 65 Walker Street.
Lenox Library — 413-637-0197. 18 Main Street.
Lenox Historical Society — Main Street.
The Mount – 413-551-5111. 2 Plunkett Street.
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary – 472 West Mountain Road.
Shakespeare and Company – 413-637-3353. 70 Kemble Street.
Ventfort Hall – 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street.
Thursday, November 1, 10am
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT/PLAYGROUP
Looking for a fun morning activity for children ages 3 to 5? Preschool Play and Learn at the Berkshire Athenaeum has got you covered! Sing songs, play games, and tell stories. This event is designed for children ages 3 to 5 but siblings are welcome to attend. Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 9, 5:30-7:30pm
STORYTELLING/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Nothing is more snuggly and cozy than a pajama party! Every fall, authors, artists, and educators, and community members come together to encourage literary and family story time. Listen to stories, go on a story walk, and even take home a free book. This event is a real community favorite! For more information, please visit Free Community Pajama Night. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 16, 6-8pm
GAME NIGHT
Games are universal. Every human community in history has had some kind of game played by children and adults. When you think about it, it’s no surprise: in addition to fun, games teach us a lot about positive social interactions. Games teach problem solving, dramatically increase communication skills, foster cooperation, and reduce stress. Establishing a family game night can also be a great way to build new family traditions. Even better, come have a game night with your whole community and create a new tradition for everyone to share! Family Game Night at Berkshire Children and Families is a great opportunity to gather with old friends and make new ones. Berkshire Children and Families. 480 West Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Saturday, November 17, 7-8:30pm
FILM SCREENING/ART STUDIES
One of the most influential painters of the late 19th century, Edgar Degas is most often associated with the impressionist movement, though he rejected the term and considered himself a realist. His obsessive commitment to capturing the movement of contemporary life drew him to dance, which is portrayed in roughly half of his paintings. In his private life Degas was reclusive and misanthropic, deliberately cultivating a secretive persona. His abrasive personality, however, can be seen as a product of his intense preoccupation with the achievement of perfection in his work. The film Degas: Passion for Perfection offers a rare look into one of the world’s richest collections of Degas’ work and features narration from his correspondence. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA ($)
Friday, November 23, 10am-4pm
THANKSGIVING/HISTORY
This Friday, come enjoy a day full of Thanksgiving farm fun at the Hancock Shaker Village! All the farm animals will be out and about, including the farm’s heritage breed turkeys. Woodworking and blacksmithing demonstrations will be available all day, as well as arts and crafts activities. Learn all about what Thanksgiving meant to the Shakers. For a full list of activities, please visit Thanksgiving on the Farm. Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)
Sunday, November 25, 12-2pm
CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
Come celebrate the winter holidays with children and families in your community! This Sunday, Berkshire Theatre Group will be hosting a Children’s Holiday Extravaganza, featuring face painting, pizza, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The first 400 visitors will also receive gift bags! This event is free but tickets are required. The Colonial Theatre. 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, November 28, 6-7:30pm
STORYTIME
This special storytime event focuses on the ways that stories can be used to build connections within the community. Telling positive stories about ourselves and our communities can help to create a deeper sense of identity and belonging. It’s amazing how powerful stories can really be! Snacks provided. Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 30, 5-8pm
MUSIC STUDIES/CAROLING
Celebrate the holiday season with an evening of caroling, choral music, and readings with a special service based on the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. First held in 1880 at the Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has become an annual tradition in Great Britain and the United States, most famously at King’s College in Cambridge, Brown University in Providence, and the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. This event is a great opportunity to enjoy beautiful holiday choral music and participate in a longstanding community tradition. Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 30, 8-10:30pm
SOCIAL ISSUES/THEATER
Matthew Shepard’s tragic murder in 1998 had an enormous impact on LGBT rights in the United States. In 2009, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, which enacted hate crimes law at the federal level and allowed violence against LGBT individuals to fall under hate crimes law. The Laramie Project is an ensemble theater project remembering Shepard, on the 20th anniversary of his death. Whitney Center for the Arts. 42 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA ($)
Beacon Cinema. 413-358-4780. 57 North Street.
Wahconah Park. 105 Wahconah Street.
Berkshire Community College. 1350 West Street.
The Berkshire Athenaeum 413-499-4809. 1 Wendell Avenue.
Berkshire Humane Society 413-447-7878. 214 Barker Road.
Berkshire Lyric Theatre – 413-499-0258
Berkshire Museum – 413-443-7171 x10. 39 South Street.
Berkshire Music School — 413-442-1411. 30 Wendell Ave.
Colonial Theatre — 413-298-5576. 111 South Street.
Downtown Pittsfield Farmers’ Market. First Street.
First Friday Artswalk — Downtown.
Hancock Shaker Village – 413-443-0188. 1843 West Housatonic Street.
Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. 413-442-1793. 780 Holmes Road.
Hilltop Orchard — Route 295.
Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health. 57 Interlaken Road.
Naumkeag. 5 Prospect Hill.
Berkshire Botanical Garden 413-298-3926. 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Chesterwood — 413-298-3579. 4 Williamsville Road
Norman Rockwell Museum – 413-298-4100. 9 Route 183.
The Stockbridge Library, Museum, and Archives – 413-298-5501. 18 Main Street.
Ashintully Gardens. 413-298-3239. Sodem Road.
West Stockbridge Public Library – 413-232-0300 x308. 21 State Line Road.
South Berkshire
Alford | Great Barrington | Housatonic | Monterey | New Marlborough | Sheffield
North Berkshire | Central Berkshire
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Tuesday, November 6, 1:30-3pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/FESTIVAL OF TREES
Berkshire Museum’s Festival of Trees is an annual event that creates a fabulous indoor forest in the museum with handmade decorations that transform holiday trees into objects of whimsical imagination! This Tuesday, come craft ornaments for the Children’s Tree, to be featured in this year’s festival. This event is appropriate for children ages 7 and above. Mason Library Children’s Room. 231 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)
Monday, November 12, 7am-11pm
ART STUDIES/IMMIGRATION
As thousands of migrants walk north through Central America seeking better lives, the Walk Unafraid project is working to empower marginalized communities and build solidarity through art. Art That Speaks, an exhibition by Guatemala born artist Clemente Sajquiy, is part of the Walk Unafriad project, featuring handmade lawn signs addressing a number of social justice issues. Sajquiy’s work will be on display until November 15. For more information about Art That Speaks and Walk Unafriad, visit Art That Speaks. Fuel Bistro. 293 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)
Saturday, November 17, 1:30-2:30pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/THANKSGIVING
Come learn how to create a turkey sculpture for your Thanksgiving centerpiece, using potatoes, pipe cleaners, feathers, and beads. It’s amazing how you can create something so lovely and charming with such simple items! To register, please visit Make a Turkey out of a Potato Extravaganza. Mason Library Children’s Room. 231 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)
Saturday, November 24, 4-6pm
FILM SCREENING
L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been called “America’s greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale” by the Library of Congress and continues to delight old and new fans. The timeless tale of Dorothy and her little dog Toto and their adventures in the magical land of Oz has inspired sequels, spinoffs, a Broadway musical adaptation, and perhaps most famously, the 1939 film starring Judy Garland. Since CBS broadcast the film on television in 1956, watching the film has become an established American holiday tradition. This Saturday, you can watch “The Wizard of Oz” in 35mm film on the big screen! Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA ($)
Triplex Cinema. 70 Railroad Street.
Lake Mansfield. 413-528-2810, ext. 30. Lake Mansfield Road.
Berkshire South Regional Community Center — 413-528-2810. 15 Crissey Road.
Great Barrington Historical Society — South Main Street.
The Guthrie Center — 413-644-9288. 2 Van Deusenville Road.
Great Barrington Riverwalk — Church and River Streets.
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center — 413-528-0100. 14 Castle Street.
Mason Library — 413-528-2403. 231 Main Street.
South Berkshire Kids – 413-464-5095. 444 Old Stockbridge Road.
Project Native – 413-274-3433. 342 North Plain Road.
Ramsdell Library – 413-274-3738. 1087 Main Street.
Bidwell House Museum — 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road.
Cookson State Forest — Hotchkiss Road.
New Marlborough Library — 413-664-0104. 1 Mill River-Great Barrington Road.
Otis Cultural Council
Otis Library and Museum – 413-269-0109. 48 North Main Road.
Bushnell-Sage Library – 413-229-7004. 48 Main Street.
Bartholomew’s Cobble – 413-229-8600. 105 Weatogue Road.
Sheffield Historical Society. 413-229-2694. 91 Main St.
