El Remedio Partnered & Urbano (Latinx Dance Performance). One of 17 acts at the Second Annual Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Dayun Taylor
By Art Keene, Philip Avila, Marita Banda, and Dayun Taylor
On April 11, one of the first mild days of spring, an estimated 1500 people chose to enthusiastically spend a portion of their time indoors at Amherst Regional High School to attend the town’s second annual Global Village Festival. Those attending represented approximately 80 different countries, which they identified on a map at the entrance with push pins. The aim of the festivalwas “to create a vibrant space where people of all backgrounds could come together to celebrate culture, share experiences, and strengthen the sense of belonging that makes Amherst so special,” said Philip Avila, Assistant Director in the town’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and one of the organizers of the event.
The day featured 17 performances showcasing local talent across cultures, drawing enthusiastic crowds and creating moments of connection between performers and audience members. In addition, more than 60 craft vendors, including 7 youth businesses, shared their work, turning the festival into a vibrant marketplace of creativity, culture, and small business support. The vendors were complemented by four food trucks that added to the lively, welcoming atmosphere. Town government was well represented with information tables from the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), CRESS (the town’s civilian responder service), the Department of Health, the Human Rights Commission, and Town Hall.
Avila celebrated the strong turnout, praised all who helped to make it happen, and predicted that the event will return even better next year. He said, “This event was a tremendous success, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our community come together in such a meaningful way. The DEI Department is proud to see this celebration continue to grow into an annual tradition, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.” He added, “What made this experience especially meaningful was the depth of community partnership behind it; collaborators, including Amherst Public Schools, Black Business Association of Amherst Area, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, and Amherst Business Improvement District, helped ensure the festival was shaped by and for the community. “
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Members from the DEI Department greeted people at the entrance to the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival at Amherst Regional High School (L-R) Charles Walker-Hoover, Valentina Agala, and Philip Avila. Photo: Art KeeneAttendees at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival were asked to indicate where they are from with a pin on the map. Roughly 80 countries were represented. Photo: Art KeeneYoung people were given passports at the entrance and encouraged to collect stamps, which designated each vendor’s country of origin. Photo: Art KeeneMain vendor hall at the 2026 Amherst Global Vllage Festival at Amherst Regional High School. Photo: Philip AvilaYoung people who participated in the DEI Department’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program. 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Marita BandaLogos representing the businesses from the DEI Department’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program at the 2026 Global Village Festival. Photo: Marita BandaCupcakes from Alysia Bryant’s (pictured) Carefree Cakery were a huge hit at the 2026 Global Village Festival. Photo: Art Keene Fiber artist Diana Styles showed off her work at the artisan boutique Coco & Cordelia. Photo: Art KeeneCristina Castillo reads a story in Spanish at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Art KeeneState Representative Mindy Domb with two volunteers from the Jones Library showing off books that they recommend. Photo: Art KeeneWestern swing band HWY 91, one of 17 acts at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Art KeeneLiza Constable with the Western swing band HWY 91, one of 17 acts at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Art KeeneChinese Association of Western Massachusetts Dance Ensemble was one of 17 acts at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. This photo is from the 2025 festival. Photo: amherstma.govChristina Andrews offered traditional Palestinian embroidery at Tarteez. where 100% of sales go to support artists and families who have lost income in the West Bank and to mutual aid in Gaza. Photo: Art KeeneAimee Solomon with some of her handcrafted wares from Positively Africana, profits from which support women in the Congo. Photo: Art KeeneAdrienne Terrizzi shows off handcrafted designs from AMT originals. Photo: Art KeeneHeather Hutchinson, an organizer with Apartheid-Free Communities, shared information about varied efforts across the Valley to provide support for justice in Palestine. Photo: Art KeeneCarolyn Keedy from the Human Performance Lab at UMass described the evaluation services that the lab offers including a state-of-the-art sleep lab. Photo: Art KeeneRusty Daniels from CNET offered information on heat pumps and the town’s programs to help residents adopt more efficient heat and cooling technologies. Photo: Art KeeneVira Douangmany Cage (L) and Andrea Battle (R) at the table of the Black Business Association of Amherst Area. Photo: Art KeeneAmherst Business Improvement District table at the 2026 Amherst Global Village Festival. Photo: Art KeeneRani Parker (L) and Rizwana Khan (R) sell event t-shirts while explaining the work of the town’s Human Rights Commission. Photo: Art KeeneMost of the team from CRESS was present at the 2026 Global Village Festival where they warmly greeted attendees and enthusiastically explained their work. Photo: Art Keene
