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
FRIDAY JULY 26 THROUGH MONDAY AUGUST 5: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF AMHERST ANNUAL BOOK SALE. Fort River Elementary School Gymnasium, 70 South East Street. Sale Dates: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 26-28; Saturday and Sunday, August 3and 4. Friday 26, 10 a.m-6 p.m.; other sale days 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Left-over Day, Monday, August 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. All books must go! Ample Free Parking A gymnasium full of gently used books of all kinds at very low prices 50c-$2:00. Also, rare books, coffee table and children’s books, DVDs and CDs
SATURDAY July 27 : AMHERST COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT. Sweetser Park, Lessy and Main Street. 6:30 p.m. Free
TUESDAY JULY 30 (AND EVERY TUESDAY IN AUGUST): TROLLEY SUPERHIGHWAY HIKE. Notch Visitors Center, 1500 West Street. 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. For ages 12 and up. Hike along a former trolley rail bed! Discover more about the trolley that once connected the Connecticut River Valley towns. An easy, 1-mile round-trip guided walk, with one steep downhill section. Free.
TUESDAY JULY 30: LECTURE: DR. PHILLIP LUKE SINITIERE,”YOLANDE DU BOIS’S SCRAPBOOKS:PORTALS TO HIDDEN BLACK HISTORY”. 12 to 1 p.m., UMass W.E.B. DuBois Library, Room 2220 (Floor 22). Yolande Du Bois (1900-1961) is often known only as the former, divorced spouse of the queer Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen (1903-1946) or the only daughter of radical civil rights intellectual and activist W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) who resided in her famous father’s towering shadow. As a result, the impression left is that she is a person upon whom history acted rather than a historical actor who made her own mark upon history. Drawing from recently discovered scrapbooks of Yolande’s that date to the 1920s and 1930s, this presentation will comment on the creative aspects of her artistic endeavors, unveil her experiences as a student at Fisk University, and examine her role as an artist in the Black print culture of the Harlem Renaissance era. Phillip Luke Sinitiere (pronounced Sin-uh-tare) received a Ph.D. in American history at the University of Houston in 2009. Currently, he is a professor of history and humanities at the College of Biblical Studies, a predominately African American school located in Houston’s Mahatma Gandhi District. In addition, Sinitiere is the scholar in residence at UMass Amherst’s W. E. B. Du Bois Center. Free and open to the public and livestreamed here.
THURSDAY AUGUST 1: PUBLIC HEARINGS – IMPACTS OF VALUE ENGINEERING CHANGES TO JONES LIBRARY EXPANSION DESIGN ON THE BUILDING’S HISTORIC CHARACTER. 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join here. More information
MONDAY AUGUST 5: COMMON GROUND FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION AT AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m. Amherst Cinema. COMMON GROUND is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary, KISS THE GROUND, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. By fusing journalistic expose’ with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, COMMON GROUND unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy—before it’s too late. Featuring Laura Dern, Roasario Dawson, Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, and Woody Harrelson. Tickets.
THURSDAY AUGUST 8: WHITEY MORGAN AND THE 78’S. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. In a career spanning more than 15 years, Morgan has released six studio albums and a live recording from his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Additionally, he has toured relentlessly, averaging over 125 shows annually. Rolling Stone has described him as a “Waylon Jennings acolyte… modern day outlaw [with a] hard hitting blue-collar brand of music.” Tickets. Full August lineup here.
THURSDAY AUGUST 8: AN EVENING OF MUSICAL MULTIPLICITY: A BENEFIT FOR THE AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER. 7 p.m. All Saints Episcopal Church, 7 Woodbridge Street, South Hadley. UMass music alumni and current students present an instrumental and vocal concert to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. Suggested donation $10 (Cash only). All are welcome! Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
FRIDAY AUGUST 9: BEARLY DEAD. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Not just another Grateful Dead cover band. A cosmic exploration of the Grateful Dead catalog, Bearly Dead, Boston-based quintet, performs a concert-style show that celebrates the journey of the Grateful Dead from their earliest records until their final tours. The band delivers a full-spectrum concert experience filled with danceable energy and world-class musicianship. Tickets. Full August lineup here.
MONDAY AUGUST 12 AND TUESDAY AUGUST 13: OPEN AUDITIONS FOR VALLEY PLAYERS FIRST PRODUCTION. 6 to 9 p.m., Munson Library, 1046 South East Street. Valley Players will conduct auditions for Nick Payne’s award-winning play “Constellations” which will be presented October 11-20 at the Munson Library. Eight actors will be cast. The play follows Marianne, a physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper, through their romantic relationship. Marianne often waxes poetic about cosmology, quantum mechanics, string theory and the belief that there are multiple universes that pull people’s lives in various directions. Valley Players is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Connecticut River Valley region of Massachusetts by producing high-quality community theater and related arts education and cultural programming. All auditions must be scheduled in advance. No acting experience is necessary. Schedule an audition here.
SATURDAY AUGUST 17: COMMUNITY SAFETY DAY. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road. Events include bike safety, tick and mosquito bite lab, touch-a-truck fire safety trailer, face painting, jaws of life presentation, comfort dogs and UMass police horses, as well as meet and greet with CRESS responders. Free.
MONDAY AUGUST 26: FEED DEMOCRACY WITH MINDY DOMB. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Join Representative Mindy Domb for a convo on issues that matter the most to you. Submit your questions ahead of time at the front office.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28: GIACOMO GATES AND NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Giacomo Gates does more than sing “a bunch of songs.” He is truly an entertainer for all ages and styles. As audiences enjoy the music, the interaction on the bandstand between him and his musicians, the spontaneity, the humor, the stories about the music and composers, along with their relation to everyday life. People are smiling, having a good time, while thoroughly enjoying the music. What usually lacks in most of today’s performances is obviously present… fun! Cover at the door. Full August and September lineup here.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7: HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF. Wildwood Elementary School. Registration is required for this event and will open on July 18, 2024 through August 27, 2024.
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.
TUESDAYS IN JULY: SUMMER LUNCHES WITH AMHERST NEIGHBORS. 12 to 1 p.m., Kendrick Park. Meet other Amherst Neighbors members in person for general camaraderie and discussion. Bring your own lunch and a lawn chair or blanket (picnic tables may be available) and join us at Kendrick Park.
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: IRISH MUSIC SESSION. White Lion Brewery. 24 North Pleasant Street. 4 p.m – 7 p.m.
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 FRIDAY IN AUGUST: ROCKS TO ROOTS – GEOLOGY INTERPRETIVE HIKE. Notch Visitors Center, 1500 West Street. 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Ages 14 and up. Half mile guided hike on challenging trails. Sturdy footwear required. Explore how basalt bedrock makes up the Range supporting an ever changing microclimate where rare plant communities thrive.
SATURDAYS UNTIL OCTOBER 2024: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA. Exhibit 11 a.m. to 3 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.
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 June 16.
NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 3: METAFICTION IN ART. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road. The art in this exhibition contains an extraordinary sense of playfulness and surprise. It comes from metafictive books: those that tell stories about stories and about the art of storytelling itself. Artists experiment with styles, typography, and page design to delightfully disrupt the rules of how books usually work. Guests can enjoy work by 29 artists in a variety of media. They can read books and “remix” story titles on a magnetic bookshelf. Gallery graphics add a sense of surrealism. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
TUESDAY AUGUST 1 – SATURDAY AUGUST 31: IMPERMANENCE – 9TH ANNUAL JURIED SHOW AT GALLERY A3. The theme is IMPERMANENCE,” noted exhibit co-coordinator Paula Hite, “embracing art that speaks to the ever-changing, transient, and often cyclical nature of all things as experienced in the realm of human relationships and emotions and as encountered in the material and natural worlds.” The juror, Maria Timina, is the Curator of Russian and European Art at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College. An Opening Reception will be on Thursday, August 1, 5-8:00 pm, and an online Art Forum, open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, at 7:30 pm. Galley A3 is located a 28 Amity Street 1D. Gallery hours are Thursday – Sunday, 2 p.m.- 7 p.m. More information