What’s Happening in Amherst?

by Art & 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.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13 THROUGH SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: “NEXT TO NORMAL” PULITZER PRIZE WINNING MUSICAL. 7:30 p.m., Rand Theater, Fine Arts Center, UMass. How do you hold onto reality amidst a whirlwind? Diana’s ordinary home-maker life of managing family dynamics and school lunches quickly disintegrates amid the twin challenges of bipolar disorder and grief. Meanwhile, her family members do their best to keep up under the strain of their own individual struggles. Next to Normal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, looks at the ripple effects of mental illness, stress, grief, secrets, and tremendous love — all set to a driving rock score. Content advisory: Depictions and discussion of mental illness, self-harm, suicide, death, medical trauma, delusional episodes, and drug use. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Next to Normal is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. Tickets $7 to $19. Performances November 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m., and Saturday, November 22 at 2 p.m.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15: CENTER FOR WOMEN & COMMUNITY CHILLY CHALLENGE AT PUFFER’S POND. 10:30 a.m. The Center for Women & Community (CWC) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites all to join its annual Chilly Challenge fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Puffer’s Pond in North Amherst beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Challenge is an annual event that began in 2021, during Covid pandemic isolation, to bring community together while raising awareness and supporting services provided to those impacted by violence. Participants raise awareness and funds in support of free Sexual Assault Support, Advocacy and Prevention Services in Hampshire County. All are invited to take the plunge (or just dip a toe in) in Puffer’s Pond or choose a less chilly way to support, such as making a donation. There will be warm chili, cider and desserts provided by UMass Dining.The rain date for the event will be Sunday, November 16. Contact Center for Women & Community, cwc@umass.edu, 413-545-0883.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15: NORTH AMHERST COMMUNITY FARM VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS. 10 a.m. to mid-afternoon, North Amherst community Farm, 1089 North Pleasant Street. We are continuing the efforts to improve the farm landscape by cutting back the rampant weed growth, pruning trees. and pulling out invasives. If you can, bring tools to cut down weeds and brush, as well as gloves. We are hoping to be able to burn piles of brush.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16: PAINT & POETRY OPEN MIC FOR THE AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER. 1 to 3 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Paint & Poetry is a 90-minute gathering of reflection, creativity, and connection. Come as you are to share your words, listen deeply, and paint as inspiration unfolds. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting stained as we will be playing with acrylic paint. Please bring poetry or other written material that you would like to read or present. You do not need to be the author. Light refreshments provided. Free. Ages 16+. Please RSVP as there is limited seating.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16: COHO CONCERTS: CHARLIE KING, COLLEEN KATTAU AND OPENER ELI ELKUS). 7 p.m., Cherry Hill Cohousing, 120 Pulpit Hill Road. Join us for a night of duets, political satire, and songs for perilous times. Tickets $15-$25 sliding scale. No reservations. Seating first come, first serve. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16: WEAKENED FRIENDS FEELS LIKE HELL TOUR.  8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Weakened Friends are a fuzzed-out, high-energy indie rock trio from Portland, Maine, known for their punchy hooks, raw lyricism, and loud, cathartic live shows. Led by songwriter/guitarist Sonia Sturino, with Annie Hoffman on bass and Adam Hand on drums, the band channels a mix of 90s alt-rock nostalgia and modern emotional intensity. Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door.  Full calendar of events here.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16 AND TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “BODY HEAT”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17: BEACH FOSSILS WITH BEING DEAD. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Throughout the last 15 years, Beach Fossils have steadily earned their stature as one of the most definitive and enduring bands of the 2010s New York underground, consistently reaching new listeners as their sound has grown from the DIY solo project of Dustin Payseur to an influential four-piece dream pop band, self-produced and self-released. Tickets $35 in advance and $40 at the door.  Full calendar of events here.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: DEMOCRACY AT THE MICROPHONE: A CONVERSATION WITH LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO. 12 to 1:30 p.m., Goodell Hall, 140 Hicks Way, UMass. Award-winning journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro will join Alex Theodoridis, Associate Professor of Political Science and co-director of the UMass Poll to discuss what Garcia-Navarro’s career at NPR and The New York Times‘s “The Interview” has taught her about conversations across political differences, public trust, democratic values, and why plural stories matter to a democratic society. The event is free and open to all.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “BODY HEAT”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A+ AWARDS. 5 to 8 p.m., UMass Student Union Ballroom. The annual A+ awards honor leaders across Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland. This year’s honorees include Sarah Moroney, Robert Allingham, Alyssa Petrides, Weston Dripps, Clare Higgins, and Tulio Inglese. Tickets $90.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: YOGA AT THE MUSEUM. University Musuem of Contemporary Art, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass. 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Relax and rejuvenate in a guided yoga session surrounded by the museum’s exhibitions. Space is limited.  Registration required. The museum is in the lower level of the Randolph W. Bromery Center for the Arts. Free.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: STATE REP. JOAN MESCHINO ON THE CLIMATE BANK BILL. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Local Energy Advocates is very excited to host State Representative Joan Meschino for a presentation and conversation about the Mark/Meschino climate bank bill.  S.786/H3937, An Act to Create a Climate Bank in Massachusetts, if enacted, will use a well-established public-private partnership model that uses public ‘seed’ monies to attract much larger sums of private investment to finance and support climate and clean energy initiatives. With the rescinding of federal funding for clean energy programming, innovative climate funding, like the climate bank bill, could not be more timely. 

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18: EDWARD TICK BOOK TALK. 7 p.m., Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. Edward Tick will talk about his new book, Passage to Poros: In the Sanctuary of the Sea God. In this book, Tick rediscovers asylia, the original practice of sanctuary that provides safety & inspiration while facilitating healing & connection to divinity. Drawing on ancient traditions, Tick explains how we know ourselves, our destinies, & our connection to the divine through dreams, visions, oracles, & synchronistic events. Tick has been traveling to Poros for 40 years and has conducted transformational pilgrimages there since 1995, facilitating deep healing and spiritual connections in the manner of the ancients. Passage is his third nonfiction book on Greece, resurrecting ancient practices for modern seekers. He is also a poet and will read from his collection Sweet Breezes, forthcoming in spring. Tick is best known and honored for his groundbreaking work in the spiritual, holistic & community-based healing of veterans & Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dr. Tick has been a psychotherapist for more than 40 years, specializing in working with veterans since the 1970s. He is also honored for exploring the spiritual origins of psychotherapy and medicine in ancient Greece and resurrecting their practices for our modern times in need of living spirituality. With special performance of original music “Dream of Poseidon” by Rich Thomas.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: SOUTH AMHERST SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PRESENTATION. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with Joy Squared Architects, is exploring possible redevelopment options at the South Amherst School at 1001 South East Street. This process aims to create a plan that reflects community input, zoning considerations, existing physical features, and housing needs. In June, we hosted a visioning session to hear ideas from the community. Next, join us at this concept presentation to explore architectural concepts and learn about the unique benefits and tradeoffs of each option. Help us shape the future of the South Amherst School building!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: PUBLIC HEARING ON TWO ZONING PROPOSALS: A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WITH MORE THAN FOUR UNITS AND ZONING FOR LIVABILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND BALANCE IN FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Comments may be submitted to the Planning Board here.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: AUTHOR THOMAS SUAREZ, SPEAKING ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK, PALESTINE MAPPED: FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA IN EARLY GEOGRAPHIC THOUGHT. Thompson Hall, Room 106, at UMass Amherst  7:00 pm. 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: ACCLAIMED JOURNALIST FARAI CHIDEYA TO DELIVER 4^TH ANNUAL ELLSBERG LECTURE AT UMASS. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Integrated Learning Center S211, UMass. The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will host award-winning journalist, author, and radio host Farai Chideya for the 4th Annual Ellsberg Lecture on Wednesday, November 19. In her talk, “How to Read the United States on the Eve of 250,” Chideya will examine the perilous state of American democracy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. Drawing on decades of experience covering presidential politics, social change, and the media, she will explore the roots of the country’s democratic crises and what it means to navigate truth, power, and belonging in a fractured political landscape. Farai Chideya is an independent journalist who created Our Body Politic, a nationally syndicated public radio show and podcast centering Black women and all women of color. The show produced January 6: An American Story, a documentary about BIPOC investigators on the January 6th Committee. She is the author of six books, including The Episodic Career: How to Thrive at Work in the Age of Disruption. Chideya has covered every presidential election since 1996 and has worked for outlets including FiveThirtyEight, NPR, CNN, and ABC News. Born and raised in Baltimore, she is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.eipad.org. 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: “CARAVAGGIO;” A DOCUMENTARY. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street.  Amherst Cinema will screen the documentary “Caravaggio on November 19. The movie, which was in production for five years before its release, is about the legendary Renaissance painter Caravaggio, known as a master of chiaroscuro, a technique involving light and shadow. It features numerous works by Caravaggio and examines the way that his works depicted clues about himself and his psyche. In the program notes, director Phil Grabsky wrote, “Caravaggio was deeply thoughtful, spiritually inquisitive, and artistically revolutionary. He believed deeply in the power of realism to connect with people on an emotional level. He chose models from the streets not to shock, but to speak truth. He painted saints with dirt under their fingernails because he understood that the divine resides in the real, the raw, the human. That takes courage. It takes conviction. And it takes a kind of empathy that few artists before or since have managed to express so powerfully. This is not a film about a man in the shadows. This is a film about an artist who used light to reveal the soul.” The theater will also re-air the movie on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1:30 p.m. Tickets.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19: NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP WITH GRANT STEWART. 7:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Stewart can be found playing at such clubs as Smalls, Lincoln Center, Birdland, SMOKE, the Kitano, the Jazz Standard, and many more. He has also performed all over North America, Europe, Japan, Brazil and Taiwan. $10 cover, $5 for students. Featured set followed by a jazz jam session. Bring your axe to sit in.  Full calendar of events here.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: UNITY WALK. 3:30 to 5 p.m., UMass Recreation Center, 161 Commonwealth Ave. In challenging times, we come together. Over the past few days, the UMass and Amherst communities have shown incredible care and generosity as we help students impacted by the Olympia Place fire. Let’s make that support visible. Join us for a Unity Walk through campus, starting with brief remarks and ending with light refreshments back at the Rec Center.
Ways to Give Back Opportunities to donate to SCERF, New2U, and the Campus Pantry will be available. As the holiday season approaches, let’s celebrate gratitude and continue supporting those in need.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: ACTIVE BYSTANDER TRAINING. 5:30 to 8 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join the Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for this free community workshop hosted by Training Active Bystanders. Registration is required. Training Active Bystanders (TAB) teaches how bystanders can interrupt harmful situations and generate positive actions instead of remaining passive. In a community, active bystandership transforms the culture into one where harmful behavior is not tolerated. It fosters more supportive and respectful interactions, strengthens community bonds, and promotes a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. Since 2008, TBA workshops have been implemented in over 20 school districts with 3,200 community and student trainers presenting the workshops to more than 32,000 people regularly and globally. You will leave this interactive workshop with skills that will empower you to make a positive difference in your community and the world. This event is part of the Town of Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming. Participants are invited to engage in DEI-led civic conversations that foster a welcoming environment for the Amherst community. Register here.  Registration is required, but you can sign up anytime – even on the day of the event!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: BOOK LAUNCH: DAUGHTERS BY CORINNE DEMAS. 7 p.m., Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. Daughters is a new novel “exploring the age-old friction between mothers and daughters, a story of a family rediscovering itself.“  There will be a reading, discussion, and refreshments. Daughters is Demas’ 39^th published book. She says, “I’ve done several events at Amherst Books in the past. I’m eager to help support this important local business and hope you can include this event in your calendar. Please come.”  

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20: SOWETTO GOSPEL CHOIR. Tillis Performance Hall, 151 Presidents Drive, UMass, 7 p.m. Three-time Grammy winners, the Soweto Gospel Choir return to our stage with a new live program, Peace, featuring South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and choir classics, alongside spirited selections from Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Leonard Cohen among others. Tickets start at $40. for the general public, $20. for students and youth. TIX and more information

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21: THE BEST OF ERIC HUTCHINSON TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. This tour is sure to be a memorable and uplifting night of music in an intimate setting. For each show, concert-goers will get to vote on the setlist. ensuring a unique and special show in every city. All of the evenings will be packed with music, soul, energy, and Eric’s signature dry sense of humor and storytelling. Plus, Eric will always stay after his performances to meet fans, sign items, and take pictures. Tickets $28 in advance, $32 at the door.  Full calendar of events here.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SLEIGHBELL FAIR. South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be lots of beautiful Handmade Crafts, Jams and Jellies, Tricky Pickles, Homemade Baked goods, Raffle Items, Antiques and Collectibles, Quality used Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, Toys, and Household goods and Christmas items. The Kitchen is serving Homemade Clam Chowder, Stone Soup, Hot Pork Sandwich, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Chicken Salad Plate, Hummus Sandwiches, Pumpkin Mousse, and Apple Crisp. More information

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23: “ONE FAMILY IN GAZA,” AN ORIGINAL PLAY BY CRYSTAL ZEVON. 2 to 4 p.m., First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton.  This non-fiction drama is based on the friendship between Zevon and a young father in the Gaza Strip. The story is told through their correspondence since the fall of 2023, reflecting Zevon’s efforts to help the family, intertwined with short news reports that give context to the letters. The main focus is the messages received from the young father which, while telling a story that in some ways reflects universal truths about living through any war, offers insights into this particular conflict. Not unlike The Diary of Anne Frank, the piece is a rare telling of a war experience in real time, calling upon
us to never forget our common humanity. Other performances 7 p.m., Friday, November 21 in Ethel the Barn, Southampton (RSVP http://Ethelthebarn@gmail.com) and 2 p.m. Saturday, November 22 at the Sunderland public library, 20 School Street.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23 AND TUESDAY 25: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “LE CERCLE ROUGE”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

TUESDAY 25: NOIRVEMBER AT AMHERST CINEMA: “LE CERCLE ROUGE”. 1:30 p.m Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will host its “Noirvember” series, screenings of four neo-noir movies, starting November 3 with “Bound,” which “upends traditional gender roles and brings a queer love story into a thrilling tale of gangsters and ex-cons,” on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.;. According to the Cinema, these films reimagine the genre of classic noirs while “exploring stories, settings and themes befitting their eras.” Other films in the series are “Pale Flower,” about “a yakuza in post-war Tokyo whose shot at redemption only leads him deeper into the criminal underworld,” on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.; “Body Heat” about a beautiful Florida woman plotting with a seedy lawyer to murder her rich husband on Sunday November 16 and Tuesday, November 18; and “Le Cercle Rouge,” four men, including a recently-released criminal (Alain Delon) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand), attempt a meticulously planned jewel heist in this utterly stylish French classic on Sunday, November 23 at 1:30 and Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m.. Tickets and information here.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29: SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Commit to shop local Saturday and the entire first week of December. Free parking Saturdays in December. Sponsored by the Amherst Business Improvement District.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 5: LIGHTING OF THE MERRY MAPLE. North Common. A magical evening where downtown becomes a winter wonderland. Free.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY DECEMBER 5-7: GREETING CARD DAYS HOLIDAY SHOPPING. Special offers and discounts of up to 20% at participating retailers.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 6: “CARAVAGGIO;” A DOCUMENTARY. 1:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street.  Amherst Cinema will screen the documentary “Caravaggio on November 19. The movie, which was in production for five years before its release, is about the legendary Renaissance painter Caravaggio, known as a master of chiaroscuro, a technique involving light and shadow. It features numerous works by Caravaggio and examines the way that his works depicted clues about himself and his psyche. In the program notes, director Phil Grabsky wrote, “Caravaggio was deeply thoughtful, spiritually inquisitive, and artistically revolutionary. He believed deeply in the power of realism to connect with people on an emotional level. He chose models from the streets not to shock, but to speak truth. He painted saints with dirt under their fingernails because he understood that the divine resides in the real, the raw, the human. That takes courage. It takes conviction. And it takes a kind of empathy that few artists before or since have managed to express so powerfully. This is not a film about a man in the shadows. This is a film about an artist who used light to reveal the soul.” Tickets.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7: AMHERST COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ANNUAL MEETING.  2 to 4 p.m., Commonwealth College, 157 Commonwealth Avenue. Come hear about ACLT’s exciting projects to provide affordable home ownership in Amherst. Refreshments. All are welcome.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18: FOURTH ANNUAL SIP ‘N STROLL. Horse-drawn carriage rides, shop boutique and unique independent retail. Prix-fixe meals at your favorite local restaurants. Pop-up Makers and artisans’ market.

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

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..

NOW THROUGH SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22: “NEXT TO NORMAL” PULITZER PRIZE WINNING MUSICAL. 7:30 p.m., Rand Theater, Fine Arts Center, UMass. How do you hold onto reality amidst a whirlwind? Diana’s ordinary home-maker life of managing family dynamics and school lunches quickly disintegrates amid the twin challenges of bipolar disorder and grief. Meanwhile, her family members do their best to keep up under the strain of their own individual struggles. Next to Normal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, looks at the ripple effects of mental illness, stress, grief, secrets, and tremendous love — all set to a driving rock score. Content advisory: Depictions and discussion of mental illness, self-harm, suicide, death, medical trauma, delusional episodes, and drug use. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Next to Normal is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. Tickets $7 to $19. Performances November 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m., and Saturday, November 22 at 2 p.m.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 1 : A SOMETHING OVERTAKES THE MIND: A MULTIMEDIA VISUAL ART AND POETRY INSTALLATION BY LIGIA BOUTON AND MATT DONOVAN. Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street. A Something Overtakes the Mind is a multimedia visual art and poetry installation created by Ligia Bouton and Matt Donovan for the Emily Dickinson Museum. Through explorations of domestic objects, biographical details, found poetry, and community testimonials, the exhibition seeks to find new ways of engaging with the poet’s life and legacy. The exhibition, free to the public during museum open hours, will be installed in the ground floor of the Homestead in the house’s woodshed, laundry room, and kitchen. Visitors to the installation must first check in at the carriage house tour center.

NOW THROUGH FRIDAY DECEMBER 5: NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS: STRANGE BUT TRUE. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Morrill Science Center II, 627 North Pleasant Street. The UMass Natural History Collections presents: Strange but True. From the world’s smallest “elephant” to the world’s largest brain, meet some of our most interesting specimens. Weekdays, 9am to 5pm, until December 5.

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.