Music, dance, art, food and fun can all be found in downtown Pittsfield at the September 17 3^rd.Thursdays, the award-winning afterhours street festival in the hub of the Berkshires! The theme of September’s 3^rd.Thursdays is Splash! celebrating all things aquatic. Playful puppeteer and performer Michael Wolski of Marmalade Productions (pictured below) will be found sailing up and down North Street, along with a special river procession by the all-female world music ensemble, Gaia Roots. A water balloon contest will be held and keep your eye out for King Neptune! The Crowne Plaza will host an aquatic-themed costume contest and a water balloon toss contest will be held in Dunham Mall between City Hall and North Street.

LIVE MUSIC

Former Pittsfielders Hector on Stilts (pictured below) return to perform in their latest incarnation. Now called Colwell, they will debut their latest music video for the song Nite Attak, filmed here in Pittsfield and in New York City, at Palace Park. They’ll be joined by alternative pop star Ben Karis-Nix and the down home acoustic roots music of Moonshine Holler.

The Berkshires own jazz-funk-fusion allstars Unfulfilled Desires will be performing at Crowne Plaza, where food and drink will be served outdoors. The City Stage features and all-female lineup in front of City Hall, just off Fenn Street at the end of Dunham Mall. Gaia Roots will be joined by the a capella singing group the Sweet Adelines, as well as members of the Berkshire Choral Festival chorus.  On the lawn of St. Joseph’s Church the Berkshire Bateria will rouse the crowd with Brazilian rhythms, accompanied by the Nagiowaci fire dancers. And the Rhythm B-Boys will be breakdancing on the street again next to Hot Harry’s Burritos on the first block of North Street. And local favorites Chris & Woody play bluegrass in front of the Senior Center from 5pm to 7pm.

FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN

Come dressed as a fisherman, mermaid, octopus, goldfish, ocean wave, scuba diver or other aquatic creature and enter the 3^rd.Thursdays Splash! Costume contest at 6:15 pm at Crowne Plaza on South Street and win prizes!

Don’t miss the water balloon toss in Dunham Mall, the cozy pedestrian walkway between City Hall and North Street at 5:30pm, sponsored by the Pittsfield’s Neighborhood Initiatives. Chapters Bookstore welcomes back DJ Chuck Wright, and will be offering free face painting. They will feature a visit from Maurice Sendak's Wild Thing, just in time for the release of the new movie. And kids favorite Terry A La Berry will be performing down the street inside Hot Harry’s Burritos from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. The Berkshire Museum will be open late and FREE to all Berkshire County residents, so if you haven’t seen their terrific Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibit, or would like to visit these amazing amphibians again, stop by. The museum is also holding a 50% book sale featuring all kinds of treasures.

NEW ART

Ferrin Gallery offers a sneak preview of a solo show of beautiful abstracts by Pittsfield artist Joe Goodwin as well as an exhibition of altered postcards by Lucy Feller entitled Wish You Were Near-A Postcard Series and EAST meets WEST, work by artists from Northampton and the Pioneer Valley.

The art.on.no Gallery on Union  Street hosts an opening for a bevy of local artists including Martha Peskin, Josh McHugh, Deirdre McKenna and The Berkshire Community College Art Gallery features an opening reception for a new show of work by Brian Sweener, who recently collaborated on a sound installation at Ferrin Gallery with Michael Boroneic.

AFTER HOURS

Afterwards, go DJ dancing at Jae’s Spice or Club Groove, or enjoy local up-and-coming talent at open mike nights at both Pittsfield Brew Works and the newly opened Flavours Restaurant on McKay Street.

SHOPPING

The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market will be out on upper North Street. Plan to stock up on locally grown fruits, vegetables and flowers as well as locally made baked goods and much more! Get a sneak preview of THE MARKET at 391 North Street, downtown Pittsfield’s soon-to-open new neighborhood grocery store. And be sure to shop Berkshire Made’s fine art and craft market in front of the YMCA on North Street, featuring jewelry, art, ceramics, and more by a dozen talented Berkshire artisans.

You can shop local in downtown’s terrific shops as well, from Pittsfield-made frames and fine letterpress greeting cards at Museum Facsimiles to locally designed and made yoga wear at Ancient Languages.

DELICIOUS DINING UP AND DOWN NORTH STREET

Enjoy Spanish wines, craft ales & tapas at Mission Bar & Tapas in the 400 block of North Street, home to incredible live music too. Across the street the Lantern Bar & Grill will be serving up their classic hamburgers, reubens, and Lantern salads. Don’t miss the latest edition to downtown Pittsfield’s culinary lineup, Flavours restaurant, featuring Malaysian cuisine, a polyglot Asian paragon of deliciousness. There’s delicious carrot cake and more at Mary’s Carrot Cake Cafe on Union Street, and more great food at Patrick’s Pub, Jae’s Spice, the Press Box, the Highland, Hot Harry’s, Bagels Too and Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant.  Pittsfield Brew Works features a host of Splash! themed seafood specials, and Brix Wine Bar and Trattoria Rustica offer an elegant french and Italian themed experience, respectively.