By Lucas Willard
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-995831.mp3
Pittsfield, MA – When many folks think of Stockbridge, they think of Norman Rockwell. Rockwell moved to the Massachusetts town from Vermont in 1953. He spent his later years painting iconic images from the Berkshires, including his 1967 work Home for Christmas. Main Street today looks almost exactly the same as it did in the 60s. And every year for the 22 years, the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce recreates the classic December scene.
That's Michele Kotek, Innkeeper at the Red Lion Inn - the same hotel from the painting - and is also President of the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce. She said the town goes to great lengths every year to recreate the little details in the painting.
Antique cars will be brought in to line the streets of Stockbridge. Including the red station wagon with the Christmas tree on top.
Jeremy Clowe of the Norman Rockwell Museum says the town has kept up on their promise to keep the authenticity of the look captured in 1963.
The Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas festival will go on Saturday December 3rd and Sunday December 4th. Other activities will include house tours of scenic buildings, Christmas caroling outside the Red Lion Inn, horse-drawn carriage rides, a luminary walk downtown, and a sold-out Holiday concert.
Tickets for the house tour will cost $20 and $5 will be charged for the Sunday recreation. Parking on Sunday should be at the Town Hall on West Main Street or Marian Helpers Center on Eden Hill. The Main Street is closed to traffic 11:30am-2pm.