Cultural Pittsfield

06/01/2026

OLLI at exhibit opening this weekend! Check it out during First Fridays at Five June 5th from 5-8 and also a members opening on Saturday June 6th from 3-5pm.
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Poster features Artist Joanie Ciolfi.

06/01/2026

There will be a Community Paint Party during the June 5th First Fridays at Five on Friday, June 5, 5 to 8 pm, at Dunham Mall (100 North Street)!

Everyone is invited to join the Community Paint Party for a new mural coming to the AdLib building in downtown Pittsfield this summer. Created through a collaboration between Common Wealth Murals, Mill Town Foundation, Let It Shine!, and the Pittsfield Public Schools, the mural is inspired by ideas and artwork from Pittsfield students and will be brought to life with your help.

Stop by Dunham Mall during the June First Fridays at Five, pick up a brush, and help paint a mural that celebrates the best of Pittsfield. All ages and abilities are welcome. No experience is necessary!

Please note, participants will be painting on large canvases on tables, not painting directly onto the wall. The rain location for the Community Paint Party is AdLib, 215 North Street.

06/01/2026

The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield continues its 5-month season (May through September) on Friday, June 5 from 5 to 8 pm as part of the City of Pittsfield’s First Fridays at Five.

Participating venues on Friday, June 5 include Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Indie Readery and Records, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield’s City Hall, Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, Sanctum Gallery, Solarium Plant Shop, and the Soda Chef.

Download the Downtown Pittsfield App in the App Store or on Google Play to follow a virtual walking tour of art on your cell phone. Tour link: https://downtownpittsfield.stqry.app/list/61485 ❤

05/31/2026

First Fridays at Five: Family Fun Zone
Friday, June 5, 5 to 8 pm

The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including arts & crafts, games, and more.

Participating organizations include 914 LOCK INC, ALZ.0rg, Barrington Stage Company, BART Charter Public School, Berkshire Art Center, Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire Coalition for Su***de Prevention, Berkshire County Football Officials Association, Berkshire County Head Start, Berkshire County Kids Place, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Berkshire Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit Council, Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Woodworkers Guild, BRPC/ SPARK – BE3C Coalitions, Department of Children and Families, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Foster MA/Adopt MA, Girl Scout Troop 64834, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Mental Health Support For Families, NBT Bank, and VFW Post 448.

Bowey the Clown will be crafting free balloon creations in front of Crawford Square at 137 North Street.

05/30/2026

The First Fridays at Five on Friday, June 5 presented by MountainOne will feature live music and dance, art, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs so they can sit and enjoy a variety of food, beverages, and entertainment.



Persip Park, 175 North Street, 5 to 8 pm



– The Housie Shakers
– Beer garden with Hot Plate Brewing Co.
– Local food vendors



Rain location: Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 27 East Street



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North Street at the South end of the road closure (near Park Square), 5 to 8 pm



– “Dance and Drum with the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers”



5:40 to 6:25 pm: Berkshire Rhythm Keepers performance

6:45 to 7:30 pm: Free dance class with Noel Staples-Freeman featuring live drumming by Aimée Gelinas, Dan Cohen, and the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers advanced drummers



Rain location: WANDER, 34 Depot Street



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28 North Street, 5 to 8 pm



– The “Resurrection Off-road Team” will host a “Touch an ATV” event in front of the Allegrone Building at 28 North Street.



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Dunham Mall, 100 North Street, 5 to 8 pm



– Community Paint Party!

Stop by Dunham Mall, pick up a brush, and help paint a mural that celebrates the best of Pittsfield. All ages and abilities are welcome. No experience is necessary!



Rain location: AdLib, 215 North Street



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Palace Park, 122 North Street, 5 to 8 pm



– Busker Robin O’Herin, singer-songwriter
– Art in the Park with Hāna Kenny
– Free artistic face painting with Melissa Matsuki Lillie
– Live Pottery Demo with Jim Horsford



Rain Location: Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renee Avenue



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North Street in front of Crawford Square, 137 North Street



– Bowey the Clown



Crafting free balloon creations!



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Hot Plate Brewing Co., 1 School Street



– “Sing Out Loud: Pride Karaoke Fundraiser”



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Brazzucas Market, 75 North Street



– Brazilian Style Barbecue Experience featuring Chef William Merelle.



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North Street



Makers Market:



The Makers Market at First Fridays at Five will feature over a dozen local vendors selling handmade products such as crafts, clothing and accessories, candles, art, custom gift items, self-care items, and packaged foods and sweets. Makers include ATK Customs, Auntie Kat's Gift Shop, Bake My Day, Baked! Pastries & More, BareBone Roots, Berkshire Henna, BerkshireSci Biscuits LLC, Black Bear 3D, Braidy Bunch, Cookie's Cupcakes, Dragonfly Dreams, Glimmerhold Artistry & Tiffs Trinkets, Hilltown Hemlock Studio, LAMARÍA, Leann's Lovies, Leo's Bargain Boutique, little country gifts, ManiSetGo, Mountain Roots Artistry, Paparazzi Accessories, Pearls & Pillows, Sisterhood of the Traveling Crafts, Troll Art, and Truffles by Tarah.


Food Vendors:



Check out a variety of food vendors including Alchemy Events Mobile Bar, BB’s Hot Spot, Berkshire Kettle Creations and Lemonade, Best Damn Espresso, Chill Zone Snow Cone Factory, Cocineras Latinas LLC Coop, D’s Island Food Truck, Full Belly FEWD TRUCK, La Chalupa & La Enchilada, and Williams Street Market and Deli.



Family Fun Zone:



The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including arts & crafts, games, and more.



Participating organizations include 914 LOCK INC, ALZ.0rg, Barrington Stage Company, BART Charter Public School, Berkshire Art Center, Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire Coalition for Su***de Prevention, Berkshire County Football Officials Association, Berkshire County Head Start, Berkshire County Kids Place, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Berkshire Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit Council, Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Woodworkers Guild, BRPC/ SPARK – BE3C Coalitions, Department of Children and Families, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Foster MA/Adopt MA, Girl Scout Troop 64834, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Mental Health Support For Families, NBT Bank, and VFW Post 448.



First Fridays Artswalk:



First Fridays Artswalk will showcase artists at venues throughout downtown Pittsfield from 5 to 8 pm including Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Indie Readery and Records, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield’s City Hall, Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, Sanctum Gallery, Solarium Plant Shop, and the Soda Chef. Follow a virtual walking tour on the free Downtown Pittsfield App and enjoy opening receptions with the artists.







First Fridays at Five is led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and will take place in downtown Pittsfield on May 1, June 5, August 7, and September 4, 2026. A portion of North Street will be closed during the event.





Season partners and sponsors include AccessPlus, MountainOne, Guardian, and Mill Town Foundation.





For more information and a full event listing, visit https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.

05/29/2026

Huge shout out to for his amazing new mural at 7 north street! Get downtown to see the largest new Pittsfield mural - Jan will be putting finishing touches on it over the next few days!
Kudos to the Let it Shine! Public Art Partnership for bringing public art to our city 🎨
Big thanks to Mill Town Foundation and property owner Dave Carver!

05/28/2026

Learn more at https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays ❤

05/28/2026

The Makers Market at First Fridays at Five will feature over a dozen local vendors selling handmade products such as crafts, clothing and accessories, candles, art, custom gift items, self-care items, and packaged foods and sweets.

Makers include ATK Customs, Auntie Kat's Gift Shop, Bake My Day, Baked! Pastries & More, BareBone Roots, Berkshire Henna, BerkshireSci Biscuits LLC, Black Bear 3D, Braidy Bunch, Cookie's Cupcakes, Dragonfly Dreams, Glimmerhold Artistry & Tiffs Trinkets, Hilltown Hemlock Studio, LAMARÍA, Leann's Lovies, Leo's Bargain Boutique, little country gifts, ManiSetGo, Mountain Roots Artistry, Paparazzi Accessories, Pearls & Pillows, Sisterhood of the Traveling Crafts, Troll Art, and Truffles by Tarah.

05/28/2026

Join us for the Ribbon Cutting of this amazing new mural this friday at noon!

Janson Rapisarda Mural Ribbon Cutting: Friday, May 29, 12 pm

Created by nationally recognized artist Janson Rapisarda, the mural at 7 North Street will span more than 1,200 square feet and continue the city’s growing investment in public art and creative placemaking.

The project is part of Let It Shine!, a community-centered initiative focused on making art accessible, strengthening neighborhood connections, and activating public spaces throughout Pittsfield.

Rapisarda, who has completed more than 50 murals nationwide, is known for people-centered artwork that highlights storytelling, identity, and community connection. Though based in Milwaukee, he has strong ties to Western Massachusetts.

Community members are invited to meet Rapisarda during a ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday, May 29 at 12 pm at 7 North Street.

The project is supported by MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative Creative Catalyst Grant and the Mill Town Foundation.

Special thanks to project collaborators and building owners Dave Carver of CT Management and Scarafoni Associates. Additional funding support was provided by MassDevelopment through its Transformative Development Initiative Creative Catalyst Grant.

05/27/2026

Palace Park will feature free artistic face painting with Melissa Matsuki Lillie of Chroma Chameleon.

Melissa Matsuki Lillie is painter whose artwork references natural forms using a personal visual language of vibrant colors and complex layers to reflect on the macroscopic and microscopic world. Her paintings evoke a sense of space that has been flattened and layered, revealing strands and structures of line and color interacting fluidly with hidden landscapes. In addition to painting, she frequently works sculpturally, creating forms that celebrate both line and color.

Born in Maryland, Melissa attended the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She currently lives and works in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.

In the case of inclement weather, facepainting with Melissa Matsuki Lillie will be inside the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renee Avenue.