Featuring live music, readings and performances, a resource fair, book exchanges, and food trucks, Community Day will be the culmination of our summer-long program lineup celebrating the vibrant, multicultural diversity of the Berkshires.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

11am: Kicking off the day on the main stage will be Latin Grammy Award-winning children’s book author and musician, MISTER G, singing songs and telling stories in English and Spanish.

1-3pm: Head to the Dell Stage to hear performances and readings from the talented Literacy Network and Drag Story Hour.

2-5pm: Edith Wharton’s historic mansion is free & open to the public!

All day: Explore the offerings of our local organizations at the resource fair, exchange a book, grab a bite of authentic food from La Chalupa y La Enchilada or Flavourful Bites, and picnic!

3pm: Chilean-born vocalist Natalia Bernal will draw from the songwriting traditions of her homeland to entrance the crowd in her afternoon performance on the Main Stage.

5pm: The evening will conclude with poetry readings from WordxWord.  

Ben Gundersheimer, a.k.a. MISTER G, is a Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist, author and educator. Hailed as “a bilingual rock star” by The Washington Post, he was originally dubbed MISTER G by his young students while pursuing a Master of Education degree. His dynamic, interactive bilingual performances aim to dissolve borders and foster cross-cultural connections. 

Chilean-born vocalist Natalia Bernal hails from Iquique, a city nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Atacama Desert. Now based in New York City, Natalia’s rich and entrancing voice evokes the drama of the natural surroundings of her homeland. Drawing from songwriting traditions of Latin America, her original compositions and selections from the Great American Songbook surprise with a refreshingly improvisational texture. Featuring: Natalia Bernal, vocals; Jason Ennis, guitar; Adam Cote, bass.

The Literacy Network has been offering free, one-on-one tutoring sessions for adults since 1991. LitNet’s flexible, personalized approach to tutoring enables adult learners to succeed in their jobs, support their families, and engage with their local communities. The organization began by teaching reading skills, and LitNet quickly expanded its curriculum with lessons in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship test preparation, and adult basic education to better serve the large population of immigrants who live and work in the Berkshires.

Drag Story Hour (DSH) started out in 2015 as drag queens reading stories to children in libraries and grew into a global phenomenon! DSH now offers literary and creative programming for kids and teens of all ages led by drag queens, kings, and all other royal beings! 

WordXWord uses spoken word, poetry and storytelling in shared space and time to celebrate diversity and creativity, empower the individual, foster understanding and empathy, and make real human connections.

The Community Voices Project fosters meaningful collaborations between The Mount and regional community partners. Through discussions, workshops, readings, and events, the Project aims to nurture and support the development of bold, new storytelling that strengthens diverse voices and incites cross-cultural exchange.

The Community Voices Project is supported by a grant awarded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation.

This event is FREE and open to the public!

Help support this event and other free programming at The Mount by becoming a Mount Member! Join today.

Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org

CALL FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS!

This August, The Mount is hosting a Children’s Book Swap as part of our Community Day celebration! We’re collecting gently loved children’s books to share the joy of reading with other families in our community. If you have books your kids have outgrown, this is the perfect chance to give them a second life. All ages, reading levels, and languages are welcome!

Please drop off your gently loved books at The Mount anytime this summer. We will have a bin in the Stable, and books will also be accepted at the Ticket Booth and other Youth & Family Programs. 

Join us on August 10 for Community Day to explore the Children’s Book Swap and take home new favorites for your family to enjoy!

What accessibility accommodations does The Mount offer? The Mount is a Massachusetts Cultural Council UP designated organization welcoming participants of all disabilities. Please contact us by phone: 413-551-5100 or by email: info@edithwharton.org to discuss accommodations needed to participate fully in this event. Golf carts will be available to shuttle those with mobility concerns between the parking lot and event venue. View The Mount’s Health and Safety Guidelines.