What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Public Domain
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.
FRIDAY JUNE 26: VICTOR WOOTEN & THE WOOTEN BROTHERS. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The Wooten brothers’ first public appearance was in 1966 and established their identity as prodigies. Since then, they have racked up 10 Grammy wins and 26 nominations. And Victor, the youngest brother has been named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 10 greatest brass players of all time. Tickets $50 in advance. See complete schedule here.
SATURDAY JUNE 27: QUEER ARTISAN MARKET. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mill Destrict General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Over 30 LGBTQIA+ artisans in ceramics, fine art, jewelry, and more! Free admission and family friendly. Lawn games, Big bubble making station, coloring. Donations also accepted for top need items on behalf of the Amherst Survival Center on the day of the market. See some of the artisans here.
SATURDAY JUNE 27: PUBLIC MEETING ON CULVERTS AND FLOODING. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Common. The Most flooding is caused by failing or undersized culverts, which are the pipes that enable water to pass under roads safely. Culverts that are too small can also prohibit wildlife movements which negatively impacts their survival. At this event, we will ask residents to share their experiences with local flooding and help us identify problematic culverts and road washouts. This will inform the town’s understanding of current conditions and prioritize our needs for new culverts. This event is part of a regional project spearheaded by the Town of Amherst in partnership with Hadley, Belchertown, Pelham and Shutesbury, that aims to protect the Fort River Watershed. The Fort River Watershed Culvert Improvement & Prioritization Plan Project focuses on critical infrastructure, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship to achieve these goals:
- Improve flood resilience for the town to prevent road damage and assess safety risks.
- Improve aquatic habitat connection under roads.
- Work toward a town-wide culvert prioritization plan (all stream crossing culverts and bridges assessed for conditions and aquatic connection).
SATURDAY JUNE 27: AMHERST COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ANNUAL POTLUCK. 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Groff Park Pavilion, Mill Lane. Bring a dish to share and learn about Amherst Community Land Trust’s efforts to enable affordable home ownership opportunities in Amherst. All are welcome Drinks provided.
SATURDAY JUNE 27: FEED THE HUNGRY CONCERT IN NORTHAMPTON. 3-6 P.M. Pulaski Park, Northampton. The afternoon will feature performances by regional and spiritually inspired musicians including: Russell Brooks, Onatah Love, Matthew Andrews, Música Franklin Youth Chorus, Tony Vacca The event will conclude with a community sing-along of We Are the World, the 1985 charity anthem recorded by the super-group USA for Africa.In addition to music, the program will include featured speakers and community voices from several organizations working directly in the areas of hunger relief, peace work, and humanitarian outreach, including: The Amherst Survival Center, The New England Peace Pagoda, One Spirit, supporting the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Reservation. More info
SATURDAY JUNE 27: FREE CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSIC. 6:30 p.m., Sweetser Park, Main Street. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy music by the Amherst Community Band, Dave Morris and Lexie Black, conductors. The band will play beloved standards of American music to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. A collaboration with the Amherst Historical Society and the Amherst Business Improvement District. Rain location St. Brigid’s Parish, 43 North Prospect Street.
SATURDAY JUNE 27: SALSA IN THE PARK. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. The event features a free salsa class with Kevin from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a free Latin dance social from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with salsa, bachata, and merengue music by DJ Picu. A food vendor will be on site. The event is hosted by Salsa con Tacos, sponsored by Amherst Recreation, and funded by the Amherst Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council.
SATURDAY JUNE 27: BRITISH MAVERICKS: A CHORALE-ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. A concert by Berkshire Choral International guest-conducted by Beth Willer featuring groundbreaking works by Dame Ethel Smyth and Benjamin Britten. Tickets $10 to $20.
SUNDAY JUNE 28: AMHERST PRIDE PARADE. 12 to 3 p.m. Parade: Beginning at 12:00 PM at the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School (21 Mattoon St), the parade will wind its way through downtown ending at the Amherst Town Common (Boltwood Ave). Parade participants are invited to a sign making session at 11:00 AM. Supplies will be provided. Celebration with Live Performances and Resource Fair: Following the parade, a celebration including live performances and a resource fair will take place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on the Amherst Town Common. Inspiring speakers, community leaders, and performances will honor LGBTQ+ voices and experiences. Attendees will be able to connect with local organizations and businesses offering support, services, and information.
MONDAY JUNE 29: 12TH ANNUAL BUENO DAY TO BENEFIT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. All locations of Bueno y Sano in Amherst, Northampton, South Deerfield, Springfield, and West Springfield. 50% of all sales will be donated to CHD’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County on Monday, June 29. This includes dine-in orders, take-out, and Bueno Y Sano gift cards.
WEDNESDAY JULY 1: AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER COMMUNITY COOKOUT. 12 to 2:30 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. The Amherst Survival Center will host its annual free Community Cookout on Wednesday, July 1. Food, Fellowship, and summer fun. No registration is required. Free and open to all.
WEDNESDAY JULY 1: UMASS DOWNTOWN SEMINAR: ROZY BATHRICK AND SEBASTIAN MORENO “FROM FLYWAY TO FEEDER: THE SCIENCE BEHIND BIRD MIGRATION, HABITAT STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.” 6 to 7:30 p.m., UMass Downtown, 108 North Pleasant Street. Have you ever wondered where your birds go when they leave your backyard? Billions of birds migrate every spring and fall, flying thousands of miles through human-altered landscapes to chase resources and raise young. Join Rozy and Sebastian, two UMass ornithologists, as they discuss scalable conservation from your backyard to the remote reaches of migration corridors. . UMass Downtown and the UMass Amherst Graduate School invite you to the Summer Seminar Series, a new public speaker series connecting campus research with the community. Each Wednesday evening, UMass graduate student presenters will share their research, ideas, and work in an engaging and approachable format designed to spark conversation, curiosity, and connection. Each session offers a chance to hear directly from emerging scholars doing meaningful work across disciplines, with opportunities for discussion and community engagement. Free, but registration encouraged. Every Wednesday from June 17 through August 5
THURSDAY JULY 2: WORKING-CLASS MOVIE NIGHT WEBINAR. 7 p.m. on Zoom. What movies represent working-class people and cultures best? We’ll hear the favorites of 3 culture scholars – and yours! Too often movies portray working-class characters as dumb or criminal or pathetically needy – but there are some great portrayals out there too. Sarah Attwood, Katherine Kidd and Kathy Newman have each wowed us at WCSA conferences with their incisive class analyses of popular culture, and in this interactive webinar, they will tell us their favorite movies, and why. We’ll look forward to hearing your reactions to their lists, and your recommendations too! Register. Free. Sponsored by the Working-Class Studies Association.
FRIDAY JULY 3: INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. 5:30 p.m., South Lawn next to UMass Amherst’s McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Music, food, Family-friendly activities. Fireworks begin at dark. Rain date is Sunday, July 5. For information, see here.
SATURDAY JULY 4: INTERFAITH PEACE WALK HONORING FRANCES CROWE AND PAKI WEILAND Amherst to Northampton Walk. Gather Amherst Common, 8:30 a.m. Step off 9 a.m.
Walk along Rt. 9 with peace messages. Water stations, rests & ride support along the 9 mile route. Come for any or all! Potluck at Northampton Friends at the end, 1p.m. To volunteer or for questions email: 2026july4peace@proton.me.
SATURDAY JULY 4: COMMUNAL READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Noon, steps of Town Hall. The Amherst Historical Society will be presenting a communal reading of the Declaration of Independence. The event will be marked by the ringing of church bells throughout the town at noon, followed by a summoning of the community to Town Hall by the blowing of a conch shell. Historically, a conch shell was used to call the residents of Amherst to gather to conduct town business. The Historical Society has several examples of conchs used by town officials over the years, including the original dating back to the 18th century. The conch to be used was purchased for the event and is not historic. Members of the Town Council will present a proclamation and after that, Representative Mindy Domb will begin the reading with the Preamble. The public is invited to join in following the opening statements. Anyone wishing to participate as a reader, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at info@amhersthistory.org. In addition to the reading, the program will also include a performance by the Amherst Area Gospel Choir and a discussion of the speech by youth, mid-career, and elder panelists.
SUNDAY, JULY 5: READING FREDERICK DOUGLASS TOGETHER. South Congregational Church, 1066 South East St., 3 p.m. In what has become an annual tradition, South Congregational Church and the Amherst DEI Department are collaborating again to host a community reading of Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on July 5. As 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the theme for this year’s event is “Reaffirming Our Unalienable Rights.” The community-based planning committee is actively seeking area residents of all ages to read portions of the speech. Hearing Douglass’s words spoken by diverse voices is a powerful and moving experience. To register as a reader, visit ttps://tinyurl.com/RFDT26 . More info
THURSDAY JULY 9 THROUGH SUNDAY JULY 12: YIDSTOCK: THE FESTIVAL OF NEW YIDDISH MUSIC. Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. Four days of concerts, workshops, talks, and special tours, all in celebration of Yiddish music, language, and culture. Schedule and tickets here.
THURSDAY JULY 9: SUNSET MUSIC SERIES AT THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM: RYAN HOLLANDER AND ALLAN BEZAMA. 5 to 8 p.m., Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art announced its new Sunset Thursdays series, a collaboration with the Northampton Jazz Festival. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic dinners. For a full list of performers and for more information about Sunset Thursdays and other summer programming at the Eric Carle Museum, visit carlemuseum.org/visit/events/summer-carle. The concerts are free.
FRIDAY JULY 17: OFFICE HOURS WITH REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB. 4 to 5 p.m., Amherst Town Hall, first floor, 4 Boltwood Avenue. This is an opportunity for constituents of the Third Hampshire District to speak to Rep. Domb and her team and to share concerns and thoughts on state legislation, and to seek assistance. No appointment needed. Stop by anytime during the hour. If this is an urgent matter, do not wait for office hours. Call (413) 335=1352 or (617_ 722-2060. If you cannot attend or if you have a time sensitive or private matter, please email mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or call the above number. Another session will be held Monday, July 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road.
MONDAY JULY 20: OFFICE HOURS WITH REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. . This is an opportunity for constituents of the Third Hampshire District to speak to Rep. Domb and her team and to share concerns and thoughts on state legislation, and to seek assistance. No appointment needed. Stop by anytime during the hour. If this is an urgent matter, do not wait for office hours. Call (413) 335=1352 or (617_ 722-2060. If you cannot attend or if you have a time sensitive or private matter, please email mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or call the above number. Another session will be held on Friday, July 17 at Town Hall from 4 to 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY JULY 22: L’ÉCLAIR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Growing up in Bulgaria in the late 1990’s, brothers Stef and Yavor Lilov were shaped in a myriad of unseen ways by the centuries-old folk music that filtered through their daily lives. Their unique and intuitive creative alchemy has been a foundation of their band since they formed it in their adopted home of Switzerland a decade ago. Tickets $17 in advance and $20 at the door. See complete schedule here.
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
TUESDAYS IN JUNE: INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR CLASS WITH GRETCHEN HOLESOVSKY. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Join Belchertown artist, Gretchen Holesovsky, at The Mill District Local Art Gallery for a series of four intermediate watercolor classes. An exploration of styles and expression will enhance your creative muse no matter how you choose to create. This series is jammed packed with information and has homework. Great for individuals who took Gretchen’s beginning watercolor series as well as intermediate artists who want to deepen their understanding of painting with watercolor. Ages 14+ Ticket a week before first class. Ticket Price: $100, Required Materials to Purchase: $122. Contact Shannon Borrell at Gallery@cowls.com.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. RAINBOW COFFEE HOUR. 9:30-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. More information
TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS: DROP IN PICKLEBALL. 8 a.m. to noon, Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Drop-in to play pickleball at Mill River Recreation Area. Nets are available on-site to put up and play! Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Amherst Recreation.
EVERY WEDNESDAY: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9:00-9:30 a.m. Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. For ages 12 and up. An easy, level, 1/4-mile guided hike to discover more about birds: their behaviors, needs, habitats and significance. Listen, observe, sketch, photo or journal. Free
EVERY WEDNESDAY : CAFE. Bangs Community Center, 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.
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY AND JANUARY): NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Featuring the Green Street trio with a special guest. Featured set at 7:30 followed by an open jam session. Bring your axe. Full calendar of events here.
LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: CRAFT AND CONVERSE. Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Are you tired of creating in solitude? Looking to connect with other artistic individuals? Grab your sketchbook, knitting bag, or water color gear and join our monthly coworking group! Craft and converse, hosted by Easthampton artist Kaia Zimmerman, is held the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This welcoming, intentional space is designed for community members to come together for a casual, social evening while pursuing their own creative projects. Drop-ins welcome, but registration encouraged for any weather-related changes in schedule. Bring your own arts or crafts project (BYOA) to work on. Ages 16+.
EVERY THURSDAY: IRISH MUSIC AT THE HARP. 4 to 7 p.m., The Harp, 163 Sunderland Road. Banish the cold and damp of the past months with Irish music. There may be Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bagpipes, Bouzouki, Bodhran and ?. It’s always a surprise who shows up. Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Flings, Polkas, Slides, and Waltz’ from around the Celtic world. Food, drink, friendship and a relentless cacophony of rhythmic tones. Undeterred by the chaos and heartbreak of our troubled world, As a favorite jig of mine says, We’re always Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part. Who knows? .it might help banish misfortune for a moment. And, you may find out what a Luachrachan is. Or how to pronounce “Cuil Aodh.” I hope to see you.
EVERY THURSDAY: STITCH CIRCLE. 4 to 6 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery and General Store, 91 Cowls Road. Grab your needles, venture to the General Store, and join us for our first Stitch Circle. Knitters, quilters, embroidery artists, and crocheters are all invited. Free.
EVERY FRIDAY IN JULY, BEGINNING JULY 10: SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. 5 to 8 p.m., Town Common. Kick off your weekends with live music on the Amherst Town Common! The Summer Music Concert Series returns Friday, July 10 and continues on July 17, 24, and 31 from 5–8 PM. Free and open to all, these concerts feature local and regional artists bringing the community together for music, dancing, and summer fun.
Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, friends, and family, and enjoy a variety of live music performances under the summer sky. Free. Sponsored by the Amherst Business Improvement District.
FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH: VETERAN’S COMMUNITY BREAKFAST FOR ALL -8 a.m – 9 a.m. Large Activity Room, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. At each breakfast (bagel/donut/coffee), a veteran or veteran ally, will tell his or her personal story regarding military service. Generation after generation reveals that those going to war to defend our country come back spiritually and morally wounded, regardless of the bodily consequences of combat. We want to bring veterans together for food and friendship to help coalesce a spirit of camaraderie to enable authentic, veteran-oriented communities to flourish. WELCOME: Veterans, Spouses, Caregivers, Amherst Community Members. Let’s Build a Thriving Veterans Community. There are 387 Veterans in town! Sponsored by CRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL THE CRESS OFFICE, (413) 259-3370 OR GENE HERMAN, VIETNAM VETERAN, (240) 472-7288 – CRESS VETERAN’S OUTREACH VOLUNTEER.
EVERY SATURDAY FROM APRIL 18 THROUGH NOVEMBER 21: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common, Boltwood Avenue. The Amherst Farmers Market is widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, and community! Offering farm to table produce and selections from your local growers and Valley producers. Come out for the food, music, events, and community offerings in Downtown Amherst. Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm during the 2026 season of April 18 – November 21
SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS: LIVE JAZZ AND GOOD EATS AT THE BLACK SHEEP. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Black Sheep Deli, 79 Main Street. Frist and third Saturdays: Masala Jazz, Second, Fourth and Fifth Saturdays: Simmer Music Presents, Sundays: the Catalytics. Tip Jar.
SUNDAYS SANDLOT BASEBALL. 4 to 6 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School field, Chestnut Street. Get your bat, gum, and cleats ready to play some sandlot baseball! Every Sunday, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at the Amherst Middle School field you are invited to play with enthusiasts of the sport. Remember, this is for fun, open to all skills levels! $5 Drop-In Fee. Remember, this is for fun, open to all skills levels!
THIRD SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., 91 Cowls Road. The free car show for all! This FREE community event invites car lovers of all ages to enjoy an exciting morning filled with cool cars, coffee, and family fun. Spectators get a free drip coffee token and information on entering our raffle for a $50 gift certificate to the Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery. There will also be an on-site playground and coloring activities to keep the kids entertained. Trophies awarded for the top cars in several categories. Pre-register your vehicle here.
NOW THROUGH THURSDAY JUNE 25: FEMME LOCALE “CHARMED”: FRONT WINDOW GALLERY EXHIBIT. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Exhibits by 30+ local women-identifying artists. Bringing up themes of controlling our world or achieving things as if by magic, we are keenly aware of how as women we need to walk a line and use our charms in the world that is designed for and by men. Curated by Christine Texiera and Alexia Cota. Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays.
THURSDAY JULY 9 THROUGH SUNDAY JULY 12: YIDSTOCK: THE FESTIVAL OF NEW YIDDISH MUSIC. Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. Four days of concerts, workshops, talks, and special tours, all in celebration of Yiddish music, language, and culture. Schedule and tickets here.