What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Wikimedia commons.
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
WEDNESDAYS AUGUST 7 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1: SOUND AND VISION MUSIC SERIES AT THE AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. It’s summer at Amherst Cinema, which means it’s time to shake a tail feather with Sound & Vision, our summer celebration of music culture through film. Now in its 8th year, the series features documentaries, concert films and narrative storytelling. Enjoy monumental performances on the big screen and explore artists whose music inspired and shaped grassroots culture and history. At select screenings, special guests will introduce the film, sharing their insights about the artists and/or genre. For a schedule, see https://amherstcinema.org/series/sound-and-vision . More information
SATURDAY AUGUST 10: STRINGS AT STRONG. 2-3:30 p.m., Simeon Strong House, 67 Amity Street. The Amherst Historical Society’s annual Strings at Strong music series kicks off on Saturday with the FIKA Quartet. Held in the garden at the Strong House in the heart of downtown Amherst, the concert series offers a wonderful way to spend the afternoon outside enjoying local musicians. The concerts are free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Amherst Cultural Council and our sponsors, Stamell Stringed Instruments and Peoples Bank.
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.
MONDAY AUGUST 12: OUT OF THIS WORLD! CLASSIC 50’S SCI FI “THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL: 6:30 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Science Fiction fans unite! On Monday, August 12, 2024, at 6:30 pm, Amherst Cinema welcomes fan favorite and local film expert, Nina Kleinberg, for an engaging seminar, “Out of This World! Classic ‘50s Sci-Fi” to be followed by a screening of the groundbreaking Hollywood film, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. In this seminar, Kleinberg explores the stories behind THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (screening after the seminar), FORBIDDEN PLANET, and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. Learn about the history and legacy of 1950s sci-fi, the culture and politics of Cold War America that influenced these films, the groundbreaking special effects of the era, and more. Who were the filmmakers who brought these thrilling stories to life? What role did studios and censors have in shaping the final products? How do these films continue to impact the science fiction of today?.
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.
SATURDAY AUGUST 17: STOP LIGHT OBSERVATIONS. 8 p.m., The Drake. Stop Light Observations is a dynamic five-piece hailing from Charleston, South Carolina. Their sound is a unique blend of rock, pop, and indie infused with electronic beats and soulful vocals. $15/$20 at the door.
THURSDAY AUGUST 22: TONY MCMANUS. 8 p.m., The Drake. Hailed by John Renbourn as “the best Celtic guitarist in the world, Tony McManus has been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time. $25/$30 at the door.
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.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon, Bangs Center 70 Boltwood Walk. The Council on Aging senior lunch is moving to the first Tuesday of every month, beginning in September.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4 THROUGH SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: VISUAL/VERBAL: ART EXHIBIT AT THE PALMER LIBRARY. Palmer Library 1455 North Main Street, Palmer. Featuring several Amherst artists. Artists: Janet W. Winston, Marianne Connolly, Sue Katz, Nancy Meagher, Laura Holland, Rochelle Shicoff
Hours: Monday, 10-5; Tuesday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday-Saturday, 10-2
Reception and Open Mic: Thursday, September 12, 6-8 pm
Online Reading: September 24, 7 pm; pre-register at www.womenofwords.myportfolio.com
Contact: connolly.marianne@gmail.com Or laurajholland@gmail.com
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. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19: 11th ANNUAL BID ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY. 5 to 9 p.m., North Pleasant Street. The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) is thrilled to announce the 11th Annual Block Party, set to take place on Thursday, September 19th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst. The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our dynamic downtown. This year’s event will feature an exciting lineup of live music and performances, showcasing local talent and captivating acts. Attendees can look forward to aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers, and a variety of street performers that will delight audiences of all ages.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20 TO SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22: AUDITIONS FOR AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S DISNEY’S “NEWSIES”. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Amherst Community Theater announces auditions for Disney’s Newsies! Directed by Megan Healey, musical direction by Cindy Naughton and choreography by Sue Dresser. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy who leads the teenage “newsies” to strike against unfair conditions. Packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, Newsies is perfect for every audience. 9 performances in Jan., 2025. Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7-107 encouraged to audition! Auditions Sept. 20–22, callbacks Sept. 23, Bangs Center, Amherst. For audition appointments and more info, including character descriptions, audition music, and readings, visit amherstacts.org/auditions or contact producer@amherstacts.org.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
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 : 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.
WEDNESDAYS AUGUST 7 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1: SOUND AND VISION MUSIC SERIES AT THE AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. It’s summer at Amherst Cinema, which means it’s time to shake a tail feather with Sound & Vision, our summer celebration of music culture through film. Now in its 8th year, the series features documentaries, concert films and narrative storytelling. Enjoy monumental performances on the big screen and explore artists whose music inspired and shaped grassroots culture and history. At select screenings, special guests will introduce the film, sharing their insights about the artists and/or genre. For a schedule, see https://amherstcinema.org/series/sound-and-vision . More information
WEDNESDAYS SEPTEMBER 4 THROUGH SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: VISUAL/VERBAL: ART EXHIBIT AT THE PALMER LIBRARY. Palmer Library 1455 North Main Street, Palmer. Artists:Janet W. Winston, Marianne Connolly, Sue Katz, Nancy Meagher, Laura Holland, Rochelle Shicoff
Hours: Monday, 10-5; Tuesday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday-Saturday, 10-2
Reception and Open Mic: Thursday, September 12, 6-8 pm
Online Reading: September 24, 7 pm; pre-register at www.womenofwords.myportfolio.com
Contact: connolly.marianne@gmail.com Or laurajholland@gmail.com
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.
NOW THROUGH – 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
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13: DONATE TO POP-UP CLOSET FUNDRAISER FOR THE AMHERST SENIOR CENTER. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Give us your jewelry please!! The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center will be holding its second Pop-Up Closet Fundraiser on Saturday, September 21st. The fundraiser will be located inside the Amherst Farmers’ Market. To help prepare for the event, The Friends are seeking donations of gently used purses, jewelry, scarves, wallets, and other accessories. We ask that donations be clean and in good condition. Donations will be accepted until September 13th and dropped at the Senior Center between 9:00am and 3:00pm, Monday through Friday. Contact info: Dennis Vandal 413.687.9580 or dennisvandal@gmail.com
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