History is often taken for granted in our neck of the woods with so many of our town dating back to before the revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Pittsfield, which is turning 250, will be having a year-long celebration, which kicks off this weekend. It will be a history lesson that not only honors the past (the city is named after William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham) but also embraces the city's evolution into a diverse, multicultural community. "The idea is for everyone to be involved," says Megan Whilden, the city's commissioner for cultural development. "And that is why our four major cultural institutions are offering free events this weekend."
The Berkshire Museum will have free admission all day Saturday, April 30, with a scavenger hunt, face painting, and two afternoon performances by David Grover. On Saturday night, Barrington Stage Company will host a screening of Glory, the 1989 Civil War film starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, which chronicles the Massachusetts 54th African American Regiment whose chaplain was Pittsfield’s Samuel Harrison, On Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to noon, Hancock Shaker Village will offer free admission to Berkshire County residents for its annual Baby Animals exhibition. And at 2 p.m., the Boston Symphony Orchestra presents Tanglewood Music Center Fellows in a special chamber music concert at the Colonial Theatre. Click here for other weekend events. One of the free offerings "sold out" within 24 hours earlier this month when 1,200 tickets were made available for a special roundtrip train ride between Pittsfield and Lenox, which is being offered as a collaborative effort of the Housatonic Railroad and the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum. "It's a great testament to the power of trains," says Whilden, noting that it's been 40 years since a southbound train has departed from Pittsfield. Whilden is especially excited about the Walk-Ons project: large 3 x 4 foot printed historic images will be installed on sidewalks throughout the city and remain in place through the Thanksgiving "Homecoming" weekend.
As cultural commissioner, Whilden takes great pride that the birthday begins with a Community Celebration Concert at the First Methodist Church on Friday at 5 p.m., which features the Eagles Band, Price Memorial Church Choir, Pittsfield Children’s Chorus, Town Players, Miss Behavin’, Terpsichore Dancers, Senior Singers, Gaia Roots Drummers, and Gospel Gang. "The only people who are left out are the baseball fans," she says, "but the Colonials season at Wahconah Park does not begin until the end of May." Pittsfield 250Kickoff Weekend April 29 - May 1 Welcome Back Weekend July 1 - 4 Homecoming Reunion Weekend November 25 - 27
