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)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21: WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION. 3 to 4:30 p.m., Kendrick Pard playground, 50 East Pleasant Street. Join the Jones Library Kids’ Room staff, friends from Amherst Recreation, and Julie Stepanek for a celebration of the Winter Solstice. We will share stories about darkness and light, and sing to celebrate the longer daylight ahead. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Libraries.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21: BAND OF BROTHERS: AN ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE BAND. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. A Band of Brothers isn’t just an Allman Brothers tribute band, they’re a powerhouse, uniting the top-tier talent of the East Coast. The brainchild of ace Boston guitarists Ryan Taylor and Johnny Trama, this collective harnesses the Allman Brothers tradition as a vehicle to bring a unique and exciting experience every night. Tickets $25, $30 at the door.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21: ARCADIA PLAYERS – A HANDEL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION. Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Walk, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Arcadia Players presents a holiday concert of Handelian masterpieces, from the familiar Christmas portion of “Messiah” to the equally wonderful but lesser-known Chandos Anthem no.7, “My song shall be alway of the Loving-kindness of the Lord.” Andrus Madsen directs the Arcadia Players ensemble and chorus. Featured soloists are sopranos Arianne Abela and Paige Graham, alto Shiba Nemat-Nasser, tenor Noah Horn, and bass Rozime Lindsey. Tix: $35. Students and low income: $10.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 22: ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRASS CONCERT AND CAROL SING. 6:30 p.m. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 North Pleasant Street. The “Valley Festival Brass” brass choir, plays holiday favorites and hosts a carol sing-along, in its 35th annual concert whose proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center. Admission is free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged. For more information: 413-549-0322 or 413-535-7220

THURSDAY DECEMBER 26: READING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL’S KWANZAA PROCLAMATION. 5 p.m. Steps of Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 27: NEW YEAR FOLKS DANCE PARTY. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 129 North Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.Folk dance party with live music by Panharmonium. Music and dances of Eastern Europe, Balkans, Middle East. Beginners welcome to join the line, or enjoy the music. Bring comfortable indoor-only shoes. See website for details, and Covid policy. Tix: $10-$20.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 28: PLAYFUL ENGINEERS STEAM CHAIN REACTIONS WORKSHOP. 3 to 4:30 p.m., Jones Library, 43 Amity Street.  Join local teaching artist Jay Mankita for a collaborative, hands-on STEAM learning experience. Through creating Rube Goldberg machines, participants will learn about basic forces and motion, simple machines, and problem-solving. This program is for ages 8 – 11. To learn more and register, email us! This program is made possible by the Friends of the Jones Libraries.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29: TOWN-WIDE KWANZAA CELEBRATION. 4 p.m. New Africa House, 181 Infirmary Way, UMass. Come celebrate the 4th day of Kwanzaa with the UMass Community. The fourth principal – ujamaa – cooperative economics. Bring a covered dish or beverages. Drum circile and other performances. Vendors from black owned businesses. This event is open to all. More information: 413-545-2751 or shabazz@umass.edu

THURSDAY JANUARY 2 – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1: GORDON M. GREEN AND GK KHALSA EXHIBIT WORK AT GALLERY A3. Gallery A3, 28 Amity St. 1D. Thursday-Sunday, 2 p.m.- 7 p.m. Gordon M. Green displays abstract paintings that improvise with gestural brushwork to evoke a naturalistic landscape, while GK Khalsa presents a retrospective of drawings, spanning more than four decades.  More information

THURSDAY JANUARY 2: OPENING RECEPTION FOR GORDON M. GREEN AND GK KHALSA EXHIBIT AT GALLERY A3. Gallery A3, 28 Amity St. 1D. 5-7 p.m. Free and open to all. More information

THURSDAY JANUARY 2: BRYSON LANG COMEDY JUGGLING SHOW. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Kids of all ages and their caregivers are invited to an interactive comedy juggling performance. Bryson Lang has traveled the world and appeared on TV performing captivating routines that mix audience participation, comedy, ball bouncing and spinning, giant beach balls, improv, and always a few surprises! This program is possible thanks to the Friends of the Jones Library.

THURSDAY JANUARY 2: 2025 NEW YEAR’S DANCE AT THE SURVIVAL CENTER. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Celebrate the new year with the Amherst Survival Center. Music from Peterson Productions. Snacks and light refreshments provided. All are welcome.

THURSDAY JANUARY 9: IS DEMOCRACY DOOMED? 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. A talk by Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College. The results of the 2024 election require us to ask whether democracy is doomed in the United States. This program will offer a perspective on the election, as well as discuss factors that are eroding democracy. We will also discuss strategies for preserving and improving democratic politics. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. No registration required. Zoom link here.

THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 16-19 AND 23-26: AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS THE BROADWAY MUSICAL NEWSIES. Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story,  Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act) and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots). Tickets.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9: THE WEDDING JESTER WITH JOHN FEFFER. Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. 2:00-4:00 p.m. John Feffer’s one man show The Wedding Jester is a fictional account inspired by the real-life making of the Fiddler on the Roof film, telling how a Jewish stand-up comedian confronts a non-Jewish director of over errors in the film’s script. The Wedding Jester traces the history of Jewish comedy from the weddings of the Old Country to the Borscht Belt of the United States, challenging our notions of authenticity and of what is “too Jewish” or “not Jewish enough”. The performance is 60 minutes followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Tix: Member/Student – $12. General Admission – $15. More information

ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS

EVERY MONDAY EXCEPT HOLIDAYS: AUTOHARP WORKSHOPS. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join Marie Hartwell-Walker and autoharp players throughout the country who participate on Zoom. Participants on Zoom also welcome.

EVERY TUESDAY FROM NOVEMBER 12 THROUGH DECEMBER 31: LUNCH IN TOWN WITH AMHERST NEIGHBORS. 12 to 1:30 p.m., Police Station Community Room, 111 Main Street. Meet other Amherst Neighbors members in person for general camaraderie and discussion. Bring your own lunch. Canceled if the town closes for weather.

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 AND JANUARY): 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.

EVERY WEDNESDAY: WEEKLY WEDNESDAY MARKET. 10 to 11:30 a.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Since its launch in May 2024, the Wednesday Market has served over 700 community members. The Market is open to all, and there’s no registration and no questions asked. Just come and enjoy. We distribute fresh produce, dairy, prepared food, and delicious treats. 

EVERY WEDNESDAY: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9:00-9:30 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

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. 

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.

SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER: WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bangs Community Center., 70 Boltwood Walk. The Amherst Farmers’ Market is excited to announce the launch of its Winter Market at the Bangs Community Center, right in downtown Amherst. The Winter Market will run from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday in December and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of January, February, and March. This new venue offers a spacious and familiar environment for local farmers, artisans, and crafters to showcase their goods to the community. 

NOW THROUGH SATURDAY DECEMBER 28: SMALL WONDERS HOLIDAY SHOW AND SALE. Gallery A3., 28 Amity Street. Affordable and fun…. Gallery A3’s annual December Holiday Show and Sale SMALL WONDERS features small-scale works of art created by current members of a contemporary cooperative gallery located in downtown Amherst.
Original artwork includes paintings, prints, photographs, collages, assemblages, and fiber art. All pieces are appealingly small, with none larger than 10 by 10 inches, and affordably priced, ranging from $50 to $150. And all are “Cash and Carry,” making them ideal for unique holiday gifts. Hours 2 to 7 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Opening Reception Thursday, December 5, 5 to 7 p.m.