What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Pixbay.com
by Art and Maura Keene
You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.
SINGLE DAY EVENTS
SATURDAY MAY 4: UMASS CHOIRS AND ORCHESTRA: MOZART REQUIEM. 4 p.m. Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center. Featuring Mozart’s epic Requiem plus the All-University Orchestra performing Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus with the Chamber Choir. E. Wayne Abercrombie, choir director and Gonzalo Hidalgo Ardila, orchestra director. Tickets $15, $5 seniors, students, UMass faculty/staff. Free for UMass students.
SATURDAY MAY 4: EAST GABLES COMMUNITY COOKOUT. 2 to 5 p.m., East Gables, 132 Northampton Road. Food, cold drinks, music, community, friends, fun. Side dishes and desserts are welcomed. RSVP by May 1 at TLovett@Hmrproperties.com.
SATURDAY MAY 4: SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH DOC HOLLISTER. 7 to 9 p.m., First Churches, 165 Main Street. Guest performer for the May 4 Song & Story Swap will be pianist and singer Doc Hollister. Doc Hollister combines the skills of a gifted musician and singer with a winning humility and penchant for humor that deepen his connection with his audiences. He declares that he comes from a long line of entertainers (affectionately known as “Line E” at the Unemployment Office.) This month’s opening round theme is Forgiveness. Free parking available in back of the church. Donations accepted.
SUNDAY MAY 5: 14TH ANNUAL DAFFODIL RUN FOR BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS. 10 a.m., Amherst Town Common. This community event has become the first marker of spring for the town of Amherst and draws hundreds ofcommunity members to the area to participate and cheer on their family and friends. Look forward to 5K Run/Walk & 10K Run post-race party with delicious food, and family-friendly fun. The Daffodil Run helps sustain the power of youth mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting adult mentors with young people in our community. Once matched they go on to build a meaningful, positive relationship that empowers the potential inherent in each child. Register at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=14021 .
SUNDAY MAY 5: UMASS VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE. 1 p.m., Bezanson Hall, UMass. Catherine Jensen-Hole 24th Anniversary Celebration. Arrangements and original songs by Jensen-Hole, jazz standards arranged by New York Voices’ Darmon Meader and educator Rosana Eckert, plus a Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays tune arranged by Kerry Marsh and a new song by Michael Filip. Free
SUNDAY MAY 5: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CHARTER REVIEW SESSION 3. 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Zoom. Topics are Public Participation (Article 8) and Transition Procedures (Article 10). Zoom link here.
SUNDAY MAY 5: UMASS GRADUATE BRASS QUINTET. 4:30 p.m., Bezanson Hall. Music for brass quintet by Paquito D’Rivera and Giancarlo Castro D’Addona, plus arrangements of works by Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5,Anselmo Alvarado, Horacio Salgan, and Astor Piazzolla. Free.
MONDAY MAY 6 THROUGH SUNDAY MAY 12: MASS KIDS LITFEST. Various locations in Western Massachusetts. Amherst events include: Storytime with Representative Mindy Domb, Thursday, May 9, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the Jones Library; Film screening: “Story and Pictures By”, Thursday May 9, 5:30 to 8 p.m.at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (Adults, museum admission required); Special Storytime with author E.B.Goodale, Saturday, May 11, 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Eric Carle Museum (museum admission required); and Storytime and family tour of the Yiddish Book Center, Sunday, May 12, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. with Storytime with author Nicholas Day at 2 p.m. For full schedule, see here.
WEDNESDAY MAY 8: JOURNALIST MAX BLUMENTHAL LECTURE: THE OCCUPATION COMES HOME, FROM COLUMBIA TO CAPITOL HILL. 7 p.m. Integrated Learning Center, UMass (ILC N151).
Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Max Blumenthal will talk about the intensifying effort by university administrators, the United States government, and the police, to crush pro-Palestinian student protests and silence criticism of Israel’s ongoing mass slaughter in Gaza. More information:
WEDNESDAY MAY 8: UMASS WIND ENSEMBLE AND SYMPHONY BAND. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center. Matthew Westgate and Lindsay Bronnenkant, conductors. Including Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968 and much more. Tickets $15; $5 seniors, students, UMass faculty/staff. UMass students free.
WEDNESDAY MAY 8: REBUILDING THE TEMPLE: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. This local documentary examines the Cambodian refugees’ efforts to adjust to Western life and the significant role played by the Buddhist culture in this difficult process. Panel discussion to follow the screening.
FRIDAY MAY 10: CUPPA JOE WITH TOWN MANAGER PAUL BOCKELMAN AND NEW CRESS DIRECTOR CAMILLE THERIAQUE. 8:30 to 10 a.m., Bangs Community Center, Large Activity Room.Paul will be joined by the Town’s new CRESS Director, Camille Theriaque. We will have coffee to share. Ms. Theriaque began her duties on April 8, 2024. She brings a unique combination of public safety and social work experience to the position of CRESS Director. This skill set will support the CRESS Department in its work as a public safety agency that includes addressing social service needs as a core component of its work.
FRIDAY MAY 10; OPENING RECEPTION FOR FEMME LOCALE EXHIBIT AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 5 to 7 p.m., Mill District General Store and Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota. Inspired by and in solidarity with the Thrive Together Network Initiative. Taking. Up. Space. This exhibit features the creativity of 30+ local female and non-binary identifying local artists. Exhibit on display May 4 through June 29.
FRIDAY MAY 10: UMASS STUDIO ORCHESTRA AND JAZZ ENSEMBLE I. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center. Jeffrey W. Holmes, director. Strings and woodwinds join the jazz ensemble for Studio Orchestra, performing rich arrangements of Jazz and pop tunes. Tickets $15/$5. UMass students free.
SATURDAY MAY 11: POETRY WALK. 10 a.m., Emily Dickinson Museum. In honor of the 138th anniversary of the poet’s death, join the Emily Dickinson Museum for the annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst, the town she called “paradise.” This year’s walk celebrates the re-opening of the Evergreens with stops that explore its significance to Amherst’s cultural landscape and to the poet herself. At each stop we will read Dickinson poems in connection with site. This program is free. Register in advance.
SATURDAY MAY 11: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA: GRAND OPENING OF EXHIBIT. 12 to 4 p.m., Amherst History Museum, 47 Amity Street. Cambodians in Amherst exhibit: a history of the Khmer community. Telling the 45-year history of Cambodians in Amherst through oral histories, photos, art, and archived footage. On exhibit until October 2024. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or any other day by appointment.
MONDAY MAY 13: LISTENING SESSION ON HEATHERSTONE ROAD REDESIGN. 6 p.m. on Zoom. Because of the many comments offered by residents of Echo Hill regarding the redesign of Heatherstone Road, removing the island and creating sidewalks and bike lanes, the Town Services and Outreach committee of the council will hold a listening session on Zoom on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.
TUESDAY MAY 14: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS’ JUDY BROOKS SERIES: JACQUELINE WALLACE. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Social worker and musician Jacqueline Wallace will discuss her work for racial justice and equity in Amherst on Tuesday, May 14 as part of the Judy Brooks Series hosted by the Amherst League of Women Voters Racial Justice Committee. The program begins at 7:00 PM, and all are welcome to join the conversation. Visit lwvamherst.org to register.
SATURDAY MAY 18: UMASS COMENCEMENT, WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER COLSON WHITEHEAD. Beginning at 10 a.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, UMass. More information
SUNDAY MAY 19: ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Arts and crafts, food, live entertainment. Sponsored by the Human Rights Commission. Free. Rain location: Amherst Regional Middle School.
THURSDAY MAY 23: ELEANOR LEVINE AND LUX DELUX. 8 p.m., The Drake, Musicians from Western Mass in a fundraiser for A Cure in Sight (ACIS), which supports education and research on ocular melanoma. Tickets $15/ $20 at the door.
SATURDAY JUNE 1: 10TH ANNUAL NEPM ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL 10 a.m to 7 p.m., Hadley Town Common. The family-friendly NEPM Asparagus Festival features a full day of fantastic local food, drink, music, games, and fun for everyone. Come celebrate the region’s legacy of agriculture and community.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5: CELEBRATE ROBERT PAM. 4 to 5 p.m., Goodwin Room, Jones Library. Join us as we celebrate Bob Pam in recognition of his distinguished service as a Jones Library Trustee from 2013 to 2024.
SUNDAY JUNE 9: 42ND ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA RUN. 9:30 a.m., 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. 4.8 mile run, walk and 1.6 mile fun run to benefit the Lake Wyola Association. Prizes, refreshments, and a raffle. T-shirts to pre-registrants. Register here. (note: not an Amherst event, but Indy staffers Maura and Art Keene are race directors).
SUNDAY JUNE 9: AMHERST YOUTH HERO AWARDS ANNUAL PICNIC. (and also Mill River Basketball Tournament and Race Amity Day Celebration). Afternoon. Mill River Recreational Area 95 Montague Road More details to come.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. RAINBOW COFFEE HOUR. 10-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a new LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. The July coffee hour will be held on July 11, due to July 4 being the first Tuesday of the month.
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Featuring the Green Street trio with a special guest. Featured set at 7:30 followed by an open jam session. Bring your axe. Full calendar of events here.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE. 44 North Pleasant Street. Free event. Performers arrive by 5:30 p.m. Stage time: 6 p.m – 10 p.m. All ages. Younger performers will be slotted earler. All performers and styles of performances welcome, including but not limited to: music (of all kinds) – acoustic, folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, classical, etc…comedy, spoken word / readings, poetry, dance, performance art. House rules and more information.
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: MOBILE FOOD PROGRAM. 1-2 p.m. The Boulders, 156 Brittany Manor Drive. Free produce. No registration necessary. Open to everyone. Brought by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Amherst Survival Center. The Food Bank truck will be in the parking lot near apartments 115-125.
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: CRAFT AND CONVERSE. Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Are you tired of creating in solitude? Looking to connect with other artistic individuals? Grab your sketchbook, knitting bag, or water color gear and join our monthly coworking group! Craft and converse, hosted by Easthampton artist Kaia Zimmerman, is held the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This welcoming, intentional space is designed for community members to come together for a casual, social evening while pursuing their own creative projects. Drop-ins welcome, but registration encouraged for any weather-related changes in schedule. Bring your own arts or crafts project (BYOA) to work on. Ages 16+.
EVERY WEDNESDAY : CAN’T REMEMBER CAFE. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Are you or a loved one experiencing memory loss? At the Amherst Senior Center, we understand memory changes and have developed a new program based on the popular Memory Café format. The Can’t Remember (CR) Café offers fun, relaxation, and of course, snacks. This program is perfect for caregivers, people with mild memory loss, or anyone in the community who enjoys good conversation and strong coffee. Each Can’t Remember Café opens with a coffee and conversation hour, followed by a group activity. Join us on Wednesday, November 30th for a performance by our special musical guests, “Healing Hearts with Harmony” at 11:00am. Come for the coffee, stay for the connections! Email seniorcenter@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3060 with questions.
EVERY THURSDAY: STITCH CIRCLE. 4 to 6 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery and General Store, 91 Cowls Road. Grab your needles, venture to the General Store, and join us for our first Stitch Circle. Knitters, quilters, embroidery artists, and crocheters are all invited. Free.
FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH: VETERAN’S COMMUNITY BREAKFAST FOR ALL -8 a.m – 9 a.m. Large Activity Room, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. At each breakfast (bagel/donut/coffee), a veteran or veteran ally, will tell his or her personal story regarding military service. Generation after generation reveals that those going to war to defend our country come back spiritually and morally wounded, regardless of the bodily consequences of combat. We want to bring veterans together for food and friendship to help coalesce a spirit of camaraderie to enable authentic, veteran-oriented communities to flourish. WELCOME: Veterans, Spouses, Caregivers, Amherst Community Members. Let’s Build a Thriving Veterans Community. There are 387 Veterans in town! Sponsored by CRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL THE CRESS OFFICE, (413) 259-3370 OR GENE HERMAN, VIETNAM VETERAN, (240) 472-7288 – CRESS VETERAN’S OUTREACH VOLUNTEER.
EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL NOVEMBER: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, and community. Offering farm to table produce and selections from your local growers and valley producers. Come out for food, music, events, and community offerings in downtown Amherst.
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8:30 to noon, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. CARS & COFFEE IS OPEN TO EVERYONE – Exhibitors and Spectators alike are welcome! CAR OWNERS: There is no fee to exhibit your car, and pre-registration is NOT required. Aim to arrive by 8:30am for best parking spots. We’ll have our trophy ceremony at 11:45am and the show wraps up at 12 noon sharp. SPECTATORS : Come to the HQ tent and pick up your ballots. Vote for your favorite Domestic, Import, Exotic, and Best Overall. Every complete ballot returned puts you into a drawing for a Mill District Gift Card! Enjoy our expanding array of shops and discover your favorites! Next Cars and Coffee is May 19.
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 10: AS WE MOVE FORWARD: ART EXHIBIT. Augusta Savage Gallery, New Africa House, 80 Infirmary Way, UMass. Curated by Juana Valdes and Nhadya Lawes. As We Move Forward honors the work and legacy of American sculptor and educator Augusta Savage (1892-1962), who paved the way for future generations of Black artists. Valdes and Lawes have chosen the works of seventeen Black, Latinx, and Afro- Indigenous women artists from Savage’s home state of Florida. The exhibition combines printmaking, photography, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, and other mixed media to create a space of celebration and growth for these emerging artists. Opening Reception: Tuesday, February 27, 5-7 p.m. Curators’ Talk: Thursday, April 4, 6 p.m.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY JUNE 1: STORIES I TELL MYSELF, MIXED MEDIA EXHIBIT BY DIANE STEINGART. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D. Hours: TH-SUN 2-7 p.m. Meet the artist: Diane will be at Gallery A3 to meet with gallery visitors on Friday May 10 and Friday May 17, 4:30–7pm and Saturday May 18, 2–4:30 pm. These sessions offer a wonderful opportunity for the artist and local art lovers to connect, so come to Gallery A3 and spend some time looking at the work and talking with Diane about art. More information
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY JUNE 7: DAILY YOGA AT THE MUNSON LIBRARY. Free outdoor yoga is now inside at the Munson Library. The schedule is: Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays at 8 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m., Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 a.m. No pre-registration necessary. Bring your own mats, blocks, straps, and blankets. Donations welcome.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 9: SLOW WALK WITH TREES: ALICIA GRULLON PHOTO EXHIBIT. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The exhibition is a call to consider notions of land and labor as interconnected systems through various mediums. Grullón’s new photographs of trees and pictures of a single masked person are each paired with text. The compilation of texts reflects Grullón’s research of recent protests in a range of industries such as mining, shipping, and entertainment.