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Weekend Outlook: Halloween

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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There will be a variety of events in and slightly outside the Berkshires this weekend including pumpkin walks, a parade, Halloween dance parties, and more. 
 
Find our list of craft fairs and bazaars here
 
Find our list of trick or treat hours and Halloween events here.
 
Editor's Pick
 
Pumpkin Walk 
Adams Visitors Center
Time: Saturday and Sunday evenings
 
Community members are invited to carve pumpkins or donate jack-o'-lanterns for display on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a bring-your-own pumpkin event, but the center will provide tools, templates and clean up. 
 
Walk through pumpkins carved by members of the community while enjoying complimentary hot cider and snacks this Saturday and Sunday from 6 until 8 p.m.
 
More information here
 
Friday 
 
Halloween Parade 
Tyler Street, Pittsfield
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
Watch as schools, community, and civic groups celebrate Halloween by walking down Tyler St. dressed in their favorite costumes. More information here
 
Halloween Costume Party
The Stationery Factory, Dalton
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
Dress up and celebrate Halloween by dancing to spins by DJ BFG. The Factory will be lit up by video projections courtesy of Drew Suto of Dutch Masterson Designs. Tickets cost $10. Information here
 
Haunted Path
1356 Church St., North Adams
Time: Friday & Saturday, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
 
Church Street Lights hosts its third annual Haunted Path with lights and spooky decorations. Suitable for all ages. Goodwill donations in the blue bucket by the stairs support PopCares. More info here.
 
Halloween Costume Party
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
Time: 8 to 11 p.m.
 
Come dressed up in your spookiest costume for a night of live music, beer, and a costume contest with some wicked prizes. And hey, if you want to dress up like Mario or a bunch of grapes or something nice, that's cool, too. More information here.
 
Saturday 
 
Past Peak Fall Train Ride
Hoosac Valley Train Ride, Adams
Times: 1, 3 and 6 p.m.
 
Although it's past the peak of fall, some trees still have their color. Look out into the Berkshire mountains while getting a first look at the historic train car New Haven 41. 
 
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum will be debuting one of the five Rail Diesel Cars from the Budd RDC Foundation, New Haven 41 this Saturday. 
 
Tickets cost $20 for adults and $12 for children between the age of 3 and 12. Information here
 
Florida Volunteer Fire Department Hayride
139 Mohawk Trail, Florida 
Time: 6 p.m.
 
Enjoy free hot cocoa, hot cider, and popcorn while taking a hay ride. The event is $5 per person but children 5 and under are free. The event will also include a baked goods sale and Halloween basket raffles. 
 
Great Barrington Farmers Market
18 Church St.
Time: 9 to 1. 
 
The market is open every Saturday until Nov. 11. Every week there will be locally grown food, flowers, and plants along with other local vendors. More information here
 
Halloween Cover Show 
Hot Plate Brewing Co., Pittsfield
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
There will be Halloween themed performances from a number of local and regional bands including Nice Try Kid, Bully Maguire, and more. This all ages show has a $10 cover charge. More information here
 
Sunday
 
The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show
Naumkeag, Stockbridge
 
Naumkeag's pumpkin show will conclude this Sunday. 
 
Explore the museum's gardens that have been decorated with more than 1,500 jack o' lanterns, hundreds of mums, pumpkins and countless gourds — most of which were grown at Naumkeag. 
 
Hot cider and fall treats will be available for sale on-site.
 
Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required. Tickets will not be sold on-site. Ticket time represents your arrival window.
 
No parking is available onsite but designated parking spaces are available on both sides of Town Hall located at 50 Main St., along Main Street or Elm Street. 
 
The first shuttle will leave downtown Stockbridge at 5 p.m. and run every 5 to 10 minutes through the run of the show; the last shuttle will depart no later than 8 p.m.
 
Ticket prices and booking here
 
Halloween Costume Train Ride
Hoosac Valley Train Ride, Adams
Times: 1 and 3 p.m. 
 
Take a ride in your favorite costume on this family friend train excursion. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $12 for children between the age of 3 and 12. Information here
 
Multiple Days
 
Two Nights of Frightful Fun Halloween Party 
Shire Beer Co., Dalton
Time: 9 p.m. 
 
Wear your costume this Saturday and on Halloween for a two-night dance party. The event features musical performances by cover band Mr. Doubtfire on Saturday and Scare-aoke with Old Soul Sounds on Halloween starting at 7 p.m. 
 
The event also features a festive dinner menu and spooky drinks. There is a $5 cover charge. More information here.
 
Whitney's Farm Market & Garden Center
Route 8, Cheshire
 
Whitney's Farm will conclude its popular Pumpkin Fest this weekend. The festival is open Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. 
 
The festival features pumpkin picking, ride on a hay wagon, glitter tattoos, a walk through a corn maze, and more. 
  
More information here.  
 
Haunted Hancock
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield
 
This Friday and Saturday Hancock Shaker Village opens its doors at night for a "spine-chilling evening of Shaker ghosts and mystery."
 
Participants will walk the dark paths of the village and venture into the dimly-lit halls of the Brick Dwelling to hear stories of ghost sightings, and learn about the Shakers' role in the spiritualist movement. 
 
Advanced registration for the event is required. The recommended age for this spooky experience is age 12 and older. Tickets for this 75-minute adventure are limited and can be purchased here
 
kid-friendly version of the Haunted Hancock event is this Saturday at 5. The 45-minute tour of the Brick Dwelling and grounds will include ghost and mystery stories designed for kids. Visitors are welcome to wear their costumes. 
 
Tickets for the event are $10 for children and $15 for adults. More information here
 
13 Nights Returns
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock 
 
The terrifying favorite returns to provide a fright-filled weekend to participants brave enough to enter the haunted house. 
 
Take a group of friends to participate in "13 Nights at Jiminy" every Friday through Sunday from 6:30 until 10:30 p.m. through the month of October. 
 
The age recommendation is 10 and older. Tickets are $28. 
 
You can also ride through the darkness with the resort's Mountain Coaster for $15; The Scream and Scare Package includes one trip through "13 Nights" and two rides on the coaster for $45. 
 
The Christiansen's Tavern will be open to purchase drinks, dinner, or a snack Friday and Saturday. 
 
More information here. Check out our video from last year here.

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Berkshire Planning Commission Approves 'Conservative' FY25 Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has a "conservative" budget for fiscal year 2025 with a nearly 6 percent increase.

On Thursday, the commission approved a $6,640,005 budget for FY25, a $373,990 increase from the previous year.  The spending plan saw less growth from FY24 to FY25, as the FY23 to FY24 increase was more than $886,000, or over 16 percent.

Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said there aren't any dramatic changes.  

"This is very much different than a municipal budget in that it's not a controlling budget or a limiting budget," he said. "It is really just our best estimate of our ability to afford to operate."

The increase is largely due to new grants for public health programs, environmental and energy efforts, economic development, community planning, and the transportation program.

"We have a lot of grants and a lot of applications in. If any of those are awarded, which I'm sure there's going to be many of them, we would shift gears and if we have to add staff or direct expenses, we would," office manager Marianne Sniezek explained.

"But the budget that we have now is conservative and it covers all our expenses."

The budget was endorsed by the finance and executive committee before reaching the full planning commission.

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