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Event highlights for the week ahead in & around #StockbridgeMA (August 8-14)
Coming up in the #StockbridgeMA area: The Grow Show at Berkshire Botanical Garden, Tableaux Vivants or Living Pictures at Chesterwood, John Williams Film Night at Tanglewood, The Fremonts perform at the Lions Den, Opening of The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Opera Festival's 10th Anniversary Concert at Mahaiwe Performing Art Center, Free Community Day at the Mount and so much more. If you missed the last issue August 1 - 7, visit our website.
Coming Soon! The Stockbridge Summer Arts and Crafts Show, now in its Thirty-third year, will be held August 16 and 17 on the grounds of the Town Offices and Bidwell Park, 50 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA. Stockbridge, blessed with internationally renowned summer festivals of music, theater and dance, major art museums and historic homes brings hundreds of thousands of art and craft lovers to visit the most famous Main Street in America, as painted by Norman Rockwell. What a better location for our show, open FREE to the public. 80 jury-selected artists and crafters will display their work ranging from paintings to ceramics, firberware to jewelry, sculpture to photography. The hours are Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. This annual event is organized by the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce.
Berkshire Botanical Garden Berkshire Botanical Garden’s beloved Grow Show returns August 9–10 for its 55th annual celebration of summer blooms and backyard bounty. This judged event showcases the talents of floral designers and home gardeners, featuring nearly 80 horticulture classes and five floral design categories on display in the Exhibition Hall. Show hours are Saturday from 1–5pm and Sunday from 10am–4pm. Participation is free and open to all, whether you’re entering a single stem or competing across multiple categories. A new youth category debuts this year, offering kids the chance to submit a flower stem or vegetable for display (non-judged). Youth entries should be dropped off Friday, August 8, from 3–5pm. Family Fridays: Children's entertainer Willy Welch (August 8, 11am-noon). Farm to Table lunch Series with Tracy Hayhurst (August 10, 11am - 1:30pm) BBG Weekly Farmers Market, Mondays, Free (3-6pm), Music Mondays: Mike Cobb and the Crevulators (August 11, 5:30-7:30pm) FINAL WEEK of Summer art exhibition, DayDream, and Sleeptwalkers outdoor exhibit. |Stockbridge, MA
Chesterwood Upcoming Arts & Words Alive! Tableaux Vivants or Living Pictures (August 8, 5:30-6:30pm) Award winning theater artist and documentary film maker Doria Bramante will sweep you away with her re-creations of famous paintings, a favorite parlor game of the French Family. Music & the Mind with Mark Shapiro (August 14, 5-6pm) Exhibitions on view: Modeling Women Female Artists and Models at Chesterwood, Global Warming/Global Warning! Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood Show, Explore live Workshops this summer, offered in partnership with Berkshire Art Center. |Stockbridge, MA
The Mount Edith Wharton's Home The Mount will host a Community Day with activities from 11 am to 6 pm, and free house admission from 2 to 5 pm. All are welcome to this free, family-friendly celebration on the stunning grounds of Edith Wharton’s historic estate. The day includes live music, readings, and performances, as well as lawn games, face painting, a resource fair, book exchanges, and baby goats from HomeFarm. Food will be available for purchase from local food trucks. Ghost Tour of the Mount (August 8, 8:30pm) Summer Author Series runs July 7 – August 26. Talks are Mondays at 4pm and Tuesdays at 11am. This year’s theme is trailblazers. The eight-week series will highlight the stories of groundbreaking visionaries—scientists, activists, thought leaders, and artists who have broken barriers and reshaped the world. On August 11 & 12, Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Meg Marshall presents After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart (Mariner Books, 2025). The Mount also offers weekly Movement & Dance, Youth & Family activities and more. |Lenox, MA
August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Set against the backdrop of 1936 Pittsburgh during the Great Depression, Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning The Piano Lesson is a testament to the complexities of family, history, and legacy. It’s the fourth in Wilson’s American Century Cycle series of plays, and the second performed at Shakespeare & Company following the award-winning production of Fences in 2023 (July 25 - August 24, 1pm & 6:45pm). |Lenox, MA
The Lion's Den Camellia (August 8, 7pm), The Fremonts Born in New York City and raised in Colorado, The Fremonts create captivating theatrical experiences for their audiences by blending americana music and storytelling with a cabaret aesthetic. Stephanie Dodd (originally from Fremont, Nebraska - vocals/accordion) and Justin Badger (originally from Fremont, California - vocals/guitar) present their original music with performance skills honed from years of working as professional actors. They have recorded two full length albums, toured extensively and received rave reviews for their original cabaret in the US and at the Edinburgh Fringe. Berkshire Locals! (August 9, 7pm), Michael Junkins and Friends (August 10, 6:30pm), Jason Ennis Trio (August 13, 6:30pm), Bobby Sweet & Lara Tupper (August 14, 7:00pm), Enjoy live jazz music in The Courtyard every Tuesday and Saturday from 5:30-8pm. NEW! Parlor Magic From, The White House to The Red Lion! Join world-renowned magician Benjamin Levy for a one-of-a-kind evening of magic, mind reading, miracles, and more at 7:30, from the end of June through mid-September. |Stockbridge, MA
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum Join us for the delightful Summer Season of Tea & Talk, Architectural historian Abigail Van Slyck will talk about her latest book, Playhouses and Privilege: The Architecture of Elite Childhood, in which she examines children’s cottages and playhouses built by upper-class families on both sides of the Atlantic. A tea will be served after her presentation. (August 12, 4pm). |Lenox, MA
Berkshire Theatre Group Dying is No Excuse opened August 7 and runs through August 30 at the Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA. Renée Taylor takes the stage in the World Premiere of Dying is No Excuse, a hilarious and heartfelt new play directed by the legendary Elaine May. Known for her quick wit and larger-than-life presence, Taylor—an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning actress, writer and comedian—infuses her signature humor into this deeply personal journey through love, marriage and loss. More than just Taylor’s story, this play is a tribute to her extraordinary partnership with her late husband, Joe Bologna. With warmth, wit and unflinching honesty, she reflects on their whirlwind romance, creative collaborations and the humor that sustained them through life’s highs and lows. From their unconventional TV wedding to Bologna’s rise as a leading man and his final days battling cancer, Taylor paints a portrait of enduring love. Dying is No Excuse is a celebration of a life well-lived, proving that even in loss, love and laughter prevail. At the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA is a timeless classic that has kept audiences on edge of their seats for over 70 years, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap (July 24 – August 17).
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center 100 Years of Movies: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) (August 8, 7pm). An Evening with Galactic featuring Jelly Joseph For over 30 years, Galactic has been a powerhouse of New Orleans music, fusing funk, jazz, rock, and soul into a sound that’s unmistakably their own. Originally coming together in the ’90s as a late-night funk band, the group has grown into a genre-defying collective that continues to evolve while staying true to their roots. Their high-energy live shows and adventurous collaborations have earned them a loyal following around the world (August 9, 8pm). Berkshire Opera Festival's 10th Anniversary Concert with Viktor Antipenko, Vanessa Becerra, Joshua Blue, John Cheek, Raquel González, Yazid Gray, Weston Hurt, Maximillian Jansen, Adam Partridge and Erin Reppenhagen, conducted by Brian Garman and Geoffrey Larson (August 14, 7:30pm) |Great Barrington, MA
Norman Rockwell Museum Summer Saturdays for Family, a fun and interactive programming inspired by the art of Norman Rockwell and Walter Wick, creator of the I SPY books for children. (August 9, 11am-3pm), Tickets are on sale now for the 7th annual Art of Brewing Festival taking place on August 16, 1-4pm. Returning for its 7th year, the annual Art of Brewing Festival offers guests a chance to sample the best craft brews in the region. Spend an afternoon with friends and families all while sampling local and regional beer, wine, cider, distilled drinks, and even coffee! Enjoy delicious food from local eateries and start a friendly competition with some lawn games. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and relax on a perfect Berkshire summer day. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to see the incredible art that you find on all your favorite beverages and talk to some of the artists!, New exhibition on view I SPY! Walter Wick's Hidden Wonders and Hidden Worlds and Wonders Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Explore the museums fascinating exhibits and beautiful grounds. Buy tickets and reserve guided tours of the Gallery and Rockwell's Studio |Stockbridge, MA
Clark Art Opening Lecture: Isamu Noguchi-Landscapes of Time The Isamu Noguchi Museum Foundation and Garden Museum’s Matthew Kirsch, curator and director of research, and Kate Wiener, curator, introduce Isamu Noguchi: Landscapes of Time. This exhibition explores Noguchi’s fluid relationship with time—his ability to move between past, present, and future in his art. Through sculpture, design, and public works, Noguchi engaged with geologic time, material life cycles, and memory. Kirsch and Wiener provide insight into how Noguchi’s non-linear approach shaped his work, from ancient influences to futuristic visions, offering a deeper understanding of his search for belonging beyond temporal constraints (August 9, 11am-12:15pm). Special Event: Works on Paper highlights talk: Berenice Abbott Bonus Selection (August 13, 1-1:30pm) Outdoor Movie: Shrek The event is Free, Bring a picnic and your own seating. This film is shown outdoors at dusk. In the case of inclement weather, the showing will be held in the Manton Research Center auditorium. For accessibility concerns, call 413 458 0524 (August 13, 8:10pm - 9:40pm). Explore the many educational programs, Gallery Talks and More at The Clark Summer Exhibition: A Room of Her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875–1945; Berenice Abbott's Modern Lens; and Mariel Capanna: Giornata. |Williamstown, MA
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum New exhibit "Votes for Women: How Tea Sparked a Suffrage Revolution" opened June 20. The exhibit centered around an early 20th century “Votes for Women” tea set, donated by Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansions & Museum. |Adams, MA
Stockbridge Library Museum & Archives Weekly Spanish Conversation Group (August 8, 11am-12pm) Mini Canvas Painting (August 8, 3-4pm) Family Storytime (August 7, 10:30-11am)Family Movie Afternoon - Wonka (August 13, 2:30-4:30pm) Read to Brody (August 13, 3:45-4:45pm). LAST WEEK! Crane Paper Museum will offer a Pop Up Museum, July 16 - August 9, Wednesdays - Saturdays from 10am -1:30pm.|Stockbridge, MA
Tanglewood Music Festival Boston Pops at Tanglewood: John Williams' Film Night A cherished Tanglewood tradition, John Williams’ Film Night returns with a fabulous program of film music highlights specially curated by Maestro Williams himself and featuring Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. It’s a special evening of magical music and selected film clips (August 9, 8pm). Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood: Joshua Bell and Dvořák Symphony No. 9, From the New World (August 8, 8pm) Yo-Yo Ma, Pépin, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn (August 10, 2:30pm)
In the Seiji Ozawa Hall, TMC Chamber Music (August 10, 10am) TMC Orchestra Perform Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, and Simon (August 11, 8pm) and more. |Stockbridge/Lenox
Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio Director's Corner with Artist/Director Kinney Frelinghuysen Thursdays & Saturdays, at 11:15am, Artist Demonstrations with Peter Schoeffer, Oil on Canvas (August 8, 11am), Exercise Your Creativity, Sundays 11am-1pm |Lenox, MA
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Weekend Workshop with Bryan Kest, Learn from the creator of power yoga (August 8-10), Sutras for Daily Life, A modern approach of the eight limbs of Yoga (August 8-10), Loving Touch Couples Thai Massage (August 1-3) and so much more. Begin the Transformation with a variety of on campus & online programs, retreat & renewal/Kripalu R&R experience, Schools & Training. |Stockbridge, MA
Jacob's Pillow The Jacob’s Pillow Board of Trustees and institutional leadership has decided that Festival 2025 will not continue. We have come to this difficult decision following the tragic accident on our campus on August 1. Ticket buyers affected by the cancellations will receive refunds. For 93 years, Jacob’s Pillow has been a haven for dance and a community dedicated to its creation, presentation, education, and preservation. We look forward to welcoming audiences back to our campus. |Becket, MA
Berkshire South Regional Community Center As you soak up the season and enjoy these warm, sunny days, don’t forget to take advantage of all that’s happening at Berkshire South! From Group Training with Todd to concert series featuring Harvey Granat—there’s something for everyone. Pop!Pilates (Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm). This NEW weekly drop-in program is included with your BSRCC membership or the purchase of a day pass. No registration needed. Free Weekly Meditation Group with Zach Rissman (Wednesdays, 4-5pm) The Big 3, Strength Training Program for Women (Tues & Thurs, July 8-Aug 14 2:30-3:30pm) |Great Barrington, MA
AUSTEN RIGGS CENTER New FREE Exhibition: Making Meaning: Growth and Artistic Expression in the Activities Program at the Austen Riggs Center exhibition at the Corner House Community Exhibition Space on 48 Main St, Stockbridge (June 6-October 12, 10am-4pm). |Stockbridge, MA
Naumkeag Backstairs Tour offers a look at the servants’ life at Naumkeag—and rarely seen areas of the house, including the 3rd floor (August 8-10, 9:30-10:30am). |Stockbridge, MA
The Mission House Mohicans Missionaries and Migrating Colonists: A Guided Tour (August 8, 11am or 1pm) The Mission House and the exhibit Our Lands, Our Home, Our Heart/ Nda’keenã, Weekeyaak, Nda’anã are open for the season through August 31, 2025. |Stockbridge, MA
Bidwell House Museum | Authentically restored & located on 192 acres, the Bidwell House Museum tells the story of life in the 18th C Berkshires via seasonal programs and hourly guided tours of the elegant c.1760 Georgian saltbox home. Open Memorial Day to October. | Tyringham, MA
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