The City of Pittsfield, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (DPCA) have announced details for the May 2nd First Fridays at Five sponsored by AccessPlus. The event will feature live music, art, dance, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield.
Persip Park, 175 North Street, will feature a live performance by Futon Lasagna from 5 to 8 pm. Enjoy a beer garden from Hot Plate Brewing, Co. and local food vendors within the vicinity.
Futon Lasagna is ska comfort food made with love since 2021. Hailing from Boston, this high-energy, female-fronted LGBTQ+ band blends the melodic vocals of pop punk with the infectious rhythms of punk ska—think Bouncing Souls meets Less Than Jake, but hold the horns. Their catchy, relatable songs are perfect for dancing your feelings out. What started as four friends jamming at parties quickly turned into a beloved act lighting up stages across New England.
Dunham Mall, 100 North Street, will feature Dance on Dunham with Latin Dance Lessons from Luana Dias David and Prashad Abeysinghe. Luana and Prashad will host two 30-minute dance lessons at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm, with open dance space before, between, and after to keep the energy flowing and allow for community interaction. Enjoy a beer garden from Hot Plate Brewing, Co.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and First Fridays Artswalk will feature a different “Art in the Park” artist each month of the First Fridays at Five Season. On May 2 from 5 to 8 pm, Shelsy Rodriguez (Stephx) will be popped up in Palace Park (near 122 North Street), inviting the community to join her in creating an original painting. “Art in the Park” is supported by the Feigenbaum Foundation.
Shelsy Rodriguez is a 22-year-old student from Bogota, Colombia. She came to the United States almost four years ago in search of her own well-being and development as a person. She is an environmental science student at BCC and has a creative baking business with her mother. Shelsy’s first mural can be seen on the Intermodal Center in Pittsfield.
Jim Horsford will also be in Palace Park hosting a free live pottery demonstration from 5 to 8 pm where he will be inviting individuals to help him make pots on the potter’s wheel. Jim spent 30 years as an art teacher at Herberg Middle School from 1978 to 2008. Currently, he teaches pottery on the wheel at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts where he has been since 2000. His creations will be available for purchase.
The Big Air Bike Jam hosted by Berkshire Bike and Board and Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series will be in the Palace Park Parking Lot on May 2 from 5 to 8 pm.
DJ Bengey will be the featured First Fridays at Five DJ for May and will be stationed on North Street closer to Park Square along with the Makers Market.
Brooklyn-born and East Coast-based, DJ Bengey brings over two decades of experience creating unforgettable musical moments. A veteran of New York City's vibrant music scene, Bengey is known for his genre-defying mixes that perfectly match any event’s energy.
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.
The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will expand onto North Street this year and will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including face-painting, arts & crafts, games, and more. Participating organizations include the Albany Berkshire Ballet/Cantarella School of Dance, BART Charter Public School, Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire County Head Start/CFCE, Berkshire County Kids Place, Berkshire Family YMCA, Berkshire Medical Center, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Pittsfield Little League, Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, The Berkshire Eagle, and Xtreme Wrestling Alliance, Inc.
There will also be a self-guided Animal Scavenger Hunt for families presented by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), and Balloon Ben will be crafting free balloon creations!
First Fridays Artswalk will showcase artists at venues throughout downtown Pittsfield from 5 to 8 pm including Berkshire Art Center, Clock Tower Artists, Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Living in Recovery, Marie's North Street Eatery and Gallery, Marketplace Cafe, Ralph Froio Senior Center, Soda Chef, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield. Follow a virtual walking tour on the free Downtown Pittsfield App and enjoy opening receptions with the artists.
A free ART BUS provided and operated by RSVP Volunteers will take you to a half dozen locations throughout downtown during the First Fridays at Five on May 2nd. The ART BUS will make stops at City Hall, The Berkshire Carousel, Clock Tower Artists, the Framework by DPI Gallery at the corner of North and Linden Streets, Hotel on North, and Persip Park at the corner of North Street and Columbus Avenue. The ART BUS will depart City Hall every half hour starting at 5 pm with the last ride departing City Hall at 7:30 pm. Visit downtownpittsfield.com for the ART BUS schedule.
Berkshire Art Center, 141 North Street, will feature Free Drop-in Art Making from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All ages are welcome to stop by to participate in a free art activity with the guidance and support of a faculty artist.
Hot Plate Brewing, Co., 1 School Street, will celebrate the return of First Fridays with a two-band lineup featuring two Northampton-based bands: Gentle Hens and The Fawns. Starts at 7 pm.
First Fridays at Five is led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and will take place in downtown Pittsfield on May 2, June 6, August 1, and September 5. A portion of North Street will be closed during the event.
Season partners and sponsors include AccessPlus, MountainOne, and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.
For more information and a full event listing, visit https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.
