Downtown Celebrates Spring Week, April 13-21, 2024
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) will host the second annual Downtown Celebrates Spring Week, April 13-21, 2024, during the Pittsfield Public School’s vacation week. Downtown Celebrates Spring Week offers free and low-cost programming to individuals and families with children of all ages.
Downtown Celebrates Spring is sponsored in part by The Feigenbaum Foundation.
The featured event for the week will be “Where’s Winston?”, a spring scavenger hunt for images of Officer Winston, the Pittsfield Police Department’s comfort dog, at a dozen downtown locations. A spring image of Winston will be hidden in 12 locations in downtown Pittsfield. Every Winston will have a unique word with him. Find the hidden Winstons, write the words on the inside of the Where’s Winston? Game Card, and bring the card to the Berkshire Athenaeum to claim prizes. The first 5 children to find all 12 words and bring their completed Game Card to the Children’s Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum will win a Winston plushie. All children who find all 12 words will win a Winston Spring Pin. Children who find any 6 words will win a Winston Sticker. To redeem the Game Card for prizes, bring the completed card to the Children’s Library, April 13-20. The library is closed on Sunday.
Game Cards will be available at the following locations beginning April 13:
Children’s Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum, Bottomless Bricks, Dory & Ginger, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Hot Harry’s, Kidding Around Consignment, Mana Crypt Gaming Center, Marketplace Café, Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort, The Plant Connector, Thistle ‘n Thorn Floral, and Witch Slapped.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Dottie’s Coffee Lounge will host a Downtown Celebrates Spring Tea Party on Thursday, April 18, from 2 to 4 pm at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, 444 North Street. This free Spring-themed Tea Party is best suited for ages 3 to 10, although younger and older children are welcome. There will be free lemonade and cookies for the kids; and there will be coffee and tea for the grown-ups available for purchase.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 3 pm in the auditorium at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East Street. This free Spring-themed Paint & Sip is best suited for ages 5 to 12, although younger and 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, and 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.
In collaboration with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Pittsfield Parks & Recreation will host a Celebrate Spring Beach Party on Wednesday, April 17 from 3 to 6 pm at Onota Lake Beach. There will be a scavenger hunt, relay races, games, and free food. The Onata Lake Beach Toy Library will also be unveiled during the event.
The Plant Connector, 46 West Street, will host three special events as part of Downtown Celebrates Spring. On Saturday, April 13, 12 to 4 pm, drop in to The Plant Connector for Free Seed Bomb Making. Seed bombs are playful capsules filled with seeds, soil, and clay, meant to be tossed or scattered onto barren land to sprout new life and greenery. They provide an entertaining and practical approach to guerrilla gardening and revitalizing urban spaces and degraded environments.
On Wednesday, April 17, 1 to 4 pm, drop in to The Plant Connector for Free Bottle Decorating in a Refills over Landfills event. Come learn how to reduce plastic waste through The Plant Connector’s refillery. Bring your empty bottles and get creative with free crafting activities to decorate them in a fun and eco-friendly way.
On Saturday, April 20, 12 to 4 pm, drop in to The Plant Connector for a DIY Airplant Terrarium Bar. Come build a magical little home for an air plant for $12. Air plants are fascinating epiphytes that grow without soil. Their unique appearance and low maintenance make them a delightful addition to your home. This event will be fun for all ages!
The Berkshire Family YMCA (BFYMCA), 292 North Street, will be hosting a No Cost Family Swim from 12 to 3 pm, Monday-Friday, April 15-19. Registration is required.
On Saturday, April 20, the BFYMCA will host Healthy Kids Day from 12 to 3 pm. Healthy Kids Day is the largest single-day event at the Y nationally. This free event is open to the public and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of kids and families. Dive into a day filled with activities designed to get kids moving, learning, and creating healthy habits away from the classroom. Healthy Kids Day aims to set children on a path to reaching their full potential with a focus on overcoming academic and health challenges during out-of-school times.
On Sunday, April 21, starting at 7:30 am, join the BFYMCA for a Spring Fever Indoor Triathlon. Unlike a traditional triathlon, which covers fixed distances of swim, bike, and run, indoor triathlons challenge competitors to race the greatest distance within a fixed time frame. Transition times are fixed, meaning they don’t count in the overall finishing time. At the conclusion of the event, each athlete receives a score based on the distances completed in each of the disciplines, plus an overall score for ranking. More importantly, they earn the distinction of “triathlete.” More than half of indoor triathlon participants are first timers, with many going on to compete in traditional triathlon events. The indoor triathlon is open to ages 13 and up and is open to active BFYMCA members and non-members. Relay teams are allowed, and 1 participant per event will pay an individual fee. Learn more and register here: https://bfymca.org/events/spring-fever-indoor-triathlon
The Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue, will host an array of events as part of Downtown Celebrates Spring. On Tuesday, April 16 at 10:30 am, the Athenaeum will host Experimental Art with Anna for ages 6-12. Anna will walk participants through the steps to make a woven canvas art piece. At 3 pm on April 16, the Athenaeum invites you to a Taylor Swift Party for ages 6 to 18. Celebrate Taylor by performing karaoke, making friendship bracelets, writing songs, entering the costume contest, and more.
On Wednesday, April 17 at 1 pm, the Young Adult Department will host Mosaic Collage for Teens, and at 4 pm, kids ages 8-12 are invited to Knitting Club. Basic knitting supplies will be provided, and staff will be available to teach new knitters.
On Thursday, April 18 at 10 am, The Berkshire Athenaeum will host Celebrate Urban Birds – Nature and Art Program. During this event kids will learn about birds they can see in Pittsfield, listen to a story about birds, and make a bird collage. At 3:30 pm, bring the whole family to the library for a story time celebrating National Poetry Month. This event is best for ages 5-10.
On Friday, April 19 at 1 pm, the Young Adult Department will host a String Wrapping Craft for Teens, and at 2 pm, join The Berkshire Athenaeum for Family Game Day. Join a Nintendo Switch tournament, play board games, build puzzles and LEGOs, and more. This event it best for families with school-age children.
Bottomless Bricks, 163 South Street, Suite 4, will host a Minifigure® Trading Night: Kids Edition on Wednesday, April 17 from 6 to 7 pm. This event is free and suitable for kids up to the age of 17. Kid Minifigure® collectors are invited to bring their duplicates and find that elusive Minifigure® they’ve been searching for. This event is a great opportunity for kids to work on their social skills and meet other kids who share a passion for LEGO®. Children must be accompanied by an adult. LEGO® and Minifigures® are trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this event.
For more information on Downtown Celebrates Spring, call Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at 413-443-6501.
The mission of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) is to strengthen and promote Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.’s membership through advocacy, collaboration, and celebration.
Since 1983, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. has been the recognized leader, facilitator, and principal advocate for downtown. DPI is a membership organization consisting of property owners, businesses, residents, cultural & entertainment venues, restaurants, and non-profit organizations who have joined forces to increase economic activity by promoting downtown as a great place to live, work, and play.