Baby Animals Return to Pittsfield

April 18–May 10 | Pittsfield, MA | $20 adults, $8 youth, children 12 and under free

Hancock Shaker Village marks the opening of its 2026 season with the return of its Baby Animals Festival, running daily from April 18 through May 10. The village's working farm will have lambs, piglets, calves, chicks, and kids (goat kids, that is) on hand throughout the three-week run, alongside daily talks about the farm and Shaker history, craft demonstrations, and walks along the Farm and Forest Trail. Plan to arrive between 11am and 4pm to allow enough time to take it all in.

For those who want more than a general wander, there's a Behind-the-Scenes Tour each morning at 10am — an hour-long wagon hayride led by the farmers themselves, taking small groups through the Round Stone Barn, the Dairy Ell, and the barnyard to meet this year's newborns up close and hear the history of the farm and village, including some of the less-well-known corners of the Shaker story.

Only one tour runs per day, capped at 20 people, and tickets sell out quickly. Advance reservations are required and non-refundable. General admission tickets can be pre-purchased online or bought at the door, though note that certain discounts — NARM, Library Pass, EBT, AAA — are only available on-site.

Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA. Tickets and Behind-the-Scenes Tour reservations at hancockshakervillage.org