The 2006 button (shown here) was designed by Chris White. Chris is in the 12^th grade at Taconic High School. The design was chosen from more than 300 entries submitted to the Winter Sports Committee by children from the city's elementary, middle and high schools
(for a higher resolution version, click here)

(this webpage last edited Monday, January 16, 2006)
Pittsfield Winter Carnival 2006

for the Parks Department Website click here

Here's a chronological summary of the year 2006 events schedule to print for your refrigerator!

Here are some photos from the 2004 Winter Carnival
Here are some photos from the 2005 Winter Carnival Toboggan Races
Here are some photos from the 2005 Winter Carnival XCountry Ski Races
Here are 87 photos from the 2005 Winter Carnival Queen’s Ball
Here are 181 more photos from the 2005 Winter Carnival Queen’s Ball

This is an annual event in Pittsfield MA to provide winter activities, mostly outdoors and mostly free of charge, for people of all ages. The Pittsfield Winter Carnival is currently in its 61^st year. The Pittsfield Winter Carnival is planned and executed by the Pittsfield Winter Sports Committee, a totally volunteer non-profit organization, under the auspices of the City of Pittsfield, Department of Community Services, Parks and Recreation.

If you can, please volunteer to help at events. The committee is not large enough to staff all the events properly, particularly Family Day, and volunteers are needed. For instance, the 2001 Family Day was unable to have the Snowshoe Races due to lack of 3-4 staff. Several events on the 2002 schedule were eliminated on the 2004 schedule for this reason also.

The following is a synopsis and schedule of the events that make up this year's Pittsfield Winter Carnival. We will endeavor to maintain this schedule, but extreme weather conditions may cause change or cancellation.

A Button Design Contest is held to award prizes to Pittsfield school children in a contest, broken down into age groups, to design that year's button. The overall winning design is made into a 2" button that will be sold by the Queen Contestants as part of the Queen Contest. The sale of these buttons raises moneys to support the activities of the Carnival. The design contest was held from October 3rd – October 28^th, 2005.

2005 Category winners (last year’s button):
Grand prize, button Design: Chris White 12^th grader from Taconic High
Kindergarten thru 2^nd grade: Carli Scolforo 1^st grader from Allendale Elementary
3^rd thru 5^th grade: Kirklan Doherty 3^rd grader from Stearns
6^th thru 8^th grade: no winners
9^th thru 12^th grade: David VanBramer 10^th grader from Taconic High

The Pittsfield Winter Carnival Queen Contest is open to girls 17-21 years of age who live, attend school or work in Pittsfield or an adjoining town. This contest culminates with the Queen's Coronation Ball where the winning contestant and the lady in waiting are crowned. Scholarships are awarded to the new Queen and Lady-in-waiting. In addition the contestants choose Miss Congeniality and a special scholarship award is given to the top button seller.

During the 5-week Queen contest, the contestants sell buttons (see button design contest above) to raise money (buttons sell for a dollar each) to support the Winter Carnival events. Each contestant must sell a minimum of 1000 buttons to qualify to be judged for Queen.

A maximum of 16 girls may enter. Application forms to enter the contest are available starting November 1^st at the Pittsfield High Schools, Berkshire Community College and at the Parks Department offices at Springside House, 874 North Street. The first 16 qualified applications submitted are accepted for the contest.

Applications must be received by December 10^th. The Queen contest runs from Sunday January 11^th through Sunday February 8^th. Entry is free of charge.

Photos of the 2002 Coronation Ball are here

Photos of the 2003 Coronation Ball are here

Photos of the 2004 Coronation Ball are here

Family Day is the premier outdoor family event of the Winter Carnival! Held at the newly renovated Controy Pavilion on the shore of Onota Lake. This is your chance to meet all the Queen contestants and purchase as many buttons as you wish! Activities include Sled, Skating and Snowshoe races, Horseshoes on ice, Kite Flying, Snow Sculpturing, Ice-Fishing and Golf-on-Ice competitions. Horse drawn sleigh rides are provided throughout the afternoon to transport families from the parking area to the pavilion. There will be free helium balloons and refreshments for the children. Face painting and magician demonstrations for everyone's entertainment. A heated pavilion is available as are warm and cold free refreshments. Entry to all activities is free, except for the ice-fishing derby. The event date is Saturday January 28^th starting at 10AM. Please note: This is a new day (Saturday) and starting time (10AM) than is years past!

City Downhill Slalom Ski Meet means ski and snowboard competition for youngsters under the age of 13. Held at Bousquet Ski area. Each entrant has at least 2 timed runs down the hill, the best of which counts towards trophies. The event date is Saturday Februaryl 4^th starting registration at 9AM, racing at 10AM. Entry is free of charge.

Toboggan Races with 2, 3 and 4 person categories, people of all ages may compete. Toboggans are supplied, but you can bring your own. This event is scheduled for Osceola Park on Gale Avenue. The event date is Sunday February 5^th. Registration starts at 11AM, timed runs start at Noon. Entry is free of charge.

Anything-goes Sled Races are open to all ages. This event is scheduled for Osceola Park on Gale Avenue. The event date is Saturday February 11^th. Registration starts at 11AM, timed runs start at Noon. Entry is free of charge. Entrants can be any age from infant to seniors. Bring your cardboard box, snow tube, sled, swimming pool or antique bathtub. If you can drag it to the top of the hill you can race it! I'm bringing a sunflower seed bag...

Cross Country Ski Races are open to all ages. Held the last 4 years at Canterbury Farm Ski Touring area on Fred Snow Road in Becket MA. The event date is Sunday February 12^th. Registration starts at 9AM. Entry is free of charge.

Queen's Coronation Ball is the culmination of the Queen Contest. The Queen and lady-in-waiting for the following season are chosen and crowned. Other awards, such as top button seller and Miss Congeniality are presented. College scholarships are the top awards. The event date is Saturday February 18^th at the Berkshire Hills Country Club starting at 8PM, tickets are $7 per person. Doors open at 7PM. Note: This is a new location, day and time!

Pittsfield Short Track Speed Skating Championships are held at the Vietnam Veterans Skating Rink in North Adams MA. The Pittsfield Speed Skating Club of the Pittsfield Department of Community Development, Parks and Recreation, is the host team for this event. The event date is Saturday TBA starting at 1PM. There is an entry fee and entrants are members of the Amateur Speedskating Union. There is no fee for spectators.

The city of Pittsfield provides seed money for the Pittsfield Winter Carnival, which is held under the auspices of the Department of Community Services, Parks and Recreation. If you're interested in helping, contact us please! Meetings are 7 PM most Wednesday evenings during January and February at the Springside House on upper North Street, Pittsfield.

Here's a summary of the above year 2006 events schedule to print for your refrigerator!

For event location directions and other information, call 413-499-9343 9:00-4:00 weekdays.

For more information on the Berkshires, go here: www.berkshireweb.com or www.iberkshires.com

Website courtesy of Clark W. Nicholls, PHS 1968 CWNicholls@aol.com