PITTSFIELD — A long table of backpacks stretched across a closed section of Tyler Street on Saturday morning, with hundreds more stacked in boxes nearby, all waiting for children to pick one out for free.

The backpack giveaway kicked off the 15th Berkshire Dream Center block party, which welcomed more than 1,000 people and distributed between 515 and 525 backpacks.

Kids enjoy the giant inflatable bounce-houses and obstacle course at the Berkshire Dream Center’s Summer Block Party on Tyler Street.

For some families, like Kimberly Jacobs', the celebration marked one of the last chances for neighborhood classmates to be together before the school year begins. Morningside Community School students will head to different elementary schools next year.

"It's sad that they are moving to different schools," Jacobs said. "They are breaking the kids up. The kids are supposed to be a community. I want to cry for them. They are like family."

A small section of the normally busy street was closed for the party and filled with an inflatable obstacle course, a water slide, a dunk tank, balloon animals and treats, all free of charge.

Four-year-old Bentley Sprague clapped his hands and beamed after hitting the target on the dunk tank, dropping Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti into frigid water. Moments later, he ran off to the inflatable obstacle course, still grinning.

Families gather for a day of fun, food, music and giveaways at the Berkshire Dream Center’s Summer Block Party, held on Tyler Street on Saturday.

Throughout the two-hour event, local groups including Youth Alive, Break Against Cancer and Kova Elite Dance Company performed. Hundreds of families attended, largely undeterred by the on-and-off rain.

Donna Depp stood by her children and said events like this are important because they bring the community together. She said she loves watching families spend a fun morning together while the kids stay active outside.

"For Pittsfield, it is awesome and we need more of this," Depp said. "Things like this don't happen."

Ariana Charon, 14, said she came for the backpack but stayed for the activities and to spend time with her friends. She particularly enjoyed watching Depp dunk Marchetti after she had just missed the target by a smidge.

Jacob Esposito, 4, makes sure Mayor Peter Marchetti gets dunked into the dunk tank at the Berkshire Dream Center’s Summer Block Party on Tyler Street.

"It was epic," she said.

After the dunk, Marchetti invited the two to feel how cold the water was, prompting even more laughter.

Next Generation Director Rebecca Hunter said the event is meant to bring the community together.

"It's meant to be a time where the community can come together as friends, as families, and have fun in a positive, uplifting environment," she said. "We want them to feel like they're part of something bigger."

A month earlier and just down the street, a man was shot and killed, making events like this an opportunity to bring positivity back to the neighborhood, Hunter said.

"We want to restore hope to our community," Hunter said. "We want them to know that there is something better out there, and it can start right here in Pittsfield. That they don't have to look elsewhere."

Kids enjoy the giant inflatable bounce-houses and obstacle course at the Berkshire Dream Center’s Summer Block Party on Tyler Street.

Jacobs said that, after the loss of Morningside Community School, her family decided it would be best to move to Adams.

"I’m scared for now," she said. "I have more anxiety than ever."

Standing beside her, Jacobs' daughter held hands with her friend and neighbor, Anastasia. The two 8-year-olds waited in line for matching balloon animals before heading to the bounce house.

Anastasia said the day had been "so fun," and she was excited to pick out a backpack and tackle the inflatable obstacle course. The two were inseparable throughout the party, even teaming up to hit the dunk tank target after both missing with their first throws.

"Don’t worry, we are going to be visiting a lot," Jacobs said as the two girls said they were sad to be going to different schools.