We are approaching one of those weekends that I love to embrace: one with very little to do! I mean that on a personal level, though I do have to work a little on Sunday, but I also mean that on a public level. There are not a ton of family events this weekend, a kind of break between harvest and Halloween festivals and the upcoming holiday season offerings. I am hoping for a nice Saturday where I can rake some leaves, watching my daughter jump in them, and then rake them some more.

 

What says fall better than that?

 

But if the kids are aching to get out of the house, I have a couple of suggestions for family fun this weekend.

First, on Saturday, Nov. 16, is the chance to have the kids do something creative while you shop — at Micheal's in Berkshire Crossing in Pittsfield, a store near and dear to the hearts of many parents, teachers and Scout leaders. Between 10 and 11:30 a.m., kids can join in a "Rudy the Reindeer Craft" session every half an hour for only $2. That's right, $2 for half an hour of "I want that"-free shopping time. Resist the temptation to hover over your child and embrace the alone time. Really, your child will be OK without you. (Of course, that last time I said that was to a friend of mine as we let our about-to-be-second-graders go down the Lazy River at Six Flags without us this past summer, only to moments later watch her child being pulled by lifeguards back to "shore" terrified and in tears. So maybe I'm not the best judge of that kind of thing.)

 

Then, on Sunday, Nov. 17, if your child is a fan of dancing, you can take her (yes, being slightly sexist here and assuming the majority of interest for this will come from girls) to a "Nutcracker" tea at 2:30 p.m. at the First Church of Christ at 27 East St. in Pittsfield. A benefit for the Albany Berkshire Ballet's annual "Nutcracker" tour, the event will feature a silent auction, "Nutcracker" excerpts, sweet treats and more. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children; call 413-445-5382 for details.

 

Want to put the dates of the actual performance of "The Nutcracker" on your calendar? Here are the Berkshire County dates (visit berkshireballet.org for all the regional dates): Sunday, Nov. 24, at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington; Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. at The Colonial in Pittsfield; and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 1:30 and 4:30 at The Colonial.

 

If raking leaves says fall, "The Nutcracker" says Christmas. Embrace that!

 

Berkshire County native Rebecca Dravis of Williamstown is a former journalist who now works for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. She can be reached at rdravis@verizon.net.