Fall Foliage Parade2023-10-04T08:52:30-04:00

67th Annual Fall Foliage Parade

Once Upon A Time in North Berkshire, the 67th annual fall foliage parade in North Adams.

Date, Time, and Theme

Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 1PM
Each year, 1Berkshire collaborates with the city of North Adams to host a festive, inclusive, and vibrant downtown parade celebrating all things autumnal in the Berkshires. The entire community is invited to participate in this beloved event, which takes place on the first Sunday of October.

2023 Theme:
“Once Upon a Time in North Berkshire” celebrating children’s books and fairytales

Grand Marshal

Photo of Jim HolmesJim Holmes has been selected as the 2023 Grand Marshal. This honor celebrates Holmes decade long dedication to education in North Berkshire.

Jim Holmes has been connected to education in North Berkshire for decades having served as a teacher, a school committee member, and most recently working with the North Adams Police Department on its reading with the department program. In 2013, Jim was to be selected Teacher of the Year.

While working at (then) North Adams State College, Jim decided to begin a career in education.  He earned his degree in 1996 and began a 20-year career teaching. As a retiree, Jim is a substitute teacher at St Stanislaus Kostka School. He credits his family, in particular his best friend and significant other Denise, and his daughters Jessica, Stephany, and Allyson, with giving him the support to pursue his dreams and remain involved all these years.

Read More

Parade Route and Program

This year’s parade route is 1.2 miles and mostly flat, making the parade more walkable for all ages and abilities. The shorter parade route is also less of a time commitment for participants.

Starting Point: Intersection of State Street and Old State Street
Lineup: Curran Highway between DiSanti Field (north point) to United Cerebral Palsy (south point); roughly 400 Curran Highway to 535 Curran Highway
Ending Point: Intersection of Ashland Street and Washington Ave, same as last year.
NOTE: Due to the starting location and staging area, through traffic is able to detour on Old State Street to access parts of Curran Highway. The road will be fully shut down along the parade route starting at 12:30 pm.

2023 Parade Map
2023 Parade Program

Ways to Participate in this Year’s Parade

  1. Volunteer!  We are always looking for help.  From planning to carrying banners and other day-of tasks, there is a way for everyone to help out. Click here to sign up to volunteer today.
  2. Sponsor!  The Fall Foliage Parade is made possible through the generous donations of businesses and individuals.  Click here to sponsor today.
  3. Be in the Parade!
2023 Parade Line Up

Ways to View This Year’s Parade

  1. Be a spectator along the 1.2 mile parade route from the intersection of State Street and Old State Street, along Main Street, to the intersection of Ashland Street and Washington Ave. (Parade map)
  2. Watch on Community Television channel 1301. Thank you to Northern Berkshire Community Television for their annual broadcast of the parade.
  3. Watch the live stream on Community Television, channel 1301.

Fall Foliage Festival Events

Here is a list of events happening between now and the 67th Annual Fall Foliage Parade on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Contact the North Adams Office of Tourism to learn more about this year’s Fall Foliage Festival Events!

Fall Foliage Festival Events

Thank You to Our 2023 Sponsors

Platinum Leaf

City of North Adams logo

Gold Leaf

Silver Leaf

iBerkshires.com/Boxcar Media
Adams Community Bank
Berkshire Community College

Bronze Leaf

Berkshire Bank
KB Accounting
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP)
Hotel Downstreet
Greylock Federal Credit Union
Greylock Insurance Agency
Terra Nova Church
The Brien Center

Autumn Leaf

AYJ Fund
North Adams Elks Lodge #487
Wild Oats Market

#NAMAzing Supporters

Community Supporters

Matt Alcombright in Memory of Danny and Red Alcombright
Phil and Denise Krutiak in Memory of Dom and Carol Pisano
Franklin Risatti in Memory of Colonel John Gibeau, USAF, Drury Class of ’61
Shirley H. Lescaebeau and Lori B. Hartlaub in Memory of Louis C. Lescarbeau

Rebecca Cellana
Steve Green and Sue Walker
Jean Veazie in Memory of Edward Veazie
Don and Carol Graves
Gene S. Carlson in Memory of Justyna M. Carlson
Joe and Colleen Rossi in Memory of Suzanne and Robert Ross and Inez and Joseph Rossi
Maralyn L. Brown in Memory of Stanley L. Brown
Julia Wolfrum
Dennis and Elizabeth Gilbert
Bob and Barb St. Pierre in Memory of Sonny and Paul St. Pierre
Peter Belouin in Memory of Stephen Belouin
Rita A. Gardner in Memory of Chuck and Mark Gardner
Susan Zoltek
Pauline and Bob Bona
Robert and Janice Moresi
David and MaryBeth Kennedy
Charlie and Judy Blaisdell

Theresa Wood
Lorraine and Al Mancuso
Mike and Diane Pytko in Memory of Ted Pytko and William Dami
Catherine Scerbo
Mary A Caproni
George and Debbie Forgea in Memory of Kay Corriveau
Paul Corriveau in Memory of Kay Corriveau
Jerry and Mary Desmarais
Joseph and Patricia Prenguber
John and Beverly Canale in Memory of Our Parents

Fall Foliage Festival and Parade History

Learn more about the Fall Foliage Festival and Parade History

Fall Foliage Parade History

Learn more about the previous Fall Foliage Parade themes and Grand Marshals

Previous Themes and Grand Marshals

Thank you to our Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade Committee!

Parade Committee

Thank you for celebrating with us in 2023!

Congratulations to our 2023 Float Winners

Harry S. Orr Award (Best Overall): Very Good with “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

Hayden Award (2nd place): North Adams Pride with “Drag Queen Story Time”

Mayor’s Award (3rd place): Clarksburg School with “The Wonderful World of Seuss”

Grand Marshal’s Award (4th place): Studio North with “Once Upon a Time in Barbieland”

Parade Director’s Award (5th place): Berkshire Dance Theatre with “Alice in Wonderland”

Previous Parade Memories

Photo Credit: Gillian Jones and The Berkshire Eagle