Always Something New in the Berkshires!

So what’s poppin’ in the Berkshires these days, you ask? Plenty, we say!  Following is a sampling of the new and fresh places to visit and events to enjoy to add to your list of the tried and true Berkshire experiences!

Whether you are looking to spend several days in the area, or are just passing through for a day of adventure, you will want to check out Doctor Sax House in historic Lenox.  This inn and restaurant dates back to 1874, as part of the Berkshires’ Gilded Age. Once a speakeasy during Prohibition,the newest iteration has all the comforts you seek in its pet-friendly nine rooms and suites. Find a farm fresh menu daily in the dulu Cafe & Lounge, with select menus for brunch, lounge and dinner, late night, and dessert. Seeking a bed and breakfast? The Wilder House Berkshires in Sheffield has five cozy rooms in a 220-year old federal-style farmhouse. Enjoy made-to-order breakfast before walking to historic Sheffield, or taking part in four-season activities including hiking, skiing, and boating. 

Families and groups might enjoy a stay in a studio suite or villa at the Holiday Inn Vacations Oak ‘N Spruce Resort Berkshires in South Lee, with fully equipped kitchen, living areas, and private bathrooms. Depending on the season, jump into indoor and outdoor pools, play some mini golf on site, take in a move, or play in the arcade. Pump up in the fitness room, and relax in the sauna – something for everyone! In North Adams, TOURISTS Welcome continues to expand its available accommodations. It has already added a renovated local home for visitors to enjoy, and has acquired the Blackinton Inn. Renovations on these new acquisitions will be underway through the winter and available in spring 2025.

If you might be planning a wedding in the Berkshires, Winbrooke has been beautifully restored and is ready to host your event. The Grand Portico is a covered outdoor space with magnificent views, and the stunning Terrace Lawn is available to seat guests surrounded by mountain vistas. Inside, find comfort and opulence in each room. Have you ever been to a flower bar? Flower enthusiasts should make a point to visit Pryjma Petals in Great Barrington. With a focus on growing gorgeous dahlias in organic soil, Pryjma Petals holds Sip and Snip classes and Wreath-Making workshops. Purchase tubers for your own garden, and locals can subscribe to a five-week dahlia program.

Classic art. Modern art. Contemporary art. It’s all alive and well in the Berkshires! The Williams College Museum of Art is featuring a new solo exhibition through December. Teddy Sandoval and the Butch Gardens School of Art is the first retrospective exhibit to feature Sandoval’s queer and Chicanx works. MASS MoCA is set to open six new exhibits for the fall and winter, including Jeffrey Gibson: Power Full Because We’re Different on view beginning in November, in addition to Sol LeWitt, James Turrell, and Laurie Anderson among many others. Beginning in November and running through May 2025, the Norman Rockwell Museum with host Anita Kunz: Original Sisters, Portraits of Tenacity and Courage, honoring the contribution of history-making women. Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth, and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection will also be available in November, and features 8 never-before-seen publicly Rockwell works.

Avid outdoors devotees are familiar with the many trails and magnificent scenery surrounding the Greylock Glen in Adams. In early October, a ribbon cutting ceremony will mark the official opening of the new Greylock Glen Outdoor Center. Designed to host visitors exploring the Glen as a place to rest, eat, and learn, the multipurpose Center features a grand stone fireplace and an environmental education exhibit area, and will eventually include a cafe and an outdoor retail sales, rental, and repair operation. Future plans include a four-season campground, lodge and conference center, a performing arts amphitheater, and an environmental art garden. 

The Berkshires continues to celebrate milestone anniversaries, and you can join in the fun! Hancock Shaker Village is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Shakers in America. Did you know a series of commemorative stamps was issued by the US Post Office in June, recognizing Shaker contributions? Sign up to take part in a 90-minute Shaker Discovery tour, or one of the many workshops that teach Shaker skills like basket weaving or blacksmithing. Hancock Shaker Village will be featuring a Hanukkah Day during this year’s Radiant Lights exhibition, a multisensory holiday experience. 

Every season is the perfect time to visit the Berkshires! Visit treasured locations and find new ones to add to your itinerary.  Be sure to check out  Berkshires.org for a complete list of Places to Stay, Things to Do, and an up-to-date Events Calendar.  

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