What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
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 20: FRIENDS OF THE AMHERST SENIOR CENTER POP UP SALE. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Town Common. The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center will have its third annual Pop-Up Sale at the Amherst Farmers Market on September 20 from 9 am to 1 pm. Gently used jewelry, handbag, purses, scarves and other items will be available for purchase. All funds will support programs at the Senior Center. We hope to see YOU there!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20: SURVIVAL CENTER COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Bring your donations to the Amherst Survival Center and help feed our community.
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.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22: AUTUMNAL EQUINOX AT THE UMASS SUNWHEEL. 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., south of McGuirk Alumni stadium off of Rocky Hill Road. The public is invited to observe sunrise and sunset associated with the day of the autumnal equinox among the standing stones of the UMass Amherst Sunwheel on Monday, September 22 at 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. These events mark the astronomical change of seasons when days and nights are nearly equal in length in the Northern Hemisphere. From the Sunwheel, observers standing at its center will see the sun rise and set over particular stones placed to mark the equinoxes. UMass Amherst astronomers will discuss the celestial cause of the sun’s changing position during the hour-long gatherings. They will also explain the seasonal positions of Earth, the sun and moon, and answer other questions about astronomy.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23: LUCERO WITH JESSICA LEA MAYFIELD. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Celebrating 20 years of “Nobody’s Darling,” Lucero will play the album in its entirety followed by a set of songs from the band’s catalog. Tickets $35 in advance, $40 at the door. See full calendar here.
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.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24:BOSS BARITONES GARY SMULYAN AND FRANK BASILE. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Boss Baritones made their debut in 2020 at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City a week before the coronavirus pandemic put all on hold. Since the easing of restrictions, the Boss Baritones have been regaining their momentum with performances in the New York City area as well as recording their debut album on Steeplechase Records. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door. See full calendar 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.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26: CUPPA JOE WITH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT E. XIOMARA HERMAN. 8 to 9:30 a.m., Large Activity Room, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Amherst community is invited for coffee and conversation with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and School Superintendent Dr. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) on Friday, September 26 from. The event is free and open to all. Dr. Xi began leading the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District in July 2024. There are many things happening in the school district that Dr. Xi will share and answer questions about, including the restructuring of Amherst grades K-6, the appointment of new administrative leaders, and new policies/programs that help promote a transparent, safe, and student-centered environment.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27: ANNUAL FORT RIVER CLEAN-UP. 9:30 a.m. to noon, Groff Park, 83 Mill Lane. The Annual Fort River Cleanup in Amherst will be held on September 27 at Groff Park from 9:30 a.m to Noon. The cleanup starts at 10 a.m. and coffee and snacks will be served beginning at 9:30 a.m. The event is part of the Connecticut River Conservancy’s 29th Annual Source to Sea Cleanup. This free, family-friendly event is a chance for our community to come together, clean up our beloved local river, and celebrate the natural beauty of the Fort River Watershed. Register for the event here. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27: CENTENARY EVENT ST. BRIGID CHURCH. 4:30 p.m., St. Brigid Church, 122 North Pleasant Street. Celebrate St. Brigid’s 100-year anniversary. All are welcome.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27: MARC RIBOT: MAP OF A BLUE CITY (RECORD RELEASE). 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Marc Ribot released “Map of a Blue City” in May on New West Records. The record features Ribot’s imaginative guitar playing and leads to what may be his definitive statement as an instrumentalist, as a songwriter, and even as a singer. The record showcases songs colliding disparate traditions: roots, bossa nova, no wave, noise, free jazz, and sounds that have no genre associations. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. See full calendar here.
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.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29: SCREENING OF “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” AT AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Celebrate Silent Movie Day with a special screening of “The Phantom of the Opera.” One of the most lavish productions of the silent cinema era and a forerunner of the American horror film, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has inspired countless remakes and imitations. But none of its successors can rival the mesmerizing blend of romance and mystery that haunts
every frame of the Lon Chaney original. This edition presents the 1929 theatrical version, restored from archival 35mm elements by Film Preservation Associates. It is
highlighted by the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence (in which the Phantom interrupts the revelry wearing the scarlet robes of the Red Death), as well as meticulously hand-colored sequences (replicating the Handschiegl Color Process). 93 mins │ Directed by Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernest Laemmle. Tickets are available through Amherst Cinema’s website, or in person at the Amherst Cinema box office.
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
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8: “PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY.” 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema presents a screening of the documentary, PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Director Jennifer Takaki and Executive Producer George Hirose, and moderated by C.N. Le, Senior Lecturer of Sociology and Director of the Asian & Asian American Studies Certificate Program at UMass Amherst.This event is presented in partnership with the Office of Equity andInclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Tickets are available through Amherst Cinema’s website, or in person at the Amherst Cinema box office.
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.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 9: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE WITH TANK HOOD. 6 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Sign-ups start at 5:30 p.m., five-minute slots. Be respectful—we will not tolerate any discriminatory content or depictions of graphic violence. Host Tank Hood has toured the country in a jamband and performed or recorded with many artists. Free admission. See full calendar here.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 11: WALKING TOUR: BRUTALIST UMASS: CAMPUS ARCHITECTURE AS SANCTUARY. 2 to 3:30 p.m., Lincoln Campus Center Lower Level. Tour Guides: Timothy M. Rohan, Ph. D., Chair and Associate Professor, History of Art and Architecture Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, FAIA, Senior Campus Planner and Architect. Tour: Join us for a special tour that invites the UMass community and the public to experience our campus through the eyes of the students. See it not just as a place of learning or a collection of buildings, but as a living sanctuary. Explore the campus as a “third place” — where students find support, belonging, and community — through the highlighting of three iconic Brutalist buildings: The Lincoln Campus Center (Marcel Breuer, 1970) – the social heart of campus, The W.E.B. DuBois Library (Edward Durell Stone, 1972) – an academic sanctuary, and The Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts (Kevin Roche, 1973) newly renovated, a cultural haven, now featuring the beautifully renovated Arts Bridge. Discover how these architectural landmarks and surrounding spaces shape the core of UMass Amherst. This will be a unique opportunity to experience the campus not just as it is, but as it feels. Free and open to the public. Register here.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 12: UNRWA GAZA 5K. 10 a.m., Groff Park, Mill Lane. Valley Families for Palestine is organizing a local 5K run/walk at Groff Park. We are participating as a virtual team in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) 2025 NYC 5K for Palestine, raising funds to make mental health care accessible for all Palestinian refugee children in Gaza. Join us to raise money for mental healthcare for Palestine refugee children in Gaza.
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
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25: PUMPKIN PAINTING FOR AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Local Art Gallery at the Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. Join us in The Local Art Gallery for drop-in, Free, Family-Friendly Pumpkin Painting on Saturday, October 25 from 11am-2pm. RSVP. We will provide all the materials while supplies last. While we are using tempura paint, be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on. Prepare to take home your wet pumpkin with some newspapers! Great for all ages! Children under 14 must be actively supervised at all times. Help us to support Amherst Survival Center (ASC). Donate directly to Amherst Survival Center: https://amherstsurvival.org/donate
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25: HALLOWEEN PAWTY AT THE AMHERST DOG PARK. 2 to 4 p.m., Amherst Dog Park, Old Belchertown Road. The 4th annual Halloween dog costume “pawty” is set for October 25. Bring your spooky and adorable dogs. Prizes for best dog costumes and best dog/human duo for both big and little dogs. Also raffles, food, and lots of fun. Suggested donation $5. Rain date is Sunday, October 26.
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.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8: HOLIDAY ARTS MARKET AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 91 Cowls Road. Join us for a festive celebration of creativity at our Annual Holiday Arts Market. Local artists, makers, food vendors, and community partners contribute to this beloved North Amherst tradition. (Rain date: Sunday, November 9).
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9: FRIENDS OF THE JONES LIBRARIES PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT. Bay Road Multisport Center. Registration is now open for the second annual tournament. Register now through October 11 for one of 6 divisions for all levels. Information and registration here. $60 a person.
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 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 FRIDAY DECEMBER 5: NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS: STRANGE BUT TRUE. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Morrill Science Center II, 627 North Pleasant Street. The UMass Natural History Collections presents: Strange but True. From the world’s smallest “elephant” to the world’s largest brain, meet some of our most interesting specimens. Weekdays, 9am to 5pm, until December 5.
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.