Stage & Screen
Music’ s in the Air
the authors while enjoying tea, hot toddies, and sweets in the parlor. Tickets for this Berkshire Historical Society fundraiser can be purchased at berkshirehistory. org.
This season offers several ways to see inside the imposing Berkshire landmark that is Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion & Museum in Lenox. Tour Ventfort on Dec. 6 during the Stockbridge Chamber historic house tour, 11a. m. to 3 p. m. On Dec. 20, enjoy Tea & Talk: Gilded Age Christmas Traditions, 3 to 5 p. m., and a Holiday Cabaret and Dessert Tea on Dec. 21, 3:30 to 5:30 p. m. Return with the family for Carl Sprague’ s marionette show, Rapunzel, Dec. 27 and 29, 3:30 p. m. On Feb. 7, shop the annual Winter Wonders Market, 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. For romance in the afternoon, join Ventfort’ s Gilded Valentine Holiday Tea, Feb. 14, 1 p. m. Buy tickets for the house tour at stockbridgechamber. org; tickets for other events can be purchased at gildedage. org.
Don’ t miss the historic holiday fun at An Old-Fashioned Christmas at Great Barrington Historical Society Museum. Six rooms take visitors through Christmas traditions from Tudor England and Colonial America to modern Christmas celebrations with illustrations, photos, information, and artifacts, with a Christmas village and model train in the museum’ s wagon house, 817 South Main St. Nov. 28 – Jan. 4, Fridays, 2 to 6 p. m.; Saturdays, 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.; and Sundays, 10 a. m. to 2 p. m.
Holiday House Tours of The Mount in Lenox reveal its fascinating history and chronicle Edith Wharton’ s life and literature as you tour her rooms all dressed up for the holidays. Guided tours on the hour are offered Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 22 – Dec. 28, 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. For those interested in going at their own pace, self-guided tours are available. Be sure to return after dark for The Mount’ s spectacular lightshow, NightWood, detailed above. Tickets can be purchased at edithwharton. org.
Christmas at Chesterwood, the home and studio of one of America’ s foremost monument sculptors, Daniel Chester French. Tour the Stockbridge property, all suited up for the season, and see not only where he lived and worked, but also his sculptures on the property. Tours are on the hour, 11 a. m. to 4 p. m., Dec. 5 – 7, 12 – 14, and 19 – 21. Buy tickets at chesterwood. org.
Stage & Screen
When you’ ve had enough physical activity, whether outside strolling through picturesque Main Streets and immersive light shows or inside touring historic mansions, take a seat and enjoy the show! From favorite traditions to new experiences, these holiday shows will put you in the spirit— and quite possibly keep you there for the entire season.
A Christmas Carol has delighted Berkshire theatergoers of all ages with the joy and redeeming power of Christmas since 2006. This year, the timeless tale of love and redemption is performed Dec. 4 – 21 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Berkshire Theatre Group’ s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge. While that’ s going on, the theater company’ s other venues are brimming with more holiday productions for all ages. The Colonial in Pittsfield hosts The Nutcracker, Dec. 5-7; An Evening of Holiday Jazz with Tim Jones, Dec. 13, 7:30; Mutts Gone Nuts: Santa Paws, Dec. 14, 2 and 5 p. m.; Dec. 20, Kids Concert with Terry a la Berry, 12 p. m., and Wizards of Winter, 7:30 p. m. More information and tickets at berkshiretheatregroup. org.
In 2016, Shakespeare & Company in Lenox began a new tradition of staging Jane Austen’ s heartwarming work, filled with wit and romance of late-18th and early-19th century England. This year, Shakespeare & Company revives a costumed and staged reading of Austen’ s Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill, Dec. 12 – 14, 2 p. m. and 7 p. m. Buy tickets at shakespeare. org.
On Nov. 29, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington brings back the iconic Wizard of Oz, a Saturday-after-Thanksgiving tradition in its 45th year! Classic movie lovers will also be happy to see the return of It’ s a Wonderful Life( 1946) to the Mahaiwe screen on Dec. 19( free). On Dec. 13, Mickey’ s Christmas Carol will play on a loop during Great Barrington’ s Holiday Stroll( see details above) 4 to 7 p. m. Details can be found at mahaiwe. org.
Music’ s in the Air
From the deep sounds of brass instruments to the delicate voices of a children’ s choir, holiday concerts in the Berkshires are long-awaited, soul-soothing rituals. From community choirs to international stars, these seasonal favorites never get old.
Despite this being only year two for the BSO Holiday Brass concert, it is well on its way to becoming the newest holiday tradition in the Berkshires. See why at Tanglewood’ s Linde Learning Institute( TLI) in Stockbridge on Dec. 19, 7 p. m., and Dec. 20 – 21, 3 p. m. A shorter, family-friendly version takes place at 10:30 a. m. on Dec. 21. Whichever performance you choose, come prepared for an uplifting seasonal program by gregarious brass players amid winter decorations, holiday treats, and a surprise guest! Also at TLI, singer Stella Cole performs holiday music on Dec. 13, 7 p. m.( See story on page 8.)
Grammy Award ®-winning producer and guitarist John Pizzarelli is back at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington on Dec. 20 at 8 p. m. This year, John Pizzarelli Trio: Tony Bennett— The Art of Excellence, celebrates over 60 years of unparalleled artistry, performing Bennett’ s timeless classics and highlighting his incredible revival in the’ 90s. Tickets can be purchased at mahaiwe. org.
Berkshire Lyric Christmas Concerts, performed by singers from all walks of Berkshire life, are eagerly anticipated every holiday season. Berkshire Lyric Chorus, Melodious Accords( high school girls), and Lyric Children’ s Chorus( ages 6 – 13) perform Dec. 12, 7 p. m., at St. Marks Catholic Church in Pittsfield; Dec. 14, 3 p. m., Great Barrington, Saint James Place; and Dec. 20, 4 p. m., Stockbridge Congregational Church.
Join the Paul Winter Consort at Saint James Place in Great Barrington on Dec. 20, 7 to 9 p. m., as they create a uniquely intimate solstice celebration, featuring Theresa Thomason, the voice of their solstice celebrations for over 25 years. Tickets can be purchased( if it ' s not already sold out) at saintjamesplace. net.( See " Paul Winter ' s Earth Music " on page 34.)
Holiday 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 13