What’s Happening in Amherst?

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.

SINGLE DAY EVENTS.

SATURDAY MAY 23: THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMHERST PLANT SALE. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Common. Fabulous woodland and native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, plants for shade and sun, plants for everyone!

SATURDAY MAY 23 AND SUNDAY MAY 24: 6th ANNUAL ODENOG POWOW. Beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Amherst Regional High School, 21 Mattoon St. Come out for another wonderful powwow full of singing, dancing, food, vendors, and more. We are honored to have this opportunity for members of so many different communities to come together in celebration of Native American, First Nations, and Indigenous American cultures. The Odenong Powwow is free, open to the public, and in a disability-accessible space. All ages are welcome to this fun, family-friendly, and educational cultural event! More info

SATURDAY MAY 23: WOLFWALKERS ($5 FAMILY FILM): 12:45 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the WOLFWALKERS and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy. The film is directed by two-time Academy Award® nominated Tomm Moore (THE SECRET OF KELLS, SONG OF THE SEA) and Ross Stewart and written by Will Collins (SONG OF THE SEA). The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and is the latest film from the three-time Academy Award® nominated studio Cartoon Saloon.

SUNDAY MAY 24: CROWNED IN GROWTH: A YOGA AND PAINT AND PLANT EXPERIENCE FOR WOMEN. 12 to 3 p.m., Groff Park, 83 Mill Lane. Join us for a soulful evening of movement, creativity, sisterhood, and growth as we create custom mannequin head planters that reflect our inner beauty and becoming. ✨Together we’ll:

🧘🏾‍♀️ Flow through gentle yoga

🎨 Paint & decorate our mannequin planters

💎 Adorn them with scarves, lashes, earrings & bling

🪴 Choose a plant that reflects our energy

🥗 Enjoy a light lunch in community

Every woman will leave with a living masterpiece — a reminder that she is still blooming. 🌱💜 Tickets $61.

MONDAY MAY 25: MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. 9:30 a.m., Spring Street and Boltwood Avenue. Amherst’s Memorial Day parade will start at the intersection of Spring Street and Boltwood Avenue and travel along South Pleasant Street to the War Memorial Pool. At the pool, there will be guest speakers and a performance by the Amherst chorale. The family of Stephen H. Barton will be awarded the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty, a recognition by the governor of those who have died in service.

WEDNESDAY MAY 27: MEET AND GREET COFFEE HOUR SPONSORED BY THE AMHERST SENIOR CENTER AND AMHERST COUNCIL ON AGING. 10 to 11 a.m., Atkins Farms Country Market, 1150 West Street. Come socialize and meet your friends and neighbors. We will be outside in the covered patio area. Coffee, Tea, and Apple Cider donuts will be provided.

WEDNESDAY MAY 27: CAMILLE THURMAN AND THE NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Camille Thurman is an accomplished composer, esteemed saxophonist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition. Her featured set will be followed by a jazz jam session. Bring your axe to sit in. $10 cover, $5 for students.

THURSDAY MAY 28: SENIOR SIPS AT 3 AMIGOS. 4 to 6 p.m., 68 Cowls Road. Join the Senior Center to socialize, discover local happenings and learn about available resources. Parking is available across the street in the Mill District parking lot. 3 Amigos is on the PVTA bus line. Sponsored by the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center, Amherst Neighbors, Downtown Amherst, and the Council on Aging.

THURSDAY MAY 28: COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY CONVERSATION: A JOURNEY THROUGH HARM AND HURT TO REPAIR FACILITATED BY ANDREA BATTLE. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Part of a four-part conversation series. Other programs are on Thursdays in June: June 11: Beyond the Silence: Dialogue on Domestic Violence, Safety and Support facilitated by Amherst Police Sergeant Janet M. Griffin; June 18: Cultural Humility in Community: Responding to Harm, Building Toward Healing, facilitated by Dayna Campbell; and June 25: Grief and Love are Sisters: Processing the Closure of Hampshire College, facilitated by Pat Romney. Register to attend any or all of these sessions at amherstma.gov/CommunityConversations. The Town will be providing a light meal and childcare during these events. Registration is required to ensure sufficient food and staff. 

SUNDAY MAY 30: MILL DISTRICT BEER FEST.  2 p.m., Provisions, 65 Cowls Road. Join us at Provisions Mill District for our first annual Beer Fest! Taste the freshest beers from some of the best New England breweries. This is a great opportunity to chat with your favorite brewer, and discover something new!

SUNDAY MAY 30: SALSA IN THE PARK. 6 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Get ready for the next Salsa in the Park Amherst of the season on Saturday May 30th!! We will have a great bachata lesson by Lenny and awesome social dancing!
💃🏻🌳 Salsa in the Park Amherst hosted by Salsa con Tacos Dance on
Saturday May 30th
🎉6-7pm Free Sensual Bachata Lesson by Lenny from Move Fitness by Lenny
🔥7-9:30pm Free Latin dance social with salsa, bachata and merengue music played by DJ Picu under the pavilion at the Mill River Recreation Park 95 Montague Rd Amherst, MA.
🌟Hosted by Salsa con Tacos Dance. Sponsored by the Amherst Recreation. Funded by the Amherst Cultural Council & Mass Cultural Council. Rain or shine!

MONDAY JUNE 1: PUBLIC FORUM ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 6:30 p.m., Town Hall and on Zoom. The regular Town Council meeting will be preceded by the annual public forum on the Capital Improvement program for the FY2027 budget.

THURSDAY JUNE 4: BOOK TALK: JEWS OF FLORIDA: CENTURIES OF STORIES WITH MARCIA JO ZERIVITZ. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Despite not being officially allowed to live in Florida until 1763, Jewish immigrants escaping expulsions and exclusions were among the earliest settlers, and Jews have been arriving ever since. Author Marcia Jo Zerivitz will share the stories of the Olympians, Nobel Prize winners, computer pioneers, educators, politicians, Yiddish writers, artists, and more that have called Florida home. Register. Free.

SUNDAY JUNE 7: ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF THE JONES LIBRARY. 3 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Walk. The public is invited to the Annual meeting of the Friends of the Jones Library. The featured speaker will be sports journalist Howard Bryant.  Bryant has written 11 books including the recently published Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America. Bryant will be in conversation with another local author, David Porter, a sports and investigative reporter known for his book Fixed: How Goodfellas Bought Boston College Basketball.

THURSDAY JUNE 11: : COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY CONVERSATION:BEYOND THE SILENCE: DIALOGUE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SAFETY, AND SUPPORT FACILITATED BY AMHERST POLICE SERGEANT JANET M. GRIFFIN. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Part of a four-part conversation series. Other programs are on Thursdays in June. June 18: Cultural Humility in Community: Responding to Harm, Building Toward Healing, facilitated by Dayna Campbell; and June 25: Grief and Love are Sisters: Processing the Closure of Hampshire College, facilitated by Pat Romney. Register to attend any or all of these sessions at amherstma.gov/CommunityConversations. The Town will be providing a light meal and childcare during these events. Registration is required to ensure sufficient food and staff. 

SUNDAY JUNE 14: 44TH ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA ROAD RACE: 9:30 a.m. 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. Not an Amherst event but directed by Indy stalwarts Art and Maura Keene. Scenic 4.8 mile road race and walk around Lake Wyola or a 1.6 mile fun run. Prizes and a raffle for all participants. All proceeds benefit the Lake Wyola AssociationThis is Art and Maura’s 16th and final year as race directors. Come bid them farewell and enjoy a great day at the lake. Benefits the Lake Wyola Association’s conservation efforts. Registration and more info

SUNDAY JUNE 14: BOOK TALK: DUAL IDENTITIES: LIVING IN MEIER’S SHADOW WITH ARTHUR M. HORWITZ. 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street and on livestream. After discovering an iconic Holocaust image of a terrified boy tucked inside his mother’s wallet, Arthur Horwitz is saddled with the responsibility of living two lives: his own and the one his mother’s little brother Meier, murdered in the Holocaust, never had. This is an insightful look at the impact of intergenerational trauma and the path to coping, healing, reconciliation, and remembrance. Register for the in-person event or livestream. Free.  

SUNDAY JUNE 14: LEVERETT COMMUNITY CHORUS AND CARAVAN CHORUS IN A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR LUCE. 4 p.m., Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main Street. LUCE is a coalition of immigrant led grassroots organizations who build people power for everyone across Massachusetts. Tickets sold only at the door, check or cash. $10 to $20 sliding scale.

THURSDAY JUNE 18: : COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY CONVERSATION:CULTURAL HUMILITY IN COMMUNITY: RESPONDING TO HARM, BUILDING TOWARD HEALING, FACILITATED BY DAYNA CAMPBELL. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Part of a four-part conversation series. The final program is June 25: Grief and Love are Sisters: Processing the Closure of Hampshire College, facilitated by Pat Romney. Register to attend any or all of these sessions at amherstma.gov/CommunityConversations. The Town will be providing a light meal and childcare during these events. Registration is required to ensure sufficient food and staff. 

THURSDAY JUNE 25: : COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY CONVERSATION: “GRIEF AND LOVE ARE SISTERS:” PROCESSING THE CLOSURE OF HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE, FACILITATED BY PAT ROMNEY. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Part of a four-part conversation series. Register to attend any or all of these sessions at amherstma.gov/CommunityConversations. The Town will be providing a light meal and childcare during these events. Registration is required to ensure sufficient food and staff. 

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 We Stand for Peace and Justice Amherst. 4-4:30 p.m. in the center of town in front of the Bank of America Building (1 S. Pleasant St.) Join Amherst community members from various affiliations, who come together every Tuesday to stand out in downtown Amherst for social justice, peace, and in support of our immigrants neighbors in danger. We often sing while standing together, accompanied by a guitar or drum. More info

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

TUESDAYS IN JUNE: INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR CLASS WITH GRETCHEN HOLESOVSKY. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Join Belchertown artist, Gretchen Holesovsky, at The Mill District Local Art Gallery for a series of four intermediate watercolor classes. An exploration of styles and expression will enhance your creative muse no matter how you choose to create. This series is jammed packed with information and has homework. Great for individuals who took Gretchen’s beginning watercolor series as well as intermediate artists who want to deepen their understanding of painting with watercolor. Ages 14+ Ticket a week before first class. Ticket Price: $100, Required Materials to Purchase: $122. Contact Shannon Borrell at Gallery@cowls.com.

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

WEDNESDAYS APRIL 1, 8, AND 15: THE HEART OF THE SEASON: SPRING. 6 to 8 p.m., Hitchcock Center, 845 West Street. Explore the seasonal themes of spring through the lenses of Chinese medicine and other Earth-based spiritual practices. In this three-week class, Dave Eyerman will guide participants in understanding how this season affects their body, emotions, and energy through a mix of teaching, group discussion, time outdoors, and guided meditation. Sliding scale registration cost, $60 to $90 for the series.

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+.

EVERY THURSDAY: IRISH MUSIC AT THE HARP. 4 to 7 p.m., The Harp, 163 Sunderland Road. Banish the cold and damp of the past months with Irish music. There may be Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bagpipes, Bouzouki, Bodhran and ?.  It’s always a surprise who shows up. Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Flings, Polkas, Slides, and Waltz’ from around the Celtic world.  Food, drink, friendship and a relentless cacophony of rhythmic tones. Undeterred by the chaos and heartbreak of our troubled world, As a favorite jig of mine says, We’re always Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part.  Who knows? .it might help banish misfortune for a moment. And, you may find out what a Luachrachan is.  Or how to pronounce “Cuil Aodh.”  I hope to see you. 

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.

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 FROM APRIL 18 THROUGH NOVEMBER 21: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common, Boltwood Avenue. The Amherst Farmers Market is widely known 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 in Downtown Amherst. Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm during the 2026 season of April 18 – November 21

SUNDAYS BEGINNING MAY 10: SANDLOT BASEBALL. 4 to 6 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School field, Chestnut Street. Get your bat, gum, and cleats ready to play some sandlot baseball! Every Sunday, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at the Amherst Middle School field you are invited to play with enthusiasts of the sport. Remember, this is for fun, open to all skills levels! $5 Drop-In Fee.  Remember, this is for fun, open to all skills levels! 

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 APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., 91 Cowls Road. The free car show for all! 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 THURSDAY JUNE 25: FEMME LOCALE “CHARMED”: FRONT WINDOW GALLERY EXHIBIT. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Exhibits by 30+ local women-identifying artists. Bringing up themes of controlling our world or achieving things as if by magic, we are keenly aware of how as women we need to walk a line and use our charms in the world that is designed for and by men. Curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota. Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays.