What’s Happening In Amherst?

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

IN PERSON ONGOING OR MULTI-DAY EVENTS

EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: FREE COVID VACCINE CLINICS. The Health Department has resumed its vaccine clinics at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk from 12-2 p.m. on Thursdays. All residents, ages 12 and up who have not had a vaccine or booster in the past two months are eligible for and urged to get the new bivalent vaccines, which offer protection against the omicron variant of Covid-19. Registration for appointments is at https://www.amherstcovid19.org/vaccine . Walk-ins are also welcome.

UMass is offering bivalent Covid vaccines for ages 12 and older in Room 101 at the Campus Center on Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and for those 12 and younger on Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. Appointments https://umass.my.site.com/covidtesting/s/vaccination  are recommended but not essential. To find other sites offering the bivalent vaccine, go to https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ .

EVERY WEDNESDAY BEGINNING NOVEMBER 30: CAN’T REMEMBER 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. The Can’t Remember (CR) 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 Can’t Remember 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. 

SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE. 44 North Pleasant Street. Free event. Performers arrive by 5:30 p.m. Stage time: 6 p.m – 10 p.m. All ages. Younger performers will be slotted earler. All performers and styles of performances welcome, including but not limited to: music (of all kinds) – acoustic, folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, classical, etc…comedy, spoken word / readings, poetry,
dance, performance art. House rules and more information.

LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH : LAST FRIDAYS AT THE DRAKE POETRY SERIES HOSTED BY LYRICAL FAITH. 44 North Pleasant Street. Join us every last Friday of the month* for Last Fridays at The Drake hosted by Lyrical Faith for an unforgettable open mic and poetry night experience featuring award-winning spoken word artists from across the country. Come through for music, drinks, and artistic expression where poets take center stage to share new work, old work, or any work that helps them get free. Doors and bar open at 5PM. Early arrival is encouraged to get a slot on the sign-up sheet. The cover charge is $5 with a college ID or $10 general admission. More Information. Full Events Calendar at the Drake.

SATURDAY JUNE 25 THROUGH SATURDAY DECEMBER 31,2022: CELEBRATING COLLAGE, A TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART. Eric Carle Museum on the Hampshire College campus, 125 Bay Road. Inspired by the distinctive art of our co-founder Eric Carle, this anniversary exhibition presents the work of 20 picture-book artists who specialize in collage. They range from acknowledged masters of the medium like Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, Ezra Jack Keats, and Leo Lionni to vanguard artists of today, who continue to innovate and expand the possibilities of the art form. Together, the 90 featured collages tell the story of a style and technique that has been at the creative heart of picture books and visual storytelling for half a century. There is also a comfortable reading area to enjoy the 70 books represented. Hours: 10-4 Wednesday through Friday, 10-5 Saturday, 12-5 Sunday. Closed December 24-27 for the holidays and January 1-13 for routine maintenance. Admission: $9 for adults, $6 for students, teachers, and seniors. Free to members.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19- WEDNESDAY APRIL 3: FEINBERG LECTURE SERIES ON US IMPERIALISM – CONFRONTING EMPIRE. Events are online or hybrid. This free public lecture series brings together scholars, journalists, educators, writers, community organizers, and survivors of state violence to examine global histories of U.S. imperialism and anti-imperialist resistance.The series traces the history of U.S. imperialism from the conquest of North America to the creation of an overseas empire in the late 19th century and to the present day. It also offers a critical historical analysis of the various traditions and movements that have opposed U.S. empire, including Black radicalism, Marxism, revolutionary feminism, armed struggle, international solidarity, pacifism, and liberal, electoral, and diplomatic activism. 
Register here.
Full listing of series events and more information

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 -SUNDAY MAY 14: 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING -AN ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART PERMANENT COLLECTION. Bottom Floor of the UMass Fine Arts Center. Look here for gallery hours and additional information. Free. The exhibit can be viewed on line here.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 THROUGH MONDAY DECEMBER 19: AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE. The APD will be collecting unwrapped toys, books, clothing, gift cards, and wrapping supplies to be distributed to the Amherst Survival Center, Jessie’s House, and the Bridge Family Resources Center for the holidays. Donations should be brought to the police station at 111 Main Street. For more information, contact Detective Marcus Humber at 413-259-3355 or humberm@amherstma.gov.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 2 THROUGH FRIDAY DECEMBER 30: ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW AND SALE AT GALLERY A3. Gallery A3 at 28 Amity Street, will hold its annual holiday group show and sale from December 2 through December 30. Intimate, enticing, in-person, affordable, and fun, the show and sale “Small Wonders” features small works of art created by current members of the cooperative gallery, plus several guest artists.  Most of the original artwork is created on 6” x 6” or 5” x 7” wood panels and includes paintings, prints, photographs, collages, and assemblages. In an effort to make pieces affordable, prices range $50 to $150.  Hours are 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Masking and social distancing are required. More information

SATURDAY DECEMBER 10 THROUGH THURSDAY DECEMBER 29: GROUP EXHIBIT. DAVE MADELONI, BRIAN MCQUILIAN AND OLWEN DOWLING. Hosmer Gallery, Forbes Library, Northampton Dave Madeloni is an educator, activist, and journalist who resides in Northampton, whose photographs frequently appear in The Amherst Indy. All of his photographs in the exhibit were taken within a few miles of the library during the COVID era. Their purpose: to remind us to both cherish and protect the beauty and vulnerability that surround us. Brian McQuillan’s sculptures are created with a lot of love, junk, and a strong dose of high voltage electricity. Olwen Dowling believes that “Nature and what it brings to our daily lives is the ultimate healer.” He hopes that his monotype, dry points, intaglio etchings, and watercolors will “bring a sense of stillness and quietude to the viewer.” 

JANUARY 19-22 AND 26-29: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID. Bowker Auditorium, UMass. This timeless fable will delight and dazzle audience members of all ages with its irresistible songs, stunning sets and costumes, and full live orchestra! Nine performances: for tickets, click here or visit amherstacts.org and go to “Audience Information.” Questions? Email producer@amherstacts.org.

IN PERSON SINGLE DAY EVENTS

SATURDAY DECEMBER 10: TOWN COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY.
Celebrate this day with a communal reading of the Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. on the Town Common.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 10: UMASS CHORALE ENSEMBLES HOLIDAY CARD TO AMHERST. 7:30 p.m. Tillis Performance Hall, Bromery Performing Arts Center, UMass. The UMass Chamber Choir, Chorale and the Conductors’ Chorus present their annual program of seasonal favorites to help ring in the holidays, including an audience sing-along. The program includes Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Don Macdonald’s “Winter Sun,” Eriks Esenvalds’ “Stars,”John Rutter’s arrangement of “12 Days of Christmas,” and more. The concert will also be streamed via YouTube. Tix: A,$10, Senior, Student Youth, $5, UMass Students, Free. Purchase here.. More information

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15: SIP AND SHOP STROLL AND MAKERS’ MARKET. Downtown 5-9 p.m. The Amherst Business Improvement District and Peoples’ Bank are sponsoring a Sip and Stroll and Makers’ Market at the Drake. Muddy Brook Farm will provide horse drawn carriage rides to downtown restaurants from 6-8 p.m. and will be serenaded by the Hurricane Carolers from the high school. Five restaurants will offer three course prix fixe dinners for $35, and the Drake will be transformed into a Makers’ Market exhibiting works from 15 artists. Many downtown businesses will be open until 9 p.m., offering a “sip of holiday cheer” to shoppers ages 21 and over. For more information, see https://www.amherstdowntown.com/events/holiday-makers-market

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16: THE SLAMBOVIA CIRCUS OF DREAMS : A VERY SLAMBOVIAN CHRISTMAS. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. 8 p.m. Tix $25. Purchase here. Be prepared for Christmas songs with a “Slambovian twist” and rockin’ original holiday tunes for a fun ‘outside the box’ holiday show. The band will charm and disarm you from the first note – a great night out with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season! More information. Full events schedule at The Drake.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18: “LAST REQUEST: A LOVE STORY” A ONE-WOMAN MUSICAL PLAY BY PETE NELSON STARRING TRACY GRAMMER: The Drake 3 p.m. Well known local folk singer Tracy Grammer stars in Pete Nelson’s play narrated by 40 something Katie, whose dying mother asks her to write a musical about her life and sing it to her before she dies. Based on two novellas published by Nelson in the 70’s and 80’s. Also being presented at 7:30 p.m. at December 8 at Studio 30, 30 Maple Street, Florence and 7:30 p.m. on December 16 at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield. Free with donations accepted.

MONDAY DECEMBER 26: COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF KWANZAA. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in a celebration of the first day of Kwanzaa UMOJA (unity). Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya Kwanzaa meaning “first fruits of the harvest”. The holiday was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to honor family, culture, and community through celebration, reflection, affirmation and connection.  Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration starting on December 26 and ends on January 1. Each day represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Music, African dance and drumming, children’s activities and Community!  Lunch will be provided.

ONLINE EVENTS – ONGOING OR MULTI-DAY

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19- WEDNESDAY APRIL 3: Feinberg Lecture Series On US Imperialism: Confronting Empire Events are online or hybrid. This free public lecture series brings together scholars, journalists, educators, writers, community organizers, and survivors of state violence to examine global histories of U.S. imperialism and anti-imperialist resistance.The series traces the history of U.S. imperialism from the conquest of North America to the creation of an overseas empire in the late 19th century and to the present day. It also offers a critical historical analysis of the various traditions and movements that have opposed U.S. empire, including Black radicalism, Marxism, revolutionary feminism, armed struggle, international solidarity, pacifism, and liberal, electoral, and diplomatic activism.  The series kicks off Monday, September 19 for the Keynote Address, US Policy In the Global South by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, joined by journalists Vincent Bevins and Amy Goodman. 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Register here.
Full listing of series events and more information

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 -SUNDAY MAY 14. 60 YEARS OF COLLECTING -AN ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART PERMANENT COLLECTION. Bottom Floor of the UMass Fine Arts Center. Look here for gallery hours and additional information. Free. The exhibit can be viewed on line here.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 1 – SATURDAY DECEMBER 31: VIRTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT-THE SOUTH AMHERST RAIL TRAIL AND SWAMP THROUGH THE SEASONS BY SALLY GREENEBAUM.
During the month of December 2022, photographer Sally Greenebuam will be showing 24 of her photographs in a virtual exhibit at the Burnett Gallery at the Jones Library. These photographs will show the South Amherst Rail Trail and Swamp through the seasons. Greenebaum looks for interesting landscapes, unusual water reflections, minute details in tree bark, and changes in the animal life in and around the swamp.There is so much to see, so many colors, textures and patterns, at the beginning of the Norwottuck Rail Trail, on Station Road, in South Amherst. Throughout the year, the swamp and woods offer dramatic beauty as the ice and snow melt, the trees and flowers bloom, birds and animals return, the fog rolls in and out, lily pads appear, the leaves change and the snow returns. Exhibit link here
Contact Sally Greenebaum with questions or comments here.

ONLINE SINGLE DAY EVENTS