Welcome!
How to get to the theater, what to wear, when to arrive, where to park and everything in between to make your visit a great one.
Coming To The Mahaiwe, Great Barrington
Ready to attend a Close Encounters With Music concert? You will most often find us performing at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (The Mahaiwe) in downtown Great Barrington. The Mahaiwe is a beautifully restored theatre listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It began as a live performance venue in 1905 and eventually became a movie house with the birth of silent films. The Mahaiwe went through a major renovation in 2003 and became a year-round venue for performing arts, film, and educational and family programs. The Mahaiwe seats up to 680 people and features floor and balcony seating as well as Juliette balconies. Learn more about The Mahaiwe here.
Traveling to The Mahaiwe from outside of the Berkshires? It’s an easy trip to 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington. If you’re driving from Boston or New York, it will take you about 2-1/2 hours to get to the southwestern corner of Massachusetts.
You’re probably wondering where you should stay and dine. There are many B & Bs, historic inns, and hotels in Great Barrington and the surrounding towns. Once here for a weekend, a week or longer, you’ll find endless opportunities for other cultural events, outdoor recreation, shopping at local boutiques and shops, and casual dining. More information below on where to go and what to do when you’re here:
Our Other Venues
While the Mahaiwe remains our home stage, Close Encounters With Music also performs in other distinguished venues across the Southern Berkshires and beyond. Each winter we present a concert at Saint James Place (352 Main Street, Great Barrington), an arts and cultural center with a beautifully restored performance hall offering both orchestra and balcony seating. Over the years CEWM has also appeared at Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Clark in Williamstown and in New York City at The Frick Collection and Merkin Hall. Past informal talks have been hosted at The Mount (home of Edith Wharton) as well as many other cultural landmarks and inns throughout the region.
What Should I Wear?
Come as your artistic best self – all fashion statements are welcome. Boho, preppie, office attire, country chic, après-gardening or pre-dinner cocktail. We are completely non-judgmental. And don’t forget that you’ll have your moment on stage at the Afterglow Reception where you can meet other sharp dressers as well as the performers.
Where Can I Park?
Ahhh, parking. The positive news is that Great Barrington is a very walkable town, so wherever you park, it’s not too far away from our performance venue. If we’re performing at The Mahaiwe or Saint James Place, there are several lots you can use at no charge. Download the downtown Great Barrington parking map here.
If you’re driving south on Main Street, access these 24-hour parking options:
- Rosseter Street
- Dresser Avenue (next to the Mason Library)
- Pleasant Street (next to the Mason Library)
- The parking lot at the top of Railroad Street
If the performance is on a weekend afternoon — when nearly all of our concerts take place — you may use these lots:
- Berkshire Bank lot
- Mason Library lot
- First Congregational Church lot
- Lots off Bridge Street (across from the Co-op Market)
- Great Barrington Town Hall lot (immediately across from the Mahaiwe and next to Saint James Place)
- Saint James Place lot (if event is at Saint James Place)
- 343 Main Street lot (across from Saint James Place)
What Can I Do Before Or After The Concert?
Great Barrington, often labeled one of the best small towns in America, and the surrounding Southern Berkshire towns are filled with opportunities for entertainment, rejuvenation and relaxation, and fun. If you’re staying for a weekend or longer, you can enjoy all the Berkshires has to offer: hike, bike, and kayak; tour historic homes, like The Mount and Naumkeag; visit breweries, wineries, and the Berkshire Mountain Distillery; enjoy other events and performances (we recommend you check the Berkshire Edge Calendar).
Here are a few ideas to guide you when planning your trip.
Dine
Great Barrington and surrounding towns offer dozens of dining opportunities. It’s best to make a reservation and enjoy dinner before or following the concert. Here are some of our favorite local restaurants.
Walking Distance/In Town (Great Barrington)
- The Prairie Whale – Farm-to-table casual fine dining
- No. Ten – Steakhouse (next to The Mahaiwe)
- Bizen – Gourmet Japanese restaurant and sushi bar
- GB Eats – All-day diner
- The Well – A local favorite with a bar menu (walking distance)
- Steam Noodle Cafe — Fresh Asian noodle spot
A Short Drive (still in Great Barrington)
- Café Adam – Seasonal, locally sourced
- Xicohtencatl — Authentic Mexican cuisine
- Aegean Breeze – Greek and American cuisine
10 – 20 Minutes Away
- The Mill – Oyster bar & lounge (South Egremont)
- Hy’s Fried – Crispy chicken & comfort food (South Egremont)
- Little Cat Lodge – Alpine-inspired restaurant (Hillsdale, NY)
- Heirloom Lodge – Seasonal, wine-focused (West Stockbridge/Housatonic)
- Cliff House at Prospect Lake – Lakeside dining with views (North Egremont)
- Old Inn on the Green – Historic fine dining (New Marlborough)
- Cantina 229 – Contemporary farm-driven (New Marlborough)
- Red Lion Inn – Classic New England dining (Stockbridge)
How Long Are The Concerts?
Our performances vary in length depending on the event and format. If you attend a concert that is part of our winter/spring series, they generally run about two hours with an intermission in the middle and an Afterglow gathering with nibbles and drinks afterward. The summer Moonlight Sonata performances featuring faculty and students from our Berkshire High Peaks Festival run one to two hours.
Are there provisions for people with disabilities?
Whether we’re at The Mahaiwe, Saint James Place or other performance space, accessibility is always considered. The Mahaiwe has accessible seating and parking and offers a hearing assist system. Saint James Place, another venue we use, meets all American with Disabilities Act requirements. All areas of the building are accessible by wheelchair.
