New Year's Eve Celebrations to Welcome 2026

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:23PM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Welcome the New Year by celebrating with others at events marking the beginning of 2026, including live music, skiing, fireworks, and numerous parties.

North Adams New Year's Eve Ball Drop
Center Street Parking Lot
Time: 8 p.m.

North Adams rings in the New Year with its third annual ball drop, held earlier in the evening for the whole family to enjoy. Grab some of the swag and count down for the New Year at 8, then stay for refreshments. The ball is the creation of North Adams Sheet Metal.

More information here.

Steeple City Social New Year Party
5 Eagle St., North Adams
Time: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Head over to Eagle Street after the ball drop in North Adams for cocktails, music and snacks to ring in the New Year. Fun and fancy outfits encouraged to be ready to mingle, play games, dance, and toast to 2026.

More information here.

New Year's Eve Dance Party
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 9 to midnight

Dance the night away with tunes from DJ Justin with snacks and a champagne toast to ring in the new year. Admission $5; must be 21 and older.

More information here.

New Year's Eve Karaoke Party
Methuselah Bar, Pittsfield
Time: 9 to midnight

Bring your friends and sing in the New Year. Admission of $5 includes with a champagne toast at midnight.

More information here.

New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
Jiminy Peak, Pittsfield

Time: 10 to 11 p.m.

After the lifts close, join Jiminy in welcoming 2026 with a torchlight parade of team members sliding down the mountain with torches as well as fireworks lighting up the night sky.

More information here.

New Year's Eve Party
Bousquet Mountain, Pittsfield
Time: 9 p.m.

Ring in the New Year at the ski resort's annual party with dance music by DJ Adam Oam. Includes complimentary snacks and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $39; must be 21 and older.

More information and tickets here.

New Year's Eve with Max Creek
Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
Time: 8:30 p.m.

Berkshire County band Max Creek will perform blend of rock, country, reggae, soul, jazz, and calypso with their original songwriting.

Tickets are $39; more information here.

New Year's Eve Glow Party
K&M Bowling, Pittsfield
Time: 5 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.

Cosmic bowling with glowsticks. Tickets are $25 per person. More information here.

Tags: new year,

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the POST Commission.

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub.

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission.

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted. On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April.

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday.

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads.

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline."

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