Skip to content

The Town of Great Barrington

by Penny Michels

Great Barrington, MA, was ranked #1 in Smithsonian Magazine’s list of "The 20 Best Small Towns in America" in 2012. This lively Berkshire town and surrounding villages support a vibrant year-round population that is as committed to its farmers as it is to its small businesses. The arts also contribute significantly to the town’s character. The recently renovated Mahaiwe Theater has become a center for year round music and cultural events. <a href="http://www.mahaiwe.org/events.html " target="_new">www.mahaiwe.org

Food mavens enjoy Great Barrington’s wealth of restaurants, abundant farmer’s market and grand array of locally produced comestibles. Shoppers enjoy a stroll down the tree-lined main street where they find an abundance of upbeat and chic independently owned businesses.

The railroad established Great Barrington as a Gilded Age resort community. Wealthy families built grand homes called Berkshire Cottages here as well as in Lenox and Stockbridge. Simultaneously, residents thrived from work in the town’s mills and active railroad. The Great Barrington of today reflects a wide and inclusive diversity of all ages.

Great Barrington is conveniently located within the Housatonic River Valley. The Berkshire Mountains rise to the east of the river and include East Mountain (site of Ski Butternut, a popular family resort) and Monument Mountain (a site made famous by a picnic in 1850, chronicled by literary duo of Herman Melville and Nathanial Hawthorne). www.skibutternut.com www.thetrustees.org

The Aston Magna Music Festival, celebrating its 5th decade this year, has forged an important and unique place in the cultural life of the Berkshires. Many of Aston Magna’s internationally famous performances take place in Great Barrington. They offer a signature interpretation of Baroque and Early Classical music through the use of original instruments or historically accurate reproductions. Visit the website for a complete schedule for 2013. <a href="http://astonmagna.org/concert-schedule/events/ " target="_new">astonmagna.org

Newspapers in our Berkshire towns often provide an intimate snapshot of the life of the community. Such is the case in Great Barrington, where The Berkshire Eagle has long been the record of note. www.berkshireeagle.com

For BerkshireStyle.com recommendations for a great visit, please head to the Great Barrington page on our website. <a href="http://berkshirestyle.com/towns/great_barrington.html " target="_new">www.berkshirestyle.com

Back
to
Top