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.
SINGLE DAY EVENTS
SATURDAY MAY 11: BRING BACK THE BUGS. 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Farmers’ Market, Town Common. The UMass Environmental Education Students are hosting an event at the Amherst Farmer’s Market on May 11th from 7:30AM to 1:30PM. There will be crafts, take-home activities, adopting a ladybug, building bug houses, and so much more! Come learn about how we can be neighbors with insects, and why it’s so important to our community! Contact Britt Crow-Miller, bcrowmiller@umass.edu for information.
SATURDAY MAY 11: POETRY WALK. 10 a.m., Emily Dickinson Museum. In honor of the 138th anniversary of the poet’s death, join the Emily Dickinson Museum for the annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst, the town she called “paradise.” This year’s walk celebrates the re-opening of the Evergreens with stops that explore its significance to Amherst’s cultural landscape and to the poet herself. At each stop we will read Dickinson poems in connection with site. This program is free. Register in advance.
SATURDAY MAY 11: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA: GRAND OPENING OF EXHIBIT. 12 to 4 p.m., Amherst History Museum, 47 Amity Street. Cambodians in Amherst exhibit: a history of the Khmer community. Telling the 45-year history of Cambodians in Amherst through oral histories, photos, art, and archived footage. On exhibit until October 2024. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or any other day by appointment.
SUNDAY MAY 12: FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT AT THE YIDDISH BOOK CENTER. 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Yiddish Book Center. Yiddish Book Center invites families for a reading of The Book Rescuer: How a Mentsh from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come, followed by a hands-on show-and-tell of early 20th century Yiddish children’s illustrated books. Afterward, explore the Center’s new exhibition, Yiddish: A Global Culture, with a family guide featuring the Center’s mascot, Tsiggy the Goat. Sunday, at 10:30 am and at 2:30 pm. Free.
MONDAY MAY 13: LISTENING SESSION ON HEATHERSTONE ROAD REDESIGN. 6 p.m. on Zoom. Because of the many comments offered by residents of Echo Hill regarding the redesign of Heatherstone Road, removing the island and creating sidewalks and bike lanes, the Town Services and Outreach committee of the council will hold a listening session on Zoom on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.
TUESDAY MAY 14: GRAND OPENING OF AMHERST COLLEGE STORE. 9 a.m., 45 South Pleasant Street. Stop by the store anytime on May 14 to enter a raffle for an Amherst merchandise gift basket that includes gift cards, clothing, drinkware and other items worth up to a total of $1,000! The winning ticket will be drawn at the close of business on May 14.
TUESDAY MAY 14: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS’ JUDY BROOKS SERIES: JACQUELINE WALLACE. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Social worker and musician Jacqueline Wallace will discuss her work for racial justice and equity in Amherst on Tuesday, May 14 as part of the Judy Brooks Series hosted by the Amherst League of Women Voters Racial Justice Committee. The program begins at 7:00 PM, and all are welcome to join the conversation. Visit lwvamherst.org to register.
TUESDAY MAY 14: FILM: “MAKING WAVES: THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND.” 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema. Amherst Cinema welcomes Hollywood sound editor Midge Costin for a screening of her award-winning documentary to be followed by a seminar, “Beyond the Visual: Exploring the Art and Craft of Sound.” Costin is a Hollywood feature film sound editor who edited the sound effects for Academy Award nominated films “Crimson Tide” and “Armageddon.” She directed “Making Waves,” which introduces audiences to the unsung heroes who create the power of sound in cinema. Tickets available at the Amherst Cinema box office or at the website.
THURSDAY MAY 16: ANCESTRAL BRIDGES EXHIBITS AND DIALOGUE. 3 p.m., Frost Library, Amherst College. Join us for an exhibit that reveals the rich and complex lives of the Black and Afro-Indigenous community of Amherst. This exhibit, the first partnership between the Ancestral Bridges Foundation and Amherst College, seeks to center the long and neglected aspect of Amherst’s history. The exhibit’s photographs, artifacts, and stories hope to raise questions, prompt further research, and challenge us all to meet our collective responsibility to build a more just and equitable future. Come see this in-person exhibit at the Frost Library curated by Anika Lopes, local milliner and Founder of Ancestral Bridges, and followed by an informal dialogue with Anika Lopes, Pat Romney and Carlie Tartakov. Register for this in person Amherst Neighbors program.
FRIDAY MAY 17: JACOB CHAPMAN POETRY READING. 7 p.m., Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. Amherst poet Jacob Chapman will read from his new collection of poetry, Are We There Yet. Chapman read from his award-winning chapbook, Other Places, here in April 2019; & would have read from his second volume, Here Over Here Over Here, if it hadn’t been for the Pandemic. Emily Petit writes of Chapman’s latest volume, “Read these poems & then read them again.”
SATURDAY MAY 18: UMASS COMMENCEMENT. Beginning at 10 a.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, UMass. More information
SUNDAY MAY 19: ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Arts and crafts, food, live entertainment. Sponsored by the Human Rights Commission. Free. Rain location: Amherst Regional Middle School.
SUNDAY MAY 19: CREATE A MULTIMEDIA/WOODEN POSTCARD WITH ARTIST HEATHER GEOFFREY. 1 to 3 p.m., Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Join Springfield artist, Heather Geoffrey, in the Mill District Local Art Gallery on Sunday, Sunday, May 19 from 1-3pm, for an afternoon creating a beautiful multimedia/decoupage wooden postcard for your home with some very simple and fun techniques. No experience is necessary, and all are welcome!
The cost of the class includes all the materials that you will need. Please feel free to bring any images, photographs, paper, fabric scraps or anything else that you think you may want to use in your creation. $35, all materials provided. Ages 12+ with an accompaniment. Preregistration required.
TUESDAY MAY 21: PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET. 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. (link not yet published)
TUESDAY MAY 21: AMHERST-GUJUR-DAKAR: SENE-GAMBIAN SCHOLARS PRESENTATION. 7 p.m., Amherst Regional High School cafeteria. A presentation by the Amherst Regional High School Sene-Gambian scholars about their exchange trip to the Gambia and Senegal. Scholars will share their field research projects and answer questions about their experiences. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
WEDNESDAY MAY 22: AMHERST REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ SINGERS’ SOIREE. 6:30 p.m. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. “The 7th annual ARHS Jazz Singer Soireé will feature 2 jazz combos from ARHS and will showcase a variety of outstanding student (and some staff!) singers. Tunes will range from American Songbook classics to soul hits and contemporary songs. Open to all! Free. Any donations at the door will benefit the ARHS Jazz program.
THURSDAY MAY 23: HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES FOR THE MIND AND BODY. 1 to 2:30 p.m., Amherst Senior Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Karen Romanowski, registered nurse and memory care specialist with the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative (PVMCI) will provide a presentation on Healthy Lifestyle Choices for the Brain and Body. Research continues to show that even small changes can make a difference as we age. Karen will also provide a brief overview of the work of PVMCI. There will be time for questions and discussion and she hopes to see you there! Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors.
THURSDAY MAY 23: ELEANOR LEVINE AND LUX DELUX. 8 p.m., The Drake, Musicians from Western Mass in a fundraiser for A Cure in Sight (ACIS), which supports education and research on ocular melanoma. Tickets $15/ $20 at the door.
SATURDAY JUNE 1: 10TH ANNUAL NEPM ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL 10 a.m to 7 p.m., Hadley Town Common. The family-friendly NEPM Asparagus Festival features a full day of fantastic local food, drink, music, games, and fun for everyone. Come celebrate the region’s legacy of agriculture and community.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5: CELEBRATE ROBERT PAM. 4 to 5 p.m., Goodwin Room, Jones Library. Join us as we celebrate Bob Pam in recognition of his distinguished service as a Jones Library Trustee from 2013 to 2024.
SUNDAY JUNE 9: 42ND ANNUAL LAKE WYOLA RUN. 9:30 a.m., 6 Shore Drive, Shutesbury. 4.8 mile run, walk and 1.6 mile fun run to benefit the Lake Wyola Association. Prizes, refreshments, and a raffle. T-shirts to pre-registrants. Register here. (note: not an Amherst event, but Indy staffers Maura and Art Keene are race directors).
SUNDAY JUNE 9: AMHERST YOUTH HERO AWARDS ANNUAL PICNIC. (and also Mill River Basketball Tournament and Race Amity Day Celebration). Afternoon. Mill River Recreational Area 95 Montague Road More details to come.
SUNDAY JUNE 9: MILL RIVER BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND RACE AMITY DAY CELEBRATION.9 a.m., Mill River Recreation Area. The Human Rights Commission in collaboration with Citizens for Race Amity Now and the Mill River Basketball Tournament Committee invite you to the 3rd Annual Mill River Basketball Tournament. Youth Hero Awards and Race Amity Day celebration at 2 p.m. Register here. Payment due on game day. Lunch provided.
SUNDAY JUNE 23: QUEER ARTISAN MARKET. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mill District, 91 Cowls Rd. This family friendly event will host makers of all sorts of lovely goods from members of the LGBTQIA+ community.This event will be ideally outdoors in front of the former Provisions space in the center of North Square in The Mill District. In the event of rain, we will be able to pop-up inside of the former Provisions space to have an indoor event.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. RAINBOW COFFEE HOUR. 10-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a new LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. The July coffee hour will be held on July 11, due to July 4 being the first Tuesday of the month.
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): 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.
SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): 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.
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: MOBILE FOOD PROGRAM. 1-2 p.m. The Boulders, 156 Brittany Manor Drive. Free produce. No registration necessary. Open to everyone. Brought by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Amherst Survival Center. The Food Bank truck will be in the parking lot near apartments 115-125.
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 WEDNESDAY : 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.
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.
EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL NOVEMBER: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. 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 food, music, events, and community offerings in downtown Amherst.
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8:30 to noon, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. CARS & COFFEE IS OPEN TO EVERYONE – Exhibitors and Spectators alike are welcome! CAR OWNERS: There is no fee to exhibit your car, and pre-registration is NOT required. Aim to arrive by 8:30am for best parking spots. We’ll have our trophy ceremony at 11:45am and the show wraps up at 12 noon sharp. SPECTATORS : Come to the HQ tent and pick up your ballots. Vote for your favorite Domestic, Import, Exotic, and Best Overall. Every complete ballot returned puts you into a drawing for a Mill District Gift Card! Enjoy our expanding array of shops and discover your favorites! Next Cars and Coffee is May 19.
NOW THROUGH SATURDAY JUNE 1: STORIES I TELL MYSELF, MIXED MEDIA EXHIBIT BY DIANE STEINGART. Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D. Hours: TH-SUN 2-7 p.m. Meet the artist: Diane will be at Gallery A3 to meet with gallery visitors on Friday May 10 and Friday May 17, 4:30–7pm and Saturday May 18, 2–4:30 pm. These sessions offer a wonderful opportunity for the artist and local art lovers to connect, so come to Gallery A3 and spend some time looking at the work and talking with Diane about art. More information
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY JUNE 7: DAILY YOGA AT THE MUNSON LIBRARY. Free outdoor yoga is now inside at the Munson Library. The schedule is: Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays at 8 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m., Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 a.m. No pre-registration necessary. Bring your own mats, blocks, straps, and blankets. Donations welcome.
NOW THROUGH SUNDAY JUNE 9: SLOW WALK WITH TREES: ALICIA GRULLON PHOTO EXHIBIT. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. The exhibition is a call to consider notions of land and labor as interconnected systems through various mediums. Grullón’s new photographs of trees and pictures of a single masked person are each paired with text. The compilation of texts reflects Grullón’s research of recent protests in a range of industries such as mining, shipping, and entertainment.
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA: GRAND OPENING OF EXHIBIT. Amherst History Museum, 47 Amity Street. Cambodians in Amherst exhibit: a history of the Khmer community. Telling the 45-year history of Cambodians in Amherst through oral histories, photos, art, and archived footage. On exhibit until October 2024. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or any other day by appointment.