FIRST Fridays Holiday Festivities

Issue #53 | Friday, December 3, 2022

Holiday Happenings

While businesses will sport their holiday displays and lights, event attendees are encouraged to wear lights and bright outfits as well!

Schedule of Festivities:

5pm reading of The Night Before Christmas by Mayor at The Bear & Bee Bookstore (28 Holden St)
5pm Drury High School Band plays festive tunes at Terra Nova Church (85 Main Street) followed by a march around downtown!
5-7pm Horse & Carriage rides by McKay Farms (pick up in front of Mohawk Theater).
5-7pm Make s’mores at the fire pit at the First Congregational Church.
7-8pm Enjoy the melodic sounds of the Lee Bell Choir, a 12-member bell ringer group, at Terra Nova Church (85 Main St)!
7-9 p.m. Live Music at Heart’s Pace with Ciarra Fragale (15 Eagle St)

Special First Friday Events offered by our business community:

Ugly Sweater Party at 413 Bistro (40 Main St)!
Sparkle Party at Savvy Hive (53 Main St) Wear something sparkly!
Experience a life-size gingerbread house at The Plant Connector (73 Main St)! Enjoy beverages, make crafts or create a holiday-themed terrarium! Plus voting begins for the Gingerbread House Competition!
Get your photo taken with Santa at the Berkshire Emporium (59 Main St)!
Make crafts at Common Folk’s weekly Craft Night!
Sing the night away at State Street Tavern’s weekly Karaoke Night starting at 8pm!

Restaurant & Bar Specials:

Tipsy Peppermint Mocha Cocktail at Freight Yard Pub (1 Furnace St)
British Pub Night with Cottage Pie, Scotch Eggs & Sticky Toffee Pudding (veggie option available) at Door Prize (MoCA campus).
$10 Flatbreads at Grazie (26 Marshall St)

Art Gallery Openings & Special Installations:

Video Night at The Installation Space (49 Eagle St)
First Friday Reception at Future Lab(s) (43 Eagle St)

LumiNAMA
North Adams Holiday Lights Walk

Over 20 businesses and artist created holiday displays in their windows or in vacant storefronts. LumiNAMA is an initiative to brighten up downtown North Adams during the holiday season and drive foot traffic to local businesses.

Registrants have entered their displays for three different awards. Cast your vote for your favorite display here.

VOTE

Williamstown Annual Holiday Walk

December 2-4

Williamstown will be filled with holiday sounds and spirit featuring festivities with traditional New England flair, including old-fashioned caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, the annual ReinDog Parade, Penny Social, a visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus, tree lighting, and much more.

Full Lineup of Events

Louison House Musical Bingo

December 3 | Doors at 6 | Game at 7

The annual Holiday Musical Bingo fundraiser returns after two years to benefit the Louison House.

Tickets

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night in Adams

December 9 at 6 p.m.

Phil Kline’s walking symphony experience, ‘Unsilent Night’ returns to the Berkshires on Friday, December 9, 2022. This free community event starts and ends at the Adams Visitor Center, 3 Hoosac St. Participants collectively create the event by walking in a group with boomboxes, bluetooth speakers, and other amplified audio devices.

Unsilent Night was first composed and performed in 1992 in Greenwich Village, NYC. A studio recording, with Bang on a Can, was made in 2001 and is available through Cantaloupe Music.

More Information

North County Happenings

>>Monthly Events<<

Every First Saturday | 9-1 p.m. | North Adams INDOOR Market at Terra Nova

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

December 3 | 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Donuts with Santa at Shire Donuts
Proceeds to benefit #CarterStrong

Two Berkshire County moms with a mission to raise money for childhood cancer research are at it again! But this time, they’re teaming up with Shire Donuts & Currency Coffee Co. to fundraise for a local family whose child is battling leukemia for the second time.

Next Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 8am-12pm a “Donuts With Santa” fundraiser will take place at Shire Donuts 813 Dalton Division Rd, Dalton, MA 01226. For $5.00 you can grab yourself 2 donuts, a hot cocoa and even take your picture with Santa! All proceeds will go towards providing a merry Christmas for Carter and his 11 year old brother, Tyler.

Carter, age 9, was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia of Ambiguous Lineage in December of 2021. After 6 months at Boston Children’s Hospital receiving chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, Carter was considered cancer free. Sadly, in October of 2022 the cancer came back and Carter is having to fight for a second time. Our hope is to ease any stress or financial burden this holiday season may bring upon his family as Carter continues to receive treatments at Boston Children’s Hospital with his mother by his side.

Funding Opportunities

Massachusetts Cultural Council

Gaming Mitigation - funding to performing art centers affected by casino gaming in Massachusetts. Office hours: Various dates. Deadline: Dec. 8, 2022.

Festivals & Projects - $2,500 grants to support publicly-available cultural activities. Info session: Nov. 8. Deadline: Dec. 15, 2022.

Cultural Facilities Fund - grants supporting the sound planning and development of cultural facilities. Office hours: Thursdays. Deadline: Feb. 2, 2023.

Workshops & Webinars

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network

If you have received funding from The Federal Government during COVID, attend these free webinars!

December 8 | 3:30-4:40 p.m. | Register Here
December 14 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Register Here

Learn the rules about the COVID funds you may have received

Capabilities Statements

December 13 & December 20 | 9-10 a.m. | Register Here

Two FREE webinars to successfully market your small business to commercial and government entities! Differentiate your business in a competitive virtual marketplace and effectively utilize a capability statement as a multi-functional tool.

In the 1st session on December 13, participants will learn what makes a good capability statement and how to maximize viewing and response.

In the 2nd session on December 20, you will receive quality constructive feedback, and if you’re up for it, sharpen your virtual skills with your company pitch (not required)!

PrixFixe Accounting Winter Webinar Series
Getting Your Restaurants Books Ready for Tax Season
December 13 at 2 p.m. & December 14 at 12 p.m.

Accounting for Offsite Events
December 27 at 2 p.m.

Full schedule of webinars

Artsy Avenue
December 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Wood Painted Lantern with Artsy Avenue

Free Fall Laser
December 10 | 10 a.m. | Winter Wonderland Accordion Cards or Ornaments (online workshop)

Assets for Artists
Full Schedule of Workshops for 2023

In the News

Savvy Hive Launches “Wear it Forward” Campaign for Those in Need

This program is intended to bring a little humanity to some of life's challenging moments.

All funds generated will be re-distributed in the following ways:
1. Gift cards will be dropped off at community organizations such as the Louison House, The Elizabeth Freeman Center, the NAACP, and others.
2. Gift cards will also be available at the store. If you, or someone you know, needs a gift card, you can come in, no questions asked and request one.

How can you help?
1. Make a donation here: https://gofund.me/23d41237
2. Add a donation to your next purchase at the store.

All donations up to $1000 will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to an anonymous donor.

Vote for the Best Light Display for LumiNAMA

MCLA Professor Hosts Book Launch at Gallery 51

Finalists Selected for Lever’s Western Mass. Health Technology Challenge

Secret Sun Tanning Opens in Adams