What’s Happening in Amherst?

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 JANUARY 17: BRAILLE STORY TIME WITH MARY WESTGATE. 11 to 11:30 a.m., Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road. Join Berkshire Hills Music Academy’s Mary Westgate for a fun, music-filled storytime featuring singing, musical instruments, and braille books. Mary Westgate has been reading Braille books and singing with children for over 10 years. Mary is a day student at Berkshire Hills Music Academy (BHMA) in South Hadley, MA. She is a talented musician and participates in bands and ensembles at BHMA. Mary plays the autoharp and loves to share her music and singing with children. Free with museum admission.

SATURDAY JANUARY 18: DON’T TELL COMEDY. 8:30 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. No spoilers! All comedians remain unknown until the moment they take the stage. But don’t fret, we carefully curate lineups of 4-7 different comics to create a hilarious and diverse show. The best part is—you never know who might show up! $25 at the door. Full Calendar of Events.

MONDAY JANUARY 20: FOOD DRIVE FOR THE AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. Join in community to support our neighbors.   You can bring food donations to the Center from now until MLK Day, Monday, January 20 between 10am and 1pm. Sponsored by the office of Representative Mindy Domb. 

MONDAY JANUARY 20: Community Card Making Event. 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Room 101, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA 01002. Brighten someone’s day by making a card with a positive message. All ages are welcome. Materials will be provided. This event is free and open to the public. Donations for the Amherst Survival Center food drive will also be collected here. Sponsored by the Recreation Department. 

TUESDAY JANUARY 21: NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING. 6 to 8 p.m., Amherst Regional Middle School cafeteria, 170 Chestnut Street. The Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion will be observing the National Day of Racial Healing as the next installment in our ongoing Becoming Beloved Community series. This national event, held on the Tuesday after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, focuses on racial healing and collective action for a more equitable world. We invite you to join us on January 21 from 6 to 8 pm at Amherst Reginal Middle School for a community conversation on racial healing.

TUESDAY JANUARY 21: AUTHOR HOUR WITH JAMES GRIPPANDO. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Bestselling author James Grippando will discuss his new legal thriller Grave Danger which has attorney Jack Swyteck defending a single mother accused of kidnapping her own child in a perilous case involving politics and international diplomacy as fled from Iran to Miami with her daughter. Grippando has more than 30 books to his credit, including those in his acclaimed series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. Sponsored by the Jones Library. Register here.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22: AUTHOR HOUR WITH LEAH KONEN. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Author Leah Konen will discuss her new thriller This Last Room on the Left. In the book, the caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this twisty, addictive thriller. Leah Konen is the author of Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels. Sponsored by the Jones Library. Register here.

THURSDAY JANUARY 23: HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES FOR THE BRAIN AND BODY. 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. An Amherst Neighbors free program. Karen Romanowski will provide information on healthy lifestyle choices for the brain and body. Topics to be addressed include learning signs of normal vs. abnormal brain changes as we get older, reviewing healthy lifestyle changes that support brain health and reduce the risk of developing dementia, and providing resources on where to find help if you are concerned about memory loss and resources to support health. No registration required. Zoom link.

THURSDAY JANUARY 23: AUTHOR HOUR WITH SCOTT TUROW AND ALAFAIR BURKE. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Scott Turow will discuss his latest novel Presumed Guilt, and  Alafair Burke will discuss The Note in a conversation with Dwyer Murphy, editor-in-chief of “CrimeReads.” Sponsored by the Jones Library. Register here.

THURSDAY JANUARY 23: CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AMHERST: TEARING DOWN BARRIERS. 7 to 9 p.m., Town Hall or on Zoom. Panelists: Gaston de los Reyes (Chair Amherst Affordable Housing Trust), Allegra Clark (Affordable Housing Trust and co-Chair Community Safety and Social Justice Committee), Laura Baker (Valley CDC), Tom Kegelman (Director home City Housing), Keith Fairey (Executive Director Wayfinders), John Hornik (former Chair Housing Trust. Q and A facilitated by Representative Mindy Domb. Zoom link: https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/83686070098 .

THURSDAY JANUARY 23: A CONVERSATION WITH PROFESSOR SAMUEL KASSOW, TRANSLATOR OF ROKHL AUERBACH’S WARSAW TESTAMENT. 7 p.m. on Zoom. Join the Yiddish Book Center for an evening in conversation with renowned Trinity College scholar Samuel Kassow about his new translation of Rokhl Auerbach’s Warsaw Testament. Register here.

FRIDAY JANUARY 24: OPENING – NICKEL BOYS. Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, NICKEL BOYS chronicles the powerful friendship between two young African American men navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida. For times, see here.

FRIDAY JANUARY 24: MINSTRELS IN THE GALLERY: A TRIBUTE TO JETHRO TULL. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Massachusetts musician and multi-instrumentalist Chris Devine and his band of merry men bring a tribute to the classic music of British rock giants Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. Tickets $20, $25 at the door. Full Calendar of Events.

SATURDAY JANUARY 25: MADISON CURBELO AND HER BAND. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Madison Curbelo is a Puerto Rican acoustic pop singer-songwriter from Westfield, Massachusetts. She uses her skills as a producer to create songs that tell stories from her favorit films, books, and the daily struggles of a “girly in her twenties.” She takes inspiration for her favorite icons Bruno Mars, Stevie Nicks, and Paul Simon. Tickets $15, $20 at the door. Full Calendar of Events.

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.

FRIDAY JANUARY 31: WINTER ART OPENING AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 5 to 7 p.m., Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. All artists, art lovers, and community members are invited to The Mill District Local Art Gallery’s free Winter Art Opening on Friday, January 31 from 5-7pm. Celebrate the current collection of art available for immediate purchase by over 30 local artists and the opening of Gretchen Holesovsky’s watercolor exhibit in the Front Window Gallery. Enjoy complementary light refreshments from Provisions and live piano jazz by Avi Steinhardt.

FRIDAY JANUARY 31: A “RENT” REUNION. 8 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who played Roger and Mark respectively in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Rent”, will perform together at Bowker Auditorium. According to the description “The show “Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp: Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship and Music” will feature songs from throughout their careers, including some iconic hits from “Rent” as well as music that has influenced and inspired them on stage and in life.” Tickets $40, $15 for students.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1: NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY CELEBRATION. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Amherst College Alumni Gym.  This program will provide girls and non-binary youth in grades 4-7 with a unique and welcoming opportunity to explore various sports, play, and have fun together. The participants will be divided into smaller groups to enjoy different fundamental skills in a variety of sports (no previous experience necessary). The event will feature activities led by women’s sports teams, including: squash, golf, crew, track/cross country, soccer, field hockey, softball, and volleyball. For more information, please visit athletics.amherst.edu or contact Jennifer Chuks at jchuks@amherst.edu.  Register here.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5: COVID-19 AND FLU IMMUNIZATION CLINIC. 3 to 5 p.m., Bangs Community Center Room 101, 70 Boltwood Walk.  All ages, 6 mo. and over. Updated COVID vaccines: Pfizer and Moderna for pediatric patients, Pfizer only for adults (12+). The Amherst Public Health Department is participating in the regional Public Health Excellence grant and working collaboratively with the City of Northampton to ensure access for Amherst residents to both the updated COVID and Flu vaccines. For guidance about who should get vaccinated when, click here. Register for the clinic here.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6: ARE YOU LIVING YOUR BEST OBIT? 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Laura Lyster-Mensh, death doula in residence at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. collects obituaries. In this presentation, she explains why writing your own obituary is an act of love and can even be a lot of fn. And really, who doesn’t want “the last word?” Laura specializes in helping people accept, talk about, and plan for death. She shares tips about what information to share in an obituary and why choosing the photograph is so important, and some cautionary tales for what not to do. Sponsored by Amherst Neighbors. No registration necessary. Zoom link.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9: THE WEDDING JESTER WITH JOHN FEFFER. 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street. In 1970, in a small village somewhere in Croatia, a stand-up comedian confronts the director of Fiddler on the Roof over errors in the film’s script. In a former life, the comedian was a badkhen, a jester who served as the emcee at Jewish weddings, and he’s familiar with shtetl life in ways that Fiddler’s non-Jewish director couldn’t possibly know. Along the way, The Wedding Jester—an original one-man show written and performed by John Feffer and directed by Josh Perlstein—traces the history of Jewish comedy from the weddings of the Old Country to the Borscht Belt of the United States. It challenges our notions of authenticity and of what is “too Jewish” or “not Jewish enough.” And it does what any good badkhen must do—it makes audiences laugh and cry. Runtime: The performance is 60 minutes followed by a 30-minute Q&A.  Tickets $15. Member/Student – $12. More information

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18: UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA. 6:30 p.m., Woodbury Room, Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Join us for a presentation on Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Learn about the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the early warning signs of dementia, risk factors, the importance of early detection, new treatment options, and local resources. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association.  Meghan Lemay, M.S. is the Regional Manager for the Western Mass office of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25: BOOK DISCUSSION OF ERASURE. 7 p.m., Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Join Professor Jimmy Worthy from UMass-Amherst and Jones Library staff member Linda Wentworth for an in-depth discussion of the selected title for this year’s Jones Library’s “on The Same Page” commuity read program. Jimmy Worthy is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28: AUTHOR EVENT: ON THE SAME PAGE WITH PERCIVAL EVERETT. 5 p.m., Johnson Chapel, Amherst College. Join us for The Making of American Fiction, featuring actor Jeffrey Wright ’87, author Percival Everett, and writer/director Cord Jefferson in conversation with Amherst College President Michael A. Elliott, with remarks by Jennifer Acker ’00. Percival Everett is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California. He is the author, most recently, of James, winner of the National Book Award in 2024. Other books include Dr. No (finalist for the NBCC Award for Fiction and winner of the PEN/ Jean Stein Book Award), The Trees (finalist for the Booker Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction), Telephone (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), So Much Blue, and I Am Not Sidney Poitier. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the writer Danzy Senna, and their children. This is a ticketed event.  Registration is required for this event due to limited seating.  Please register as soon as possible to reserve your spot for this event and to request tickets (free of charge). Note: the event is now full but registration will put you on the wait list. REGISTER HERE.

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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.

TUESDAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY: AMHERST NEIGHBORS LUNCH IN TOWN. 12 to 1 p.m., Community Room, Amherst Police Station, 111 Main Street. The Lunch in Town series continues in January and February. A mixture of regulars and newcomers show up every week. Come join with a bagged lunch. There will be no gathering on January 28. 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: 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 AND SUNDAYS: LIVE JAZZ AND GOOD EATS AT THE BLACK SHEEP. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Black Sheep Deli, 79 Main Street. Frist and third Saturdays: Masala Jazz, Second, Fourth and Fifth Saturdays: Simmer Music Presents, Sundays: the Catalytics. Tip Jar.

SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYS JANUARY THROUGH MARCH: 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. 

SATURDAYS MARCH 1 THROUGH SATURDAY APRIL 5: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for five Saturdays, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. For grades 6-12. The DEI Department, in association with the Black Business Association of Amherst Area, is excited to announce their first program: A Youth Entrepreneurial Workshop! Young people in grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us for this free five-week program where they will learn the skills needed to develop a business and actively create and sell their own products, getting hands on experience in the process. Materials and snacks will be provided. Sign up here and we will be in touch by mid-February with an additional details. If you have questions, you can email Philip Avila at avilap@amherstma.gov.

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 2025: ART IN THE STACKS. Burnett Gallery, Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Jones Library staff art show. Your library staff are also artists. Jones Library staff invite you to a group show featuring our art in a variety of forms and mediums.

NOW 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