September 4 First Fridays at Five

The September 4 First Fridays at Five, presented by Mill Town Foundation, will feature live music and dance, art, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield.

Persip Park, 175 North Street, 5 to 8 pm

– Misty Blues
– Beer garden with Hot Plate Brewing Co.

Rain location: Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 27 East Street

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The Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) will offer an open-house experience featuring “What We Carry Forward: An Exploration of Art” from 5 to 7:30 pm at the South end of the road closure.

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Palace Park, 122 North Street, 5 to 8 pm

– Art in the Park: Jill McLean draws a large ink sketch of First Friday
– Live Pottery Demo with Jim Horsford

Rain Location: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue

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Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, 5 to 8 pm

– Berkshire Art Association presents TUNE IN, a biennial juried exhibit
– Paper Blooms with Paper Petals Artist Elizabeth Nelson

Rain Location: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue

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North Street in front of Crawford Square, 137 North Street

– Free Balloon Twisting with Andrew the Balloonatic

– Fitness professional, Aimee Marshall, hosts a Free (DROP-IN) Cardio Drumming Class from 5 to 6:30 pm

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North Street:

-Makers Market at First Fridays at Five

–Food Vendors

-Family Fun Zone

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First Fridays Artswalk:

First Fridays Artswalk will showcase artists at venues throughout downtown Pittsfield from 5 to 8 pm including Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Indie Readery and Records, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Sanctum Gallery, Solarium Plant Shop, and the Soda Chef. Follow a virtual walking tour on the free Downtown Pittsfield App and enjoy opening receptions with the artists.

MORE INFO BELOW:

The City of Pittsfield, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (DPCA) have announced details for the final First Fridays at Five of the 2026 season. The event on Friday, September 4th presented by Mill Town Foundation, will feature live music and dance, art, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs so they can sit and enjoy a variety of food, beverages, and entertainment.

Persip Park, 175 North Street, will feature a live performance by Misty Blues from 5 to 8 pm. Enjoy a beer garden from Hot Plate Brewing Co. and local food vendors within the vicinity.

2019 International Blues Challenge finalist, Misty Blues, is fronted by lead singer/band founder Gina Coleman. The band is based out of Berkshire County playing original and traditional blues with hints of jazz, soul, funk and tent revival gospel since 1999. The band has recorded with Eric Gales, Charles Neville and Joe Louis Walker, and opened for contemporary blues artists like Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, Tab Benoit, James Montgomery, John Primer, Roomful Of Blues, Albert Cummings and Shemekia Copeland. Misty Blues performs extensively throughout New England and has toured the continental U.S., Canada, and the UK. The band has been nominated for a few Independent Blues Music Awards, and their original recordings have broad international airplay. In 2024, the band had a song they released selected for use in a U.S. Presidential campaign ad.

In the case of inclement weather, Misty Blues will be at Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 27 East Street.

The Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) will offer an open-house experience featuring “What We Carry Forward: An Exploration of Art” from 5 to 7:30 pm at the South end of the road closure.

The gallery-style exhibition, featuring works from two different artists, examines art as an expression of resilience and a powerful means of preserving the memories, traditions, and cultures of communities that have endured atrocities for future generations, connecting past, present, and future into one.

The MMOT, an innovative educational initiative of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, is a classroom on wheels offering interactive, facilitator-led workshops designed to combat hate and promote greater understanding. Through the lessons of history, the MMOT helps foster dialogue, understanding and tolerance.

An accompanying art activity outside the MMOT will offer attendees another way to engage with the exhibit’s themes.

Join Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and First Fridays Artswalk as they feature Jill McLean as the September “Art in the Park” artist. Jill will be drawing a large ink sketch of First Friday during the September 4 First Fridays at Five from 5 to 8 pm.

As an unofficial finale to the 2026 season of the Urban Sketching Meetup, Jill will be drawing a large ink sketch of First Friday and invites viewers to come add color to the scene and enjoy how the vibrancy, liveliness, and unpredictability of watercolor paint can capture life in interesting ways.

Urban Sketching Meetup is a free gathering that Jill hosts once a month from June to September. Running every year since 2020, the meetup is an opportunity for people who want to come out and try urban sketching (sketching in public places from life) but may not want to try it alone, or simply want a casual excuse to do art together.

Each event, a downtown Pittsfield location is designated as the meet up spot and participants explore the area with their chosen art supplies. You can practice urban sketching outdoors or indoors and draw anything you see in front of you. It’s a great way to get to know your local community.

Jill McLean is an artist and Pittsfield native inspired by a wide range of local subjects, from still lifes and florals to landscapes and animals. Working in watercolor and oil, Jill’s portfolio includes everything from urban sketches and plein air paintings to planned series and formal studio pieces. Often taking her art outside of the studio, you may find her painting on local hiking trails and at community events.

“Art in the Park” is supported in part by the Feigenbaum Foundation.

“Art in the Park” is supported in part by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Jim Horsford will also be popped up in Palace Park hosting a free live pottery demonstration from 5 to 8 pm where he will be inviting individuals to help him make pots on the potter’s wheel. Jim spent 30 years as an art teacher at Herberg Middle School from 1978 to 2008. Currently, he teaches pottery on the wheel at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts where he has been since 2000. His creations will be available for purchase.

In the case of inclement weather, “Art in the Park” with Jill McLean and pottery demos with Jim Horsford will be inside the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Avenue.

Inside the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Avenue, enjoy a free interactive art activity: “Paper Blooms with Paper Petals Artist Elizabeth Nelson.”

Using fine Italian crepe paper, wire, and glue, make your own whimsical bloom during a step-by-step demo with paper petals artist Elizabeth Nelson. Supplies are limited so come early! Best for ages 12+ or children accompanied by a helpful adult.

Fitness professional, Aimee Marshall, will host a Free Cardio Drumming Class in front of Crawford Square at 137 North Street from 5 to 6:30 pm. Community members are invited to drop-in at any time throughout the class or stay for the entire duration. Participants are recommended to wear comfortable clothing and sneakers and to bring a water bottle.

Cardio drumming is a high-energy, music driven, full body workout that combines rhythmic drumming on balls and drumsticks with aerobic exercise. This low impact class is suitable for all fitness levels and is brought to you by Berkshire Fitness and Wellness Center.

The Makers Market at First Fridays at Five will feature over a dozen local vendors selling handmade products such as crafts, clothing and accessories, candles, art, custom gift items, self-care items, and packaged foods and sweets. Makers include

Check out a variety of food vendors including BB’s Hot Spot, Berkshire Kettle Creations and Lemonade, Best Damn Espresso, Cocineras Latinas LLC Coop, D’s Island Food Truck, Full Belly FEWD TRUCK, La Chalupa & La Enchilada, and Williams Street Market and Deli.

The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including arts & crafts, games, and more.

Andrew the Balloonatic will be balloon twisting, crafting free balloon creations in front of Crawford Square at 137 North Street.

First Fridays at Five is led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and will take place in downtown Pittsfield on May 1, June 5, August 7, and September 4, 2026. A portion of North Street will be closed during the event.

Season partners and sponsors include AccessPlus, MountainOne, Guardian, and Mill Town Foundation.

For more information and a full event listing, visit https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.

North Street will be closed from Park Square to Columbus Avenue on Friday, September 4 from 3 to 8:30 pm. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes during this timeframe and follow appropriate detours. In addition, a parking restriction will be in place on North Street between Park Square and Columbus Avenue starting at 2 pm on Friday.

September 4 First Fridays at Five

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