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 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 THROUGH 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.

SATURDAY JANUARY 4: SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH CLAIRE DACEY AND JAMOOF. Claire Decey and Jamoof will headline Pioneer Valley Folklore Society’s monthly song and story swap on Saturday, January 4, from 7-9 p.m. at First Church, 165 Main Street in Amherst. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $7.50 to the artists. Parking is available in the lot behind the church. More information

TUESDAY JANUARY 7: OPEN HOUSE TO GATHER INPUT ON THE TOWN’S HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN. 4-6:30 p.m in the Woodbury Room of the Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Residents are invited to offer input for the town’s Housing Production Plan (HPP). The event will offer Amherst residents the opportunity to learn about the HPP, to share ideas at various activity stations, and to help shape Amherst’s future housing goals!Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided. There will also be coloring activities and interactive materials for children.

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 JANUARY 29: AMHERST JAZZ FACULTY CONCERT. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Free. Full Calendar of Events.

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.

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 (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.

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 IN JANUARY: IRISH MUSIC SESSION. The Amherst Public House, 40 University Drive. 4-7 p.m. Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki and more.  Jigs, Reels,Hornpipes,  Polkas, Slides, and  Waltz’ from around the Celtic world.

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.