What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Istock
by Art and Maura Keene
FRIDAY MAY 2: GENOCIDE BAD: SIM KERN IN CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH MOUSHABECK. 7 p.m., Mahar Auditorium, UMass. Join author Sim Kern in conversation with their editor Hannah Moushabeck, as they discuss anti-zionism, collective liberation, and more. Sim Kern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Free People’s Village, an Indie Next Pick. As a journalist, book influencer, and anti-Zionist Jewish activist, Kern has used their social media platform to share educational content about Palestine and raise more than half a million dollars in direct aid for families in Gaza since October 7th, 2023.
FRIDAY MAY 2: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE: THE SABRINA CARPENTER DANCE PARTY. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. We’ll be dancing all night long to your favorite pop girlies, including Ariana Grande, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo and more. 18 and over. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
SATURDAY MAY 3: LOCAL COHOUSING COMMUNITIES’ OPEN HOUSE. Cherry Hill Cohousing in North Amherst and Village Hill Cohousing in Northampton will offer tours of their communities on Saturday, May 3, to acquaint area residents and visitors with the features of cohousing and its benefits. Cherry Hill will offer tours at 11 a.m. and Noon; Village Hill will offer tours at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are not required but visitors should arrive within these time frames. More informaton
SATURDAY MAY 3: MONTHLY SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH FOLKSINGER ROD SINCLAIR.Scottish/Danish Folksinger Rod Sinclair is the guest performer at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s monthly song and story swap on May 3. The event will be held at First Church, 165 Main Street, at 7 p.m. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $7.50 for the artist. Free parking is available behind the church. More information
SATURDAY MAY 3; ARCADIA PLAYERS PERFORM “VENETIAN VESPERS.” A RECONSTRUCTION OF VESPERS AT ST. MARK’S AS CELEBRATED IN THE 1640’S. 7:30 p.m., Grace Church, 14 Boltwood Avenue. By the 1560s the music of St. Mark’s in Venice had more impact on European sacred music than any other church music institution, a dominance it maintained well into the 17th Century. During this period, Vespers took on even more musical importance than the Mass, and music became the focal point of the entire service. Prayers and readings were whispered underneath the sound of the music, so that Vespers was really more like a concert than a church service. This program features works by two of St. Mark’s most important composers of the time, Giovanni Rovetta and Giovanni Rigatti. Their music was meant to appeal to the heart much more than to the mind, and is astoundingly sensual and almost overwhelming in its beauty. Andrus Madsen directs the Arcadia Players instrumental ensemble and a group of singers who specialize in music of the Baroque, including soprano Agnes Coakley Cox, mezzo soprano Sophie Michaux, tenors Jason Connell, Corey Shotwell, and Adam Simon, and bass Jacob Cooper. The program also includes instrumental music by Girolamo Frescobaldi and other prominent composers of the period. Tickets $10-$35.
SUNDAY MAY 4: DISTRICT 3 MEETING AT HICKORY RIDGE. 1 to 2:30 p.m., Hickory Ridge, West Pomeroy. All are welcome to join and have a chance to explore the trail system. Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek and Engineer Stephen Kogan will speak.
SUNDAY MAY 4: FLORAL WYCINANKI WITH LAURA GERYK. 1 to 3:30 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Come try wycinanki–a beautiful traditional Polish folk craft! Join Laura Geryk at The Local Art Gallery Sunday, May 4 from 1-3:30pm to explore a floral pattern – perfect for Mother’s Day. Invite your mother figure to join you at this class or gift it to a loved one. A great activity for all levels—suitable for both returning snippers and newbies! Wycinanki (pronounced vee-chee-nan-key) is a traditional Polish craft of paper cutting which is used for home decor that focuses on stylized images of nature and rural life. In this two-hour workshop, you will explore the Lowicz style of wycinanki, where layers of colored paper are cut, layered, and glued to create vibrant images. Participants will complete one piece in class, and will then have the skills and materials to make additional ones at home. $30. All materials provided. Ages 8+ with adult accompaniment due to use of sharp instruments. Register here.
SUNDAY MAY 4: ETTA ARTS AND THE RAINBOW PLAYERS PRESENT SHINE: 25 YEARS, CELEBRATE THE BRILLIANTS: A FASHION SHOW AND GALA. 2:30 p.m., The Carney Family Auditorium, UMass Amherst Furcolo Hall, 813 North Pleasant Street. The Show and Sell event you can’t miss. Buy and outfit and a percentage goes to ETTA. Gifts and services silent auction. Suggested donation $20. ETTA (Empowerment Through The Arts) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusive arts programming that fosters creativity and self-expression for individuals of all abilities. Their mission is to overcome barriers to creative actualization and promote universal participation in the arts. For more information or to register, visit etta-international.org or contact them at info@etta-international.org.
SUNDAY MAY 4: RETIREMENT TRIBUTE TO YIDDISH BOOK CENTER FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT AARON LANSKY. 2 p.m. on Zoom. This special celebration will include a musical performance by Eleanor Reissa and Friends, a short tribute movie by filmmaker Asaf Galay, and, of course, closing remarks by Aaron. Purchase a virtual ticket here. $54.
MONDAY MAY 5: “1200+”: A FILM AND PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS. 5 p.m., Old Chapel, UMass. The UMass Amherst Libraries will host a film screening and panel discussion for “1200+,” a documentary about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), on Monday, May 5, 5 p.m., in Old Chapel at UMass Amherst. There will be a reception beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the screening at 6 p.m. and the panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. Additionally, The Center for Women and Community will table at the event, offering resources and info about their Sexual Assault Support and Advocacy Services (SASA). The panel consists of film director Leonard Yakir, film producer and former Grand Chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Sheila North, and Jennifer Wood, who is Ojibway from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation, Ontario and a residential school survivor. This event is presented by the University Libraries in partnership with the Center for Multicultural Advancement & Student Success, Department of Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Center for Women and Community, and the departments of Film Studies, Anthropology and Communication. “1200+ “ was filmed in Canada where Indigenous communities have been tragically impacted by the violence and murder of Indigenous women and girls. The documentary was produced by former Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Sheila North, and Leonard Yakir who also directed the film.
TUESDAY MAY 6: RIBBON CUTTING AT THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM. 5 to 6 p.m., 280 Main Street. Celebrate the completed construction of the John and Elizabeth Armstrong Carriage House and the reopening of the Evergreens, home to Austin and Susan Dickinson. The exterior appearance of the carriage house is as faithful as possible in its design to evidence accumulated from historic maps, lithographs, and photographs. The interior layout mimics that of the historic carriage house while optimizing modern functions and flow. Event sponsored by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the Emily Dickinson Museum.
TUESDAY MAY 6: POLITICS & POLICY: A SPRING LECTURE SERIES AT UMASS DOWNTOWN. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., 108 N. Pleasant Street. Dr. Charli Carpenter, specialist in international law and human security speaks at the free session that is open to the public. Come engage with leading scholars and local community members as we explore the policies shaping the future.
WEDNESDAY MAY 7: SNEAK PEAK: ANCESTRAL BRIDGES NEW LOCATION. 4:30 to 6 p.m., 29A Cottage Street. Take the next step on our journey as we enhance the arts and culture landscape of Amherst, MA, guided by the authenticity and vision that stems from its Black and Afro-Indigenous roots. A new cultural anchor where archives pulse with the vibrant heartbeat of a community. This initiative celebrates an opportunity to honor, share, and uplift narratives that connect us all. Together, we can cultivate a spirit of connection, reciprocity, and support, ensuring that every story becomes a treasured element of our collective experience.
WEDNESDAY MAY 7: BIT BRIGADE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Bit Brigade performs rock covers of full NES game soundtracks as their gamer speedruns the game live on stage. Tickets $17 in advance, $20 at the door. See full calendar here.
THURSDAY MAY 8: JONATHAN TODD COMICS WORKSHOP. 3:30 p.m., Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The Jones Library and Mead Art Museum welcome award-winning graphic novelist Jonathan Todd on May 8 at 4pm for a comics-making workshop inspired by his 2024 graphic novel, Timid! Attendees will create their own biographical comics during this hands-on session. Attendees will also have time to explore the Re/Presenting exhibit at the Mead Museum from 3:30-4:00pm. For ages 9-12.
THURSDAY MAY 8: FAR OUT: LIFE ON AND AFTER THE COMMUNE. 7 a.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. FAR OUT follows a group of radical journalists who, in 1968, amidst a left wing faction fight, leave New York City for Montague, MA to become pioneers in the back-to-the-land and organic farming movement. Join us for a post-film discussion with director Charles Light and commune members Sam Lovejoy and Verandah Porche. Sponsored by UMass Amherst Libraries and the Robert S. Cox Special Collections and University Archives Research Center.
FRIDAY MAY 9: CUPPA JOE ON THE FY26 BUDGET. 8 to 9:30 a.m., outdoor patio at the Bangs Center (rain location room 101), 70 Boltwood Walk. The Town of Amherst invites community members to join us for coffee and conversation at our upcoming Cuppa’ Joe with Paul about the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget. This event features Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Treasurer/Collector Jennifer LaFountain, and
Clerk of the Council Athena O’Keefe. We welcome all community members to join us for this informal conversation about the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The budget includes all aspects of Town operations including Municipal, Schools, Regional Schools, Library, and Capital for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
FRIDAY MAY 9: FEMME LOCALE: SEEN—SCENE—CENE RECEPTION. 5 to 7 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Seen—Scene—Cene is a group juried exhibition of artwork by trans women, cis women, intersex, genderqueer, genderfluid, and non-binary people within 39 miles of Amherst, on view in the Front Window gallery of the Mill District Local Art Gallery from Sunday, May 4 through Thursday, June 26. It is curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota.
FRIDAY MAY 9: POP-UP COMMUNITY DANCE PARTY. 7 to 9 p.m., Munson Library, 1046 South East Street. Our second free community pop-up dance party. This joyful gathering is open to everyone—bring your friends, family, and dancing shoes! With beats by DJ Funkadelic Fern, the evening promises two hours of music, dance, and connection. The venue is fully accessible. The vibe is all about having fun, connecting with each other, and shaking off the winter. this community-focused event is all about sharing joy through dance and coming together—no strings attached, just good music and good vibes. We ask that folks carpool where possible and to leave the parking spaces near the front door open for those who have more need of them. Imbibe before or after, this is an alcohol-free event. This event is made possible with the support of Everyday Wellbeing and Redefine Connection.
FRIDAY MAY 9: COMEDY NIGHT AT AMHERST PUBLIC HOUSE. 8 p.m., Amherst Public House, 40 University Drive. See Comedian Katie Arroyo (Mohegan Sun regular) in Amherst! Katie Arroyo is a comedian who has performed throughout New England and featured in clubs in New York and Boston. With an aggressive-good natured act, her varied life experiences have given her the ability to connect with any audience. In her short time as a stand up, Katie has become a favorite in the New England scene- featuring frequently at The RI Comedy Connection, Mohegan Sun and Laugh Boston. Her love of projects and fear of missing out on anything is in your favor as you can listen to her on a few podcasts- She cohosts Wicked Funny Podcast, and The Messy Show Podcast will be debuting in March. Audiences love Katie because her philosophy in life is to try it all- and fortunately for us on stage is where she shares it all. Book your Free Reservation today!
FRIDAY MAY 9: BRUCE HORNSBY & YMUSIC PRESENT BRHYM. 8 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. The grand finale to an unparalleled season is Bruce Hornsby with yMusic on May 9. Many have followed Hornsby since the release of his Grammy-winning debut album, The Way It Is, in 1989. Deadheads know him as keyboardist for the Grateful Dead in the early 1990s. Others have joined his following along his journey through twenty-four rock, jazz, blues, and bluegrass albums, thirteen Grammy nominations, and three Grammy wins. Bruce Hornsby, with the chamber music sextet yMusic, brings a performance you simply cannot miss. Tickets $54-$99, Students $19-$34.
SATURDAY MAY 10: 13TH ANNUAL AMHERST SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Town Common. Coinciding with the regularly scheduled Amherst Farmer’s Market, this free and family friendly event brings together local farmers, environmental vendors, live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, and much more. Festival highlights include:Environmental Vendors; Meet and learn from a variety of businesses and organizations dedicated to sustainability and environmental protection including renewable energy vendors, energy efficiency product suppliers, advocacy groups, and sustainable crafts and artisans.Live Entertainment: Enjoy a lineup of local musicians and artists providing dynamic performances throughout the event. Demonstration Area: Participate in hands-on learning experiences with experts in various fields. Activities Around the Common: Attendees can also check out performances by Henry the Juggler, an electric vehicle display with test drives, sustainable crafts, and the Amherst Fire Department’s first hybrid fire truck.
SATURDAY MAY 10: POETRY WALK. 10 a.m., Emily Dickinson Museum, On May 10, In honor of the 139th anniversary of the poet’s death, join the Emily Dickinson Museum for the annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst, the town she called “paradise.” This year’s Walk celebrates the opening of the newly reconstructed carriage house with stops that explore its significance to Amherst’s cultural landscape and to the poet herself. Take the walk at your own pace, but be sure to head to Dickinson’s grave in West Cemetery in time for the 12 pm final poems and a lemonade toast to our favorite poet! The Walk takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Participants begin at the Homestead at any time between 10am and 11am to pick up their Poetry Walk map and daisies to lay at the grave. The Walk stations close at 11:45am so that all participants can make it to the final stop at noon in West Cemetery. Free, but advance registration required. Registration for the walk does not include admission to the museum. For museum tickets click here.
SATURDAY MAY 10: CHRYSTIA CABRAL “SPELLING” PORTRAIT OF MY HEART TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. With Feminine Aggression. When Chrystia Cabral first conceived of “Portrait of My Heart,” the title track and spiritual core of her fourth full-length as SPELLLING, it was an eight-minute, multi-part epic, with a lengthy intro section inspired by The Cure. Tickets $22 in advance, $25 at the door. See full calendar here.
SUNDAY MAY 11: CREATE A MOSAIC STEPPING STONE WITH JUDY VAZQUEZ. 1 to 4 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. This Mother’s Day create something that will be enjoyed for years to come. Join Judy Vazquez at The Local Art Gallery on Sunday, May 11 from 1-4pm to make a Mosaic Stepping Stone. Have fun experiencing the freedom and joy of mosaics as you create a piece of art for your outdoor or indoor sacred space. Through various techniques participants will learn the direct technique of applying various styles, colors and tesserae (stones, ceramics, beads, words, glass and tiles) and how to grout to assure a long life for your art. Each participant will use precut tesserae on cement to make a piece unique to your individual creativity and vision. Choices for the base are either a 6 or 10-inch circle. Instruction will be provided via demos, hands on creating, and one on one guidance. Judy will help you with the development of design ideas in a safe, supportive environment. Learn how a mosaic piece can evolve – there are no mistakes, only opportunities in this medium! Participants will leave the class with a finished piece for outside or indoor beauty. $35, all materials included. Ages 6+ with adult accompaniment. Be sure to wear clothing that may get grout or glue on it. All can be washed out. Register here.
SUNDAY MAY 11: AUTHOR TALK: LOUIS B. MAYER AND IRVING THALBERG: THE WHOLE EQUATION, WITH KENNETH TURAN. 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street and on Zoom. Join former Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan for a conversation about his new book, Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation. One was a tough junkman’s son, the other a cosseted mama’s boy, but they dreamed the same mighty dream: that the right movies could make a profit and change both the culture and individual lives. Sharing a religion and an evangelical zeal for film, Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957) and Irving Thalberg (1899–1936) were unlikely partners in one of the most significant collaborations in movie history. Over the course of their decade-long relationship, as key players at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and major players in Hollywood, they joined forces in redefining and mastering the template for the film industry.
SUNDAY MAY 11: YING STRING QUARTET. 4 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Ying Quartet occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world. The Quartet has established itself as an ensemble of the highest musical qualifications. Their performances regularly take place in many of the world’s most important concert halls, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House; at the same time, the Quartet’s belief that concert music can also be a meaningful part of everyday life has also drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as the workplace, schools, juvenile prisons, and the White House. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $5 for students. See full calendar here.
MONDAY MAY 12: LAST DAY TO ORDER WEST AFRICAN TAKE-OUT DINNER TO SUPPORT THE ARHS SENE-GAMBIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM. West African take-out meals are back! The Amherst Regional High School Sene-Gambian Scholars Program is once again partnering with South Congregational Church to offer savory West African meals (in take-out containers), available for pick-up at the church (1066 South East Street, Amherst) on Saturday, May 17, 5-6 p.m. The choices once again are vegan domoda, a savory peanut stew, with a generous portion of mixed vegetables, served over jasmine rice (this dish is gluten-free); and chicken yassa, chicken legs with a sauce of onions, olives, mustard, and spices, served with jasmine rice and a side of roasted vegetables. Donations are also welcome. Meals are $16 each and may be ordered online at https://tinyurl.com/SGSmeals. The deadline to order is Monday, May 12. Proceeds will support scholarships for students whose families cannot afford the full cost of the Sene-Gambian Scholars exchange trip to Senegal and The Gambia, as well as the Amherst Survival Center and the Food Bank of Western Mass. If you have questions about the event, email pennimanb@arps.org or text 413-687-0910.
WEDNESDAY MAY 14: THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. 5 to 7 p.m., Bangs Community Center Room 101 and online. For grades 6-12. The Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is excited to hold workshops led by Citizens for Juvenile Justice. Free. Refreshments provided. Register here.
THURSDAY MAY 15: ACUPUNCTURE: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join an informal talk and Q & A with Jonathan Klate, Ph.D., Licensed Acupuncturist. Traditional acupuncture may be the oldest continually practiced medical system in the world. First systematized in China several thousand years ago, it continues to flourish around the world today, and is now endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and available in major hospitals and medical centers. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. Zoom link here. No registration required.
SATURDAY MAY 17: GARDEN CLUB OF AMHERST SPRING PLANT SALE. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Each May since 1951, The Garden Club of Amherst has held a plant sale on the Amherst Common. At this event, members sell plants from their own gardens and share knowledge (free/priceless!) with the community. Buy plants, get gardening advice and meet fellow gardeners. All proceeds are redirected to the local community, including the Amherst School Garden program which leads garden-based learning in the town’s elementary schools.
THURSDAY MAY 22: JUDY BROOKS CONVERSATION: A BETTER CHANCE. 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. The League of Women Voters of Amhertst hosts a conversation with A Better Chance (ABC) in Amherst. ABC is a national residential high school program that prepares academically talented African American, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles. Since the Amherst program began, over 120 scholars have graduated from ARHS. The event will be on Zoom; register here.
SATURDAY MAY 24: SALSA IN THE PARK. 6 to 9:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Free salsa lesson and Latin dance social. Come enjoy awesome dancing and music outside as well as delicious food from the Thai Chili food truck! Sponsored by Amherst Recreation. Funded by the Amherst Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
TUESDAY JUNE 10: POLITICS & POLICY: A SPRING LECTURE SERIES AT UMASS DOWNTOWN. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., 108 N. Pleasant Street. Dr. Jane Fountain, director of the School of Public Policy and digital governance expert speaks at the free session that is open to the public. Come engage with leading scholars and local community members as we explore the policies shaping the future.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: 43RD ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA ROAD RACE AND WALK. 9:30 a.m., Lake Wyola Association Building, 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. Enjoy a challenging 4.8 mile walk or run around scenic Lake Wyola on paved and dirt roads. This is an iconic community event with lots of refreshments, prizes and a raffle. For the less ambitious, there is a 1.6 mile fun run at 10:10 a.m. The race serves as a primary fundraiser for the nonprofit Lake Wyola Association. And you can take a swim at the nearby state beach afterward. Information and registration at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/LakeWyolaRoadRace. Indy staffers Art and Maura Keene are the race directors.
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. 10-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a new LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. The July coffee hour will be held on July 11, due to July 4 being the first Tuesday of the month.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH: ARTIST SOCIAL AND CRITIQUE. 6 to 8 p.m., Local Art Gallery, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. All local artists, both beginners and established, are invited to attend our Artist Social and Critique that meets every 2nd Thursday of the month in The Local Art Gallery from 6-8pm. Help us create a safe space for a supportive and constructive artistic feedback while expanding your connections to other artists. Artist social time from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Artist critique from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Share digital images by emailing to gallery@cowls.com in advance. For information, contact Shannon Borrell at gallery@cowls.com or 413-835-0966.
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 IN APRIL: DROP-IN VACCINE CLINIC. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Public Health Department, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Free flu and COVID shots while supplies last. Individuals over 65 are eligible for a COVID booster this spring. Protect yourself and others. Stay healthy! For more information, email publichealth@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3077.
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+.
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 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 STUDENTS 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 THURSDAY MAY 8: Daily performances by the UMass Department of Music and Dance. Most are free. Various locations for performances by UMass students and faculty. See here for a complete listing.
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 9: (OFF) BALANCE: ART IN THE ATE OF HUMAN IMPACT. UMass Museum of Contemporary Art. The Graduate Curatorial Exhibition, co-curated by Adeyemi Adebayo, M.F.A. studio arts candidate, Eva Barajas, M.A. art education candidate, and Bo Kim, M.F.A. studio arts candidate, invites viewers to explore the intricate ways we interact with, interpret and shape our environment and challenges audiences to reflect on themes of transformation, human intervention and the tension between destruction and conservation. Opening reception Wednesday, March 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. Information.
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY MAY 9: IS ANYTHING THE MATTER? DRAWINGS BY LAYLAH ALI AND HIGH FIVE/TAKE FIVE. UMass Museum of Contemporary Art. “Is anything the matter?” includes more than one hundred drawings by Ali dating from 1993 to 2020. Though the drawings range in format – including ink, colored pencil, soluble crayon, colored marker and mixed media works – each piece explores Ali’s ongoing interest in the amalgam of race, power, gendering, human frailty and murky politics. High Five / Take Five” is an interactive exhibition featuring five art works from the museum’s permanent collection. Each piece will be accompanied by a prompt that asks participants to engage their senses, look closely and respond to the artworks through drawing, listening and writing. Gallery Talk: Wednesday, February 19, 4 to 5 p.m. More information.
NOW THOURGH SATURDAY MAY 31: CONFLUENCE – PAINTINGS BY PAULA HITE AT GALLERY A3. Repeating bands of vibrant color dance and weave through Paula Hite’s recent abstract acrylic paintings on paper in her solo exhibit, CONFLUENCE, at Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D in Amherst. The exhibit opens on Thursday May 1 and will run through Saturday, May 31. There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Thursday May 1 from 5-7 p.m. and a free, online art forum on Thursday May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Register here. More information
SUNDAY MAY 4 THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 26: FEMME LOCALE: SEEN—SCENE—CENE EXHIBITION. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Seen—Scene—Cene is a group juried exhibition of artwork by trans women, cis women, intersex, genderqueer, genderfluid, and non-binary people within 39 miles of Amherst, on view in the Front Window gallery of the Mill District Local Art Gallery from Sunday, May 4 through Thursday, June 26. It is curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota.
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7: PORTRAITS IN RED: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BY NAYANA LAFOND. D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield Museums. In her powerful series of portraits, artist and activist Nayana Lafond sheds light on the crisis affecting Indigenous peoples, particularly women, who are eleven times more likely to go missing than the national average. Each portrait depicts a missing or murdered Indigenous person, a family member, or an advocate, rendered in shades of gray and marked by a vivid red handprint—the only color visible to spirits—to raise awareness, inspire action, and honor the lives and stories of those impacted by this crisis. Lafond, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, graduated from Amherst High School and lives in Western Massachusetts. After studying at the Massachusetts College of Art, she became a full-time painter and has served as a curator and community arts organizer for over twenty years. Visit her website.