May 2 First Fridays at Five, 5 to 8 pm
The City of Pittsfield, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (DPCA) have announced details for the May 2nd First Fridays at Five sponsored by AccessPlus. The event will feature live music, art, dance, 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 Futon Lasagna from 5 to 8 pm. Enjoy a beer garden from Hot Plate Brewing, Co. and local food vendors within the vicinity.
Futon Lasagna is ska comfort food made with love since 2021. Hailing from Boston, this high-energy, female-fronted LGBTQ+ band blends the melodic vocals of pop punk with the infectious rhythms of punk ska—think Bouncing Souls meets Less Than Jake, but hold the horns. Their catchy, relatable songs are perfect for dancing your feelings out. What started as four friends jamming at parties quickly turned into a beloved act lighting up stages across New England.
In the case of inclement weather, Futon Lasagna will be at Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 27 East Street.
Dunham Mall, 100 North Street, will feature Dance on Dunham with Latin Dance Lessons from Luana Dias David and Prashad Abeysinghe. Luana and Prashad will host two 30-minute dance lessons at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm, with open dance space before, between, and after to keep the energy flowing and allow for community interaction. Enjoy a beer garden from Hot Plate Brewing, Co. on Dunham Mall. Dance on Dunham is presented in partnership with Mill Town Foundation.
In the case of inclement weather, Dance on Dunham with Luana and Prashad will be at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and First Fridays Artswalk will feature a different “Art in the Park” artist each month of the First Fridays at Five Season. On May 2 from 5 to 8 pm, Shelsy Rodriguez (Stephx) will be popped up in Palace Park (near 122 North Street), inviting the community to join her in creating an original painting. “Art in the Park” is supported by the Feigenbaum Foundation.
Shelsy Rodriguez is a 22-year-old student from Bogota, Colombia. She came to the United States almost four years ago in search of her own well-being and development as a person. She is an environmental science student at BCC and has a creative baking business with her mother. Shelsy’s first mural can be seen on the Intermodal Center in Pittsfield.
Jim Horsford will also be 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 Shelsy Rodriguez and Pottery with Jim Horsford will be inside the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renee Avenue.
The Big Air Bike Jam hosted by Berkshire Bike and Board and Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series will be in the Palace Park Parking Lot on May 2 from 5 to 8 pm (weather permitting). Enjoy this freestyle bike demo right in downtown Pittsfield!
DJ Bengey will be the featured First Fridays at Five DJ for May and will be stationed on North Street closer to Park Square along with the Makers Market. (In the case of inclement weather, the DJ will be at the Hot Harry’s pavilion.)
Brooklyn-born and East Coast-based, DJ Bengey brings over two decades of experience creating unforgettable musical moments. A veteran of New York City’s vibrant music scene, Bengey is known for his genre-defying mixes that perfectly match any event’s energy.
The Makers’ Market at First Fridays at Five will feature 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.
The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will expand onto North Street this year and will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including face-painting, arts & crafts, games, and more. Participating organizations include the Albany Berkshire Ballet/Cantarella School of Dance, Barrington Stage Company, BART Charter Public School, Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire County Head Start/CFCE, Berkshire County Kids Place, Berkshire Family YMCA, Berkshire Medical Center, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Pittsfield Little League, Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, The Berkshire Eagle, and Xtreme Wrestling Alliance, Inc.
There will also be a self-guided Animal Scavenger Hunt for families presented by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) beginning at Palace Park, and Balloon Ben will be crafting free balloon creations!
First Fridays Artswalk will showcase artists at venues throughout downtown Pittsfield from 5 to 8 pm including Berkshire Art Center, Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Living in Recovery, Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery, Marketplace Cafe, Ralph Froio Senior Center, Soda Chef, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield. Follow a virtual walking tour on the free Downtown Pittsfield App and enjoy opening receptions with the artists.
A free ART BUS provided and operated by RSVP Volunteers will take you to a half dozen locations throughout downtown during the First Fridays at Five on May 2nd. The ART BUS will make stops at City Hall, The Berkshire Carousel, Clock Tower Artists, the Framework by DPI Gallery at the corner of North and Linden Streets, Hotel on North, and Persip Park at the corner of North Street and Columbus Avenue. The ART BUS will depart City Hall every half hour starting at 5 pm with the last ride departing City Hall at 7:30 pm. Visit downtownpittsfield.com for the ART BUS schedule.
Berkshire Art Center, 141 North Street, will feature Free Drop-in Art Making from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All ages are welcome to stop by to participate in a free art activity with the guidance and support of a faculty artist.
Hot Plate Brewing, Co., 1 School Street, will celebrate the return of First Fridays with a two-band lineup featuring two Northampton-based bands: Gentle Hens and The Fawns starting at 7 pm.
WANDER Berkshires, 34 Depot Street, Suite 101, will feature Roadhouse Gospel Revival with Misty Blues from 7 to 9 pm. Misty Blues pays tribute to the bold and brassy women of early blues while honoring the legendary male artists of the 1920s–1940s. Rooted in reverence and joy, this evening promises deep grooves, raw emotion, and pure blues energy. $20 advance tickets or pay at the door.
Berkshire Theatre Group will present “Henry Cho: The Empty Nest Tour 2025” at The Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, at 7:30 pm. Known for his clean, clever humor and unique comedic style, Henry has been entertaining audiences across the country with his hilarious observations on life, family and culture. With numerous appearances on late-night TV, Comedy Central, and his own Comedy Central special, Henry has established himself as one of the most beloved comedians in the industry.
First Fridays at Five is led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and will take place in downtown Pittsfield on May 2, June 6, August 1, and September 5. A portion of North Street will be closed during the event.
Season partners and sponsors include AccessPlus, MountainOne, and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.
For more information and a full event listing, visit https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.