Berkshire Busk! invites you to ditch the backyard BBQ this Fourth of July weekend in favor of circus acts, outdoor movie screenings, music, an open-mic opportunity, and more. The festival’s primary programming begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Friday Highlights: Open Mic with Jackson Whalan, “Monty Python & the Holy Grail,” Big Lux Returns
Friday, July 4, is jam-packed with special guests and collaborations at the festival. On Railroad Street, the stunt duo Her Majesty’s Secret Circus will begin their first-ever weekend of Berkshire Busk! performances. Big Lux, an award-winning hip-hop violinist, lyricist, and DJ, will make his first return to the festival since his debut in 2023.
Great Barrington native and recording artist/music producer Jackson Whalan will host Berkshire Busk’s first-ever open-mic night. Members of the community, particularly students, are encouraged to come with a simple musical setup and an original song to try out a mini-busk experience. Whalan will also perform some of his own original music while serving as emcee at the Berkshire Money Management Stage. Full open-mic rules can be found on Berkshire Busk’s social media.
Elsewhere in downtown, folk music and beyond comes courtesy of Willy Welch, GypZbilly, and Daring Coyotes. Balloon Ben can be found twisting up all kinds of creations.
At sundown, Berkshire Busk! will partner with The Triplex Cinema and Boondocks Film Society for a special, free-to-attend movie screening. “Monty Python & the Holy Grail” celebrates its 50th anniversary of music, fun, and classic British humor this year, and these three organizations look forward to bringing it to Giggle Park behind Great Barrington Town Hall!
Saturday Highlights: Rees Shad & The Conversations, Aerialists, and Special Guests from Barrington Stage Company
Those who miss out on Her Majesty’s Secret Circus on Friday can find them back at the Warrior Trading Stage on Saturday. On the other side of Railroad Street, Rees Shad & The Conversations make their busking return. Shad has travelled the world as a musician and has put out an impressive 16 solo albums over the course of his musical career.
The Berkshire Money Management Stage will be taken over by a group of outstanding young talent. Barrington Stage Company’s (BSC’s) Musical Theatre Conservatory Cohort, consisting of 12 pre-professional musical theater performers, will showcase all they have learned while living and studying on the BSC campus.
Blues musician Robin O’Herin, jazz band The Catnip Junkies, aerialist Lia Pearl, and keyboardist/singer Christina Dellea are just a few of the talented acts to be found throughout the rest of downtown. Attendees are encouraged to explore all of downtown while they shop and dine to make sure they don’t miss their next favorite artist!
Saturday nights also feature an artisan market on Railroad Street. The market has a new regular guest this year in Huht, who are bringing their mobile sauna and cold plunge to the top of Railroad each weekend for guests to try for free.
Extended Schedule on Saturdays
Singer-songwriter and American Idol alum Katherine Winston will begin the morning at the Great Barrington Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. Then, Balloon Ben brings any idea for a balloon creation to life outside of Robin’s Candy from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. Berkshire Busk! Roadside continues at Berkshire Mountain Distillers from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with an encore performance from Big Lux.
Berkshire Busk! is free to attend and takes place in downtown Great Barrington every Friday and Saturday evening, from June 27 to August 30. Primary festival programming begins at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Berkshire Busk! website for information on parking, free transportation options, and the full schedule of events.
