What’s Happening in Amherst?

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 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).

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8: GRACE CHURCH HARVEST CONCERT. 4 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Avenue. Celebrate the harvest season with beautiful music at Grace Church! The concert will feature Mark Fraser, cello; Estela Olevsky, piano; Dick Damon, organ; Hanif Lawrence, tenor soloist; the Silverwood Quartet; the Cantabile vocal ensemble; and the Grace Church Choir directed by Hanif Lawrence.
Suggested donation is $25 at the door, with proceeds benefiting the
Grace Church Organ Fund. Contact: Mary Hocken melizhocken@gmail.com

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8: DEMOCRACY: AMERICAN MUSICAL. Two shows, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., ‘Bernie Dallas Room, Goodell Hall, 140 Hicks Way, UMass. The University of Massachusetts Theater Guild will present a concert performance of Democracy: American Musical by John McDonnell Tierney on Saturday Nov. 8, with two shows at 1:00 and 7:00 pm. This work is a powerful statement on the vital importance of defending and supporting democratic values in the face of a growing shift toward autocracy. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information visit: www.jackmct.com.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9: WALKING TOUR: FACTORY HOLLOW OF THE MILL RIVER.  1 to 2:30 p.m. Bryan Harvey will lead a walking tour along the conservation trails in this area, giving an overview of the Mill River History Project — a community-based exploration of the ways in which the Mill River in North Amherst has been harnessed over the years — and pointing out key sites and features (some still visible). This tour will involve walking along trails in the woods (with frequent stops), and appropriate footwear is recommended. Pre-registration is required. $10 for Amherst History Society members. $15 for others.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9: FRIENDS OF THE JONES LIBRARIES PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT. Bay Road Multisport Center. Registration is now open for the second annual tournament. Register through October 11 for one of 6 divisions for all levels. Information and registration  here. $60 a person.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9: RICHARD THOMAS IN MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! BY HAL HOLBROOK. Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass. Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas brings to life “the nation’s one true comic genius” (The New York Times) in Mark Twain Tonight!, written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook. Holbrook retired from acting in 2017 and passed away in 2021. Thomas is the first and only actor authorized by Holbrook’s estate to perform the one-man show capturing the wit and wisdom of the iconic American author. TIX and more information

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9 AND TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “PALE FLOWER”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 10: PUBLIC MEETING ON THE TOWN’S HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. Residents, businesses, and surrounding community members are invited to provide input on the Town of Amherst Hazard Mitigation Plan at a public meeting on Monday, November 10 at 6:00 p.m. This is a hybrid event taking place in-person at Town Hall and online via Zoom. Attendees will learn about what the town is doing to prepare for natural hazards and the impacts of climate change and will have the opportunity to share ideas and concerns. In-person: Town Room on the second floor of Town Hall (4 Boltwood Avenue or Online: Zoom (https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/85483967542?pwd=cFv2q2fuLcsFvac0KUnQR3aGJb4TF6.1). Live interpretation will be available on Zoom in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. This information is also available on www.AmherstMA.gov

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “PALE FLOWER”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13: LWVA JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION WITH RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR REY HARP AND OUTREACH DIRECTOR BECKY DEMLING. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Harp and Demling will describe Morning Movement, RISE, and other youth empowerment programs. Register here.

THURSDAY NOVERMBER 13: THE BRANDEE YOUNGER TRIO. Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass. Innovative jazz harpist Brandee Younger nods to Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane even while advancing her own expansive vision of jazz, which incorporates sounds from R&B, hip-hop, and other pop forms. Younger’s eighth and latest album, Gadabout Season, is her most personal to date. The album is gorgeous, rich, and engaging — much like Younger’s live sets. Tickets start at $35 for general public. $20.00 for youth and students. TIX and more information

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14: CUPPA JOE WITH FINANCE DIRECTOR SEAN MANGANO. The Town of Amherst invites community members for coffee and conversation with Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and new Finance Director Sean Mangano on Friday, November 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Futura Coffee Roasters, 73 Cowls Road in the Mill District. The conversation will focus on the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 budget including revenue & expenditure projections, potential challenges, and capital projects.  

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15: CENTER FOR WOMEN & COMMUNITY CHILLY CHALLENGE AT PUFFER’S POND. 10:30 a.m. The Center for Women & Community (CWC) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites all to join its annual Chilly Challenge fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Puffer’s Pond in North Amherst beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Challenge is an annual event that began in 2021, during Covid pandemic isolation, to bring community together while raising awareness and supporting services provided to those impacted by violence. Participants raise awareness and funds in support of free Sexual Assault Support, Advocacy and Prevention Services in Hampshire County. All are invited to take the plunge (or just dip a toe in) in Puffer’s Pond or choose a less chilly way to support, such as making a donation. There will be warm chili, cider and desserts provided by UMass Dining.The rain date for the event will be Sunday, November 16. Contact Center for Women & Community, cwc@umass.edu, 413-545-0883.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15: NORTH AMHERST COMMUNITY FARM VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS. 10 a.m. to mid-afternoon, North Amherst community Farm, 1089 North Pleasant Street. We are continuing the efforts to improve the farm landscape by cutting back the rampant weed growth, pruning trees. and pulling out invasives. If you can, bring tools to cut down weeds and brush, as well as gloves. We are hoping to be able to burn piles of brush.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16 AND TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “BODY HEAT”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “BODY HEAT”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A+ AWARDS. 5 to 8 p.m., UMass Student Union Ballroom. The annual A+ awards honor leaders across Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland. This year’s honorees include Sarah Moroney, Robert Allingham, Alyssa Petrides, Weston Dripps, Clare Higgins, and Tulio Inglese. Tickets $90.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: YOGA AT THE MUSEUM. University Musuem of Contemporary Art, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass. 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Relax and rejuvenate in a guided yoga session surrounded by the museum’s exhibitions. Space is limited.  Registration required. The museum is in the lower level of the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts. Free.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: STATE REP. JOAN MESCHINO ON THE CLIMATE BANK BILL. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Local Energy Advocates is very excited to host State Representative Joan Meschino for a presentation and conversation about the Mark/Meschino climate bank bill.  S.786/H3937, An Act to Create a Climate Bank in Massachusetts, if enacted, will use a well-established public-private partnership model that uses public ‘seed’ monies to attract much larger sums of private investment to finance and support climate and clean energy initiatives. With the rescinding of federal funding for clean energy programming, innovative climate funding, like the climate bank bill, could not be more timely. 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: SOUTH AMHERST SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PRESENTATION. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. 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 aims to create a plan that reflects community input, zoning considerations, existing physical features, and housing needs. In June, we hosted a visioning session to hear ideas from the community. Next, join us at this concept presentation to explore architectural concepts and learn about the unique benefits and tradeoffs of each option. Help us shape the future of the South Amherst School building!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: AUTHOR THOMAS SUAREZ, SPEAKING ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK, PALESTINE MAPPED: FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA IN EARLY GEOGRAPHIC THOUGHT. Thompson Hall, Room 106, at UMass Amherst  7:00 pm. 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: ACCLAIMED JOURNALIST FARAI CHIDEYA TO DELIVER 4^TH ANNUAL ELLSBERG LECTURE AT UMASS. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Integrated Learning Center S211, UMass. The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will host award-winning journalist, author, and radio host Farai Chideya for the 4th Annual Ellsberg Lecture on Wednesday, November 19. In her talk, “How to Read the United States on the Eve of 250,” Chideya will examine the perilous state of American democracy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. Drawing on decades of experience covering presidential politics, social change, and the media, she will explore the roots of the country’s democratic crises and what it means to navigate truth, power, and belonging in a fractured political landscape. Farai Chideya is an independent journalist who created Our Body Politic, a nationally syndicated public radio show and podcast centering Black women and all women of color. The show produced January 6: An American Story, a documentary about BIPOC investigators on the January 6th Committee. She is the author of six books, including The Episodic Career: How to Thrive at Work in the Age of Disruption. Chideya has covered every presidential election since 1996 and has worked for outlets including FiveThirtyEight, NPR, CNN, and ABC News. Born and raised in Baltimore, she is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.eipad.org. 

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: ACTIVE BYSTANDER TRAINING. 5:30 to 8 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join the Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for this free community workshop hosted by Training Active Bystanders. Registration is required. Training Active Bystanders (TAB) teaches how bystanders can interrupt harmful situations and generate positive actions instead of remaining passive. In a community, active bystandership transforms the culture into one where harmful behavior is not tolerated. It fosters more supportive and respectful interactions, strengthens community bonds, and promotes a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. Since 2008, TBA workshops have been implemented in over 20 school districts with 3,200 community and student trainers presenting the workshops to more than 32,000 people regularly and globally. You will leave this interactive workshop with skills that will empower you to make a positive difference in your community and the world. This event is part of the Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming. Participants are invited to engage in DEI-led civic conversations that foster a welcoming environment for the Amherst community. Register here.  Registration is required, but you can sign up anytime – even on the day of the event!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: SOWETTO GOSPEL CHOICE. Tillis Performance Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass, 7 p.m. Three-time Grammy winners, the Soweto Gospel Choir return to our stage with a new live program, Peace, featuring South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and choir classics, alongside spirited selections from Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Leonard Cohen among others. Tickets start at $40. for the general public, $20. for students and youth. TIX and more information

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SLEIGHBELL FAIR. South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be lots of beautiful Handmade Crafts, Jams and Jellies, Tricky Pickles, Homemade Baked goods, Raffle Items, Antiques and Collectibles, Quality used Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Toys, and Household goods and Christmas items. The Kitchen is serving Homemade Clam Chowder, Stone Soup, Hot Pork Sandwich, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Chicken Salad Plate, Hummus Sandwiches, Pumpkin Mousse, and Apple Crisp. More information

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23: “ONE FAMILY IN GAZA,” AN ORIGINAL PLAY BY CRYSTAL ZEVON. 2 to 4 p.m., First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton.  This non-fiction drama is based on the friendship between Zevon and a young father in the Gaza Strip. The story is told through their correspondence since the fall of 2023, reflecting Zevon’s efforts to help the family, intertwined with short news reports that give context to the letters. The main focus is the messages received from the young father which, while telling a story that in some ways reflects universal truths about living through any war, offers insights into this particular conflict. Not unlike The Diary of Anne Frank, the piece is a rare telling of a war experience in real time, calling upon
us to never forget our common humanity. Other performances 7 p.m., Friday, November 21 in Ethel the Barn, Southampton (RSVP http://Ethelthebarn@gmail.com) and 2 p.m. Saturday, November 22 at the Sunderland public library, 20 School Street.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23 AND TUESDAY 25: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “LE CERCLE ROUGE”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

TUESDAY 25: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “LE CERCLE ROUGE”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29: SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Commit to shop local Saturday and the entire first week of December. Free parking Saturdays in December. Sponsored by the Amherst Business Improvement District.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 5: LIGHTING OF THE MERRY MAPLE. North Common. A magical evening where downtown becomes a winter wonderland. Free.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY DECEMBER 5-7: GREETING CARD DAYS HOLIDAY SHOPPING. Special offers and discounts of up to 20% at participating retailers.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18: FOURTH ANNUAL SIP ‘N STROLL. Horse-drawn carriage rides, shop boutique and unique independent retail. Prix-fixe meals at your favorite local restaurants. Pop-up Makers and artisans’ market.

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..

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.