What’s Happening in Amherst?

by Art and Maura Keene

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

SATURDAY JANUARY 31: LAUNDRY DAY: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Laundry Day was formed in 2016 by four classmates at Beacon High School in New York City. They have been exponentially growing their audiences on Instagram and TikTok as they continue to release music and sell out venues. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Full calendar.

SATURDAY JANUARY 31: FULL MOON HIKE ON MOUNT NORWOTTUCK. 2 to 5:30 p.m., 37 Bay Road. Come experience a guided night hike for a moon-rise climb to the top of Mount Norwottuck in the Mount Holyoke Range. The full moon in February is called the Snow Moon. Hike, in partnership with Adventure East, begins at the Kestrel Land Trust Headquarters. Registration required $40, $32 for Kestrel members.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1: MATT HAIMOVITZ AND CHRISTOPHER O’RILEY. 4 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Renowned, multi-Grammy-nominated cellist Matt Haimovitz brings his megawatt sound and uncommon expressive gifts to a variety of styles. Pianist, arranger, collaborative artist, composer, educator, and media personality Christopher O’Riley performs with Haimovitz as part of the Chamber at the Drake series. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Full calendar of events here.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1: AFRICAN MASS AND POTLUCK DINNER. 4:30 p.m., St. Brigid’s Parish, 122 North Pleasant Street. Celebrate African culture with friends, food, and more. Everyone is welcome! All nationalities and faiths.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2: 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HONORING BLACK HISTORY. 5 to 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Reading of the Town Council proclamation for Black History month, flag raising, and unveiling of the DEI Department’s exhibit of the 100-year History of Honoring Black History. The DEI exhibit will be on display at Town Hall until February 27.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2: “WELFARE”: DOCUMENTARY DIRECTED BY FREDERICK WISEMAN. 6:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will screen the 1975 documentary “Welfare” on Monday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. The movie, directed by Frederick Wiseman, is a direct look at the complexities of the welfare system and its intersections with housing, unemployment and medical problems. Both screenings will be introduced by Carolyn Anderson, professor emerita of communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-author of “Reality Fictions: The Films of Frederick Wiseman.” Tickets $13.25.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3: MASS WILDLIFE LISTENING SESSION ON HUNTING ACCESS. 1 p.m. on Zoom. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife) is holding public listening sessions on several opportunities to expand hunting access, including Sunday hunting, hunting with crossbows and minimum setback distances. “Hunting has always been woven into Massachusetts’ history — supporting families, boosting local economies and helping keep our deer populations healthy,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “Expanding opportunities for hunters will carry that tradition forward while protecting public health and ensuring we’re maintaining balance in our wildlife populations.” While MassWildlife has been working to improve access and opportunity for hunting, there are statutory limitations on hunting locations and times that would require legislative action to change, including: Prohibition against Sunday hunting: Massachusetts is one of only two states in the country with an outright ban on Sunday hunting. The Sunday hunting prohibition originated in the 19^th century. Prohibition against crossbows: Crossbows are prohibited for hunting by statute, except for hunters with a permanent disability. Crossbows are generally more accessible than traditional and compound bows because they require less physical strength to use. Modern archery equipment, including crossbows, incorporates built-in safety features that enhance reliability and safe use in the field. In recent years, several states in New England have changed laws to allow crossbows for deer hunting.   Setback limits: Massachusetts statutes prohibit hunting within 500 feet of a dwelling/building in use or within 150 feet of a road. Other states in the Northeast have less restrictive setbacks for archery hunting than Massachusetts. MassWildlife invites the public to provide input on these hunting laws at upcoming listening sessions. The public may also provide feedback using an online form at mass.gov/forms/hunting-laws-public-feedback or by mail to Attn: Hunting Laws, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA, 01581 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6. Following the listening sessions, MassWildlife will evaluate public input and anticipated wildlife management impacts to inform its recommendations.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4: LUCE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE BYSTANDER TRAINING AND HOTLINE FUNDRAISER. 6-8 p.m.  First Congregational Church, 165 Main Street, Amherst. Learn from LUCE how to respond effectively to ICE sightings and attempted detentions. Free to attend. Register and/or donate at: https://bit.ly/luceamherst
More info

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4: VENICE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA. 7:30 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMASS. Vivaldi, Tartini, Veracini, Locatelli: A Bows Duel in Venice with Chouchane Siranossian, violin and Giacomo Catana, orchestra leader. An incredible evening of music for lovers of the violin. Tickets start at $45, $20 for students.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5: THROUGH THE LENS WITH THE UMASS FASHION ORGANIZATION. 4 to 8 p.m., Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road. As part of The Carle After Dark series, strike a pose with the UMass Fashion Organization and step into the spotlight during Through the Lens wearing your “I have Nowhere to Wear” outfit, an evening of photo ops, playful snapshots, and unforgettable karaoke moments with Josh Sitron.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5: OPENING RECEPTION: CAMILLE TURNER’S LAND OF THE FREE. 5 to 7 p.m., UMass Fine Arts Center. The University of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA) presents Land of the Free, a new solo exhibition by Camille Turner, Slavery North Artist-in-Residence Fellow, Fall 2025. Turner explores archives and develops new works examining Canada’s role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Land of the Free is a culmination of an artist’s residency at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center and an artist-in-residence fellowship at Slavery North in Fall 2025. The opening reception will take place on February 5, 2026, from 5-7 PM at the UMass Fine Arts Center, 151 Presidents Dr, Amherst, MA. This event is free and open to the public

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5: BOOK TALK ONLINE:  A GILDED AGE QUEEN BATTLING ANTISEMITISM. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Eve M. Kahn will speak on her book, Queen of Bohemia Predicts Own Death: Gilded-Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris. Zoe, a Kentucky belle turned restless Kansas housewife turned lauded writer/reformer/publisher raged against predatory landlords, corrupt charity executives, and Ellis Island deportation forces, among other villains. Sponsored by the Yiddish Book Center. Register.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6: OPENING RECEPTION FOR THE NEW EXHIBIT WINTER GARDEN GROUP SHOW. 7 p.m. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D, Amherst Cinema Complex. Free and open to all. More info

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6: BERGANZI/PENTLAND QUARTET. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Bassist Sean Pentland and saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi lead a quartet. Album release show for Windward. The Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet is an intersection of generations and singular voices, where saxophone legend Jerry Bergonzi joins forces with bassist/composer Sean Pentland, pianist Julian Shore, and drummer, Richie Barshay. Pentland’s intricate and vivid writing is animated by the eminently individual sounds of the tenor master and younger stars, each prolific composers themselves. This project was spurred by the tragic and unexpected death of a friend andcolleague, Sebastian Nay, with whom Jerry and Sean were meant to reunite on a German tour. Tickets $17.85 in advance.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7: “WELFARE”: DOCUMENTARY DIRECTED BY FREDERICK WISEMAN. 11 a.m.., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Amherst Cinema will screen the 1975 documentary “Welfare” on Monday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. The movie, directed by Frederick Wiseman, is a direct look at the complexities of the welfare system and its intersections with housing, unemployment and medical problems. Both screenings will be introduced by Carolyn Anderson, professor emerita of communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-author of “Reality Fictions: The Films of Frederick Wiseman.” Tickets $12.25.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7:  NATIONAL WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY CELEBRATION. 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Amherst College Alumni Gym, 266 South Pleasant Street. Join Amherst Recreation and Amherst College Athletics for this event that invites girls and non-binary youth in grades 4-8 to a fun-filled day of sports and fitness! National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is dedicated to honoring the achievements of girls and women in sports and aims to recognize the power of sports and play in unlocking limitless potential. NGWSD at Amherst College will provide girls and non-binary youth in grades 4-7 with a unique and welcoming opportunity to explore various sports, play, and have fun together. The participants will be divided into smaller groups to enjoy different fundamental skills in a variety of sports (no previous experience necessary). The event will feature activities led by women’s sports teams, including: squash, golf, crew, track/cross country, soccer, field hockey, softball, and volleyball. Doors open at 11 A.M. for registration and snacks. The program will begin at 11:30 AM with a chat with current scholar-athletes followed by a dynamic stretch warm-up. Girls will then be divided into groups so they can try different sports and games through a continuous timed rotation. Parents are able to drop-off their children after 11:00 AM and pick them up at the conclusion of the event at 2:45 PM. All participants and their families are invited to cheer on the Amherst College Women’s Hockey team as they take on Colby College at 3pm in Orr Rink. Admission is free and free pizza will be provided! Register here.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7: MICHAEL NIX AT PIONEER VALLEY FOLKLORE SOCIETY SONG AND STORY SWAP. 7 to 9 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. Composer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Nix is the featured artist at the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s February Song and Story Swap. The monthly performance will take place at First Church, 165 Main St. in Amherst on Saturday, February 7, from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested minimum donation to the artist of $7.50. Free parking is available in the lot behind the church. At song and story swaps, people of all ages and experience levels gather to share traditional, newly written, or personal stories and songs. You can tell, sing, or lead everyone in singing, or request a song or a story.  Listeners are welcome. The theme for the opening round of sharing for the February event is “looking forward, looking back.” Michael Nix is widely recognized for his mastery of the Banjar, a unique seven-string instrument of his own design that bridges the worlds of the classical guitar and the five-string banjo. His performances are a sophisticated blend of classical, folk, and jazz influences, delivered with a master’s touch.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8: CONVERSATION ON THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERSHED. 1:30 to 3 p.m., Amherst Regional High School Library. The League of Women Voters Amherst invites the public to join in an afternoon conversation with three local experts who have been advocating for the health of our watershed for many years: Joe Graveline, Spokesperson, Nolumbeka Project Coalition, David Bruhle, Nolumbeka Project president, Eve Vogel, UMass Amherst Earth, Geographic and Climate Science Professor Sarah Matthews cofounder of Western Mass Rights of Nature, and Nina Gordon-Kirsch River Steward at Connecticut River Conservancy. Come learn more about the current state of the Connecticut River and efforts to restore and improve this jewel of the Connecticut River Valley. Bring your friends, neighbors and questions. This is a great opportunity to learn from some amazingly talented people. Light refreshments will be served. If you aren’t able to attend, a link to the recording of the discussion will be available at lwvamherst.org.  You can send questions in advance to:  susanlowery522@gmail.comSponsored by the League of Women Voters of Amherst.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8:  UMASS LION DRAGON CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE. 2 to 4 p.m. Starting at the Amherst Fire Department, North Pleasant Street and stopping at Amherst’s downtown Asian restaurants. Come by and watch your favorite restaurants receive traditional lion’s dance blessings to bring luck, fortune, and prosperity in the new year. Sponsored by Amherst BID.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11: CARSIE BLANTON. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. You could talk about Carsie Blanton’s place in a tradition of folkie protest singers that extends from Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger through Nina Simone and Joan Baez and on to Billy Bragg, and you’d be on solid ground. You could group Blanton with anti-folk artists from Michelle Shocked to Regina Spektor. You’d be good there, too. Or, hell, you could reference Poly Styrene, Kathleen Hanna, or Caroline Rose. And you’d be spot on once again. Or you could talk about Blanton as … well, Carsie Blanton. Outspoken. Honest. Not inclined to take herself too seriously.  Tickets $35, $20 for students. Full calendar of events here.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12: CIRQUE FLIP FABRIQUE BLIZZARD. 7:30, Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Quebec-based circus arts troupe Cirque Flip Fabrique is renowned around the world for its blend of astonishing feats and visual poetry. In Blizzard, Flip Fabrique takes you on a wild, poetic, and gentle journey through the dead of winter, inviting you to lose yourself in a moment of complete wonder. With performers at the peak of their art, Blizzard promises to blow away everything in its path. Tickets $30, $17.50-$20 for students.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14 THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21: WINTERFEST.  Join us for this weeklong celebration on February 14 through February 21. Amherst Recreation, in collaboration with many community partners, will host a variety of free and affordable events for residents and visitors of all ages to embrace the winter season.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19: SUNNY JAIN’S WILD WILD EAST. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. You know Sunny Jain as the founder and leader of the unruly, oversized, genre-mashing, and always infectiously fun, Brooklyn-based band Red Baraat. Like Red Baraat, Wild Wild East draws from Jain’s identity as a first-generation South Asian American and as a global musician. Jain’s music with this project taps his family’s immigration story and his far-reaching musical roots. And it finds Jain recasting the immigrant — steeped in the courage to leave a familiar homeland for a new beginning — as the modern-day cowboy and cowgirl. Jain sources musical inspiration from the scores of Bollywood classics and Spaghetti Westerns, Indian folk traditions, jazz improvisation, and rollicking psychedelic and surf guitar styles. Tickets $35, $20 for students. Full calendar of events here.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21: SIXTH ANNUAL FIRE AND ICE WINTER FESTIVAL. 3 to 6 p.m. The culminating event to Amherst’s week-long Winter Fest 2026. Experience the beauty of ice sculptures and luminaria. Sponsored by Amherst BID, Amherst College, and Amherst Recreation.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27: PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY. 8 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. The Paul Taylor Dance Company has been a presence in Fine Arts Center seasons since 1978. One of the most revered and dynamic ensembles in modern dance, the company has been innovating and transforming dance since 1954. With a history of multidisciplinary collaborations, passionate expression, and thrilling athleticism, the company continues boldly into the future under Artistic Director Michael Novak. For this performance, the company will bring us a classic work by its founder, Speaking in Tongues (1988) along with How Love Sounds, a 2025 commission by Hope Boykin, who currently serves as artistic advisor for art education at the Kennedy Center and whose celebrated career as a dancer included Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Philadanco, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Tickets start at $40, Students $20.

SATURDAY MARCH 7: PETER BERNSTEIN QUARTET. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Aaron Goldberg on piano, Vicente Archer on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. This concert is presented in collaboration with The Northampton Jazz Festival. “Peter Bernstein, among the most sought after guitarists in the New York area, has a feather-light touch, an encyclopedic knowledge of chords and the ability to play standards like he’s inventing them on the spot.” – The Los Angeles Daily News Peter Bernstein was born in New York City in 1967. He has been playing and recording since 1990, when he first appeared on recordings with Lou Donaldson and the organ trio of Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart, a group still touring and recording today. That year, Peter was featured on Jim Hall’s JVC Jazz Festival concert at Town Hall. Peter played in Lou Donaldson’s group for 10 years, and performed and recorded with Joshua Redman’s group from 1995 to 97. Other associations and collaborations include Jimmy Cobb, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David Fathead Newman, Brad Mehldau, Etta Jones, Melvin Rhyne, Diana Krall, Bobby Hutcherson, Lee Konitz, Nicholas Payton, George Coleman, and Sonny Rollins. Peter has performed on festival, concert, and club stages worldwide and has appeared on over 300 recordings, including 14 under his own name. These recordings feature many of his own compositions, a trio recording of Thelonious Monk’s music, and a live solo recording of standards and jazz classics.

MONDAY MARCH 9: “BELFAST, MAINE:” A DOCUMENTARY DIRECTED BY FREDERICK WISEMAN. 6:30 p.m. March 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street.  BELFAST, MAINE is a film about ordinary experience in a beautiful old New England port city. It is a portrait of daily life with particular
emphasis on the work and the cultural life of the community. New 4K
restoration. This Spring the Amherst Cinema will present four films by one of the most respected and influential documentarians in film history. Tickets $12.25.

SATURDAY MARCH 14: “BELFAST, MAINE:” A DOCUMENTARY DIRECTED BY FREDERICK WISEMAN.  11 a.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street.  BELFAST, MAINE is a film about ordinary experience in a beautiful old New England port city. It is a portrait of daily life with particular emphasis on the work and the cultural life of the community. New 4K restoration. This Spring the Amherst Cinema will present four films by one of the most respected and influential documentarians in film history. Tickets $12.25.

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

SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS FEBRUARY 1-17: THE BEFORE TRILOGY. 1:30 p.m. Sunday February 1, 8, and 15 and 7p.m. Tuesday February 3, 10, and 17, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Follow Jesse and Celine as they meet on a train and spend a night wandering the city in Vienna, then reconnect nine years later in Paris, and finally as a married couple on vacation in Greece. Richard Linklater’s marvelous trilogy: “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Tickets.

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

EVERY WEDNESDAY IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH: SOUTH CHURCH SUPPER AND CALMING, CANDLELIGHT MUSICAL SERVICE. 5:30 p.m. supper, 6 to 6:30 p.m. service, South Church, 1066 South East Street. South Church is offering a special series of community suppers and calming, candlelit, musical services every Wednesday in February and March. You can come for just the supper, just the service, or both! 5:30 p.m.: A friendly community supper with soup, salad, and bread fresh from the famous South Church kitchen. Vegetarian & gluten-free options, donation optional. RSVP’s for supper appreciated but not required, email office@amherstsouthchurch.org .6:00–6:30 p.m.: Calming, candlelit, musical service based on the practices of the Taizé Community in France, including live music, prayer, and time for quiet reflection. It’s like yoga for the soul! The Taizé Community was formed to promote peace and understanding
after WWII. All are welcome.

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: 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.

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.

SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS FEBRUARY 1-17: THE BEFORE TRILOGY. 1:30 p.m. Sunday February 1, 8, and 15 and 7p.m. Tuesday February 3, 10, and 17, Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Follow Jesse and Celine as they meet on a train and spend a night wandering the city in Vienna, then reconnect nine years later in Paris, and finally as a married couple on vacation in Greece. Richard Linklater’s marvelous trilogy: “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Tickets.

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.

NOW THROUGH MONDAY APRIL 27: MABEL LOOMIS TODD EXHIBIT TO BENEFIT THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. The Mill District is pleased to announce its newest front window gallery installation: The Mabel Loomis Todd Exhibit. The exhibit presents a rarely seen collection of Todd’s paintings created for a book of her father’s poetry. Learn more about the exhibit.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4 THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28: WINTER GARDEN- A GROUP EXHIBIT AT GALLERY A3. The month of February is short, but nights are long, temperatures are low, and winter seems to go on forever. To counter these dark times, Gallery A3 presents WINTER GARDEN, a group show of work by members of this local fine art cooperative gallery. Paintings, prints, photographs, collage, and mixed media, mostly two-dimensional but some three-dimensional pieces, the art collectively aims to suggest and to celebrate the new light and cycling life of a garden.There will be an opening reception at the gallery from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, February 6, and a free, online art forum on Thursday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. (register here). Gallery A3 is located at 28 Amity Street 1D in the Amherst Cinema Complex. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 2-7 p.m. More info

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14 THROUGH SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21: WINTERFEST.  Join us for this weeklong celebration on February 14 through February 21. Amherst Recreation, in collaboration with many community partners, will host a variety of free and affordable events for residents and visitors of all ages to embrace the winter season.