What’s Happening in Amherst?

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 (more or less)

FRIDAY AUGUST 23 THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 25: AMHERST ROTARY CLUB CARNIVAL. Town Common. An annual tradition returns to the Town Common starting Friday, August 23, 2024, when the Amherst Rotary Town Fair opens for its three-day run. Carnival rides such as a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and various other activities will be ready for children and adults starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The Rotary uses money from the fair to provide scholarships to local students and assist nonprofits through donations. The organization also offers annual awards through its community grant program.

Hours:
Friday, August 23, 2024, from 5:30 pm until 10 pm
Saturday, August 24, 2024, from 1 pm to 10 pm
Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 1 pm to 6 pm
(Sunday wristband special from 1 pm to 5 pm)

Ticket sales in advance until 3 p.m. on 8/23 at https://fanelliamusements.com/events/16?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR13kNJBCN-EVAnpqhOAaDh-D5ryGDg_DPsfVcnL24PcKn4REb2J5a9f09g_aem_zE6hVXkplk_d683XvkPVwQ

SATURDAY AUGUST 24: THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-ALONG. 12:45 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. A convent-trained governess wins the heart of the Von Trapp family, and her courage leads them across the Alps in their 1938 flight to freedom. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer star in one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, presented here with on-screen lyrics. $5 family film series.

SATURDAY AUGUST 24: STRINGS AT THE STRONG – AMETHYST QUARTET. 2-3:30 p.m. 67 Amity Street. Free. 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, More information

SUNDAY AUGUST 25: FELTING WORKSHOP WITH ANNA SUNSCHAUER. 1 to 3 p.m., Mill District General Store and Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Come learn the art of needle felting while making an adorable whale! Local fiber artist, Anna Sunschauer, will be your guide on this artistic adventure at The Mill District Local Art Gallery. Sliding scale ticket price: $25 – $50. Includes materials. Ages 12+.

SUNDAY AUGUST 25: FIRST DAY CELEBRATION. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Kendrick Park. Come try out a school bus, meet the Superintendent, meet your principal, say hi to friends, grab some ice cream, and have a blast the night before the first day of school! Cost: Free and open to the public!

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.

TUESDAY AUGUST 27: 57^TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY BREAKFAST. 7:30 to 9 am., Student Union Ballroom, University of Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce invite you to the 57^th Annual Community Breakfast. Welcome new community and campus leaders, re-connect, and see old friends as we kick off a new academic year. Breakfast is catered by award-wining UMass Dining. Come join us! Tickets are $16 in advance at umasshospitality.com/registration or $25 at the door. Free parking in the Campus Center garage.

TUESDAY AUGUST 27: TROLLEY SUPERHIGHWAY HIKE. 10-11 a.m. Notch Visitors Center, 1500 West Street. Free. 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. More information

TUESDAY AUGUST 27: THREE PROGRAMS AT THE NOTCH. Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. Trolley Superhighway hike from 10 to 11 a.m. (easy one-mile guided walk for ages 12 and up), Range Reveals: Navigate the Notch at 11 a.m. (all ages), and Range Reveals: Trolley History at 1 p.m. (all ages). Free.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28: MOUNT RANGE STATE PARK HIKE. 2 to 3 p.m., Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. For ages 12 and up. An eye-opening, moderate, 3/4-mile guided hike. Discover dynamic, colorful, and life-supporting plants on Mount Holyoke Range. Dress for the weather. Free.

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: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9 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.

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

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13: CUPPA JOE WITH TOWN MANAGER PAUL BOCKELMAN. 8 to 9:30 a.m., Atkins Farms Country Store, 1150 West Street. Bockelman will be joined by Police Chief Gabe Ting. Stop by, do a little shopping (it’s apple season!), get a cup of coffee and pastry, and join in the conversation. The “Cuppa’ Joe with Paul” coffees are a monthly event. Residents and others are welcome to ask questions, share their concerns, or just get to know each other.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14: MASTER YOUR MUSIC IN FEWER PRACTICE SESSIONS: USING NEUROSCIENCE TO UNLOCK YOUR MUSICAL POTENTIAL. Lecture 10 to 11:15 a.m., Master class 11:30 to 12:30, Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass. Think of a piece of music you can perform at the drop of a hat. Now imagine if you could perform new repertoire with the same level of confidence, security, and expression. Efficient practice is the key. Christopher Prestia is a keyboard and bowed-string teacher and player, vocalist, and amateur composer. Visit www.TheWellPracticedMusician.com for more information. Register at https://bit.ly/3QokDpx . Free.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17: BANGS CENTER OPEN HOUSE. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with the John P. Musante Health Center, is excited to host an Open House at the Bangs Community Center where the community can learn about and meet staff from the Center’s various departments and resources. Meet staff from Town and Musante Health Cente, listen to music from Eli Elkus, enjoy refreshments, and enter raffles. This family friendly event is free and open to all!

There will be opportunities to learn about and meet members of:

Amherst Senior Center
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Department of Public Health
Veteran’s Services
CRESS – Community Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service
John P. Musante Health Center

RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bangs-center-open-house-tickets-943649710687?aff=oddtdtcreator

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19: 11^th 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.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: MOTHER TONGUE BY FIRST GENERATION: STORIES OF CULTURE, STRUGGLE, IDENTITY, AND REVOLUTION. 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Mother Tongue is an original multilingual physical theater performance created by the Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble. The piece is inspired by the experiences of First Generation ensemble members, their families and communities who are from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan/Darfur, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The 90-minute performance weaves together movement, music, dance, and stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, and English. The piece incorporates themes of language, culture, identity, diaspora, hypermasculinity, xenophobia, transphobia, racism, the school to prison pipeline and revolution. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. $25, Free for students.

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

WEDNESDAY 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

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28: REBECCA MULLER: WHEN MATTER TALKS BACK. Gallery A3, 2 Amity Street. A mixed media installation by Rebecca Muller, combines inked prints, hand-poured “paper” of acrylic medium, and 3-dimensional assemblages of eroded organic and inorganic material including grit, ground duff, rusted metal, plastic, pigment, caulking cord, bits of wood, and wire. For the first time, she also brings words into the multi-media mix, hanging written vignettes throughout the installation. Gallery Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 2-7:00 pm. Opening Reception: Thursday, September 5, 5-7:00

Dialogue with the Artist: Thursday, September 5, 2-4:30 pm; Friday, September 6, 4:30-7 pm; Friday, September 20, 4:30-7 pm; Friday, September 27, 4:30-7 pm

Artist Forum Online: September 19, 7:30 pm, preregister at www.gallerya3.com Contact: Rebecca Muller, rebmuller@comcast.net

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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