Passport to Summer ‘25
Cocktails and Culture with The B
May 22 | Belvedere Lenox
We started the season with a celebration! Our festive gathering at Lenox’s chic new event space, The Belvedere, was more than a party (though when Robert Hartwell is there, it’s always a party). It was a sneak preview of what several of the area’s top organizations had in store for the summer. Our special concierge ticketing service made it a cinch to make plans then and there.

MASS MoCA Benefit Dinner and Celebration
May 23 | North Adams
Guests experienced Just a Dream…, the powerful exhibition by Vincent Valdez, and witnessed a stunning selection of iconic choreographies performed by the Trisha Brown Dance Company in our galleries. The inaugural Art Futures Awardees, Vincent Valdez and Ruby Lerner, reminded all in attendance that building the future we want, and need, requires staying true to vision, to purpose, and to one another. Together, $100,000 was raised in the room in honor of the awardees and in support of the Art Futures Fund.

Berkshire Opera Festival Libiamo!
June 1 | Lenox
Libiamo!, Berkshire Opera Festival’s 2025 Gala, was truly a magical evening. So many BOF friends and supporters showed up for a lively event, highlighted by performances from special guest artist, soprano Christine Lyons and Maestro Brian Garman. It was a night filled with heart and harmony, and a perfect kick-off to BOF’s 10th Anniversary Season. It was also special because BOF celebrated longtime supporter William E. Briggs, whose dedication means so much.

Norman Rockwell Museum I Spy! A Party
June 7 | Stockbridge
Norman Rockwell Museum celebrated the opening of its featured summer exhibition, I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, on Saturday, June 7, with I Spy! A Party. Welcoming a multi-generation crowd with family-friendly tickets, the party opened doors to art, education, and celebration for community members and out-of-towners alike! More than 375 guests took part in the festivities—getting a first look at the new exhibition, enjoying treasure hunts, gallery tours, lawn games, and music. Festive picnic fare prepared by local chef Kate Baldwin, creative cocktails, mocktails, and ice cream tasting offered something for everyone. A true community celebration, I Spy! A Party brought together curious minds of all ages to experience the magical worlds of Walter Wick—and to spark joy, discovery, and connection through illustration art.

Volunteers in Medicine
June 10 | Mahaiwe Theater, Great Barrington
Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires launched a speaker series that brings powerful voices to our region. For the first ViM Live event, Wendy Sherman, Vania Andre, Wendy Parmet, and Tom Gerety discussed Beyond the Headlines: Constitutional Rights, Public Health, and the Power of Narrative. ViM Live took the place of a traditional gala fundraiser: With the health and safety of our patients are increasingly at risk, we wanted to explore the ways we can build an informed, resilient, and compassionate community.

18 Degrees’ Kids 4 Harmony Gala
June 24 | Lenox
The evening began in the Tent Club with recognition of Ed Bride, followed by a concert in Seiji Ozawa Hall conducted by Jorge Soto featuring an original composition by Davis Albayeros ’25 and piano accompaniment by Zoe-Ruth Brizan ’25. Boston-based cellist Francesca McNeeley performed Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Elayne P. Bernstein Ensemble.

The Mount Gala: The Muse’s Table
June 12 | Lenox
The Mount’s Gala, The Muse’s Table, was a celebration of art, inspiration, and community. The evening began in the Italian Walled Garden, where guests sipped signature cocktails and mingled under the summer sky in an elegant setting. Afterwards, guests made their way to the forecourt of the historic Main House for a beautifully curated al fresco dinner. Each table featured a guest artist whose work has been touched by the spirit of The Mount and the enduring legacy of Edith Wharton. Throughout the night, artists shared moving reflections about how The Mount had sparked their creativity and shaped their artistic journeys.

Great Barrington Public Theater Annual Benefit
June 14 | St. James Place
The evening celebrated the uniqueness of Great Barrington Public Theater’s mission to produce new work and support new playwrights. Jim Frangione presented Tristan Wilson with the 2025 Black Bear award. Tristan’s speech highlighting his friendship with Jim and his work in the Berkshires brought the audience to its feet. Not to be outdone, the beloved auctioneer John Terrio took the stage and amidst laughter and jokes helped to raise over $74,000 to support the theater.

Berkshire Immigrant Center
June 8 | Shakespeare & Company, Lenox
“This year’s Beacon of Hope benefit was more than a fundraiser,” noted BIC Executive Director Melissa Canavan. “It was a powerful reminder of what is possible when our community stands together.” And, Canavan added, “We were especially proud to create a more inclusive event by providing complimentary tickets to many local immigrants.”

Jacob’s Pillow Season Opening Gala
June 21 | Becket
Over 600 attendees, plus another 3,000+ livestream viewers, all shared in a showstopping performance in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Along with inspiring performances by the School at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble, BODYTRAFFIC, New York City Ballet, and Camille A. Brown & Dancers, this one-night-only program featured the presentation of the 2025 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to Director of Preservation Norton Owen. Senator Elizabeth Warren personally recognized Norton with this honor alongside Executive & Artistic Director Pamela Tatge. Raising crucial funds in support of the preservation and future of dance, the Pillow community united for a celebratory evening of connection, inspiration, and lots of dancing!

Shakespeare & Company Gala
June 28 | Lenox
Shakespeare & Company welcomed more than 340 people to Gala 2025 at its Lenox campus on Saturday, June 28. Honoring actors Annette Miller and John Douglas Thompson, both alumni of Shakespeare & Company’s Center for Actor Training, the evening included performances at the Tina Packer Playhouse by Berkshire Bateria with Jim Weber; Company Founder and Choreographer Susan Dibble; actors Sheila Bandyopadhyay, Stephanie Clayman, Kelley Curran, Lydia Duff, Jonathan Epstein, Tamara Hickey, Yvette King, Naire Poole, and Timothy Oh, and musicians Jennifer Apple, Geoff Cunningham, Benny ‘Fingers’ Kohn, and Jaclyn C. Stevenson. Dinner was catered by The Old Inn on the Green in the Gala tent in the Rose Meadow. Gala 2025 was co-produced by Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Anthony Feola Designs, and Sunie Gorey.