Fourth of July Parade Themed 'America 250: Pittsfield Celebrates the Generations'

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The historic Fourth of July Parade will celebrate 250 years of the nation — and Pittsfield. 

On Thursday, the Pittsfield Parade Committee announced the 2026 theme with a "distinctly local focus": "America 250 — Pittsfield Celebrates the Generations." People, floats, cars, balloons, and more will proceed down South, North, and Wahconah streets to thousands of spectators. 

"While the year marks the nation's 250th anniversary, the parade theme centers on the people, places, and stories that have shaped Pittsfield and the Berkshires across generations," a press release from the parade committee reads. 

The parade dates back to 1801, and the parade committee was formed around the late 1970s.  Today, it brings residents, families, organizations, and visitors together on the Fourth of July, historically kicking off at 10 a.m. on the dot. 

This year's theme invites the community to reflect on Pittsfield's history and its connections to broader American history, including its neighborhoods, industries, cultural institutions, civic traditions, and families. 

"From early settlement and Revolutionary-era roots to industrial growth, post-war community life, today's creative economy, and the next generation shaping Pittsfield's future, the parade will highlight the many eras that define life in the Berkshires," the parade committee wrote. 

"Participants are encouraged to bring local history to life by basing parade entries on specific historical events, defining moments, eras, decades, or generations connected to Pittsfield and the surrounding region. Creative use of color, music, movement, costumes, vehicles, and storytelling is encouraged to showcase how Pittsfield has grown, adapted, and thrived over time." 

PCTV's 2020 documentary "Fighting For Independence: The History of the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade" has traced the first Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade back to at least 1801.  

It has a historic reputation dating to 1824, when the procession consisted of Revolutionary War survivors, patriots, politicians, and horse-drawn carriages.

The local television station's annual coverage of the parade began in 1988, and PCTV continues with a multi-angle, narrated broadcast of the event every year. 

"The parade was held off and on by various citizen groups until 1947 when it was taken over by the Pittsfield Permanent Firemen's Association. Under the firemen, the parade grew in size and popularity but was discontinued in 1976," the Pittsfield Parade Committee website reads.

"In 1977, a small group of volunteer citizens obtained $2,000 in seed money from the City of Pittsfield and held their first parade in 1978. Over the years, this independent, non-profit organization-the Pittsfield 4th of July Parade Committee Inc. has grown in size, spirit, and determination, and with it, the parade has grown in size, quality, and popularity."

Community Meeting Addresses Prejudice in Pittsfield Schools

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:49PM / Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Johanna Lenski, a special education surrogate parent and advocate, says there's a 'deeply troubling' professional culture at Herberg that lets discriminatory actions and language slip by.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 60 community members gathered at Conte Community School on Monday night to discuss issues with prejudice in the district. 

The event was hosted by the Pittsfield Public Schools in partnership with the Berkshire NAACP and the Westside Legends. It began with breaking bread in the school's cafeteria, and caregivers then expressed fears about children's safety due to bullying, a lack of support for children who need it the most, and teachers using discriminatory and racist language. 

"One thing I've learned is that as we try to improve, things look really bad because we're being open about ways that we're trying to improve, and I think it's really important that we acknowledge that," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said, reflecting on her work in several other districts before coming to PPS last summer.  

"It is very easy to stay at the surface and try to look really good, and it may look like others are better than us, when they're really just doing a better job of just kind of maintaining the status quo and sweeping things under the carpet."

Brett Random, the executive director of Berkshire County Head Start, wrote on her personal Facebook page that her daughter reported her math teacher, "used extremely offensive language including both a racial slur (n-word) and a homophobic slur (f-word) and then reportedly tried to push other students to repeat those words later in the day when students were questioning her on her behavior."

The school department confirmed that an eighth-grade teacher at the middle school was placed on leave.  

The Berkshire Eagle, which first reported on the incident, identified the teacher as Rebecca Nitsche, and the teacher told the paper over the phone, "All I can tell you is it's not how it appears." Nitsche told the paper she repeated the words a student used while reporting the incident to another teacher because officials needed to know it happened. 

Johanna Lenski, speaking as a special education surrogate parent and parent advocate, on Monday said there is a "deeply troubling" professional culture at Herberg that has allowed discriminatory, racist, non-inclusive, and ableist treatment of students.

She said a Black transgender student was called a "piss poor, punk, puke of a kid," and repeatedly and intentionally misgendered by one of the school's teachers, and then wrongfully accused of physically assaulting that teacher, which resulted in a 10-day suspension. 

Another Herberg student with disabilities said the same staff member disclosed to an entire classroom that they lived in a group home and were in state Department of Children and Families' custody. When the teacher was asked to come to an individualized education program meeting for that student, Lenski said he "spent approximately 20 minutes attacking this child's character and portraying her as a problem, rather than a student in need of services and protection and support."