What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Shutterstock
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 (more or less)
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.
SATURDAY JUNE 21: TEA DANCE BRUNCH. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Protocol, 1 East Pleasant Street. Join us for our first ever Tea Dance Brunch! We have the honor of hosting DJs @harshnoiseboyfriend and @marsxcapone to celebrate! Come dance, mingle, and snack your way through the afternoon before or after checking out the Queer Artisan Market at the Mill District.
SATURDAY JUNE 21: NO MAN’S LAND FILM FESTIVAL. 1 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. As the premier all-women and genderqueer adventure film festival, the No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) has celebrated the full scope of athletes and adventurers by un-defining femininity in adventure, sport, conservation, and film since 2015. Based out of Denver, Colorado, NMLFF meets a need and desire to highlight and connect women and gender-nonconforming communities in pursuit of the radical. Along with cultivating a deep interest in exploring the vastness of our planet from a groundbreaking point of view, the festival strives to create a history of motivating audiences to implement and inspire change through human collaboration. NMLFF’s mission transcends the films presented; this festival acts as a platform for progressive thought and movement in the outdoor industry. This 2025 touring shorts program celebrates inspirational athletes in running, cycling, climbing, and more. Tickets.
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.
SUNDAY JUNE 22: SIMPLE STITCHED JOURNALS WITH LISA HERSEY. 1 to 3 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Calling all writers, sketchbook artists, doodlers, and note takers! Join local bookbinder, Lisa Hersey, in The Local Art Gallery to learn how to fold and sew your own stitched journal. Lisa, of Antler Editions, will guide you through the steps to create a journal with a pocket in the back. Ticket Price: $30-40, includes all materials. All skill welcome, but you must be able to safely thread
and hold a sewing needle. Register. Ages 12+.
SUNDAY JUNE 22: FRED TILLIS MEMORIAL JAZZ CONCERT. 2 to 4 p.m., Wildwood Cemetery Memorial Garden, 70 Strong Street. Join us for a special afternoon of music and celebration at the Wildwood Honors: Dr. Fred Tillis Memorial Jazz Concert! This event is a tribute to the legendary Dr. Fred Tillis, a renowned musician, composer, and educator, on the occasion of his 95th birthday anniversary. Come together with music lovers, friends, and community to honor his prolific life and his 50 years of cultural contributions to the Amherst area and beyond which continue today. Enjoy performances by his former UMass students and colleagues who are now internationally known artists: Drummer – Royal Hartigan, Saxophonist – Charles Langford, Bassist – Wes Brown, and Pianist- Alexis Marcelo who will be playing a wide range of Dr. Tillis’ jazz compositions and other works in his honor. Do not miss this in-person event that promises to be an experience to remember! Tickets are by donation – pay what you can! ($25 is the suggested amount.) Reserve your tickets here.
TUESDAY JUNE 24: NEUBAU. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Introduction by Maria Stehle, Univ. of Tennessee. Post-film Q&A with screenwriter/lead actor Tucké Royale and Stephan Ehrig, Univ. of Glasgow. Summer in the Brandenburg province: Markus (Tucké Royale), a young trans person, is torn between longing for life in Berlin’s queer community and love for his grandmother and her partner, who are in need of care in the country. NEUBAU is presented as part of the DEFA Film Library’s 12th Biennial Summer Film Institute, SCREENED ENVIRONMENTS: Intersections of Built, Natural and Social Spaces in East Germany, and in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Boston and the Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst. This screening is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are available at the box office only. They can be picked up in advance during our regular box office hours, or at the door the night of the screening.
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.
FRIDAY JUNE 27: DEERHOOF WITH ASHER WHITE. 8 p,m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. This US/Japanese quartet is now celebrating their 31st year. Deerhoof long ago established itself as one of the greatest rock groups ever. See this furiously inventive quartet live. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
SATURDAY JUNE 28: BURN THE JUKEBOX. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Partnered with Live Nation, the band embarked on their first headlining national tour in 2024, performing at legendary venues. They recently opened for the Struts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, captivating fans with a dynamic performance that showcased their evolving sound. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
SUNDAY JUNE 29: THE SURFRAJETTES. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. When not on tour, this quartet from Toronto is busy woodshedding in their secret beach hut, sewing new miniskirts, debating vintage gear, and daydreaming about performing in a Quentin Tarantino movie. The band achieved viral online notoriety from their home-made performance videos. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
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 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 SUNDAY JULY 13: YIDSTOCK: THE FESTIVAL OF NEW YIDDISH MUSIC. Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. Concerts feature: The Klezmatics, Thursday July 10 at 7:30 p.m. (sold out); Eleanor Reissa, Friday, July 11 at 2 p.m.; ReynHartsik (Yoshie Fruchter and R. Deborah Sacks Mintz, Friday, July 11 at 5 p.m.; Michael Winograd Plays TANZ, Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m.; Two Strings with Jake Shulman-Ment & Abigale Reisman, Sunday July 13 at 12 p.m.; Joanne Borts: Lush & Hora, Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m.; and The Great Yiddish-American Songbook with Frank London’s Yinglish Orchestra and Singers, Sunday July 13 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase in person tickets here. Livestream pass also available.
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.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 4: RETROSPECTIVE: THE ART OF GRACE LIN: MEETING A FRIEND IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE. Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road. Grace Lin’s first picture book, The Ugly Vegetables, was published in 1999 to glowing praise. Twenty-five years later, she has created more than 30 titles, including board books, early readers, and middle grade novels, garnering Caldecott, Newbury, and Geisel honors along the way. Lin is a dedicated advocate for diversity in children’s book publishing, with a popular TEDx talk, “The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf” and created the video essay, “What to do when you realize classic books from your childhood are racist?” for PBS News Hour and New England Public Radio. This career retrospective of more than 80 works celebrates all aspects of Lin’s creativity with original art, sketches, manuscripts, and videos.