What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
by Art and Maura Keene
You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 30: ASC 2026 NEW YEAR’S DANCE PARTY. 4 to 6 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Music from Peterson Productions. Snacks and light refreshments provided. All are welcome.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31: A GRATEFUL DEAD THEMED HISTORICAL FIRST NIGHT’S CELEBRATION SPECTACULAR. 9 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Drake will host local psychedelic rockers Mind Left Body and their mind-bending, live lighting and visualization partner Morph Lighting Collective as part of a special first night event celebrating the best of famous Grateful Dead New Years shows through the years. Tickets $18 in advance, $22 at the door. Full calendar.
SATURDAY JANUARY 3: OWL PROWL WITH DAN ZIOMEK. 6:30 to 9 p.m. , Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street. Have you been on an owl prowl? It is a very special treat in the heart of winter. Come seek out the Great-horned owl on a winter (hopefully snowy) night with expert birder Dan Ziomek. Dress super duper warmly. Also Friday January 16. Sliding scale $20-$40. Ages 10 and up.
SATURDAY JANUARY 3: PIONEER VALLEY FOLKLORE SOCIETY SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH BILL LUDWIG. Singer-Songwriter Bill Ludwig is the featured artist at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s January Song and Story Swap. The event will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday January 3 from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to the artist of $7.50. Free parking is available in the lot behind the church. More info
FRIDAY JANUARY 3: FULL MOON HIKE TO MOUNT NORWOTTUCK. 3 to 6:30 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. $40. Register here.
THURSDAY JANUARY 8: ARHS CABARET! 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Join us for an entertaining evening of skits and small group musical performances featuring students from Amherst Regional High School. We are so excited for this long-running annual tradition to take place at The Drake this year. A pair of MCs will weave together the musical acts from a variety of genres showcasing the many talents of the students in town. Admission at the door $10 cover, $5 for students. Full calendar.
TUESDAY JANUARY 13: WILDWOOD REMEMBERS: UMASS CONNECTIONS TO WILDWOOD CEMETERY. 7 p.m., UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archivist and Memory Work: Giving agency to the silent – Taelore Marsh and Rebecca Fricke General Manager of Wildwood Cemetery
Free and open to the public
FRIDAY JANUARY 16: BUMPIN UGLIES WITH JOEY HARKUM. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Bumpin Uglies’ latest album Climbing Up the Wall, marks a significant chapter in the band’s evolution, showcasing the band’s enduring commitment to authenticity, bold storytelling, and their steadfast dedication to evolving their craft. Joey Harkum’s lyrics tell stories of happiness, love, loss, and sadness. Tickets. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Full calendar.
SATURDAY JANUARY 17: SPECTRE FOLK WITH MARK ROBINSON AND WILLIE LANE. 8 p.m., the Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Peter Nolan was Spectre Folk before drumming and strumming in Magik Markers was his main gig. The main benefit of ghost-folk is you can play it way after you’re dead, and while you’re alive, the Spectre can haunt any decent willing body with a gift for the unreal. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Full calendar.
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
SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS FEBRUARY 1-17: THE BEFORE TRILOGY. 1:30 p.m. Sunday February 1, 8, and 15 and 7p.m. Tuesday February 3, 10, and 17, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Follow Jesse and Celine as they meet on a train and spend a night wandering the city in Vienna, then reconnect nine years later in Paris, and finally as a married couple on vacation in Greece. Richard Linklater’s marvelous trilogy: “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Tickets.
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.
SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS FEBRUARY 1-17: THE BEFORE TRILOGY. 1:30 p.m. Sunday February 1, 8, and 15 and 7p.m. Tuesday February 3, 10, and 17, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Follow Jesse and Celine as they meet on a train and spend a night wandering the city in Vienna, then reconnect nine years later in Paris, and finally as a married couple on vacation in Greece. Richard Linklater’s marvelous trilogy: “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Tickets.
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 27: FREE PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN AMHERST. The Town of Amherst is suspending parking enforcement in all metered spaces and public lots in downtown Amherst on Saturdays through the end of December.
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.
NOW THROUGH APRIL: SPRITES, SPELLS, AND SPLASHES: MAGICAL BEINGS IN PICTURE BOOK ART. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The Eric Carle Museum opens its new exhibition on Saturday, November 22. The show includes picture book artwork of fantasy creatures like mermaids, fairies and wizards from more than 40 classic and contemporary books. “From the brownies of the British Isles to the djinns of the Middle East, magical beings abound in folklore. These creatures exist in a parallel world within and alongside humans,” said Isabel Ruiz Cano, associate curator. “Picture book art can be a powerful bridge between cultures, a keeper of stories, and a source of wonder that allows us to see the invisible. Although we may not always be able to spot these creatures, the artists in this exhibition bring their mysterious forms to light.” The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.
THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 15-18 AND 22-25: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S “THE WIZARD OF OZ”. 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday, Bowker Auditorium UMass. We invite you to click your heels and follow the Yellow Brick Road to UMass for The Wizard of Oz! Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they journey to the Emerald City singing favorites like “Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain.” With dazzling costumes, stunning effects, and a heartwarming story about friendship, courage, and self-belief, this beloved classic will remind everyone that there truly is no place like home. Tickets $27, $22 seniors, $17 for children under 10.