What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
by Art and Maura Keene
You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20: $5 FAMILY FILM SCREENING: JINGLE JANGLE—A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY. 12:45 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. An imaginary world comes to life in this joyous holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker (Forest Whitaker), his adventurous granddaughter (Madalen Mills), and a magical invention. Directed by David E. Talbert. PG 2020. Tickets.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20: POETRY IN THE SNOW: MUSICAL SETTINGS OF EMILY DICKINSON AND SEASONAL CAROLS. 1 p.m., First Congregational Church Chapel, 165 Main Street. The Pioneer Valley Chamber Singers presents a delightful a capella program featuring settings of five Emily Dickinson poems along with Christmas carols, including numbers carols that Emily herself might have heard or sung. The Chamber singers will perform the complete Dickinson Madrigals, Book III by Roger Bourland, as well as a setting by local composer and PVS Assistant Conductor Anthony Ferreira of I Keep the Sabbath Staying at Home. You will also hear Christmas tunes by Holst, a setting of Longfellow’s tender poem I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and a few more jazzy recent tunes. This will be PVS Choral Director Allegra Martin’s last performance with the Chamber Singers, and they will perform a set of her three favorite pieces that she has conducted over the years, including two arrangements by the late great local composer, singer, and educator Peter Amidon. Tickets $20, or $30 for admission to the concert and the Emily Dickinson Museum.eter Amidon. We hope you can join us!
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20: 41ST ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION. 6:30 p.m., Cherry Hill Co-Housing, 120 Pulpit Hill Road. Storytellers, Singers, Musicians. Contributions will benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the American Civil Liberties Union. You are invited to bring canned goods for the Amherst Survival Center. Suggested donation $15. No one will be turned away because of inability to pay.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20: LANTERNS FOR LUCE: A FUNDRAISER FOR THE LUCE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE HOTLINE. 4:30 p.m., Markert’s Pond South Lawn, Pondview Drive. Speakers from LUCE, Music from Show Up, Sing Out!, Lantern parade. More info
SUNDAY DECEMBER 21: WINTER SOLSTICE AT THE UMASS SUNWHEEL. 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., UMass sunwheel, Rocky Hill Road south of McGuirk stadium. At the approximately hourlong gatherings, UMass Amherst astronomers Stephen Schneider (sunrise) and Grant Wilson (sunset) will discuss the astronomical cause of the solstice. They will explain the seasonal positions of Earth, the sun and moon, and the design of the Sunwheel and other calendar sites such as the Temple of Karnak in Egypt and at Chankillo in Peru. Visitors to the Sunwheel should be prepared for freezing temperatures and wet footing. Rain or blizzard conditions cancel the events. Donations are welcome to help with the cost of additional site work and future events.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 21: A 21ST CENTURY NUTCRACKER. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Bowker Auditorium UMass. Let’s play with tradition! Join the Center Dance for an exciting spin on a wintertime classic—dance styles from across the globe (and right next door) set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Tickets $24. Children 12 and under $19.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 21: WINTER SOLSTICE CANDLELIGHT STROLL. 4 to 5 p.m., Wildwood Cemetery, Strong Street. Come and toast to the winter, to the living and to those who have passed. Walk a loop (with candles) in the cemetery or stay and socialize in the Farmhouse. Hot chocolate and cookies provided. Free, but donations gladly accepted! RSVP if you can, but if not, just come! RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE. RSVP IF YOU CAN – https://forms.gle/SoPxhUFB7rLGnGyA6.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 21: MESSIAH COMMUNITY SING AT GRACE CHURCH. 5 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Avenue. This event, where audience members become a choir to accompany four soloists and a chamber orchestra will feature conductors Arianne Abela and Noah Horn and soloists Paige Graham, Justina Golden, Todd Fruth, and Liam Shannon, as well as an orchestra with strings, winds, organ, harpsichord and timpani. Messiah sings are a Christmas tradition from 19th-century United States and Europe, and occur throughout New England during the holiday season. Come to listen or sing. A limited number of scores are available. Free, but cash or check donations encouraged to benefit the Toy Fund of the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
TUESDAY JANUARY 13: WILDWOOD REMEMBERS: UMASS CONNECTIONS TO WILDWOOD CEMETERY. 7 p.m., UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archivist and Memory Work: Giving agency to the silent – Taelore Marsh and Rebecca Fricke General Manager of Wildwood Cemetery
Free and open to the public
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 DECEMBER 23: DECEMBER HOLIDAY SALE AT GALLERY A3. Affordable and fun…. Gallery A3’s annual December Holiday Show & Sale SMALL WONDERS features small-scale works created by current members of the contemporary fine art cooperative gallery located in downtown Amherst. Original artwork includes paintings, prints, photographs, collages, and assemblages. All pieces are in the range of 12” by 12” or smaller and affordably priced, from $50 to $150. And all are “cash and carry”, making them ideal for unique holiday gifts. Gallery hours 2–7 p.m. Thursday–Sunday and extended holiday hours on Wednesday, December 17 plus Monday–Tuesday, December 22–23. Stop by the gallery to check out an array of mini-scaled artworks and colorful curiosities. Support local artists and discover perfect gifts for family or friends, or give yourself a small treat this Holiday Season. Gallery A3 is located 28 Amity Street, 1D. More information at www.gallerya3.com
NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 27: FREE PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN AMHERST. The Town of Amherst is suspending parking enforcement in all metered spaces and public lots in downtown Amherst on Saturdays through the end of December.
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.
NOW THROUGH APRIL: SPRITES, SPELLS, AND SPLASHES: MAGICAL BEINGS IN PICTURE BOOK ART. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The Eric Carle Museum opens its new exhibition on Saturday, November 22. The show includes picture book artwork of fantasy creatures like mermaids, fairies and wizards from more than 40 classic and contemporary books. “From the brownies of the British Isles to the djinns of the Middle East, magical beings abound in folklore. These creatures exist in a parallel world within and alongside humans,” said Isabel Ruiz Cano, associate curator. “Picture book art can be a powerful bridge between cultures, a keeper of stories, and a source of wonder that allows us to see the invisible. Although we may not always be able to spot these creatures, the artists in this exhibition bring their mysterious forms to light.” The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.
THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 15-18 AND 22-25: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S “THE WIZARD OF OZ”. 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday, Bowker Auditorium UMass. We invite you to click your heels and follow the Yellow Brick Road to UMass for The Wizard of Oz! Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they journey to the Emerald City singing favorites like “Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain.” With dazzling costumes, stunning effects, and a heartwarming story about friendship, courage, and self-belief, this beloved classic will remind everyone that there truly is no place like home. Tickets $27, $22 seniors, $17 for children under 10.