Berkshires seasons

Berkshires fall foliage events

Fall foliage time is the original “season” around which the Berkshires’ cultural economy has grown, as that was when the “cottagers” of the Gilded Age would come to Lenox, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, and other Berkshire county towns, after having spent the summer season at places such as Newport and the Adirondacks.

Here’s a scientific description from Wikipedia of what happens to make us in New England leaf peepers every October:
“Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn months, one or many colors that range from red to yellow. The phenomenon is commonly called fall colors and autumn colors, while the expression fall foliage usually connotes the viewing of a tree or forest whose leaves have undergone the change. In some areas in the United States (notably New England), and in much of Canada “leaf peeping” tourism between the beginning of color changes and the onset of leaf fall, or scheduled in hope of coinciding with that period, is a major contribution to economic activity.”

Here are activities, events, and festivals scheduled for September and October 2008 taking place throughout the Berkshires:

Lenox - Tub Parade - Gilded Age weekend - Sept. 12, 13, 14, 2008

Weekend of early autumn events throughout Lenox, featuring the Gilded Age-era Tub Parade through the village, an old-fashioned ice cream social, a soiree at Ventfort Hall, picnic at Edith Wharton’s former home, “The Mount,” and the 32nd annual Josh Billings Run-A-Ground triathalon.

Links for further information:

• Lenox, MA map and local links
• Josh Billings RunAground
• Tub Parade
• Ventfort Hall
• Edith Wharton - The Mount

Lenox Apple Squeeze - Sept. 26, 27, 28

29th annual Apple Squeeze wherein the town of Lenox has a party for itself and everybody is invited. There will be plenty of apples, fresh-pressed cider, apple pies; hay rides around town; music, crafts, sales, etc. Get oriented here: Lenox, MA map and local links.

Lee Founders’ Weekend - Sept. 26, 27, 28

The delightful town of Lee celebrates its origins with an early fall weekend of activities for kids and adults, a sampling of which are listed below.

Get oriented here: Lee, MA map and local links

• Pumpkin and mum sale
• Housatonic Philharmonic
• Carved pumpkin contest -
• 1800’s chuck wagon replica
• Make-and-take ceramics booth
• Free ice cream
• Duck race
• Pig roast

Hancock Shaker Village Country Fair - Pittsfield, MA - Sept. 27 & 28

Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield celebrates the bounty of the harvest with a Country Fair that includes a Kid’s Tent, samples of heirloom vegetables to taste, vendors of old-time farm-related crafts and trades, local purveyors of the region’s best food. Wagon rides and demonstrations of traditional games and trades.

Get oriented here: Pittsfield, MA map and local links

Berkshire Botanical Garden Harvest Festival - Stockbridge -Oct. 4 & 5

You can find as assortment of crafts, games, food, rides, and shopping as Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge celebrates “Autumn the way it used to be.”
Get oriented here: Stockbridge, MA map and local links

Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade - North Adams - Oct. 5

They’ve been on the “celebrate fall” bandwagon in North Adams, MA for quite a while, as their 53rd annual Fall Foliage Parade will demonstrate.

Get oriented here: North Adams, MA map and local links

More fall events will be posted here in the coming weeks.

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