Weekend Outlook: Hoedown, Free Museum Admission and More

Check out some of the events happening in the Berkshires this weekend, including dancing, celebrations, and volunteer work.

Editor's Pick

Cheshire Hoedown
Cheshire Community House, 191 Church St.
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy a day of activities like cow plop bingo, pony rides, face painting, and more. Listen to live music by Whiskey City and dance your heart out.

More information here.

Friday

90s/2000s DJ Dance Party
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 9 to midnight

Come dance your heart out at the newly rebranded Shire Tavern with DJ Justin. After dinner service ends at 8:30 p.m. the tables will be moved for people to dance. Reservations are recommended and there's a $5 cover. It will be 21-plus at 9 p.m.

More information here.

Chili and Chowder Fest
Camp Russell, Richmond
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy some unlimited chili and chowder samples from many different restaurants. As well as burgers, hotdogs, and sausage. You can also enjoy live music while taking in the views. This is 21-plus and tickets are $30 per person.

More information and tickets here.

Saturday

No Paws Left Behind One Year Celebration
No Paws Left Behind, North Adams
Time: 2 to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the shelter's one year anniversary. Enjoy some refreshments and a food truck from Berkshire Blends. Dogs will also be out and walking so that you can potentially meet your next best friend.

More information here.

Meet the Minis at Balderdash
Balderdash Cellars, Richmond
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.

Enjoy time at Balderdash Cellars with a drink and meet some minis from Rising Starr Horse Rescue. The whole family is welcome for this event.

More information here.

Laurel Lake Water Chestnut Pull
Laurel Lake, Lee/Lenox
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.

Joining the Laurel Lake Weeders to help protect the lake from water chestnuts. Volunteers are needed to help. You can enjoy a day on the lake with your family while helping to keep the lake safe.

Email laurellakeweeders@gmail.com to RSVP. More information here.

Open Farm Day
Second Chance Stables & Draft Rescue Inc, Savoy
Time: noon to 2

Stop by and learn about Second Chance Stable and what it does. This is free for the family to stop by and visit some fun animals. There will be complimentary snacks and the farm stand will be open.

More information here.

Ice Cream Train Ride
3 Hoosac Street, Adams
Time:1:30 to 2:30pm, 3:00 to 4pm

Enjoy some ice cream on a train. It's $24 for adults and $18 for kids 3-13. $5 for a toddler or free if they won't have ice cream.

More information and tickets here.

Paranormal Investigation with David Raby
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
Time: 7 to 11:45 p.m.

Enjoy a paranormal investigation at the historic Ventfort Hall Mansion. Learn about the history of the mansion and some compelling evidence of its hauntings.

Tickets are $45 per person with a reduced rate of $25 for ages 12-18 and 19-23 with student ID. Reservations are recommended for entry. You can call (413) 637-3206 to reserve your spot.

More information here.

Rusted Chains at Shire Tavern
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.

Berkshire County’s Rusted Chains will be performing a tribute to the 90s and the MTV Unplugged era. Sing along and dance your night away.

More information here.

Comedy on Tap

Sunday

Community Day: Art in Action
The Clark, Williamstown
Time:  11 am to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a day at The Clark looking at new exhibitions. Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and special exhibitions all day, as well as special activities, art-making, artist demonstrations, and entertainment inspired by these special exhibitions.

More information here.

Cool off at the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department.

More information here.

Walking with WordxWord
2 Plunkett Street, Lenox
Time: 5 p.m.

Explore The Mount’s grounds and work in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. Listen to poets for free.

More information here. 

Movie Night at Joe Wolfe

Multiple Days

Trinity Irish Dance Company
Jacob's Pillow, Becket
July 10 thru 13

Enjoy watching the Trinity Irish Dance Company bring Irish tradition and flare to Jacob's Pillow.

More information here.

Farmers Markets

Great Barrington Farmers Market

18 Church St.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market is open every Saturday. Every week, locally grown food, flowers, and plants will be available, along with other local vendors. The market accepts and offers doubling SNAP, HIP, WIC, and Senior market coupons. More information is here. 

Lee Farmers Market 

The Town Park

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The market offers locally grown produce, prepared foods, locally created arts and crafts, and herbal products. YogaLee offers free community yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 on the first Saturday of each month.

The market accepts SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, and WIC Coupons and also offers Market Match. More information here. 

Lenox Farmers Market

St. Ann's Church

Friday: 11 to 3. 

This market is open every Friday through Sept. 12 and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more.

More information here. 

New Marlborough Farmers Market 

Village Green

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

The market has local vendors that offer a variety of goods from produce, eggs, baked goods, jams, hand-knit items, maple syrup, and more. More information here. 

North Adams Farmers Market  

Main Street

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The south side of Main Street from American Legion Drive will be closed to make room for the city's weekly farmers market, which will kick off this Saturday. Explore downtown North Adams and discover local businesses and fresh produce from local farms. More information here. 

Pittsfield Farmers Market

Pittsfield Common

Saturday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Roots Rising, the region's first teen-run market, will hold an indoor farmers market this Saturday. The event will feature live music, chef demos, workshops, children's activities, and more. More information here

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.