What’s Happening in Amherst?
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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 31: MINI GOLF FUNDRAISER FOR AMHERST EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Western Mass Family Golf Center, 294 Russell Street, Hadley. Join us on Saturday, May 31, for Amherst Education Foundation’s 5th Annual Mini-Golf Event! *Rain Date: Sunday, June 1st* Come play anytime between 10am-1pm. It will be a day of family fun where the community will get together to support our public schools. Your donation of $50 secures your group of 4-5 people maximum. You can also enter our raffle (you don’t have to attend the event to participate) full of gift certificates to local area restaurants and businesses, including Mill District General Store & Art Gallery, Osteria Vespa, Herrell’s Ice Cream, Big Y, Bueno Y Sano, Western MA Golf Center, The Healing Zone, Amherst Area Gift Card, Carefree Cakery, Futura Coffee Roasters and much more! All money raised will go directly toward providing grants to teachers and staff in the Amherst-area public schools. Register $50 for group of 4 or 5.
SATURDAY MAY 31: CANYON LIGHTS AND TROY MERCY. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Canyon Lights is a blend of throwback rock ‘n roll, swampy Americana, and heavy blues. The trio consists of Tim Carman, Pat Faherty, and Heather Gillis. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. See full calendar here.
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.
SUNDAY JUNE 1: 22ND ANNUAL COMMUNITY BOMBAZO AT AMHERST REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. 1 p.m., Amherst Regional High School Auditorium, 21 Mattoon Street. Join us for the 22nd Annual Community Bombazo at ARHS! We’d especially love to have alumni this year, because Bomba has only been a one-quarter class, and our students could use some help from experienced Bomberxs. Free and Open to the Public. Donations benefit Brigada Solidaria del Oeste PR: https://www.bsopr.com/
MONDAY JUNE 2: PRIDE FLAG RAISING. 5:30 p.m., North Common (in front of Town Hall)
TUESDAY JUNE 3: FORUM ON EXHIBIT ON NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS PICTURE BOOK ARTISTS. 6 to 8 p.m., Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road. The Carle is developing an exhibition celebrating and centering North American Indigenous picture book artists and their contributions to children’s literature. Curating the exhibition is Dr. Lee Francis IV, Ph.D. (Pueblo of Laguna) aka Dr. IndigiNerd, Founder of the Indigenous Imagination Workshop, Indigenous Comic Con, Native Realities, and Red Planet Books and Comics. Dr. Francis will be in MA next week, and we welcome members of the Indigenous community to join us at The Carle on Tuesday, June 3 (6-8 pm) to meet Lee, learn more about the exhibition, and share ideas (food and drink provided): https://carlemuseum.org/visit/events/indigenous-community-forum. We’ll also be hosting a virtual gathering on Tuesday, July 22 at 7 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dsud2oFKRquetzVcU_zRsA
TUESDAY JUNE 3: HISTORY OF EMANCIPATION AND JUNETEENTH. 7 p.m., on Zoom. Join us for an exciting and engaging virtual exploration of key events and milestones in the journey to freedom. It covers the abolitionist movement, the election of Abraham Lincoln, Fremont’s Emancipation, Hunter’s Emancipation, and General Benjamin Butler’s “Contraband of War” orders. It delves into the Emancipation Proclamation – its timing, political implications, and the people it directly impacted – as well as the gradual emancipation of enslaved individuals by Federal troops as they advanced through Confederate states. The presentation also highlights the end of the Civil War, the arrival of Federal troops in Texas, and the historic issuance of General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. Finally, it traces Juneteenth’s evolution from a local Galveston celebration to its recognition as a national holiday. Register via Zoom. Sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library.
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.
THURSDAY JUNE 5: AR[T]HS 2025, ANNUAL JURIED ARHS STUDENT ART SHOW. The 17th annual juried exhibition of outstanding student artwork produced at Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) this year, will run from June 5 – June 10 at The Hampshire College Art Gallery. The Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily with a special opening reception on Thursday June 5 from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. On the Hampshire Campus in the Harold Johnson Library, 25 Kenall Drive.
THURSDAY JUNE 5: FIVE COLLEGE JOB FAIR. 1 to 4 p.m., Valentine Hall, Amherst College. The Five College campuses of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges and UMass Amherst are collaborating to offer job seekers one-stop shopping for more than 400 jobs in a wide variety of fields. Job openings in a wide variety of departments, including administration, campus safety, career development, dining services, early childcare centers, facilities/custodial services, financial services, information technology, libraries, student affairs. Bring your resume! Attendees will be able to talk with campus representatives. Meet representatives from MassHire and learn about their workshops and other services. Refreshments available and gift bags of campus souvenirs will be raffled off to attendees. You can preregister here.
THURSDAY JUNE 5: MARCH AND VIGIL TO END THE BLOCKADE IN GAZA. 4:30 p.m., Kendrick Park. Join Valley Families for Palestine on Thursday, June 5, beginning at 4:30 PM at Kendrick Park in Amherst, MA, for a march calling for an end to the blockade on Gaza. Together, we will remember the lives lost—those who have been starved, killed, or burned—as the blockade continues to cut off critical food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. This is a family-friendly gathering. Materials will be available for sign-making, along with snacks and activities for children.
FRIDAY JUNE 6: CANCER CONNECTION’S GRATEFUL BED TOUR. Beginning 7:30 a.m., various places. Every dollar raised helps bring Cancer Connection’s services and programs to more people free of charge. The tour comes to Share Coffee, 178 North Pleasant Street in Amherst from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. It ends with a food truck at Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton. For more information, see https://www.cancer-connection.org/grateful-bed-tour .
FRIDAY JUNE 6: MIKE LOVE AT THE DRAKE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Revolutionary music may seem hard to come by in these times, but meet Hawaii’s Mike Love who spreads his positive and powerful message across the globe. Love developed a unique style and sound rooted in the spirituality and message-bassed music of reggae and Rastafari, while also fusing progressive and classic rock, soul, blues, flamenco, jazz, classical, and more. At the core, Mike’s music is healing. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
FRIDAY JUNE 6: NU-FOLK argentine ARTIST MICA FARÍAS GÓMEZ. Cherry Hill Co-Housing, 120 Pu;piut Hill Road in the Great Room of the Community Building. 7 p.m. Donation $15-$30. Following her electrifying performance on May 17 at The Drake, Argentinian singer/composer/producer and performer Mica Farías Gómez will present an acoustic set on Friday June 6 as part of the First Fridays concert series at Cherry Hill Cohousing in North Amherst. Farías Gómez will perform with her partner, percussionist/drummer Manuel Uriona. Singer and Songwriter Nina Mankin will do a short opening set. More information.
SATURDAY JUNE 7: ANNUAL PUFFER’S POND PANCAKE BREAKFAST. 8:30 to 11 a.m., Mill River Recreation Area. The Friends of Puffer’s Pond is holding its famous pancake breakfast to raise funds that will help care for this special place we all love. All you can eat pancakes and coffee. $12 for adults, $10 for kids, $6 for sausage.
SATURDAY JUNE 7: PIONEER VALLEY FOLKLORE SOCIETY PRESENTS ACOUSTIC DYLAN. 7 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. June’s Song and story swap is a tribute to the acoustic music of Bob Dylan. Come to sing or just to listen. Performers are invited to sign up to sing up to two songs written by or related to Bob Dylan. Instruments should be of the acoustic variety (guitars, harmonicas, etc.). Electronic keyboards and direct lines are OK. Microphones for instruments and vocals will be available. Performers are asked to register at https://www.facebook.com/events/723284640272885 or to email Paul Kaplan at paulkaplanmusic@gmail.com. Appearance slots and song choices will be first come, first served. Scott Cadwallader, Orlen & Gabriel, and Laura Dowling are among the first wave of musical acts to sign up to perform. Suggested donation $5 to $10. The Acoustic Dylan event is open to members of the public of all ages.
SATURDAY JUNE 7: INDIE SINGER/SONGWRITERS JAKE KLAR, ARDEN LLOYD, NORA MEIER. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Jake Klar and Arden Lloyd hail from Western Massachusetts. Nora Meier is from Oregon and lives in Boston. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: THE SOUL REBELS. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The eight-member collective The Soul Rebels have appeared twice on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and were featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. They built a career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and drums in a party-like atmosphere. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. See full calendar here.
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.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: RACE AMITY DAY AND YOUTH HERO AWARDS. 11 a.m. Mill River Recreation Area.
SUNDAY JUNE 8 THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 12: RESTAURANT WEEK. Amherst Restaurant Week is a community-wide dining celebration happening June 8–12, 2025 in the heart of Downtown Amherst. Join us for a week of special menus, limited-time deals, and one-of-a-kind offers from many of Amherst’s local restaurants, cafés, dessert spots, and bars. From breakfast to dinner—and everything in between—there’s something for everyone. Come hungry, explore local, and discover your new favorite spot! How to Participate: Visit any participating downtown business during Restaurant Week. Enjoy their special offer, menu, or deal. Tag @AmherstDowntown on Instagram or Facebook during your visit, or scan a QR code that will be presented with your check for a chance to win gift cards to your favorite downtown stores! Participating businesses at: https://www.amherstdowntown.com/restaurantweek
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.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 11: SOUTH AMHERST SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT VISIONING SESSION. 5 to 7 p.m., Monson Memorial Library, 1046 South East Street. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with Joy Squared Architects, is exploring possible redevelopment options at the South Amherst School at 1001 South East Street. This process will incorporate community input, which will be combined with zoning considerations, existing physical features, and documented housing needs to develop three distinct concepts. These concepts will be presented to Town stakeholders for feedback and prioritization, guiding more formal development efforts in the future. At this visioning session event, Joy Squared will gather community input and ideas to launch the process.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 11: SOUTH AMHERST SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT VISIONING SESSION. 5 to 7 p.m., Monson Memorial Library, 1046 South East Street. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with Joy Squared Architects, is exploring possible redevelopment options at the South Amherst School at 1001 South East Street. This process will incorporate community input, which will be combined with zoning considerations, existing physical features, and documented housing needs to develop three distinct concepts. These concepts will be presented to Town stakeholders for feedback and prioritization, guiding more formal development efforts in the future. At this visioning session event, Joy Squared will gather community input and ideas to launch the process.
THURSDAY JUNE 12: AMHERST PRIDE PRESENTS R.I.P.: WHODUNNIT?—A DRAG PRODUCTION. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. For two years, the story of Andrew Curran’t Personal Poltergeist has led his drag career in Western Massachusetts. While Andrew is the body and brain for her, Magnolia Masquerade is anything she needs to be, but at her core she’s a ghost of Victorian glamor who transcends time. She performs alongside local legend Lividity. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. See full calendar here.
FRIDAY JUNE 13: “THICKLY SETTLED” (FILM SCREENING) WITH TAYLOR VAN CLEAVE. 7 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Be a part of our local film test screening and live music event. Be the first to screen the director’s cut of our locally shot narrative “Thickly Settled” featuring music by Taylor Van Cleave. The short narrative film questions the paths we are on versus the paths not taken. Written and directed by Jordan Brooks and Brian Jones, the film was shot in Shutesbury, Wendell, and Orange over a period of six days in early March. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SATURDAY JUNE 14: SPRING NATURE WALK AT FORT RIVER. 9 A.M. – 11.A.M. The Fort River Trail in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Hadley is a little over a mile in length. Its flat, crushed rock surface is wheelchair accessible and winds through varying habitats, with frequent access to benches and shelters. Join naturalist John Green for a leisurely walk looking for songbirds in the trailside shrubs and trees, ducks in the Fort River, and hawks soaring over the open fields. Sponsored by Mass Audubon. $15 members. $20 non-members. Directions and more information
SUNDAY JUNE 15: JUNETEENTH SERVICE AT HOPE CHURCH. 10 to 11:30 a.m., Hope Church, 16 Gaylord Street. Free and open to all.
MONDAY JUNE 16: ARHS TRACK AND FIELD GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY . 4 p.m. at the ARHS track.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18: WANDA HOUSTON: NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Wanda Houston is the lead vocalist for Heth, Bradley and Houston, the Wanda Houston Big Band, and Big and Bigger. She has also appeared in musical theater. Tickets $10 at the door, $5 for students. Free for jam participants. See full calendar here.
THURSDAY JUNE 19: JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. 5 to 9 p.m., St. Brigid’s Church, 43 North Prospect Street. The Black Business Association of Amherst Area (BBAAA) in collaboration with Sankofa Gumbo invite the public to a family-friendly, free event to celebrate the sixteenth annual Juneteenth Jubilee on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at St. Brigid’s Church, 43 North Prospect Street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. The event will feature live musical performances, poetry, dance, vendor marketplace, educational tabling by community partners, keynote speaker, kids’ activities, annual youth excellence award, book signing session by local authors, black cultural cuisine from Henryne Catering and African Bowl restaurant.
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.
SATURDAY JUNE 21: QUEER ARTISAN MARKET. 10 a.m. to 4p.m., Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road.. Celebrate Pride in North Amherst, MA and join us for our annual Queer Artisan Market on Saturday, June, 21st, 2025 from 10am-4pm. This outdoor market hosted by The Mill District General Store & Local Art Gallery will feature 30+ community artisans in the parking lot of 91 Cowls Road, North Amherst, MA. ADA Accessible Parking Lot & Bathrooms are available on site. This is an outdoor smoke-free market, scents should be minimal. Masking encouraged. FREE ADMISSION & Family Friendly. RSVP for event notifications & updates at our Eventbrite ticket link! There is no rain date for this event. Eventbrite URL: https://annualqueerartisanmarket.eventbrite.com
SATURDAY JUNE 21: DWIGHT DAY EVENTS. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Dwight Chapel, 885 Federal Street, Belchertown. Come discover the magic, people and history of the extraordinary village of Dwight, Massachusetts, including a portrayal of poet Emily
Dickinson and music with Tracy Grammer & Jim Henry who perform at 4 p.m.
Dwight Day will feature nature talks with the Kestrel Land Trust and MassWildlife, children’s activities, food, trivia, live music, antique autos, a cemetery tour, and history of the once well-known,nineteenth-century railroad destination and farming community in North Belchertown. Among invited guests are Heidi Dollard, Pollinator Network Steering Committee Co-Chair; Lee Halasz, Conservation Manager, Kestrel Land
Trust; Meghan Crawford, Community Engagement Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife; and Tom Ricardi, Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center; and Brianne Zulkiewicz, Trivia Host and Public Historian. Other presenters include Michael Carolan, History Writer and Correspondent for The Springfield Republican; Amy Lanham Historical Interpreter, and Elizabeth Pols, Artist and Local Historian. Children’s activities will include performances by Magician Fran Ferry. Food by Antonio’s Pizza and burgers by Austin Brothers Valley Farm. The event is free and open to the public.
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.
TUESDAY JULY 22: VIRTUAL FORUM ON EXHIBIT ON NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS PICTURE BOOK ARTISTS. 6 to 8 p.m., Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road. The Carle is developing an exhibition celebrating and centering North American Indigenous picture book artists and their contributions to children’s literature. Curating the exhibition is Dr. Lee Francis IV, Ph.D. (Pueblo of Laguna) aka Dr. IndigiNerd, Founder of the Indigenous Imagination Workshop, Indigenous Comic Con, Native Realities, and Red Planet Books and Comics. Dr. Francis will be in MA next week, and we welcome members of the Indigenous community to join us online at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dsud2oFKRquetzVcU_zRsA
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 : 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 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+.
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.
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.
THURSDAY JUNE 5 THROUGH TUESDAY JUNE 10. AR[T]HS 2025, ANNUAL JURIED ARHS STUDENT ART SHOW. The 17th annual juried exhibition of outstanding student artwork produced at Amherst Regional High School (ARHS) this year, will run from June 5 – June 10 at The Hampshire College Art Gallery. The Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily with a special opening reception on Thursday June 5 from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. On the Hampshire Campus in the Harold Johnson Library, 25 Kenall Drive.
SUNDAY JUNE 8 THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 12: RESTAURANT WEEK. Amherst Restaurant Week is a community-wide dining celebration happening June 8–12, 2025 in the heart of Downtown Amherst. Join us for a week of special menus, limited-time deals, and one-of-a-kind offers from many of Amherst’s local restaurants, cafés, dessert spots, and bars. From breakfast to dinner—and everything in between—there’s something for everyone. Come hungry, explore local, and discover your new favorite spot! How to Participate: Visit any participating downtown business during Restaurant Week. Enjoy their special offer, menu, or deal. Tag @AmherstDowntown on Instagram or Facebook during your visit, or scan a QR code that will be presented with your check for a chance to win gift cards to your favorite downtown stores! Participating businesses at: https://www.amherstdowntown.com/restaurantweek