Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) will host the Downtown Festive Frolic on Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3. Activities will include the Park Square Tree Lighting, Holiday First Fridays Artswalk, Elf Invasion Pub Crawl, Pictures with Santa, Free Kids’ Paint & Sip, “Splashmas with Santa”, free arts & craft opportunities, and much more!
Park Square Tree Lighting Ceremony – Friday, December 2, 6 pm
The City of Pittsfield’s Park Square Tree Lighting Ceremony will return in-person on Friday, December 2 starting at 6 pm. The Taconic High School Chorus will perform a variety of carols around 5:45 pm before the ceremony begins, the Berkshire Hills Chorus will perform more carols once the tree has been lit, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive following the tree lighting. Those planning to attend the ceremony are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Christian Center’s food pantry.
Wreath Art Auction – Friday, December 2, 5 pm Preview; 6:30 pm Auction
The Wreath Art Auction also makes its return to the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, on Friday, December 2. Dozens of local artists and members of the Springside Greenhouse Group have donated their talent, time, and materials to create one-of-a-kind, original holiday wreaths, centerpieces, kissing balls, and more. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these original works of art will be donated to the South Congregational Church’s food pantry. The preview party begins at 5 pm and the live auction will take place after the Park Square Tree Lighting at 6:30 pm. Tickets will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $10. Light food and beverages will be available.
Hot Chocolate Bar & Photo Booth at Otto’s – Friday, December 2, 5 to 7 pm
Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort, 95 East Street, will host a free Hot Chocolate Bar with all the fixins and a Photo Booth from 5 to 7 pm on December 2.
Discounted Berkshire Museum Admission on Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm; Performance by Women of Song from 6:30 to 7:15 pm; $0-$5
Enjoy the acapella melodies of Berkshires-based group Women of Song performing festive music around the Berkshire Museum’s 15-foot Christmas tree in the Santa Classics exhibition.
The performance is included with Festive Frolic extended hours admission! All ages are welcome! The Winter Fest exhibitions, Santa Classics and Hoots Holiday, and select first floor galleries will be open 5 to 8 pm on Friday, December 2 for a reduced admission price. Adults $5, Children (under 18 years of age) $3, and Children under 3 and Museum members are free! Visit before of after the City of Pittsfield’s Park Square Tree Lighting Ceremony!
Free Family Drop-In Holiday Art Activity at Berkshire Art Center – Friday, December 2, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Join Berkshire Art Center (BAC), 141 North Street, for a Free Family Drop-In Holiday Art Activity from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Friday, December 2, and on Saturday, December 3, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Families and people of all ages are welcome to participate at their own pace with the guidance and support of a faculty artist. Free Family Drop-Ins are open to the public and all children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required.
Free Hot Chocolate and Drop-in Ornament Making at Lee Bank – Friday, December 2, 5 to 7 pm
Lee Bank, 75 North Street, will offer free hot chocolate and drop-in ornament making from 5 to 7 pm on December 2.
Holiday Open Studios at the Clock Tower – Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, from 10 am to 4 pm
The Artists at the historic Clock Tower will host a Holiday Open Studios event on Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, from 10 am to 4 pm. The Clock Tower Studios are located on the third floor of the Clock Tower at 75 South Church Street. The Clock Tower Artists have created new original small paintings and have printed items perfect for gift giving. Visit for a festive holiday experience!
The artists hosting open studios at the Clock Tower during the Festive Frolic are Deborah Carter, Joan Palano Ciolfi, Marion Grant, Stacey Healey, Caroline Kelley, Bruce Laird, Mark Mellinger, Linda Petrocine, Shany Porras, Ilene Richard, and Sally Tiska Rice. For more information, visit https://clocktowerartists.com.
Gifts from the Guild Berkshire Artists at TKG Real Estate – Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm
Artists of the Guild Berkshire Artists will bring reasonably priced treasures from their studios to TKG Real Estate, 137 North Street, from 5 to 8 pm on December 2. Find unique, original gifts at amazing prices: earrings, cards, small paintings, prints, and more.
Holiday First Fridays Artswalk – Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm
There will be additional art openings and exhibits as part of the December 2 Holiday First Fridays Artswalk at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue; Hotel on North, 297 North Street; and Soma’s Aromas, 81 East Street, among others. Download the Downtown Pittsfield app in the App Store or on Google Play to follow a virtual walking tour of art on your cell phone.
Free Kids’ Ornament Making at Witch Slapped – Friday, December 2, 5 to 8 pm; Drag Storytime at 6:30 pm
On Friday, December 2, Witch Slapped, 78 North Street, will stay open until 8 pm with a free kids’ event from 5 to 8 pm where they can make their own ornament. At 6:30 pm, there will be a Drag Storytime as Island Fawn reads a children’s holiday story. Free Blue Q gift with every in-store purchase!
Tina from The Emerald Phoenix will be popped up with her 100% Purely Natural Organic Vegan and eco-friendly products to show your body and soul the luxury it deserves!
Healing Sound Bath at BYDF – Friday, December 2, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Berkshire Yoga Dance and Fitness, 55 North Street, Suite 201, will host a special healing Sound Bath with Antoinette Simms on Friday, December 2 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Listen and receive resonant sounds from crystal and Tibetan bowls, a crystal harp, chimes, and your own sound to tune up the chakra system. Participants will be guided into a natural state of relaxation, harmony, and bliss where deep self-healing and transformation can occur. The Sound Bath is $22 and pre-registration is required as space is limited.
Elf Invasion Pub Crawl with Berkshire Mountain Distillers – Friday, December 2, 7 pm to 12 am
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is partnering with Berkshire Mountain Distillers for an Elf Invasion Pub Crawl starting at 7 pm on Friday, December 2 in downtown Pittsfield.
Purchase an Elf ID in advance online or in person at 101 Restaurant & Bar on December 2 starting at 6:45 pm to secure an elf accessory and a Berkshire Mountain Distillers’ sample at each location!
Elf attire is encouraged!! Specialty drinks available for purchase at each location are listed below!
Pub Crawl Schedule:
7 to 8 pm: 101 Restaurant & Bar (Ethereal Blossom: BMD Ethereal Gin, Elderflower Liqueur, Citrus Spiced Syrup, Guava Nectar, Lemon Juice)
8 to 9 pm: Flat Burger Society (Mule-Tide Cheer: BMD Ice Glen Vodka, Pomegranate Juice, Ginger Beer, Lime Juice)
9 to 10 pm: Patrick’s Pub (Berkshire Tap Old Fashioned: BMD Berkshire Bourbon, Maple Syrup, Agnostura Bitters)
10 to 11 pm: Thistle & Mirth (Cranberry Greylock & Tonic: BMD Greylock Gin, Cranberry Juice, Tonic)
11 pm to 12 am: Methuselah Bar and Lounge (Berkshire Egg Nog: BMD Bourbon, Housemade Egg Nog)
Valid identification with proof of age will be required. Click here to purchase your “Elf ID” ticket: https://business.downtownpittsfield.com/events/details/festive-frolic-elf-invasion-pub-crawl-22
Santa at The Beacon Cinema sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and Phoenix Theatres – Saturday, December 3, 10 am to 3 pm
Saturday’s Downtown Festive Frolic events will be headlined by Santa at The Beacon Cinema sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and Phoenix Theatres from 10 am to 3 pm. All children are welcome to take a free photo with Santa which will be made available for download after the event. If you are able, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. asks that you bring a new pair of socks to donate in exchange for the photo. Thank you to the RSVP volunteers who will be on hand to help with this wonderful event.
Free Holiday Kids’ Paint & Sip Party sponsored by Adams Community Bank – Saturday, December 3, 11 am to 3 pm
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will present a Free Holiday Kids’ Paint & Sip Party sponsored by Adams Community Bank and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, December 3, from 11 am to 3 pm at the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church auditorium, 67 East Street. This free event is best suited for ages 5 to 12, although older children are welcome. All materials, instruction, snacks, and juice will be provided. Children are welcome to drop in anytime over the course of the event. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The auditorium is on the second floor of the parish house, and the entrance is on Allen Street.
“Splashmas with Santa” at the YMCA – Saturday, December 3, 12 to 2 pm
The Berkshire Family YMCA and Action Sports and Travel will host their annual “Splashmas with Santa” on Saturday, December 3, from 12 to 2 pm, at the Pittsfield Branch of the YMCA at 292 North Street. Visit with an underwater scuba diving Santa Claus, and participate in kayaking, canoeing, and underwater Christmas Tree decorating. Out of the pool, there will also be cookie and wreath decorating and refreshments. Registration for this event is required and is free to YMCA members and $5 for non-members.
Free Kids’ Winter-themed Drop-in Craft at the Berkshire Athenaeum – Saturday, December 3, 10 am to 5 pm
The Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, will host a free winter-themed drop-in craft for children ages 4-10 in the Children’s Library on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 5 pm while supplies last.
The Berkshire Art Center, 141 North Street, will host a Free Family Drop-In Holiday Art Activity on Saturday, December 3 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Drop-in to make your own snowflake ornaments using beads and pipe cleaners with faculty artist, Amanda Johnston! All ages are welcome! All children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration is required.
The Berkshire Art Center will also offer an Image Transfer Totes Workshop with artist Diane Firtell on Saturday, December 3 from 1 to 3 pm. This workshop is $44 and you may register at berkshireartcenter.org/classes. Using the image transfer technique, students will learn to transform a canvas tote bag into a work of art. Students will be provided with images of florals, animals, geometric designs, etc. to use or are welcome to bring their own laser printed image for a more personalized design.
Free Classes at Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center – Saturday, December 3
On Saturday, December 3, all classes at Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center, 137 North Street, will be free, and anyone who stops by in a festive outfit will receive a free 1-month membership! See class schedule at http://bfwstudio.com.
Berkshire Box Co. Pop-up at Soma’s Aromas – Saturday, December 3, 11 am to 4 pm
Penny Sale at Witch Slapped – Saturday, December 3
Soma’s Aromas, 81 East Street, will host a Berkshire Box Co. pop-up on Saturday, December 3 from 11 am to 4 pm; and Witch Slapped, 78 North Street, will open early at 10 am with Love, Auntie Liz popped up, a Witch Slapped Penny Sale, and a free Blue Q gift with every in-store purchase. Drop-in to create your own Witch Ball or Yule Ornament for $20 (a $5 savings).
“Wingmasters’ World of Owls” at the Berkshire Museum – Saturday, December 3, at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm.
The Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, will present “Wingmasters’ World of Owls” on Saturday, December 3, at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Featuring a variety of live owls, this captivating and informative program shows how owls use their specialized powers of sight, hearing, and flight to survive and thrive.
This educational program is presented by Wingmasters, a partnership of two licensed raptor rehabilitators dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey.
A ticket for this program also includes admission to two new exhibitions Hoot’s Holiday: A Solstice Tale and Santa Classics by Philadelphia-based artist Ed Wheeler. In Hoot’s Holiday, follow Hoot, an owl living on the roof of the Museum, and prepare for a Winter Solstice party by traveling through time and visiting historic locations around the Berkshires. Santa Classics features a selection of 31 works from Ed Wheeler’s catalog along with the Museum’s 15-foot tall, decorated tree in the center of the Ellen Crane Memorial Room.
“Wingmasters’ World of Owls” is recommended for ages 5 and up. Tickets are $17 for adults and $10 for children and include Museum admission. Tickets for Museum members are $7 for adults and $5 for children.
