What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
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 (more or less)
SATURDAY MAY 17: GARDEN CLUB OF AMHERST SPRING PLANT SALE. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Each May since 1951, The Garden Club of Amherst has held a plant sale on the Amherst Common. At this event, members sell plants from their own gardens and share knowledge (free/priceless!) with the community. Buy plants, get gardening advice and meet fellow gardeners. All proceeds are redirected to the local community, including the Amherst School Garden program which leads garden-based learning in the town’s elementary schools.
SATURDAY MAY 17: NEUROSPICY KITCHEN ONLINE COOKING CLASS. 6 to 7:15 p.m. on Zoom. Looking to make cooking less overwhelming and more enjoyable? Join Chef Bill for Your Neurospicy Kitchen, an online cooking class designed especially for people with ADHD and other neurodiverse experiences. This live session takes place on Saturday, May 17, from 6:00–7:15 PM EST, with an optional Q&A from 7:00–7:15 PM. Chef Bill will share practical tips for overcoming common kitchen challenges, including meal planning, shopping, navigating focus while cooking, and improving your knife skills with realistic, easy-to-follow recipes. Tickets are just $15.00, making this a valuable opportunity to build your confidence and enjoyment in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your family, this class offers real strategies to help make meal preparation feel more manageable and less stressful. Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit chefbill.com to register and learn more.
SATURDAY MAY 17: FRENTE CUMBIERO WITH MICA FARIAS GOMEZ. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. There is no single sound of Cumbia, but Columbia’s capital Bogota and Frente Cumbiero’s bandleader Galeano have a lot answers. Since their 2010 debut the world has looked to Frente for the best swinging, forward thinking cumbia and tropical music. Mica Farias Gomez is a singer/composer/dancer and Double Edge theater performer. Recently resettled in Ashfield, her music explores pan-Latin folk pathways, layering hip-hop, electronics over candombe, murga, chacarera, flamenco, and other traditional forms. Tickets $22 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY MAY 18: CARS AND COFFEE RETURNS TO THE MILL DISTRICT. 8 to 11:30 a.m., Mill District, Cowls Road. Cars and Coffee is back—and it’s bigger than ever! This FREE community event invites car lovers of all ages to enjoy an exciting morning filled with cool cars, coffee, and family fun. Spectators get a free drip coffee token and information on entering our raffle for a $50 gift certificate to the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery. There will also be an on-site playground and coloring activities to keep the kids entertained. Trophies awarded for the top cars in several categories. Pre-register your vehicle here.
TUESDAY MAY 20: TOPPING OFF CEREMONY FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 4 p.m. Fort River Elementary. School, 70 South East Street. A ceremonial beam has been painted white and will be available (just outside the construction site at the south end of the existing parking lot) for community members to sign (markers provided) until Monday. It will be available again for signing at the ceremony held in the same location. More information
THURSDAY MAY 22: JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION: A BETTER CHANCE. 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. The League of Women Voters of Amhertst hosts a conversation with A Better Chance (ABC) in Amherst. ABC is a national residential high school program that prepares academically talented African American, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles. Since the Amherst program began, over 120 scholars have graduated from ARHS. The event will be on Zoom; register here.
SATURDAY MAY 24: SALSA IN THE PARK. 6 to 9:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Free salsa lesson and Latin dance social. Come enjoy awesome dancing and music outside as well as delicious food from the Thai Chili food truck! Sponsored by Amherst Recreation. Funded by the Amherst Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
SUNDAY MAY 25: SOJOURNER TRUTH SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARDS FOR SIX GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. 2 p.m., Memorial statue, corner of Park and Pine Streets in Florence (rain location: Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity). Six exceptional graduating high school seniors from Hampden and Hampshire public schools will be honored with the prestigious Sojourner Truth Social Justice Awards at the 20th Annual Celebration of Sojourner Truth. The public is warmly invited to attend. Keynote speakers are founding members Rev. Dr. Peter Ives and Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian.
MONDAY MAY 26: MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION. 9 a.m. Walk from Spring Street and Boltwood Avenue up North Pleasant Street to the War Memorial pool. The ceremony takes place at the War Memorial pool at 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY MAY 28: BENNY BENACK III AND THE NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Benny Bennack III has appeared as a trumpet soloist in more commercial circles alongside Josh Groban, Ben Folds, fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi, Ann Hampton Callaway, and more. He’s been featured at Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mezzrow, and other leading New York venues. Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door. $5 for students. Jam session after the featured set. See full calendar here.
THURSDAY MAY 29: HANDS ONLY CPR AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING. 4 to 5:30 p.m., Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main Street. Hands only CPR is easy to learn. You can increase the chance of someone surviving a cardiac emergency. Learn how to deliver lifesaving CPR without rescue breaths. Also build confidence by learning simple steps you can take now to prepare and protect your family in a natural emergency. Registration required. Register here. Space is limited. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors.
SUNDAY JUNE 1: FORT RIVER TIME CAPSULE UNEARTHING. 2 p.m., Fort River School, 70 South East Street. Alumni, current and former parents and guardians, and current as well as former staff of Fort River Elementary School i, will gather on Sunday June 1 at 2 p.m. to dig up a time capsule that students buried in 1994 for the school’s then 20th-year celebration. The program will include opening remarks by former principal Russ Vernon-Jones, as well as a historical perspective about time capsules from Amherst Historical Society’s president Georgia Barnhill. We also plan a singalong that current and past students, their parents and guardians, and attendees will join in, with a few songs from the 1970s and 1990s, including Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” Rain date is Sunday, June 8.
MONDAY JUNE 2: PRIDE FLAG RAISING. 5:30 p.m., North Common (in front of Town Hall)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 4: RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR TOWN CLERK SUE AUDETTE. 3 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 4: SURVIVAL CENTER BENEFIT WITH DONNIE GALLAGHER AND FRIENDS. 7 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Acclaimed area musicians will take to the stage at the Drake to benefit the work of the Amherst Survival Center. The ASC is one of many agencies and organizations affected by significant budget cuts in Washington. Organizer and singer-songwriter “Donnie Gallagher and Friends” will provide three sets of popular music. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. See full calendar here.
TUESDAY JUNE 10: POLITICS & POLICY: A SPRING LECTURE SERIES AT UMASS DOWNTOWN. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., 108 N. Pleasant Street. Dr. Jane Fountain, director of the School of Public Policy and digital governance expert speaks at the free session that is open to the public. Come engage with leading scholars and local community members as we explore the policies shaping the future.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: 43RD ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA ROAD RACE AND WALK. 9:30 a.m., Lake Wyola Association Building, 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. Enjoy a challenging 4.8 mile walk or run around scenic Lake Wyola on paved and dirt roads. This is an iconic community event with lots of refreshments, prizes and a raffle. For the less ambitious, there is a 1.6 mile fun run at 10:10 a.m. The race serves as a primary fundraiser for the nonprofit Lake Wyola Association. And you can take a swim at the nearby state beach afterward. Information and registration at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/LakeWyolaRoadRace. Indy staffers Art and Maura Keene are the race directors.
FRIDAY JUNE 20 THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 23: VALLEY PLAYERS PRESENTS “A WALK IN THE WOODS.”. 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, 165 Main Street. Praised by New York Magazine as “a minor miracle,” Time as “a work of passion and power,” and Drama-Logue as both “a marvelous piece of theater” and “a great treatise on the nature of mankind,” A Walk in the Woods follows the evolution of the personal and professional relationship between two nuclear disarmament negotiators—a Russian and an American—who meet informally in the woods outside Geneva over the course of a particularly tense year. Set in the waning days of the Cold War, Lee Blessing’s play is a witty and moving exploration of conflict and coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy, and the critical role that making connections plays on the path to peace. Seating is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged. A reservation will guarantee admission, but seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis and doors open for seating 30 minutes before curtain. The play runs approximately 2 hours, inclusive of a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are on a pay-what-you-can scale starting at $15 and are available here. Valley Players’ mission is to support the community through community theater, and half of net ticket revenue will be donated to the Amherst-based Peace Development Fund.
SUNDAY JUNE 22: AMHERST’S FIRST PRIDE PARADE AND CELEBRATION. 12 to 3 p.m. Amherst Town Common. Parade will begin at 12 p.m. at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. The Town of Amherst, dedicated Amherst Pride Volunteers, and the Downtown Amherst Business Improvement District announce the first-ever Amherst Pride, a vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Set to take place on Sunday, June 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the event will feature a festive parade, an empowering rally, and a community resource fair. Interested parade participants, resources, and vendors are invited to register online by Friday, June 13.
FRIDAY JUNE 27 THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 29: VALLEY PLAYERS PRESENTS “A WALK IN THE WOODS.”. 7 p.m., June 27 and 28, 2:30 p.m. June 29, First Congregational Church, 165 Main Street. Praised by New York Magazine as “a minor miracle,” Time as “a work of passion and power,” and Drama-Logue as both “a marvelous piece of theater” and “a great treatise on the nature of mankind,” A Walk in the Woods follows the evolution of the personal and professional relationship between two nuclear disarmament negotiators—a Russian and an American—who meet informally in the woods outside Geneva over the course of a particularly tense year. Set in the waning days of the Cold War, Lee Blessing’s play is a witty and moving exploration of conflict and coexistence, dialogue and diplomacy, and the critical role that making connections plays on the path to peace. Seating is limited, so reservations are strongly encouraged. A reservation will guarantee admission, but seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis and doors open for seating 30 minutes before curtain. The play runs approximately 2 hours, inclusive of a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are on a pay-what-you-can scale starting at $15 and are available here. Valley Players’ mission is to support the community through community theater, and half of net ticket revenue will be donated to the Amherst-based Peace Development Fund.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
EVERY MONDAY EXCEPT HOLIDAYS: AUTOHARP WORKSHOPS. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join Marie Hartwell-Walker and autoharp players throughout the country who participate on Zoom. Participants on Zoom also welcome.
EVERY TUESDAY: RACIAL JUSTICE VIGIL 4:00 p.m. -4:30 p.m., downtown Amherst in front of the Bank of America.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
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.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH: ARTIST SOCIAL AND CRITIQUE. 6 to 8 p.m., Local Art Gallery, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. All local artists, both beginners and established, are invited to attend our Artist Social and Critique that meets every 2nd Thursday of the month in The Local Art Gallery from 6-8pm. Help us create a safe space for a supportive and constructive artistic feedback while expanding your connections to other artists. Artist social time from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Artist critique from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Share digital images by emailing to gallery@cowls.com in advance. For information, contact Shannon Borrell at gallery@cowls.com or 413-835-0966.
EVERY WEDNESDAY: WEEKLY WEDNESDAY MARKET. 10 to 11:30 a.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Since its launch in May 2024, the Wednesday Market has served over 700 community members. The Market is open to all, and there’s no registration and no questions asked. Just come and enjoy. We distribute fresh produce, dairy, prepared food, and delicious treats.
EVERY WEDNESDAY IN APRIL: DROP-IN VACCINE CLINIC. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Public Health Department, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Free flu and COVID shots while supplies last. Individuals over 65 are eligible for a COVID booster this spring. Protect yourself and others. Stay healthy! For more information, email publichealth@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3077.
EVERY WEDNESDAY: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9:00-9:30 a.m. Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. For ages 12 and up. An easy, level, 1/4-mile guided hike to discover more about birds: their behaviors, needs, habitats and significance. Listen, observe, sketch, photo or journal. Free
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY AND JANUARY): 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.
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 : 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. Our 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 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 : AMHERST ARTISANS’ MARKET. 3 to 7 p.m., front lawn of the Amherst History Museum, 67 Amity Street. The Amherst Artisans’ Market features local artists, crafters and food vendors.
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.
EVERY FRIDAY: HANDS OFF OUR STUDENTS STANDOUT. 4 pm – 5:30 p.m., Kendrick Park, Amherst. https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/778646/
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 THROUGH NOVEMBER 23: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Town Common. Established in 1972, the Amherst Farmers’ Market is widely recognized 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 the food, music, events, and community offerings.
SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS: LIVE JAZZ AND GOOD EATS AT THE BLACK SHEEP. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Black Sheep Deli, 79 Main Street. Frist and third Saturdays: Masala Jazz, Second, Fourth and Fifth Saturdays: Simmer Music Presents, Sundays: the Catalytics. Tip Jar..
THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH MAY THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8 to 11:30 a.m., Mill District, Cowls Road. Cars and Coffee is back—and it’s bigger than ever! This FREE community event invites car lovers of all ages to enjoy an exciting morning filled with cool cars, coffee, and family fun. Spectators get a free drip coffee token and information on entering our raffle for a $50 gift certificate to the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery. There will also be an on-site playground and coloring activities to keep the kids entertained. Trophies awarded for the top cars in several categories. Pre-register your vehicle here.
NOW THOURGH SATURDAY MAY 31: CONFLUENCE – PAINTINGS BY PAULA HITE AT GALLERY A3. Repeating bands of vibrant color dance and weave through Paula Hite’s recent abstract acrylic paintings on paper in her solo exhibit, CONFLUENCE, at Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D in Amherst. The exhibit opens on Thursday May 1 and will run through Saturday, May 31. There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Thursday May 1 from 5-7 p.m. and a free, online art forum on Thursday May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Register here. More information
NOW THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 26: FEMME LOCALE: SEEN—SCENE—CENE EXHIBITION. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Seen—Scene—Cene is a group juried exhibition of artwork by trans women, cis women, intersex, genderqueer, genderfluid, and non-binary people within 39 miles of Amherst, on view in the Front Window gallery of the Mill District Local Art Gallery from Sunday, May 4 through Thursday, June 26. It is curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota.
NOW THROUGH JUNE 30: PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTIST CELESTE SZE. Town Hall Art Gallery, 4 Boltwood Avenue. 8 a.m. – 4 :30 p.m. M-F. Focusing on themes of Native American and the American West.
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7: PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BY NAYANA LAFOND. D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Museums. In her powerful series of portraits, artist and activist Nayana Lafond sheds light on the crisis affecting Indigenous peoples, particularly women, who are eleven times more likely to go missing than the national average. Each portrait depicts a missing or murdered Indigenous person, a family member, or an advocate, rendered in shades of gray and marked by a vivid red handprint—the only color visible to spirits—to raise awareness, inspire action, and honor the lives and stories of those impacted by this crisis. Lafond, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, graduated from Amherst High School and lives in Western Massachusetts. After studying at the Massachusetts College of Art, she became a full-time painter and has served as a curator and community arts organizer for over twenty years. Visit her website.
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS JUNE THROUGH NOVEMBER: AMHERST MOBILE MARKET. Wednesdays 3 to 6 p.m. in North Amherst, Thursdays 3 to 6 p.m. at Colonial Village, and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at East Hadley Road. The Amherst Mobile Market not only makes affordable produce available within walking distance of residents who struggle to access healthy food, but also puts decision-making in the hands of low-income, BIPOC community members and builds the capacity of those community members to take on leadership roles.