What’s Happening in Amherst?

by Art and Maura Keene

Help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings, including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send event listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14: UMASS CHILLY CHALLENGE FOR A VIOLENCE-FREE COMMUNITY.  10: 30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Puffers Pond, State Street. Each fall we gather to plunge into chilly water to raise awareness & funds for critical services for survivors and a violence-free community.   Whether you’re cheering from the shore, going all in, or anything in between, all are invited to join us! This year, we will be crowning two “Chilly Champions” for the people who raise the most funds and the most awareness (by getting others to sign up too). Champions will receive bragging rights and a special photo op. Learn more when you sign up!  Warm drinks & chili are provided, along with a DJ, games, and a photo op in the Chilly Champion’s Ice Throne. Registration $10-$25 for students, $25-$100 for community members.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14: LOTUS GIRL AUTHOR HELEN TWORKOV: READING AND PUBLIC INTERVIEW. 3 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 18 Spring Street. Lotus Girl: My Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and America traces Helen Tworkov’s personal spiritual journey alongside the emergence of Buddhism as a significant presence in American cultural life. Moving between memoir and cultural history, the book offers an insider’s perspective on the teachers, communities, ideals, experiments, and challenges that accompanied Buddhism’s development in the West. Following selected readings from Lotus Girl, Tworkov will join Kell Julliard for an interview exploring her life, the arrival and evolution of Buddhism in America, the promises and complications of bringing ancient contemplative traditions into modern Western culture, and what she has learned from a lifetime of practice. This event should be of particular interest to meditators and members of Buddhist and other contemplative communities, but it is designed equally for readers, students of religion and American culture, and anyone curious about the search for meaning in contemporary life. Free and open to the public. Register here.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14: DINNER AND QUEER FILM: LA BOLA NEGRA. 5:30 to 10 p.m., Asian Taste 11 North Pleasant Street and Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Dinner 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Film 7 to 10 p.m. La Bola Negra (The Black Ball), directed by Spanish filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (“Los Javis”), is a sweeping historical drama inspired by an unfinished play by legendary gay poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. The film weaves a non-linear narrative across three pivotal eras in Spanish history, tracing the interconnected lives of multiple queer men:

• 1932: Carlos (Milo Quifes), a young man longing for identity and belonging during the fragile Second Spanish Republic.
• 1937: Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente), a soldier navigating the brutal crucible of the Spanish Civil War who discovers forbidden desire and intimacy across enemy lines.
• 2017: Alberto (Carlos González), a modern man who unearths a long-buried family manuscript and secrets that confront the deliberate erasure of Spain’s queer history.

The ensemble cast includes Miguel Bernardeau, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, and guest appearances by Penélope Cruz and Glenn Close. IMPORTANT: If you want to join us for dinner before the film 5:30-6:30pm, please text Brad, the host, at least 24 hours before, so he can make an accurate reservation. His cell will be in your confirmation email. The show is likely to sell out, so buy your ticket soon directly from Amherst Cinema. YOU MUST BUY YOUR TICKET(S) USING THIS LINK: https://amherstcinema.org/coming-soon.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15: FIDDLE ORCHESTRA OF WESTERN MASS. 3 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. A concert by the Fiddle Orchestra of Western Mass featuring Annika Amstutz and Ann Percival. Free Admission. Donations appreciated.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15: PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT THE FRIENDS OF THE JONES LIBRARY. Hatfield Rally House, 255 West Street, North Hatfield. The Friends of the Jones Libraries is excited to host its third annual Pickleball Tournament. Proceeds of the Tournament support programs and services of the three branches of the Jones Library. This is This is a recreational friendly tournament, open to anyone 18 years or older, following USA Pickleball Rules (PDF). The Tournament is a Round Robin with up to 32 players per Session. In each Session there will be a 1st Place Prize Winner and a 2nd Place Prize Winner. Your player number will be drawn when you arrive to play. There are also free raffle prizes. Food and beverages will be provided. With 32 players, the games will be held on 8 indoor courts. Everyone will play a minimum of 7 rounds, each round with a different partner. You will have 12 minutes to play a game to 11 points (or more, if necessary, to win by two points). Once time is called, whichever side is ahead is the winner.

Session I

• Mixed Gender Intermediate, Level 3.0-3.4, 8:30 am – 10:45 am: The player has good mobility; good stamina; able to sustain medium length rallies; has some understanding of pickleball strategy; and successfully implements various shots.

Session II

• She/Her/They Advanced Intermediate, Level 3.5-3.9, 10:45 am – 1:00 pm: The player has very good pickleball footwork; very good mobility to cover the court; very good hand-eye coordination, as well as very good quickness for hands and feet; has command of many shots consistently; and is able to sustain medium to long rallies.

Session III

• Mixed Gender Intermediate, Level 3.0-3.4, 1:00 pm – 3:15 pm (limited to 16 players)
• He/Him/They Advanced Intermediate, Level 3.5-3.9, 1:00 pm – 3:15 pm (limited to 16 players): The player has very good pickleball footwork; very good mobility to cover the court; very good hand-eye coordination, as well as very good quickness for hands and feet; has command of many shots consistently; and is able to sustain medium to long rallies

Session IV

• She/Her/They Advanced Intermediate, Level 3.5-3.9, 3:15 pm – 5:30 pm (limited to 16 players)
• Mixed Gender Advanced, Level 4.0+, 3:15 pm – 5:30 pm (limited to 16 players): The player has excellent pickleball footwork, mobility, and hand-eye coordination, as well as quick hands and feet; has excellent stamina; understands and implements strategies at game speed; consistently employs all shots; and can sustain long rallies of varied pace.

Registration $60.  Registration closes on October 31.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15: GIVE THANKS PUMPKIN PAINT’N’SIP. 6 to 8:30 p.m., The Hangar Pub and Grill, 10 University Drive. Discover the joy of painting in this fun, beginner-friendly class designed for anyone aged 16 and up! Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or rediscovering a love for art, this class is the perfect place to start. You’ll receive a beautifully designed, easy-to-follow instruction booklet—complete with step-by-step directions and clear visuals—that you can take home and use again. Our professional instructor will guide you through creating your own stunning masterpiece on a pre-traced 11×14 flat canvas. All materials and tools are provided—just bring yourself and your creativity! Classes are held in a relaxed, open-studio setting that lets you paint at your own pace. To make things even easier, each 1.5- or 2-hour class includes an extra hour of studio time. Need a little extra help? Your instructor will be available for up to 30 minutes after class to answer questions and provide one-on-one guidance. Register here. $30.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17: REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB’S OFFICE HOURS.  12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. . This is an opportunity for constituents of the Third Hampshire District to speak to the Representative and her team and to share concerns and thoughts on state legislation, and to seek assistance. There is no need to schedule an appointment, constituents can stop by anytime during the hour to speak to Representative Domb or a member of her staff. If this is an urgent matter, please do not wait for office hours, you may want to call (413) 335-1362 or (617) 722-2060.   If you are unable to attend at these times or if you have a time sensitive or private matter, Representative Domb’s office can be reached via email at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or via phone at (413) 335-1362 or (617) 722-2060. Please include your name, address, and contact information when reaching out to the office,

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18: “QUEEN ESTHER” ILLUMINATED LECTURE BY HARLEY ERDMAN. 4:30 p.m., Rand Theater, UMass. Harley Erdman, a playwright, translator, dramaturg and professor of theater at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, will present an “illuminated lecture” that draws from his research about the 1613 play “Queen Esther” (“La reina Ester”), written by Felipe Godínez.  Five actors will read excerpts from the play (in the original Spanish and in Erdman’s English translation) and related scholarship. When it was written, the play about the famous Bible story got its author jailed for heresy.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18: SCHOOL EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Butternut Farm Community Center, 12 Longmeadow Dr, Join us to lend your voice and experience as we set our equity priorities for the coming year. Kids are welcome. We’ll have games and light refreshments. More info, contact: arps.seac@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18: BOSS BARITONES: GARY SMULYAN AND FRANK BASILE. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Inspired by the rich history of the great two-tenor pairings in jazz, the Boss Baritones continue this tradition with the pairing of saxophone’s lower pitched baritone brethren. Locking horns in the front line are two of today’s finest exponents and practitioners of the baritone saxophone in jazz: Gary Smulyan and Frank Basile. $10 cover, $5 for students. Free to those who come to the jam at the end of the show.  Full calendar of events here.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19: BALLETX. 7:30 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Philadelphia’s premiere contemporary ballet company returns to UMass. Founded in 2005 and led by Artistic and Executive Director Christine Cox, BalletX unites artistic innovation with technical excellence to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. The company has commissioned 150 world premiere pieces from more than eighty choreographers from around the world, helping to expand the vocabulary of contemporary ballet while positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the field. Tickets from $39, students $20.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19: BRIA SKONBERG. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Bria Skonberg is a Juno-award winning artist, 10-time Downbeat rising Star, recipient of the Legend Award by the Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook and a 2025 nominee for the European Academie du Jazz awards. The trumpeter, vocalist, and songwriter has been called the “shining hoe of hot jazz.” Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door.  Full calendar of events here.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20: DAMES, DISHES, AND DEGREES: A BOOK TALK WITH AMY MITTELMAN AT “HISTORY BITES.” 1 to 3 p.m., Bangs Community Center. Join us for a look back at the role of faculty wives in this new book by local author Amy Mittelman! At a time when the hidden labor that sustains major institutions is receiving renewed attention, a new book uncovers the overlooked role faculty wives played in building American academic life. In Dames, Dishes, and Degrees: Faculty Wives in America, historian Amy Mittelman explores how highly educated women – often barred from university employment by anti-nepotism rules and gender discrimination – organized faculty wives clubs that hosted events, mentored newcomers, supported philanthropy, and helped shape campus culture throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20: REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB’S OFFICE HOURS. 4 to 5 p.m., Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue. . This is an opportunity for constituents of the Third Hampshire District to speak to the Representative and her team and to share concerns and thoughts on state legislation, and to seek assistance. There is no need to schedule an appointment, constituents can stop by anytime during the hour to speak to Representative Domb or a member of her staff. If this is an urgent matter, please do not wait for office hours, you may want to call (413) 335-1362 or (617) 722-2060.  If you are unable to attend at these times or if you have a time sensitive or private matter, Representative Domb’s office can be reached via email at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or via phone at (413) 335-1362 or (617) 722-2060. Please include your name, address, and contact information when reaching out to the office

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21: ANNUAL SLEIGHBELL FAIR AT SOUTH CHURCH. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., South Church, 1066 South East Street. As always, the Sleighbell fair will bring holiday cheer, homemade specialties, and unique handcrafted treasures to the historic South Amherst Common. A beloved community tradition for more than 30 years, the Sleighbell Fair showcases the culinary talents, craftsmanship, and hospitality of South Church members and their friends. Guests can begin their day with freshly baked cinnamon buns and later enjoy a lunch featuring homemade soups and sandwiches served in a warm and welcoming setting. The fair will also offer a wide selection of baked goods, perfect for holiday gatherings and gift-giving. A popular destination for shoppers, the event features handcrafted gifts, clothing, accessories, and seasonal items created by local artisans and church members. Visitors can also browse an array of homemade jams, relishes, and specialty preserves from the church’s Fiddler’s Pantry. Additional attractions include a White Elephant/Collectibles Room, offering a variety of unique finds, as well as several raffle opportunities throughout the day. There will also be an Artists’ and Artisan’s Gallery showcasing paintings and photographs by local artists, as well as handcrafted creations by area woodworkers. Children can enjoy plenty of fun activities too – this includes a room packed with toys, games, and books available for purchase. Plus, Santa will visit the church from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The annual Sleighbell Fair is one of the church’s longest-running traditions, bringing together volunteers, artisans, and visitors to celebrate the holiday season. For more details on this program, please visit our website: https://amherstsouthchurch.org/sleighbell-fair/

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21: !GUITARRA! JOAO LUIZ REZENDE LOPES. 7:30 p.m. Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass. Best known as a member of the acclaimed Brasil Guitar Duo, Joao Luiz Rezende Lopes is a two-time Latin Grammy-nominated guitarist, educator and composer. As a performer and composer, he is equally at home with classical, Brazilian, and world music. Tickets start at $35, students $25.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22: FULL MOON HIKE TO MOUNT NORWOTTUCK. 4:30 p.m., Sweet Alice Conservation Area, 73 Bay Road. Hiking at night can change your perspective of what it means to spend time outdoors. Come experience a guided night hike on Sunday, November 22, 1:00-4:30 PM, for a moon-rise climb to the top of Mount Norwottuck on the Mount Holyoke Range. The full moon in November is called the Beaver Moon.This hike, in partnership with Adventure East, will begin at our Kestrel Land Trust headquarters located at the foot of the beautiful Mount Holyoke Range. We’ll climb for approximately an hour and a half before arriving to the top of Norwottuck. Once there, we will stop to take in the iconic views and watch the moon rise over the Pelham Hills and enjoy a snack provided by your Adventure East guide. Returning to the trailhead, we’ll have the unique opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the forest at night, guided by the light of the moon. Headlamps will be provided. Registration is required, and Kestrel members receive a 20% discount for this event by using the discount code: KLTMOON. Your discounted price will be $32 instead of $40.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28: SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Kick off the season by pledging to shop local in downtown Amherst! Boutiques, bookstores, galleries, and eateries are ready with special finds, friendly service, and festive vibes. Explore gift ideas you will not see anywhere else, enjoy treats and surprises along the way, and feel great knowing every purchase strengthens neighborhood jobs and character all week long. Enjoy free parking downtown on Saturdays from November 28 through December 26.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2: FEMINIST MOVEMENTS CONFRONTING OLIGARCHY. 6p.m. on Zoom. The Feinberg Distinguished Lecture Series at UMass will present a panel discussion with Elisabeth Armstrong, Professor of Women and Gender at Smith College, and Emily Callaci, Professor of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison. This panel explores the feminist and anticapitalist Wages for Housework movement of the 1970s. What can we learn from these social movements? How can they help us confront  oligarchy in the present to build a future where all people have value ? Register here.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2: HISTORY ON THE HALF SHELL: SNAKE OIL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE. 6 p.m., Amherst Oyster Bar, 51 North Pleasant Street. Lecture by Becca Lo Presti. Amherst History Center and Amherst Oyster Bar present History on the Half Shell, a series of offbeat talks for the “chronically curious.” $12 admission at the door, includes a drink. Stay for dinner and get 15% off of your meal. No reservations.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 THROUGH SUNDAY DECEMBER 6: GREETING CARD DAYS. Downtown Amherst. Send Amherst cheer with a weekend of savings and sweet surprises at participating retailers, featuring special offers and discounts up to 20 percent. Stock up on unique cards, thoughtful gifts, and wrapping essentials while you wander twinkling storefronts and check the most important names off your list.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4: A GLORIOUS FATE: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF COLONEL ROBERT GOULD SHAW.    1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The first biography of Shaw in a quarter century, A Glorious Fate: The Life and Legacy of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw traces his transformation from a rebellious son into one of the Civil War’s most celebrated heroes. Acclaimed historian Kevin M. Levin also reveals the sacrifice and service of the African American men who fought and died for their freedom afresh through Shaw’s eyes.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4: LIGHTING OF THE MERRY MAPLE. 3 to 6 p.m., North Common. The Lighting of the Merry Maple on the North Common is a beloved annual tradition that marks the start of the winter holiday season. Hosted in collaboration with the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the event features a variety of festivities for the whole family!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 3: MARIA MAZZOTTA. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Maria Mazzotta’s 2020 album, Amoreamaro, is both a gorgeous collection of open, emotional performances and a fascinating document of a musician and composer exploring the edges of a tradition awash in international influence. Mazzotta’s music on that effort ventures out from Salento (the heel of Italy’s boot) finding influences from across the Adriatic, Ionian, and Mediterranean, and shaping a sound at once fundamentally Pugliese and intriguingly international. Tickets start at $35, Students $20.  Full calendar of events here.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5: PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT FOR ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE TEAMS.  Hatfield Rally House, 255 West Street, North Hatfield. Independently run “HRH December MiLP-Style Team Showdown — Advanced Intermediate.” It uses four-person teams (two women and two men) and a mix of women’s, men’s and mixed doubles, with a tiebreaker when required. The stated skill range is 3.40–4.20, so this is not an introductory open-play event. The organizer’s listing currently gives November 30 at 11:55 p.m. EST as the registration deadline and notes that times may change. Importantly, it calls the format MiLP-style and says it is *not* an official Minor League Pickleball event. Original tournament / registration source:
https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/hrh-december-milp-team-showdown-advanced-intermediate. Venue website and public-access tournament context:
https://www.hatfieldrallyhouse.com/pickleball-competitions.

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, THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS: DROP IN PICKLEBALL. 8 a.m. to noon, Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Drop-in to play pickleball at Mill River Recreation Area. Nets are available on-site to put up and play! Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Amherst Recreation.

EVERY WEDNESDAY: COMMUNITY BREAKFAST. 8 to 10 a.m., Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 North Pleasant Street. The free community breakfast started in 2014 and meets every Wednesday at the UU. Meet the people served there and also a number of CRESS volunteers who are often working there as well. Sponsored by Craig’s Doors and Amherst Community Connections.

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

EVERY WEDNESDAY : CAFE. Bangs Community Center, Room 101, 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. Pastries provided generously by Atkins Farms Country Market. 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 Wednesdays, 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. 

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

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 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7: 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Times vary. UMass Department of Theater, Rand Theater, UMass. By William Finn (music and lyrics) and Rachel Sheinkin (book) Director: Gina Kaufman.Can you spell J-O-Y? Finn and Sheinkin’s musical follows a motley crew of spelling bee competitors in a delightful story that is by turns sweet, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny. As they navigate a gauntlet of words, the tweens candidly reveal hilarious and heartfelt stories from their home lives, each hoping to avoid the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life-unaffirming ding of the bell that signals a misspelling. Buy a ticket and brush up on your spelling — intrepid audience members can volunteer for the spelling bee hot seat at every performance! Recommended for ages 13 and up due to adult humor and situations, and references to sex. Tickets $19, $7 for seniors and students. Author Rachel Sheinkin will be present at the 2 p.m. performance on October 31.

NOW THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 3: “MY BEAUTIFUL, PITIFUL AGE:” THE 20^TH CENTURY THROUGH THE THOMAS P. WHITNEY COLLECTION.  Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The multipart exhibition at the Mead Art Museum and the Amherst Center for Russian Culture will offer the first in-depth exploration of the Thomas P. Whitney Collection of art and rare books. Exhibition materials will be shown in galleries in both locations throughout the 2026-2027 academic year: A graduate of Amherst College, Thomas P. Whitney (1917–2007, Class of 1937) worked as an economic analyst and then as a diplomat and journalist in Moscow from 1944 to 1953. Upon returning to the United States, he became known as an expert in Soviet affairs and a translator of Russian literature. Driven by a special interest in Russian-speaking networks of thought and visual art, he assembled a library of rare books, manuscripts, and periodicals that formed an intellectual whole with his art holdings. The literary materials established the Amherst Center for Russian Culture in 1991, followed a decade later by the gift to the Mead of approximately 700 artworks by over 160 artists from the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Today, these holdings remain one of the most comprehensive North American collections of art and literary materials from that region. The art collection encompasses the late Russian Empire and the Soviet Union while tracing artists’ global trajectories across the territories of present-day Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and beyond. Holdings include Orthodox icons from various periods and regions, as well as the artwork of important late 19th- and early 20th-century figures like Léon Bakst, Alexandre Benois, and Nicholas Roerich; radical modernists including Vassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Naum Gabo, Alexander Archipenko, Sonia Delaunay, Natalia Goncharova, Alexandra Exter; as well as major Soviet nonconformists like Vladimir Veisberg, Oskar Rabin, and Ülo Sooster. The collection combines paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, rare books, and manuscripts, with a special focus on the dialogue between visual art and literature.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 THROUGH SUNDAY DECEMBER 6: GREETING CARD DAYS. Downtown Amherst. Send Amherst cheer with a weekend of savings and sweet surprises at participating retailers, featuring special offers and discounts up to 20 percent. Stock up on unique cards, thoughtful gifts, and wrapping essentials while you wander twinkling storefronts and check the most important names off your list.