What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: public domain
by Art & 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.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6: WRITING THE LAND AT THE FOOD BANK FARM. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., The Food Bank Farm, 121 Bay Road, Hadley. Come celebrate the spirit of the land and the power of words with an outdoor poetry writing work shop. No experience required. All participants will receive a copy of the anthology Writing the Land: Wanderings II.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6: LITTLE WILD BOUQUET FOLK TRIO AT PIONEER VALLEY FOLKLORE SOCIETY SONG AND STORY SWAP. 7 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. Little Wild Bouquet began as an offshoot of the Leonard Cohen tribute band The Secret Chord, and Cohen’s uplifting music forms a large part of their repertoire. In addition, they offer an array of folk and rock standards that inspire and affirm the goodness of life, from such artists as James Taylor, Lucinda Williams, Dave Carter, Gillian Welch, Paul Simon, and The Beatles -to name a few. Parking is available in the lot behind the church. There is no admission fee – a hat is passed during the guest artist’s performance for donations, all of which go to the artist with a suggested minimum donation of $7.50.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6: LOTS OF HANDS US TOUR WITH DEADHARRIE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Billy Woodhouse and Elliot Dryden, the core duo behind lots of hands, first connected at age 16. They worked together largely remotely through the pandemic. “Into a pretty room” marks the British duo’s first truly collaborative effort. Tickets $17 in advance, $20 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7: “MOULIN ROUGE!” 1:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will screen Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge!” on Sunday September 7 and Tuesday September 9. The movie is about a young writer named Christian (Ewan McGregor) who falls in love with a showgirl, Satine (Nicole Kidman), who works at the famous Moulin Rouge in 1890s Paris. The two have to contend with the Duke, who wants Satine for himself and will stop at nothing to make her his. Tickets are $10.75, $9.75 for seniors and students.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7: FULL MOON HIKE ON MOUNT NORWOTTUCK. 6:30 to 10 p.m., Kestrel Headquarters, 37 Bay Road. We’ll start our hike at the Kestrel Land Trust headquarters located at the foot of the beautiful Mount Holyoke Range, where we will climb for approximately an hour and a half before arriving to the top of Norwottuck. Once there, we will stop to take in the spectacular views and watch the moon rise over the Pelham Hills. Returning to the trailhead, we will have the unique opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the forest at night, guided by the light of the moon. Note: If conditions are slippery or icy, the hike will proceed to Rattlesnake Knob. Approximately three hours of hiking including steep rocky terrain on the ridge of the Holyoke Range. Reservations.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7: EDWARD ARRON AND JEEWON PARK: CELLO AND PIANO. 4 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Chamber at The Drake. Cellist Edward Arron has appeared in recital, as a soloist with major orchestras, and as a chamber musician throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. This season marks his 13th season as the co-artistic director with his wife Jeewon Park, of the Performing Artists in Residence series at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Park is a founding member of the Palladium Chamber Players. She has appeared at numerous prestigious festivals and concert series and has presented master classes at Amherst College, among others. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Students $7. See full calendar here.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9: AUDITONS FOR VALLEY PLAYERS “TAKE TEN.” 6 to 9 p.m., Bangs Community Center. Valley Players will hold auditions for its October 25 event at Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield. “Take Ten” is a staged reading of five new 10-minute plays by local playwrights. It is a benefit for the Literary Project. There are roles for 11 actors across all ages and genders. Auditioners will read excerpts from one or more of the scripts alongside other auditioners. No experience or preparation is necessary, but an appointment is needed and may be booked here. Valley Players is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching
the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley region of Massachusetts by producing
nimble, meaningful, and accessible community theater. Valley Players’ mission is to make community theater that helps build community, which is why a portion of net ticket sales for all our shows is donated to other nonprofits in the Valley.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9: READING THE CLASSICS WITH ILAN STAVENS. 7 p.m., on Zoom. Join us for the fall series of the Reading the Classics book group, facilitated by Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans. Meeting via Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month, the evening consists of a lecture portion given by Prof. Stavans, followed by discussion of the selected reading. The work chosen for discussion on September 9 is Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl as retold by Ilan Stavans. Limited copies of the book are available to borrow at the Jones Library reference desk. Copies of this lovely book can also be purchased at Restless Books in downtown Amherst. Learn more and register.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9: AMHERST HEAT PUMP INCENTIVE PROGRAM: INFORMATION SESSION. 7 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Join the Town of Amherst and CET for a virtual information session on Tuesday, September 9 from 7 to 8:30 pm via Zoom to learn more about the Amherst Heat Pump Incentive Program! Live interpretation will be available in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Don’t miss this opportunity — interested residents are encouraged to act quickly to benefit from a 30% federal tax credit (up to $2,000) before the expiration of the federal Energy Efficiency Home Improvement program on December 31, 2025. This federal tax credit can be combined with the Town of Amherst’s $3,500 incentive, as well as other available state and federal incentives, maximizing overall savings.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9: “MOULIN ROUGE!” 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will screen Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge!” on Sunday September 7 and Tuesday September 9. The movie is about a young writer named Christian (Ewan McGregor) who falls in love with a showgirl, Satine (Nicole Kidman), who works at the famous Moulin Rouge in 1890s Paris. The two have to contend with the Duke, who wants Satine for himself and will stop at nothing to make her his. Tickets are $10.75, $9.75 for seniors and students.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10: CULTIVATING PEACE IN NIGERIA. 12 to 1 p.m. on Zoom. Join a discussion of these issues with Karuna Center staff and special guest Dr. Fatima Akilu, Executive Director of Neem Foundation, our partner in Abuja, Nigeria! Dr. Akilu is an innovative leader in preventing violent extremism and supporting conflict-impacted populations. We will also share stories and video clips from our joint project, Empowering Community Security, which is helping Nigerian communities to prevent violence, repair relationships, and build peace. Free and open to the public. Register.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10: KESTREL READS BOOK DISCUSSION: THE FOREST LOVER. 6:30 p.m., Kestrel Land Trust house, 37 Bay Road. The Forest Lover: a Novel, historical fiction by Susan Vreeland, l traces the courageous life and career of Emily Carr (1871-1945), a Canadian artist who was inspired by the monumental art and culture of the First Nations and the landscapes of British Columbia. More than Georgia O’Keeffe or Frida Kahlo, she blazed a path for modern women artists. Registration required. Sliding scale donation appreciated.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11: WRITERS READING, MICHAEL MERCURIO WITH JJ STARR-McLAIN, KIRUN KAPUR AND PARTICK DONNELLY. 7 p.m. UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Writers Reading is a curated series featuring local authors. A poet, editor, and occasional critic, Michael Mercurio lives and writes in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. His poems, interviews, and reviews have been published or are forthcoming in Palette Poetry, Thrush, The Common, Cream City Review, Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club), Sugar House Review, Lily Poetry Review, and elsewhere. Michael is the founder and curator of What The Universe Is: A (Virtual) Reading Series, where established and emerging poets read together monthly on Zoom. More information
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13: “THE ONION”: EXPERIMENTAL OPERA. 7:30 p.m., Holden Experimental Theater, Amherst College. The new opera “The Onion,” about an eponymous AI device that can bring back memories in an immersive way, will premiere at Amherst College’s Holden Experimental Theater. The show is about a scientist, Magistra, who lives on an island with her daughter, Miranda, with whom she has a difficult relationship, and her assistant, Octavian. The Onion “lives” there, too – it’s a humanoid entity, and it gets more and more human as the show continues. The opera’s co-librettists, composer Eric Sawyer and director Ron Bashford, wrote the piece during the pandemic, even before the rise of ChatGPT. Tickets are $23, $17 for students.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14: AUDITIONS FOR AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S “THE WIZARD OF OZ.” Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7—107 are encouraged to audition. There will be nine performances in January 2026. For more info about auditions, including character descriptions and audition music, or for an audition appointment, please visit amherstacts.org/auditions or contact producer@amherstacts.org.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12: WHEATUS ACOUSTIC: DIRTBAGS ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF THE AMERICA AND SOME OF CANADA TOO. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Wheatus is led by Brendan Brown who hails from Montreal and formed the band in New York City at age 22. The band’s songs have been covered by many artists. Brown wants you to join the ride. Get in. Join the Dirtbag. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13: BRINGING OUR HEARTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: AN IN-PERSON DIALOGUE. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. , Kestrel Land Trust house, 37 Bay Road. Join the Kestrel Land Trust for an in-person dialogue to help make sense of the complexities confronting us in this era of intersecting crises and to feel supported. Kestrel Land Trust Community Engagement Manager Marilyn Castriotta and Climate-Aware Therapist Sadie Forsythe will facilitate this event. A short presentation to expand our perspectives about the climate crisis will ground our time together, followed by an interactive workshop. Many modalities are emerging to facilitate climate conversations and we will draw on several in our time together, including The Work That Reconnects and Climate Cafes. Light refreshments will be served, followed by an optional mindful walk around Plum Brook Pond (15 minutes). Registration required. Sliding scale donation.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13: BENEFIT CONCERT FOR PIONEER VALLEY WORKERS CENTER. 7 to 9 p.m., Unitarian-Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 North Pleasant Street. Join us for an evening of inspiring pro-democracy, social justice themed music from area folk musicians Roger Tincknell, Lisa Gaughran, Katie Tolles, One Journey and Friends. The concert will benefit PVWC, a critical nonprofit organization serving immigrant workers in Western Massachusetts.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: TELL IT SLANT POETRY FESTIVAL. Programs and workshops in-person and online sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum. The Emily Dickinson Museum’s annual Tell It Slant Poetry Festival is an event with international reach that celebrates Emily Dickinson’s poetic legacy and the contemporary creativity she and her work continues to inspire from the place she called home.This year’s line-up features a talented group of poets from around the world including a reading by National Book Award and MacArthur Genius grantee Terrance Hayes with award-winning poet Krysten Hill, generative writing workshops, poetry panels, an open mic, live music, and more. The cornerstone of the Festival, the Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon, is an epic reading of all 1,789 of Emily Dickinson’s poems across the festival week. Learn more about the 2025 lineup. Workshops are $25. Free festival access available, but registration encouraged.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16: “POEMS FROM GAZA: AN EVENING WITH PALESTINIAN WRITER AND LIBRARIAN MOSAB ABU TOHA. 5 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Mosab Abu Toha is a Palestinian writer, poet, scholar and librarian from the Gaza Strip. He won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2025 for his portrayal of the Gaza war in The New Yorker. His first book of poetry, “Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear,” won the Palestine Book Award and an American Book Award. Abu Toha is the founder of the Edward Said Library, Gaza’s first English-language library. He was detained by the Israeli army in November 2023 when he was trying to flee to Egypt with his family. After his release he has worked as a chronicler of the war from afar. In 2024, his second book of poetry, “Forest of Noise,” was published by Knopf. Free and open to the public. Get tickets here.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17: JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS WITH SHENEL JOHNS AND WEEDLE BRAIMAH. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Join us as we open our fiftieth anniversary season with a truly special performance by the most celebrated and prestigious ensemble in American classical music. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be joined by extraordinary vocalist Shenel Johns and Ghanaian djembe virtuoso Weedie Braimah for Afro!, an exploration of jazz’s deep roots in African music. This will be the first ever live performance of this new commission by Wynton Marsalis as the Fine Arts Center collaborates on a two-day world premiere event that will conclude at Lincoln Center on September 18. Tickets start at $50, $20 for youth.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18: 12TH ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY. 5 to 9 p.m., North Pleasant Street. Join us for the 12th Annual Block Party on Thursday, September 18 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst. The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our dynamic downtown. This year’s event will feature an exciting lineup of live music and performances, showcasing local talent and captivating acts. Attendees can look forward to aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers, and a variety of street performers that will delight audiences of all ages. In addition to the entertainment, local restaurants and retailers will line both sides of North Pleasant Street. Downtown Amherst boasts a diverse array of dining options and unique shops and services, making it the perfect destination for a night out. Whether you’re enjoying a meal, discovering a new favorite store, or simply soaking in the lively atmosphere, there’s something for everyone at the Block Party. This event is free and open to all! Presented by: Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the Town of Amherst, Amherst Cultural Council, PV Squared Solar and supported by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, Amherst College, and UMass Amherst.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18: INFORMATION SESSION ON AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP AT AMHERST COMMUNITY HOMES. 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. Ready to own your own home in Amherst? Attend one of our upcoming info sessions about Amherst Community Homes. We will have 30 homes ready for purchase next summer, all of them affordable (income restricted)! Learn more by joining a free info session sponsored by Valley Community Development Corporation. Register here. Another session will be held on Thursday, October 23.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18: THE TOURIST’S GUIDE TO LOST YIDDISH NEW YORK CITY, WITH HENRY H. SAPOZNIK. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Grammy nominee and award-winning author Henry H. Sapoznik will discuss his new book The Tourist’s Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City, which delves into over a century of New York’s history of Yiddish popular culture. Register.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20: 2nd ANNUAL READ AND RESIST FEST. Interlink Publishing, 46 Crosby Ave. Northampton. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Rain date 8/21. Interlink Publishing—the Valley’s Palestinian-owned book publisher—will be hosting the second annual Read + Resist Fest This outdoor social justice festival will include a book sale, QTBIPOC vendors, children’s activities, teach-ins, workshops, screen printing, performances, music, food and more. It is free to the public and open to all ages. More information.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20: TELL IT SLANT POETRY FESTIVAL HEADLINER NIGHT WITH TERRABCE HAYES AND KRYSTEN HILL. 7 p.m. on Zoom and in person at the Emily Dickinson Museum garden, 220 Main Street. Join us in Emily Dickinson’s garden or virtually for a celebration of creativity and poetry! Our headlining poets will read from their work and discuss poetic practice and inspiration. A Q&A facilitated by Nicole Callihan and a book-signing with the poets to follow. Books will be available for sale on site. Free. Part of the Tell it Slant Poetry Festival, September 15-21. Information and registration here.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20: DISSECTING THE BEATLES VIRTUAL SHOW: THE VIRTUAL PREMIER OF YOUNG @ HEART CHORUS LATEST CONCERT FILM. 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. In our 43-year history, the Young@Heart has occasionally sung a Beatles song here, there and everywhere. But now we dig in much deeper to really Dissect The Beatles. This concert film features performances by some of our beloved living legends – who are all over the age of 90 and who have all been a part of Y@H for at least a decade: Helen Boston (95), Gloria Parker (96), Steve Martin (96), Anita Shumway (90) and Shirley Stevens (90). We were also joined by a string section – with our very own chorus member Rosie Caine on harp, Angie Shyr on violin and Luna Shyr on cello. We dedicate this film to the late Chris Haynes, Y@H’s longtime accordion player whose inventive and wonderful accordion playing was instrumental to the sound of Y@H for over three decades – and who was a huge Beatles fan. Donations of at least $25 guarantee a ticket.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: 15TH ANNUAL WILL BIKE 4 FOOD. Various times, Lion’s Club Pavilion in Hatfield, 15 Billings Way. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’15th annual Will Bike for Food fundraiser will bring together cyclists of all abilities and ages to raise funds for nutritious food for people in Western Massachusetts. Riders can choose from 100-, 50,- 25-, 12-, or 4-mile loops, or ride their own route anywhere in September during Hunger Action Month. Last year’s ride raised $250,000, which provides 500,000 to families in the region. After the rides, from 2 to 5 p.m., the Food Bank will hold a cookout, beverages, lawn games, vendors and music. The After-Party is free for Will Bike 4 Food riders and volunteers. Nonriders and virtual riders can purchase tickets at to the After Party for $25 for adults 21 and older and $20 for teens and kids. Register or donate here.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: BIGGER THAN SPORTS PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT. Noon, Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. UMass fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa is collaborating on the tournament. Founded by Amherst Regional high school graduate Ian Waite, Bigger Than Sports is a fully Gen Z-led nonprofit empowering student-athletes from underserved communities to succeed beyond high school. More information
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: CRESS DAY. Noon to 4 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Join the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service at Mill River Recreation Area for food, fun, and family!
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BOOK CLUB: KLARA AND THE SUN. 2 p.m., Chapin Hall, Amherst College. Curious about artificial intelligence? Join us for a discussion of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro on Sunday, September 21. Copies are available now to borrow at the Jones Library reference desk. Cosponsored by the Jones Library and Amherst’s College’s AI and the Liberal Arts. Learn more here.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: FIFTH ANNUAL BANDTOBERFEST. 2 to 5 p.m., 1 Main Street. Celebrate autumn with a concert of band favorites and beverages from Abandoned Building Brewery, Black Birch Vineyard, and Carr’s Ciderhouse. Bring your blanket/chair, a picnic and the whole family.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21: DISTRICT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION 2025 POTLUCK. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. North Amherst Community annual potluck. Everyone is welcome. Bring a dish to share (if you wish) and join for a relaxed end-of-summer party. Pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, and drinks, plates and utensils provided. Questions? Email DONA at ContactUs@amherstdona.org.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24: GAZA: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE? A TALK BY NORMAN FINKELSTEIN. 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. A rare public appearance at UMass. Norman Finkelstein — the world’s leading forensic scholar of the Israel-Palestine conflict and a renowned authority on the politics of the Holocaust — will appear in person to deliver a major public talk on the situation in Palestine and themes related to his forthcoming book, Gaza’s Gravediggers: An Inquiry into Corruption in High Places. In this searing new work, due out November 2025, Finkelstein indicts the global institutions and officials who have enabled, excused, and whitewashed Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. This event offers an exclusive preview of his findings months before publication. This will be Finkelstein’s first live appearance at UMass-Amherst in nearly two decades. Free and open to the public, but capacity is limited. Reserve ticket here.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25: FRIENDS OF THE AMHERST SENIOR CENTER MEET AND GREET. 10 a.m. Atkins Farms, 1150 West Street. The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center (FASC) will have a Meet and Greet for town elder residents at with free coffee, tea and world famous apple cider donuts. All candidates for the Amherst Town Council have been invited to attend to meet and mingle with the voters before the election on November 4. Candidates and voters will meet at the outdoor covered area at the picnic tables.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25: LETTERS FROM THE AFTERLIFE: THE POST-HOLOCAUST CORRESPONDENCE OF CHAVA ROSENFARB AND ZENIA LARSSON, WITH GOLDI MORGANTALER. 7 p.m. Yiddish. Book Center on Zoom. Goldie Morgentaler will speak on her mother, Chava Rosenfarb’s, decades-long correspondence with the author Zenia Larsson. The two women survived the Holocaust together and both went on to prominent literary careers. Register.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28: NORTH AMHERST COMMUNITY FARM FARM COMMUNITYMEETING. 2:30 p.m., North Amherst Library, 8 Montague Road. There is an emerging consensus among the NACF leadership that the future of our farm should be entrusted to multiple farming enterprises. Also, we share the goal of enhancing community engagement. We are considering a community garden, a cut-flower farm business, and nut and fruit trees. Come hear the possibilities.
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 2: MASSIVE DESK CONCERT SERIES. 7-8 p.m. UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Get to know some MASSively talented up-and-coming UMass musicians in this chill concert series. Artist line-up coming soon! Presented in partnership with the UMass Songwriting and Production Club, the MASSive Desk Concert Series is free and open to all.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2: BALLET HISPANICO. 7:30 p.m. Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. We kick off an incredible dance series with an engaging, uplifting, and awe-inspiring performance from a company that has been part of the Fine Arts Center’s programming since our inaugural season in 1975-1976. The largest Latino cultural organization in the United States, Ballet Hispánico engages audiences with the work of Latino and Latina choreographers, opens a platform for new cultural dialogue, and nurtures inspiring young dancers of all ages. Tickets start at $40, $20 for students.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 7: WILDWOOD REMEMBERS: FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, CEMETERIES, AND THE GARDENESQUE. 7-8 p.m. UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Join us for the first installment of our three-part series: Wildwood Remembers – UMass Connections to Wildwood Cemetery. Dr. Ethan Carr, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, and Rebecca Fricke, General Manager of Wildwood Cemetery, will discuss Frederick Law Olmsted, Cemeteries, and the Gardenesque. Free and open to all. More information
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9: MASSIVE DESK CONCERT SERIES. 7-8 p.m. UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Get to know some MASSively talented up-and-coming UMass musicians in this chill concert series. Artist line-up coming soon! Presented in partnership with the UMass Songwriting and Production Club, the MASSive Desk Concert Series is free and open to all.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 19: “EVA’S PROMISE”. 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. This powerful documentary tells the story of Heinz Geiringer’s hidden artwork and his sister Eva’s vow to recover it—revealing a legacy overshadowed by the better-known story of Anne Frank, who posthumously became Eva’s stepsister. Purchase tickets
TUESDAY OCTOBER 21: VACCINE CLINIC FOR SENIORS. 2 to 5 p.m., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Covid-19 vaccines for people age 65 and over and flu vaccine for all ages. Register at http://northamptonma.gov/2219/vax or call 413-259-3077 or email publichealth@amherstma.gov
SUNDAY OCTOBER 26: YIDDISH BOOK CENTER OPEN HOUSE. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Yiddish Book Center 1021 West Street. October marks the second anniversary of the Yiddish Book Center’s landmark exhibition Yiddish: A Global Culture. To celebrate, we’re hosting a full day of activities, including pop-up performances, public tours, a scavenger hunt, and the launch of the exhibition’s catalog, Yiddish: A Global Culture: Bold Lives, Boundless Creativity (White Goat Press). Learn more.
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. 9:30-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. More information
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: 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.
THURSDAYS SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH OCTOBER 2: INTRODUCTORY DRAWING WITH DAVID DICKINSON. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. If you have been craving an in-depth class to learn drawing basics, this is the class for YOU! Students will learn via lectures demonstrations, and homework. Join accomplished artist and instructor, David Dickinson, at The Local Art Gallery Thursday mornings this fall for an Introductory Drawing Class. This class will meet four times on Thursday mornings: 9/11,
9/18, 9/25, 10/2 from 10:30am-12pm. Deadline to sign up: September 1, 2025. Limited seating .$100, includes supplies. Ages: 14+.
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 LIVES 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 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 DECEMBER 1 : A SOMETHING OVERTAKES THE MIND: A MULTIMEDIA VISUAL ART AND POETRY INSTALLATION BY LIGIA BOUTON AND MATT DONOVAN. Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street. A Something Overtakes the Mind is a multimedia visual art and poetry installation created by Ligia Bouton and Matt Donovan for the Emily Dickinson Museum. Through explorations of domestic objects, biographical details, found poetry, and community testimonials, the exhibition seeks to find new ways of engaging with the poet’s life and legacy. The exhibition, free to the public during museum open hours, will be installed in the ground floor of the Homestead in the house’s woodshed, laundry room, and kitchen. Visitors to the installation must first check in at the carriage house tour center.
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.