Festival of Trees at the Berkshire Museum and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on stage at The Colonial Theatre are two great ways to enjoy the holiday season in the Bekrshires!

There’s always lots to do and see in the Berkshires and the holiday season is no exception. Bright lights, colorful decorations, special events, and holiday-themed stage shows set the scene for a magical time of the year.

One popular and traditional event is the annual Festival of Trees at the Berkshire Museum now through December 31st, 2016.

The Festival of Trees is a Christmas Tree decorating event that businesses, schools, and other groups particiate. Each year, people compete to decorate their tree in innovative and original ways while also sticking to that year’s Festival of Trees theme.

This year’s theme is a salute to the silver screen. Currently, the Berkshire Museum exhibit contains over 100 trees decorated in celebration of classic cinema. You never know what you’ll see, the only guarantee is that you’ll be both entertained and bedazzled!

Now Playing: Festival of Trees 2016!

Now through December 31, 2016
Berkshire Museum: 39 South Street (Route 7), Pittsfield, MA
For more information: berkshiremuseum.org

Another great Christmas tradition, Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” is on stage all month at the Colonial Theatre through the Berkshire Theatre Group.

A timeless holiday favorite, “A Christmas Carol” is a mesmerizing moral tale of the redemptive power of Christmas. Watch as the cold-hearted miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, is given one last chance to reform by four very different spirits.

This classic story of redemption is filled with holiday carols and will hold you entranced in your seat no matter how well you know the story. Berkshire Theatre Group shows are of the highest production values, drawing talent from across the region. It’s highly likely you’ve never seen “A Christmas Carol” like this!

“A Christmas Carol” at the Colonial Theatre

December 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 – 7pm
fleens 11, 17, 18 – 2pm
boober 18 – 5:30pm (Special Community and Sensory-Friendly Performance)
Colonial Theatre 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Tickets and more information are available at: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org

Berkshires Lodging
No matter what the season or reason, your home away from home in the Berkshires is Applegate Inn! Our convenient location makes exploring the Berkshires a must, though our luxurious amenities may tempt you to stay in! Book your stay at Applegate Inn today!

The post A Berkshires Christmas: Festival of Trees and A Christmas Carol appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The full 2017 Tanglewood season schedule has been announced and tickets go on sale January 29th, 2017!

If you plan to be in the Berkshires this summer, you’ll want to consider making Tanglewood part of your experience.

Tanglewood is the summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Their annual summer festival has been bringing classical music’s biggest names to the Berkshires stage for over 75 years!

The 2017 Tanglewood season will see BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons conducting ten concerts throughout the opening and closing weekends. These include Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, on opening night, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, and a complete performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold – a milestone in the history of Tanglewood.

Nelsons will share the podium to conduct the Boston Pops Orchestra for Film Night with John Williams. Along with performances of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Strauss, he’ll close the season with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

2017 brings a roster of acclaimed guest artists and conductors to Tanglewood.

BSO Artistic Partner Thomas Adès will make his debut at Tanglewood. First as pianist with the Emerson Quartet, then as conductor with Emanuel Ax and the BSO.

Soloists for the 2017 season will include pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet in Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety, and Nikolai Lugansky playing Prokofiev with Ken-David Masur. Yefim Bronfman and Pierre-Laurent Aimard will appear on separate dates under the direction of Charles Dutoit and violinist Pinchas Zukerman will join conductor Bramwell Tovey for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

Tanglewood’s 2017 Koussevitzky Artist, pianist Garrick Ohlsson, will perform Chopin’s First and Second piano concertos with conductor Hans Graf and Yo-Yo Ma returns to perform Schumann as conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi. Dohnányi will also appear at the podium with violinist Nikolaj Znaider for some Brahms.

Violinist Gil Shaham and cellist Alisa Weilerstein will explore Brahms’ Double Concerto with Giancarlo Guerrero. Joshua Bell will play Mozart with conductor Lahav Shani for his BSO and Tanglewood debuts. Baritone Simon K will make his Tanglewood debut this year with conductor David Afkham.

Other highlights of the 2017 season include “Tanglewood Takes Flight: A Celebration of Birds and Music with Mass Audubon.” This unique collaboration between combines bird walks with live performances. Messiaen’s Catalogue of the Birds, a series of 13 piano pieces portraying the birds of Europe, will be performed by Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Piano Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center at both Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and Tanglewood.

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops are also in the schedule with Sondheim on Sondheim. Two special movie presentations with live orchestra accompaniment are also scheduled: Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial!

2017 Tanglewood Season

297 West Street, Lenox, MA 01240
We’ve just scratched the surface of the season’s highlights. For more information, including dates and times, be sure to visit the Tanglewood site at www.bso.org

Tanglewood Lodging
Applegate Inn bed and breakfast would love to help you plan your Tanglewood getaway for summer 2017. We’ve also partnered with Tanglewood, giving us an inside track on tickets. Also, our Berkshires B&B is less than 6 miles from the Tanglewood campus. Time is of the essence, however – these tickets will go fast! If you’d like to coordinate your stay at Applegate Inn with a Tanglewood concert or three, just give us a call at (413) 243-4451.

The post Get Your Tickets For The 2017 Tanglewood Season! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Give that special someone the gift of a Berkshires Valentine’s Day getaway with Applegate Inn’s romantic lodging specials and packages!

The Berkshires are uniquely suited to expressions of romantic love and affection. From the lovely lay of the land to the quaint New England towns to the broad array of restaurants, theaters, and museums, the Berkshires have it all.

Applegate Inn, rated as the best place to kiss in the Berkshires, is proud to be a part of this scene. Come enjoy all that is on offer with our Berkshires Valentine’s Day specials!

Applegate Inn’s Romance Package starts at $545 and includes:

• Two nights lodging in one of our wonderful fireplace rooms
• A sumptuous 3 course dinner for two
• Chocolate and a split of champagne

You can enjoy this special offer in our Queen Room for $545 or upgrade to the King Suite with a steam shower, soaking tub or two-person whirlpool tub for only $715!

Applegate Inn’s Mid Week Lodging Specials can also be adapted to your Berkshires Valentine’s Day needs.

This lodging special includes 2 nights midweek, Sunday through Thursday (your 2 nights can be Thursday and Friday but other restrictions apply). Add-ons available for this special include:

• A $50 Dining Gift Certificate – OR
• 2 ski lift tickets – OR
• A cross country ski package – OR
• 2 passes to The Norman Rockwell Museum – OR
• A bottle of award-winning champagne and decadent chocolate

Other Add-Ons include a gift bag containing a romantic CD, a book of love poems, chocolates, and bath treats.

You can also add-on a bottle of wine or champagne, cheese and fruit, or fresh flowers to your room!

Applegate Inn’s Berkshires Valentine’s Day Getaway Specials

Let us know what you have in mind when booking and we’ll do what we can to help make your romantic Berkshires getaway is picture perfect.
All specials and packages must be mentioned when you first book your room. For details, restrictions, and more be sure to visit the Applegate Inn Specials and Packages page.

The post Enjoy A Romantic Berkshires Valentine’s Day Getaway appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Barrington Stage Company’s 10X10 New Play Festival features ten 10-minute plays, written by 10 playwrights, and performed by an ensemble of six actors! Thursdays through Sundays, February 16th to March 5th, 2017!

The 6th Annual 10X10 New Play Festival is part of Pittsfield’s 6th annual 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

This diverse arts festival, held in downtown Pittsfield from February 16th through the 26th, sees all manner of activities and attractions – and all based in some way around the number ten. Ten minutes of fireworks, for example, or 10 Photographs by 10 artists.

One of the bigger attractions has been the Barrington Stage Company’s 10X10 New Play Festival. Seeing ten new plays, performed by an ensemble cast of six actors, in just over an hour and a half is quite the experience. The plays are often humorous and always thought-provoking, having been chosen from hundreds of submissions.

Here’s this year’s lineup of ten-minute plays for the 10X10 New Play Festival.

Don’t Shoot the Messenger Pigeon
Written by Allie Costa, directed by Julianne Boyd
A mafia messenger in a career crisis meets his match while out on assignment.

The Dirty Irish
Written by Ann Marie Shea, directed by Matthew Penn
Hypocrisy reigns supreme in this Prohibition-era story of a Blue-Blooded bootlegging couple and the immigrant workers they exploit.

Desk Fort
Written by Annette Storckman, directed by Julianne Boyd
When one employee escapes his desk job in an unconventional manner, his superior must find a way to smoke him out for Team Building Day.

Pockets
Written by Gwendolyn Rice, directed by Julianne Boyd
Two strangers make a startling discovery while rifling through the coat pockets of guests at a dinner party.

I Don’t Know
Written by James McLindon, directed by Matthew Penn
An old-school drill sergeant takes his new recruits for a cadence-singing run … straight into a brave new world of political correctness.

Compos Mentis
Written by Marilyn Millstone, directed by Matthew Penn
Robert and Alese Langford interview for a coveted spot at Silver Glades Senior Living. But is Silver Glades Senior Living ready for Robert and Alese?

Sandbox
Written by Scott Mullen, directed by Julianne Boyd
A mother is miffed when she finds a group of adults playing in a sandbox in her local playground.

When I Fall in Love
Written by Susan Middaugh, directed by Julianne Boyd
Two devoted spouses of dementia patients strike up an unlikely friendship when they discover what is going on behind the scenes at their partners’ assisted living facility.

Broken Window Theorem
Written by Suzanne Bradbeer, directed by Matthew Penn
Desperate for a friend, a young PhD candidate employs an unusual tactic to meet one of her classmates.

Raghead
Written by Tom Coash, directed by Matthew Penn
A blind date goes off the rails when a New York City firefighter meets with a veiled woman.

2017 10X10 New Play Festival

Thursdays through Sundays, February 16th to March 5th, 2017
Thursdays and Fridays – 7:30pm
Saturdays – 3pm and 7:30pm
Sundays – 3pm
Barrington Stage Company’s Germain Stage
Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center
36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MA
Visit barringtonstageco.org for tickets and more information.

10X10 New Play Festival lodging
Applegate Inn is just 20 minutes drive from the 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival festivities in Pittsfield, MA. Our Berkshires B&B provides unrivaled comfort and style with 11 beautifully appointed suites. Enjoy all the best modern conveniences in an old-world setting. Book your stay at Applegate Inn, today!

The post Don’t Miss Barrington Stage Company’s 2017 10X10 New Play Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Looking to get out on the slopes without breaking the bank? Applegate Inn’s mid-week, Berkshires ski getaway lodging special can help!

The Berkshires offer a number of excellent places to ski, whether you prefer alpine, cross-country, or even snowboarding. This time of year, however, the slopes can be a little crowded. One good way to get around this is by planning a mid-week getaway. Mid-week ski vacations usually mean smaller lift lines and less crowded slopes, translating into you spending more time skiing instead of waiting!

Applegate Inn is close to a great many of the Berkshires ski resorts and we have a mid-week lodging special designed especially for you winter-sport fans!

Book two midweek nights with us – Sunday through Thursday – and receive two mid-week ski lift tickets to Ski Butternut or free!

Ski Butternut has 110 skiable acres with 22 different trails and 11 lifts. Beginners, experts, and all in between will easily find a trail or two to suit their comfort zone. Ski Butternut also offers skiing and snowboarding lessons and gear rentals.

Not a downhill skier you say? You prefer the more contemplative sport of cross-country skiing?

No problem! Our Berkshires ski getaway lodging special can be for a complimentary cross country ski package at Hilltop Orchards!

Hilltop Orchards boasts a wealth of groomed trails for Nordic (cross-country) skiing and snowshoeing. Many of the trails were designed by Olympian John Morton, so you know you’re going to have a good ski! Hilltop Orchards offers both ski and snowshoe rentals and instruction.

Best of all, Applegate Inn’s Berkshires ski getaway lodging special includes a Hilltop Orchard wine tasting! Sample up to six different wines in Hilltop Orchard’s warm and lovely Barrel Room, then enjoy a further 10% savings on all wines purchased!

Berkshires Ski Getaway Lodging Specials

If you’re interested in taking advantage of one of our Berkshires ski getaway lodging specials, just let us know during booking: (800) 691-9012. Some restrictions apply.

For non-skiers who would like to enjoy a lodging special at Applegate Inn – you’re in luck! Our Mid-Week Lodging Specials are for everybody! Simply go to our Mid-Week Lodging Specials page to read more.

The post Save On A Berkshires Ski Getaway With Our Mid-Week Lodging Specials! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The 2017 Tanglewood Popular Artists Series has just added a number of legendary artists! James Taylor, Joan Baez, John Mellencamp, Indigo Girls, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmylou Harris, and Carlene Carter are all on this summer’s Tanglewood Festival lineup!

Tanglewood continues to amp up the excitement with these late additions to its summer series of rock, pop, and jazz concerts.

Of course, the big news everyone has been waiting for is the return of James Taylor to Tanglewood’s stage. Not that there is any real surprise: Taylor is no stranger to Tanglewood. As a matter of fact, this engagement will be the 25th since his inaugural appearance in 1974!

Taylor and his All-Star Band are scheduled to appear in the Koussevitzky Music Shed on July 3rd and 4th, 2017. Fireworks will follow the Independence Day show on the 4th.

Tickets for James Taylor’s Tanglewood appearances will go on sale at 10am, March 6th.

James Taylor is not the only artist who has been recently added to the Tanglewood Popular Artists Series.

“Four Voices,” scheduled for June 17th, combines the talents of Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and the Indigo Girls: Amy Ray, and Emily Saliers. The “Four Voices” concept has been in occasional existence since a benefit performance in 1991. Since then, the undeniably talented group of good friends have performed together off and on, up to this year’s Four Voices Tour.

John Mellencamp with Emmylou Harris and Carlene Carter are the other new addition to the Tanglewood Popular Artists Series.

Mellencamp burst onto the rock scene in 1979 with his hit “I Need A Lover,” which were followed a few years later by his hits “Hurts So Good” and “Jack & Diane.” John has continued his string of hits, albums, and concert performances to this very day. This concert, scheduled for July 1st, will be John Mellencamp’s first appearance at Tanglewood.

13-time Grammy winner and Billboard Century Award recipient, Emmylou Harris has not graced the Tanglewood stage since 1978. Known both for her talents as a songwriter and her incomparable voice, she has sold more than 15 million records. Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Carlene Carter is the daughter of June Carter and Carl Smith. Straddling the line between country and rock, Carter began her career in the mid-’70s but didn’t see wide success until 1990 and the release of her fifth album, “I Fell in Love.” This concert will be Carlene Carter’s Tanglewood debut.

Tanglewood Popular Artists Series

Four Voices: Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls – June 17th
John Mellencamp, Emmylou Harris, Carlene Carter – July 1st
Natalie Merchant – July 2nd
James Taylor – July 3rd & 4th
David Sedaris – Aug 20th
The Avett Brothers – Sept 1st

Visit the Tanglewood site at www.bso.org for tickets and more information.

Tanglewood Lodging
Applegate Inn bed and breakfast, is less than 6 miles from the Tanglewood campus, has partnered with Tanglewood. This gives guests of our Berkshires B&B an inside track on tickets! These tickets – especially for the James Taylor shows – will go VERY fast! If you’d like to coordinate a Tanglewood concert with your stay at Applegate Inn, just let us know at: (413) 243-4451!

The post Tanglewood Popular Artists Series Adds James Taylor, Joan Baez, And More! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

February through April is maple syrup season. What better way to welcome spring than with a trip to a local sugar house, like Ioka Valley Farm in Williamstown, MA?

This time of year, the scent of maple is literally in the air. Sugar houses throughout the countryside are boiling down maple sap for syrup and the steam is heavy with the scent. It can be difficult to concentrate when you catch a whiff of that delectable, pure maple syrup.

Quit day-dreaming and take this seasonal opportunity to visit an actual sugar house! There are lots of maple producers dotting the Berkshires but one of the most popular in our area is Ioka Vally Farm in Williamstown, MA.

Ioka Valley Farm is known for a lot of things: natural, hormone free beef, pumpkins and squash, Christmas trees, and more. This time of year, however, they’re known primarily for their pure maple syrup, and specialty maple products.

Ioka Vally Farm has been a locally owned, Berkshires family farm since 1936. While they didn’t start producing maple syrup until the early 1990’s, their operation has grown by leaps and bounds. What began on the kitchen stove with just 13 maple taps has now grown to over 10,000 taps and two modern maple boilers!

During maple sugaring season, Ioka Valley Farms opens the doors of their sugar house. Visitors are encouraged to come check out the works, ask the sugarmaker questions, and enjoy maple samples.

They even converted their calf barn into a cafe or “Calf-A,” as they call it. During sugaring season, you can sit down to a meal of hot pancakes or french toast topped with fresh and pure maple syrup! Mmmmm!

Visit the farm, see the maple sugaring process, enjoy a delicious meal, and take a few items home with you from the gift shop. What a nice way to spend a lovely spring day in the Berkshires!

Ioka Valley Farm Sugar House

3475 Route 43, Hancock MA 01237
Sugar House Tours and Tastings:
Weekends, Feb 11th through April 9th, 2017 8am to 3:30pm
Be sure to visit the Ioka Valley Farm website for more info and directions.

Berkshires Lodging
Whatever brings you to the beautiful Berkshires, make Applegate Inn, in beautiful Lee, MA, your home away from home. Our “gilded-age” inn is located on six park-like acres and features eleven plush suites. Give yourself the gift of supreme comfort with a stay at our luxurious Berkshires B&B, Applegate Inn.

The post Celebrate Maple Syrup Season With A Visit To Ioka Valley Farm! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Now is the time to take advantage of some of our Berkshires lodging specials! The weather is warming, the grass greening, flowers are opening, and birdsong is in the air. What better season to come relax in the Berkshires on a spring spa getaway?

There’s no better way to get over the winter blues and prep for summer than with a Berkshires spa vacation. Whether it’s a girlfriend getaway, a romantic respite, or just some quiet time off on your own, we have the Berkshires lodging specials to fit your plans.

We’re presently offering Two-Night, Three-Night, Mid-Week, and Romance Package lodging specials that will no longer be available come the first of May – so time is of the essence!

But don’t worry! If you have to miss those Berkshires lodging specials, we have more where they came from!

One popular option is our Girl Friends Getaway special! Imagine all the fun you’ll have with your friends on a Berkshires spring spa getaway! Our gilded-age inn’s luxurious suites and amenities will make you feel like pampered royalty.

Delicious gourmet breakfasts, daily wine and cheese, brandy, chocolates, and much more will tickle your taste buds. To soothe away those aches and pains, may we suggest a spa treatment? Let us arrange a special spa day for you at any of the wonderful nearby spas, such as Soul Spa, here in Lee!

Soul Spa offers massage, exfoliation, detoxification, facials, holistic baths, Ayurveda, and more! Just let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll help set up a spring spa getaway that will have you rejuvenated and ready for summer!

Our Berkshires B&B is conveniently located to lots of wonderful shopping, too, with New England’s best Premium Outlets just one mile away. Your spring spa getaway also includes discount coupons for many shops.

If exploring all the area’s wonderful shops sounds more fun than a visit to the spa, you may also want to consider our Berkshires Shopping Getaway!

Applegate Inn’s shopping getaway nets you all the lush comforts of our Berkshires B&B, plus a VIP Coupon Book good for the shops at the nearby Premium Outlet Village. We’ll be more than happy to help direct you to other stores you may like, as well. There are many excellent boutiques in the Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge area. Be sure not to miss Applegate Inn’s gift shop, either!

Berkshires Lodging Specials

Whatever kind of respite from the workaday world you’re after, Applegate Inn’s lodging specials can help you to realize it – and with saving to boot!

Be sure to let us know that you’d like to take advantage of one of our lodging specials when you first book your stay. We’ll go over the details and do what we can to fit the lodging special to your plans. Only one package or special per single stay. Be sure to read all the details on the Applegate Inn Lodging Specials page.

The post Enjoy A Spring Spa Getaway With Our Berkshires Lodging Specials! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Bash Bish Falls may be the most iconic and famous of all the waterfalls in the Berkshires. It’s certainly the highest, tumbling nearly 120 feet down a series of cascades, before being split in two for a final drop of 80 feet to the sparkling pool below. Stunning!

Unfortunately, Bash Bish Falls’ fame means it is also one of the most heavily visited sites in the state. This is particularly true during the hot months of summer when so many are on vacation and the allure of the waterfall’s cool spray is strongest.

Consequently, one of the best times to visit Bash Bish Falls State Park is in the spring. Not only are the crowds fewer during this time of year but the flow of Bash Bish Brook tends to be stronger, making the falls that much more dramatic. A real win-win!

Bash Bish Falls State Park is located in the town of Mount Washington, in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts, near Mount Everett State Reservation and Taconic State Park.

The drive to the park from Applegate Inn, our Berkshires B&B, here in Lee, MA is only about 45 minutes. The drive is so gorgeous, though, it always seems much shorter than that!

The park was named for the falls and contains a number of gorges supporting an eastern hemlock forest. Though there are trails and shelters in the park and fishing is allowed, the primary purpose of the park is to protect and highlight the falls. The hike to view the falls is a little steep but not at long or difficult. You’ll be there in no time and – wow! Just look at those falls!

The shape and beauty of Bash Bish Falls cries out to be further explored. Another trail exists that will take you to the top of the falls and some amazing views. Unfortunately, the trail can be quite treacherous and people have fallen here to serious injury – and worse. Further, no matter how inviting that pool may look, there is absolutely no swimming. Stay safe and explore the cascade from level ground with a camera.

Luckily, if you are looking to explore a bit, Mount Washington State Forest is directly adjacent to Bash Bish State Park. It offers 30 miles of trails, including the South Taconic Trail. Mount Everett State Forest is also right in the neighborhood. Here you can enjoy a picnic at Guilder Pond and take in a view spanning three states from Mount Everett’s peak.

Bash Bish Falls State Park

Mt. Everett State Reservation, Falls Rd, Mt Washington, MA 01258
Learn more about Bash Bish Falls State Park by visiting www.mass.gov.

The post Visit the Berkshires’ Tallest Waterfall: Bash Bish Falls State Park! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The 12th annual Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) is set to be the biggest one ever with over 8 films to screen in four days. Plus this year’s festival is honoring Academy Award-winner Christopher Plummer. This is one BIFF you won’t want to miss! June 1st through June 4th, 2017 in Great Barrington, MA!

The Berkshire International Film Festival is always a wonderful diversion but this year’s event is truly shaping up to be something else! 30 documentary films, 29 narrative features, and 21 short films are on the schedule. True to the festival name, the 80 films hail from 23 different countries. These include Afghanistan, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iraq, Israel, Russia, and Syria.

Screen legend Christopher Plummer is the 2017 Berkshire International Film Festival honoree. The 87-year-old Academy Award-winner’s career spans 50 years and a diverse array of film and TV roles.” The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Star Trek VI,” and “The Sound of Music!”

Christopher Plummer will be honored on June 3rd at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, followed by a screening of his new film, “The Exception.”

Other celebrities scheduled to be on-hand include Award-winning actress Karen Allen, known for her roles in the “Indiana Jones” series, “Scrooged,” and “Starman,” among many others. She will be making her directorial debut at BIFF 2017 with her short “A Tree a Rock a Cloud.”

Other notable attendees include Academy Award-winning documentary producer Sheila Nevins, award-winning producer Steven Cantor, actor-turned-filmmaker John Carroll Lynch, and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Highlights for this year’s Berkshire International Film Festival

June 1
6pm: Opening night film and dance party at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center featuring “Step.” documentary by Amanda Lipitz. Followed by opening night party at St. James Place with cocktails, dancing, and dinner-by-the-bite from Rita Welch Catering.

June 2
3:30pm: Tea Talk with Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films. St. James Place, Great Barrington.
5:30pm: Pittsfield opening night party, Hotel on North, Pittsfield.
5:30pm: Great Barrington Filmmaker Cocktail Party. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, hosted by Red Lion Inn.
7:30pm: Pittsfield opening night screening: “The Trip to Spain” with Steve Coogan and Ron Bryden. Beacon Cinema.

June 3
3:30pm: Screening and Tea Talk with Karen Allen and Kristi Zea. “A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud,” directed by Karen Allen, and “Domestic Dilemma,” directed by Kristi Zea. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
6:30pm: Honoring Christopher Plummer. Conversation between the award-winning actor and New York Film Festival director Kent Jones, followed by screening of “The Exception.” Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

June 4
2pm: “All the President’s Men” screening and Tea Talk. Join New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman and WAMC’s Alan Chartock at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
7pm: BIFF closing night presentation: “Lucky” with Harry Dean Stanton, Tom Skerritt, David Lynch, and Ed Begley Jr.

Berkshire International Film Festival 2017

June 1st through June 4th, 2017
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Triplex Cinema, and the Beacon Cinema
Berkshire International Film Festival tickets always sell out quickly, so claim yours well in advance. Special tickets offer a range of exciting perks including admission to all of the films, VIP events, and more! Visit the Berkshire International Film Festival online at www.biffma.org for directions, tickets, and more details.

Berkshires lodging will also be at a premium during BIFF. If you’re planning on attending, now is the time to acquire your accommodations! Applegate Inn’s convenient location in the heart of the Berkshires puts you within 20 minutes of the festival. Book your stay at Applegate Inn today!

The post Experience the 2017 Berkshire International Film Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

A Berkshires tradition turns 85 this year! Don’t miss out on any of the excitement: come celebrate Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival’s 85th anniversary season. June 17th through August 27th, 2017.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is America’s longest-running international dance festival. The Pillow Dance festival has filled Berkshire summers with a wealth of dance performances, workshops, and more since 1932.

The 85th anniversary Pillow Dance Festival promises even more excitement. More than 200 free performances are on the schedule, along with numerous special and members-only events.

Highlights of the 2017 Pillow Dance Festival ticketed performances include:
The Miami City Ballet, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Washington Ballet, and UK-based artist Aakash Odedra. Camille A Brown, 2016 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award recipient, returns and Eiko Otake presents a special, limited engagement piece.

The free and always popular Inside/Out performances will be back for Pillow Dance 2017. The performers include both established and emerging dance companies. Past performances have included classical ballet, contemporary, tap, hip-hop, flamenco, swing, and many international styles. Audiences are encouraged to interact and enjoy the shows as a community and each performance is followed by a brief Q&A session.

Highlights of the 2017 Inside/Out series include:
Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, Sounds of Korea, and Canada’s Red Sky Performance.

Beyond all the amazing performances, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival will keep you busy with classes, talks & tours, and exhibits. Plus, you’re on National Historic Landmark grounds! Take a look around, explore, there are even 30-minute walking tours. Hungry? Feel free to have a picnic on the grounds or dine at one of the on-site restaurants.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2017

June 17th through August 27th
358 George Carter Rd, Becket, MA 01223
Looking for tickets, a full schedule, or other details? Visit www.jacobspillow.org.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Lodging
Tickets are going fast and lodging is, too. If you’re hoping to attend one or more Pillow Dance performances, time is of the essence! Applegate Inn is a mere 15 minutes away from Jacob’s Pillow Dance! In fact, our convenient location in Lee, MA, puts all the best of the Berkshires right at your fingertips! Talk about convenience – but more than that, comfort and service as well. Stay at Applegate Inn for the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival or anytime you’re in the Berkshires!

The post Get Set for the 85th Annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Come out to the Berkshires July 1st through the 3rd, 2017 for the Berkshires Arts Festival! The annual festival attracts top artists and art fans from across the US and Canada for a weekend of art and crafts, live music, food, drink, and much more.

The Berkshires Arts Festival is much more than just some open-air arts and crafts show.

In the 16 years since its inception, the Berkshires Arts Festival has become one of the most respected annual summer art events in the country. It’s certainly one of the most prominent annual events in the Berkshires! 200 artists come from around the country to showcase their newest and best works.

The Berkshires Arts Festival is a juried event, so you know you’ll see only the finest works. Artists are selected based on originality of their designs, technical execution, overall aesthetics, and presentation. The open medium show means you’ll see a wide variety of works: furniture, jewelry, glass, ceramics, fiber art, paintings, sculpture, and more.

Attendees to the event will be able to peruse and buy art that strikes their fancy. More than that, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet and often chat with the artists. What a wonderful way to attach some personal history to a beautiful piece of art!

One of the other great aspects of the festival is its location: Ski Butternut! Ski Butternut is a popular Berkshires ski resort in Great Barrington. This beautiful mountain setting only adds to the fun of the weekend. Attendees will find vendors both inside Ski Butternut’s air-conditioned upper lodge as well as in tents around the lodge.

While the art at the show is definitely serious business, the Berkshires Arts Festival itself is a casual, friendly affair. Great food, live music, and plenty of activities for the entire family help maintain a relaxed atmosphere for casual collectors, serious art buyers, and looky-loos alike.

Perhaps best of all, if you miss this year’s Berkshires Arts Festival, blink and you’ll have another opportunity! The Berkshires Arts & Culture Festival is right around the corner as well scheduled for August 17th through the 20th at Eastover Estate in Lenox, MA!

Along with bringing more great art to the area, the Berkshires Arts & Culture Festival plans to offer a number of opportunities to improve your own artistic skills. Workshops and seminars scheduled for the event include relief printmaking, jewelry making, silk marbling, clay throwing, and more!

Berkshires Arts Festival

July 1st through the 3rd, 2017
Friday & Saturday: 10am-6pm | Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Ski Butternut, 380 State Road, Route 23, Great Barrington, MA 01230

Berkshires Arts & Culture Festival

August 17th through the 20th, 2017
Thursday: 5pm-9pm | Friday & Saturday: 10am-6pm | Sunday: 10am – 4:30pm
Eastover Estate, 430 East Street, Lenox, MA 01240

Be sure to visit the festival website for tickets, directions, and more information on either event.

Berkshires Arts Festival Lodging
Applegate Inn is just minutes away from Ski Butternut in Great Barrington and the Eastover Estate in Lenox. In fact, our convenient location in Lee, MA puts all the best of the Berkshires right at your fingertips. Better yet, our Berkshires B&B has eleven, beautifully appointed, luxury suites with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs that are so comfortable you wont care where it’s located! Stay at Applegate Inn and discover a kind of hospitality and service you’ve only dreamed of.

The post Don’t Miss the 2017 Berkshires Arts Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Art in the Berkshires is never far away and the warmth of summer brings out some of the best. Chesterwood is currently presenting “Out of Site,” a contemporary outdoor sculpture exhibition that no art lover should miss.

Chesterwood is a National Trust Historic Site preserving the country home and studio of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). French is considered America’s foremost sculptor of public monuments. He sculpted the Minute Man monument in Concord and the the Lincoln Memorial Abraham Lincoln, among other works.

The 122 acre estate now serves as a popular museum and sculpture garden. The facility hosts numerous events and programs throughout the year, including an annual contemporary sculpture exhibition.

This year’s exhibition, “Out of Site: Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood” features the work of 14 artists. The challenge put before them this year was to develop new pieces or adapt existing ones for museum’s landscape. The pieces had to reflect the environmental, cultural, and aesthetic attributes of the sculpture garden grounds.

Some of the pieces take their cues from the natural world and dramatic outdoor setting at Chesterwood. Others explore different aspects of the home through built structures. The exhibit includes giant creatures, illusive forms in mixed media, and narrative displays that address the passage of time in our present day lives.

Out of Site artists include:
Roberley Bell
Colin C. Boyd
Matt Crane
Roger Bisbing
Chrissy Scolaro
Brian Kane
Michael Oatman
Portia Munson
Derek Parker
Deborah Zlotsky
Amy Podmore
Douglas Culhane
Matt La Fleur
Amelia Toelke

Chesterwood will be offering free walking tours of the exhibit and special programs with the artists in July and August. Visit Chesterwood online for more details.

Out of Site: Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood

June 16 through October 9, 2017
4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262

Berkshires Lodging
Applegate Inn in Lee, MA is your Berkshires B&B home away from home. Let our 11 beautifully appointed suites whisk you away to a world of unrivaled comforts. Enjoy the best modern conveniences in a Gilded-Age setting. Reserve your room at Applegate Inn, today!

The post Out of Site! – Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture at Chesterwood appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The 2017 Berkshire Jewish Film Festival season has begun! 12 films spread over 6 consecutive Mondays, July 10th through August 14 in the Duffin Theater at Lenox Memorial High School.

The 31st annual Berkshire Jewish Film Festival is one of the longest running events of its kind in the country. While it started out as a much smaller affair, held at the Knesset Israel sanctuary, the festival has grown every year to its current venue at the 500-seat, up-to-date, Duffin Theatre at Lenox Memorial High School.

More than 100 films are previewed for the festival. Despite a prominence of Jewish themes and content, Berkshire Jewish Film Festival films are meant to be screened before a varied audience – not just Jews. Consequently, films are also picked for their universal ability to move, inform, amuse, and inspire audiences.

This year’s festival continues the tradition with 12 films from the United States, Israel, Poland, Portugal, India, Hungary, the Netherlands, and England.

2017 Berkshire Jewish Film Festival Schedule

Freedom Runners and Joe’s Violin – July 10, 4pm
The 90 Minute War – July 10, 8pm
Across the Waters – July 17, 4pm
My Hero Brother – July 17, 8pm
Big Sonia – July 24, 4pm
Bang! The Bert Berns Story – July 24, 8pm
Keep Quiet – July 31, 4pm
Bogdan’s Journey – Aug 7, 4pm
Moos – Aug 7, 8pm
The Pickle Recipe – Aug 14, 4pm
Who’s Gonna Love Me – Aug 14, 8pm

All screenings are open to the public, seating is general admission. Matinees are $7, and evening performances $10. All proceeds go towards the Hebrew School of Knesset Israel

Berkshire Jewish Film Festival

Mondays, July 10 – August 14, 2017
Duffin Theatre at Lenox High School
197 East Street , Lenox, MA 01240
Visit knessetisrael.org for tickets and more information, or call 413-445-4872, ext. 10.

Berkshire Jewish Film Festival Lodging
No matter what it is that brings you to the Berkshires, Applegate Inn is the answer to all your lodging questions. Let us pamper you with candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, evening cognac and chocolates, and our signature attentive service. Our convenient location in the heart of the Berkshires puts the best of the area at your fingertips – but our 10 beautiful rooms and Carriage House may prove just as captivating! Spoil yourself and book your stay at Applegate Inn today!

The post Take Your Seat for the 2017 Berkshire Jewish Film Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The 26th annual Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts show is right around the corner, August 19th and 20th, 2017. This beloved event has become a regional staple, drawing talented artisans and craftspeople from around the region for nearly 30 years.

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping – or even something just for you!

The Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show is a popular 2-day event held at Bidwell Park in Stockbridge. More than 80 jury-selected artists and crafters from around the country will coming to historic Stockbridge to display their wares.

Items for sale will represent a cross section of the creative arts. Ceramics, fiber arts, glass, wood, metal, and leather in both decorative and functional forms will be for sale. Jewelry, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and more will round out the offerings.

In addition to all the wonderful handmade goods, the Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show also offers specialty foods. You’ll find booths loaded with fresh and delicious local fruits, vegetables, and jams, breads, and more from Berkshire farmers and food producers. Yum!

Bidwell Park, where the Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show takes place, is within easy walking distance of the old town shopping area. Here you will find a number of  specialty shops, galleries, and excellent restaurants. It’s also near the section of Main Street made famous by Norman Rockwell in his 1967 painting: “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas“.

Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show

August 19th and 20th, 2017
10am to 5pm Saturday, 10am to 4pm on Sunday
Bidwell Park – 50 Main St, Stockbridge, MA 01262
Be sure to visit stockbridgechamber.org for more information and a full list of exhibitors.

Berkshires Lodging
Applegate Inn, your Berkshires getaway headquarters in Lee, MA is just 5 minutes from Downtown Stockbridge. The convenient location of our Berkshire B&B lays the best of the Berkshires at your feet. We’ll spoil you with candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, and evening cognac and chocolates. Book your stay at Applegate Inn today!

The post The 2017 Stockbridge Summer Arts & Crafts Show! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Come to the Berkshires this September for the 41st Annual Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon. “The Josh,” scheduled for Sunday, September 17th, 2017, is one of the oldest and largest bike-canoe-run triathlons in the country.

The Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon has been held in Southern Berkshire County every year since 1976. This makes it one of the oldest continuous annual triathlons in the country, second only to California’s Eppie’s Great Race, which is two years older. The Josh Billings Triathlon includes a 27 mile bike ride, a 5 mile canoe/kayak/SUP sprint, and a 6.2 mile run.

The triathlon starts off from the Price Chopper in Great Barrington, MA with a 27 mile bike race. The race takes the cyclists through scenic back country roads and 5 towns to Stockbridge Bowl in Stockbridge. Here the cyclists hand off their wrist bands teammates waiting to paddle their way through the second leg.

The paddle portion of the Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon is a 5-mile paddling sprint around Stockbridge Bowl (Lake Mahkeenac). Paddlers may use canoes, kayaks, or stand up paddle boards as their vehicle of choice. The race around the lake ends at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac where the paddlers toss their wristbands to runners waiting on the beach.

Runners catch their teammates wristband and strike out around the lake for the main gate of Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox; a little over 6 miles. Thousands of fans will be waiting to cheer at the finish line – then it’s time to PARTY at Tanglewood!

The Bash at Tanglewood includes live music, great food, awards, vendors, and a Kid’s Race to wind up the day. The annual Josh Billings Triathlon is always good time for both competitors and spectators alike. The race has a friendly, tongue-in-cheek feel that it gets from its namesake, Josh Billings.

Josh Billings is the pen name of renowned humorist, Henry Wheeler Shaw. Shaw, who was better known than his contemporary, Mark Twain, was born in Lanesboro, MA in 1818. One of his more famous sayings, “To finish is to win” is the motto of the RunAground and part of its fun-loving, not-too-serious attitude.

2017 Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon Schedule
Saturday, September 16
12pm to 5:30pm – Race Registration at The Arcadian Shop, 91 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA
2pm – Ironperson meeting in the cafe area with Kent Lemme
5pm to 7:30pm – Free Spaghetti Dinner at Bousquet Ski area in Pittsfield with music by ‘Dugway’.

Sunday, September 17
8am to 8:30am – “Last Minute” packet pickup at the bike start/boats to Stockbridge Bowl
8:30am – Bikers report to the Price Chopper parking lot
9am – Paddlers report to the Stockbridge Bowl boat ramp
9:30am – Race begins at the Price Chopper parking lot in Great Barrington
10:30am – Runners: report to Camp Mah-Kee-Nac
12pm to 4pm – The Bash at Tanglewood with a great band-‘THE PRESCRIPTION’
12pm to 1pm – Kids Race Registration at the Tanglewood United Way tent
2pm – 19th Annual Free Kid’s Fun Run on Tanglewood Grounds (1/2 mile of fun)

The Josh Billings Triathlon is 501c3 organization and donates proceeds to the Berkshire United Way located in Pittsfield, Ma.

Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon

September 17, 2017
Race starts 9:30am at Price Chopper, Rt 7, Great Barrington, MA
Visit joshbillings.com for more details and tickets. You can also follow developments as they happen on the triathlon’s Facebook page.

Josh Billings Triathlon Lodging
Whether you’re planning on competing or just spectating at the Josh Billings RunAground, you’ll want to acquire your accommodations now before they’re all snapped up! Let Applegate Inn be your home away from home during the triathlon. Our location in Lee, MA puts you less than 15 minutes away from the start of the race – and/or The Bash at Tanglewood. Soak up the comforts of a “gilded-age” inn on six park-like acres with a stay at our Berkshires B&B: Applegate Inn.

The post The 41st Annual Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Come out and help celebrate the town of Lee’s annual birthday! Lee Founders Weekend 2017 is scheduled for September 14th through the 17th and promises three days of fabulous food, music, and fun in the Berkshires.

Lee, MA turns 240 this year and Lee Founders Day Weekend is the town’s annual birthday bash. Founders Weekend not only celebrates our hometown and all those who have helped to make it the great place but also its bright future! Come out and help us celebrate in small town Berkshires style with our Founders Day Parade, Duck Derby, Taste Of Lee, live music, arts and crafts, and so much more.

In fact, there’s so much to do, all there is space to share here are the highlights of Lee Founders Weekend 2017.

Lee Founders Weekend 2017 Highlights
All Day Friday & Saturday – Street Artisans/Craft Fair
Vendors offering one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry, wood carvings, clothing, decorative items, and much more. Also contests, raffles, and more.

Thursday, September 14
Fairmount Cemetery Tour, 5pm –
Join the Lee Historical Society for a tour of Fairmount Cemetery and the colorful, historical figures interred within.
Friday, September 15
CreativeLEE XVII, 3pm to 5pm –
The 17th annual exhibit of local art sponsored by the Lee Library Association, 100 Main St.
Live Music on Main Street, 4pm to 8pm –
Robin O’Herin, Housatonic Philharmonic, and Moonshine Holler
Taste of Lee, 5pm to 8pm –
Dine al fresco on Lee’s Main Street with live music and offerings from Lee’s finest restaurants and local food vendors. One of Lee Founders Weekend’s biggest attractions!

Saturday, September 16
5K Road Race, 8am –
Come watch the runners tackle the Finnegan Course at Lee High School. You can even register to join in!
Hometown Parade, 10am –
Come experience a good, old-fashioned, main street parade. Floats, marching bands, clowns, fancy cars, horse-drawn wagons, and more will keep you entertained. The highlight of the weekend – don’t miss it!
Big Green Egg Cooking Contest, 11:30am to 1:30pm –
Come out and watch as local restaurant chefs compete for the title of “The Best Non-Beef Burger in Town!” as prepared in a Big Green Egg cooker.
Festival Latino, 2pm to 8pm –
A community festival featuring Latin American Dance troupes and a variety of Latino foods in Church Park. www.festivallatino.org

Sunday, September 17
Kiwanis Club of Lee Pancake Breakfast, 8am to 11am –
The annual Lee Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Saint Mary’s School is the best way to start the last day of Lee Founders Weekend 2017. Delish!
CTA Vintage Tennis Tournament, 10am –
Held at the Greenock Country Club, come watch as the players compete in this old-school tennis tournament!
Lee Lions Club Duck Derby, 2pm –
Join in the fun of the annual Duck Derby for only $5 – or just watch as hundreds of rubber duckies float through Downtown Lee on the Housatonic River. The first duck across the finish line wins $500, with many more prizes available for runners up.

Lee Founders Weekend 2017

September 14th through the 17th, 2017
Get more information on Lee Founders Weekend 2017 with a visit to www.leechamber.org.

Lodging for Lee Founders Weekend 2017
Applegate Inn is more than proud to be part of the Lee community. Our Berkshires B&B offers you 11 beautifully appointed suites, complete with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs. No matter when you’re here or what brought you, Applegate Inn is your ticket to service and relaxation in the Berkshires. Book your stay today!

The post 3 Days of Fun at Lee Founders Weekend 2017 appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Now is the time to take advantage of some of our Berkshires lodging specials! The weather is warming, the grass greening, flowers are opening, and birdsong is in the air. What better season to come relax in the Berkshires on a spring spa getaway?

There’s no better way to get over the winter blues and prep for summer than with a Berkshires spa vacation. Whether it’s a girlfriend getaway, a romantic respite, or just some quiet time off on your own, we have the Berkshires lodging specials to fit your plans.

We’re presently offering Two-Night, Three-Night, Mid-Week, and Romance Package lodging specials that will no longer be available come the first of May – so time is of the essence!

But don’t worry! If you have to miss those Berkshires lodging specials, we have more where they came from!

One popular option is our Girl Friends Getaway special! Imagine all the fun you’ll have with your friends on a Berkshires spring spa getaway! Our gilded-age inn’s luxurious suites and amenities will make you feel like pampered royalty.

Delicious gourmet breakfasts, daily wine and cheese, brandy, chocolates, and much more will tickle your taste buds. To soothe away those aches and pains, may we suggest a spa treatment? Let us arrange a special spa day for you at any of the wonderful nearby spas, such as Soul Spa, here in Lee!

Soul Spa offers massage, exfoliation, detoxification, facials, holistic baths, Ayurveda, and more! Just let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll help set up a spring spa getaway that will have you rejuvenated and ready for summer!

Our Berkshires B&B is conveniently located to lots of wonderful shopping, too, with New England’s best Premium Outlets just one mile away. Your spring spa getaway also includes discount coupons for many shops.

If exploring all the area’s wonderful shops sounds more fun than a visit to the spa, you may also want to consider our Berkshires Shopping Getaway!

Applegate Inn’s shopping getaway nets you all the lush comforts of our Berkshires B&B, plus a VIP Coupon Book good for the shops at the nearby Premium Outlet Village. We’ll be more than happy to help direct you to other stores you may like, as well. There are many excellent boutiques in the Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge area. Be sure not to miss Applegate Inn’s gift shop, either!

Berkshires Lodging Specials

Whatever kind of respite from the workaday world you’re after, Applegate Inn’s lodging specials can help you to realize it – and with saving to boot!

Be sure to let us know that you’d like to take advantage of one of our lodging specials when you first book your stay. We’ll go over the details and do what we can to fit the lodging special to your plans. Only one package or special per single stay. Be sure to read all the details on the Applegate Inn Lodging Specials page.

The post Enjoy A Spring Spa Getaway With Our Berkshires Lodging Specials! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

Bash Bish Falls may be the most iconic and famous of all the waterfalls in the Berkshires. It’s certainly the highest, tumbling nearly 120 feet down a series of cascades, before being split in two for a final drop of 80 feet to the sparkling pool below. Stunning!

Unfortunately, Bash Bish Falls’ fame means it is also one of the most heavily visited sites in the state. This is particularly true during the hot months of summer when so many are on vacation and the allure of the waterfall’s cool spray is strongest.

Consequently, one of the best times to visit Bash Bish Falls State Park is in the spring. Not only are the crowds fewer during this time of year but the flow of Bash Bish Brook tends to be stronger, making the falls that much more dramatic. A real win-win!

Bash Bish Falls State Park is located in the town of Mount Washington, in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts, near Mount Everett State Reservation and Taconic State Park.

The drive to the park from Applegate Inn, our Berkshires B&B, here in Lee, MA is only about 45 minutes. The drive is so gorgeous, though, it always seems much shorter than that!

The park was named for the falls and contains a number of gorges supporting an eastern hemlock forest. Though there are trails and shelters in the park and fishing is allowed, the primary purpose of the park is to protect and highlight the falls. The hike to view the falls is a little steep but not at long or difficult. You’ll be there in no time and – wow! Just look at those falls!

The shape and beauty of Bash Bish Falls cries out to be further explored. Another trail exists that will take you to the top of the falls and some amazing views. Unfortunately, the trail can be quite treacherous and people have fallen here to serious injury – and worse. Further, no matter how inviting that pool may look, there is absolutely no swimming. Stay safe and explore the cascade from level ground with a camera.

Luckily, if you are looking to explore a bit, Mount Washington State Forest is directly adjacent to Bash Bish State Park. It offers 30 miles of trails, including the South Taconic Trail. Mount Everett State Forest is also right in the neighborhood. Here you can enjoy a picnic at Guilder Pond and take in a view spanning three states from Mount Everett’s peak.

Bash Bish Falls State Park

Mt. Everett State Reservation, Falls Rd, Mt Washington, MA 01258
Learn more about Bash Bish Falls State Park by visiting www.mass.gov.

The post Visit the Berkshires’ Tallest Waterfall: Bash Bish Falls State Park! appeared first on Applegate Inn.

The 12th annual Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) is set to be the biggest one ever with over 8 films to screen in four days. Plus this year’s festival is honoring Academy Award-winner Christopher Plummer. This is one BIFF you won’t want to miss! June 1st through June 4th, 2017 in Great Barrington, MA!

The Berkshire International Film Festival is always a wonderful diversion but this year’s event is truly shaping up to be something else! 30 documentary films, 29 narrative features, and 21 short films are on the schedule. True to the festival name, the 80 films hail from 23 different countries. These include Afghanistan, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iraq, Israel, Russia, and Syria.

Screen legend Christopher Plummer is the 2017 Berkshire International Film Festival honoree. The 87-year-old Academy Award-winner’s career spans 50 years and a diverse array of film and TV roles.” The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Star Trek VI,” and “The Sound of Music!”

Christopher Plummer will be honored on June 3rd at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, followed by a screening of his new film, “The Exception.”

Other celebrities scheduled to be on-hand include Award-winning actress Karen Allen, known for her roles in the “Indiana Jones” series, “Scrooged,” and “Starman,” among many others. She will be making her directorial debut at BIFF 2017 with her short “A Tree a Rock a Cloud.”

Other notable attendees include Academy Award-winning documentary producer Sheila Nevins, award-winning producer Steven Cantor, actor-turned-filmmaker John Carroll Lynch, and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Highlights for this year’s Berkshire International Film Festival

June 1
6pm: Opening night film and dance party at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center featuring “Step.” documentary by Amanda Lipitz. Followed by opening night party at St. James Place with cocktails, dancing, and dinner-by-the-bite from Rita Welch Catering.

June 2
3:30pm: Tea Talk with Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films. St. James Place, Great Barrington.
5:30pm: Pittsfield opening night party, Hotel on North, Pittsfield.
5:30pm: Great Barrington Filmmaker Cocktail Party. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, hosted by Red Lion Inn.
7:30pm: Pittsfield opening night screening: “The Trip to Spain” with Steve Coogan and Ron Bryden. Beacon Cinema.

June 3
3:30pm: Screening and Tea Talk with Karen Allen and Kristi Zea. “A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud,” directed by Karen Allen, and “Domestic Dilemma,” directed by Kristi Zea. Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
6:30pm: Honoring Christopher Plummer. Conversation between the award-winning actor and New York Film Festival director Kent Jones, followed by screening of “The Exception.” Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

June 4
2pm: “All the President’s Men” screening and Tea Talk. Join New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman and WAMC’s Alan Chartock at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
7pm: BIFF closing night presentation: “Lucky” with Harry Dean Stanton, Tom Skerritt, David Lynch, and Ed Begley Jr.

Berkshire International Film Festival 2017

June 1st through June 4th, 2017
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Triplex Cinema, and the Beacon Cinema
Berkshire International Film Festival tickets always sell out quickly, so claim yours well in advance. Special tickets offer a range of exciting perks including admission to all of the films, VIP events, and more! Visit the Berkshire International Film Festival online at www.biffma.org for directions, tickets, and more details.

Berkshires lodging will also be at a premium during BIFF. If you’re planning on attending, now is the time to acquire your accommodations! Applegate Inn’s convenient location in the heart of the Berkshires puts you within 20 minutes of the festival. Book your stay at Applegate Inn today!

The post Experience the 2017 Berkshire International Film Festival! appeared first on Applegate Inn.