What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: istock
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 OCTOBER 11 THROUGH SUNDAY OCTOBER 13: VALLEY PLAYERS PRESENTS “CONSTELLATIONS,” A PLAY BY NICK PAYNE. Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Munson Library, 1046 South East Street. Two people, one love, infinite possibilities. Featuring Lindsey Campbell, Cici Drzik, Maddie Evans, Cory Flood, Sam Fox, Benjamin Hersey, Jim Merlin, and Terrance J. Peters. Directed by Matteo Pangello. Reservations at www. valleyplayers.org. Pay what you can. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Cancer Connection.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16: DICKINSON AND THE CIVIL WAR. 6:30 p.m. on-line. Delve into Dickinson in our virtual professional development series. Professional development certificates are available upon request and registration for each workshop is available on a sliding scale. In the next session, facilitators will illustrate how Dickinson’s Civil War poems can be used to explore contemporary social movements. Join a discussion contextualizing Dickinson’s war poetry, the poetic strategies she used to represent the war, and her recurring themes and images. $5 to $20 sliding scale. Register.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16: AMHERST CINEMA FIVE ON FILM: ARMEGEDDON. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Up next in the series is the ’90s blockbuster ARMAGEDDON, screening on Wednesday, October 16 at 7:00pm. The screening honors the work of UMass Amherst alum Jonathan Hensleigh, Class of 1981, who co-wrote the film. The film is co-curated with Chancellor Javier Reyes, 31st leader of UMass Amherst, and will be introduced by Maria del Guadalupe Davidson, Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at UMass Amherst. Bruce Willis and an all-star cast of roughneck oil drillers blast off on a mission to save the planet in this disaster epic. ARMAGEDDON is a visually extravagant big screen spectacle and a relic of ‘90s blockbuster opulence best experienced in a theater. Special Offer: In the spirit of celebrating school pride, guests who come wearing college apparel from any institution of higher learning will receive a special “School Spirit” discount on Five on Film tickets purchased at the Box Office.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 17: PHOSPHORESCENCE POETRY READING. 6 p.m. on-line. Last call for poetry Thursday! Join us for the final 2024 session of our FREE, virtual, monthly poetry reading series: Phosphorescence. Wherever you are, join us on Zoom to hear from poets as they read their work and discuss what poetry and Dickinson mean to them. October featured poes: Stephanie Choi, Saba Keramati, and Samyak Shertok. Free. Register.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 18: FRANKENSTEIN LIVE WITH THE PIONEER VALLEY SYMPHONY. 7:30 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. 1931 film with music by Michael Shapiro. Start the spooky season right with a thriller of an evening featuring a bit of culture and a load of fun! We’re excited to partner with the Pioneer Valley Symphony for a screening of the classic 1931 sci-fi horror film Frankenstein featuring a live performance of composer Michael Shapiro’s original score. Though director James Whale’s loose adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, starring Boris Karloff as the Monster, was a smash success on release and has endured as a cultural touchstone, the film was created without a musical score. Shapiro was commissioned to “correct” that omission in 2001 Tickets $30 to $40, youth $15. Family pack $25% off up to two adult tickets with purchase of at least one youth ticket.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: FALL FOLIAGE RUN FOR A BETTER CHANCE. 10 a.m., Town Common. The 52nd ABC Walk/Fall Foliage & Cider Run is fast approaching. Please join us at our annual fundraising event in support of the transformational Amherst A Better Chance program. Give the gift of educational opportunity while enjoying the beautiful fall foliage with other supporters and the ABC Family. REGISTER NOW INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A TEAM . Questions? Contact us at FallFoliageAndCiderRun@gmail.com.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: FIRST CHURCH CRANBERRY FAIR. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Congregational Church, 165 Main Street. First Church Amherst’s beloved Cranberry Fair is almost here! This year’s fair continues with our somewhat-new October timing, and will happen on Saturday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fair is a thrifter’s delight! It’s also a gold mine for anyone assembling a Halloween costume or simply wanting to connect to a long-standing New England tradition.Both floors of the church will be filled with bargains on everything from toys, clothing, housewares, books, and antiques to baked goods, games and puzzles, children’s books, and baked goods. In addition, Fair-goers will be able to bid on gift cards, vacation get-aways, home-baked goods, and services at our Silent Auction. One new feature at this year’s fair will be raffle baskets for dog lovers, cooks, chocolate lovers, and child artists. As always, a hearty lunch, plus coffee, tea, and cider, will be offered in the Fair Cafe.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: ANNUAL COMMON SCHOOL FALL CARNIVAL. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 521 South Pleasant Street. Food, fun, games, music, and more.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: LAST TREE PLANTING OF THE SEASON. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. After the construction on this stretch of road, we need to get in some new trees. It’s not a truly “Complete Street” if it doesn’t include trees. It makes sense that using your last planting days in autumn to get trees in the ground would bode well for winter. So let’s make it a thing. Come plant with the Public Shade Tree Committee on Saturday, October 19th, and see what it does for your We’ll be on Northampton Road (between S. Pleasant and University Drive). Just look for the yellow town truck and flannel-clad volunteers.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19: FALL FESTIVAL AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 91 Cowls Road. Join us for a day of fun and community at our 4th annual fall festival. The activities include the Butterfly Swing Band, the Laughing Ladies balloon creations and glitter tattoos, and games for all ages with small candy and trinket prizes. 100% of proceeds from game ticket sales will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center. Game tickets are $1 each or 8 for $5. Children under 5 play for free. RSVP.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 20: CARS AND COFFEE. 8:30 a.m. to noon, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. Don’t miss the last Cars and Coffee of the 2024 season. 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!
SUNDAY OCTOBER 20: 5TH ANNUAL AMHERST COMMUNITY LAND TRUST FALL WALK. 2 p.m., Mill River Recreation Area pavilion, 95 Montague Road. We will gather just long enough to share some trail mix and describe the choices for our easy walk and a more challenging one, both on the Mill River Conservation Trails. The easy walkers can set off with me, and the more ambitious can follow Gabor Lukacs on a longer and steeper venture. Rain date Sunday, October 27.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 22: UMASS HISTORY FEINBERG SERIES: THE ATTACK ON HONEST HISTORY. 6 p.m. on Zoom. Panel: Jesse Hagopian, Paul Ortiz, and Ellen Schrecker Reactionary politicians, school boards, and well-funded private entities are waging a coordinated assault on critical thought in the U.S. education system. They have banned thousands of books, prohibited certain discussion topics, and targeted educators who refuse to toe the line. The teaching of history is at the center of this assault. The censored version of U.S. history whitewashes violence and oppression as well as the history of popular resistance. In so doing, it also seeks to prevent students of different backgrounds from seeing their shared interest in liberation. This panel of historians and educators will situate the current assault in the broader history of attacks on critical thinking. They will also discuss how educators, students, and communities are fighting back. Free. Register.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23: ANTWAUN STANLEY NEW ENGLAND TOUR. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Antwaun Stanley is a versatile singer whose soul-stirring voice effortlessly blends gospel, pop, soul, and R & B influences. His collaboration with Vulfpeck brought hime into the spotlight as a sought-after vocalist. Tickets $20.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23 AND NOVEMBER 6: “THROUGH AN INDIAN’S LOOKING GLASS” A TWO-PART BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION. 7 to 8:30 p.m, South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street. Through an Indian’s Looking-Glass: A Cultural Biography of William Apess, Pequot, will be the focus of a two-session book group, October 23 and November 6, at 7 p.m. At South Congregational Church. Part of the year-long Arts and Social Justice series to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the church. The discussion will be facilitated by Bruce Penniman and Dixie Brown. The book is available at Amherst Books, through the Jones Library, and on Kindle. Free and open to the public. Registration is requested at office@amherstsouthchurch.org or 413-253-2977.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25: COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB. 4 to 5 p.m., Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. If you have a time sensitive matter, please don’t wait for these hours. Reach out to Rep. Domb by email at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or by phone at (413) 335-1362.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25: FALL ART OPENING AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 5 to 7 p.m., Local Art Gallery and General Store. Join us in this free reception to celebrate all the exhibiting artists and welcome nine new artists.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 26: AVERY SHARPE DOUBLE QUARTET “I AM MY NEIGHBOR’S KEEPER. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Honesty, clarity, dignity. These are words that come to mind when you listen to the music of bassist composer Avery Sharpe. In an age of ephemeral pop stars and flavor-of-the-month trends, Sharpe is a reminder of the lasting value of steadfast dedication and personal integrity. As the title of one of his tunes asserts, “Always expect the best of yourself.” $25 general admission, $35 premier seating. Tickets
SUNDAY OCTOBER 27: PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT JONES LIBRARY PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Bay Road MultiSport Center, Hampshire College, 893 West Street. A recreational, friendly, round robin tournament to benefit the Jones Library System’s programs and services. Four sessions intermediate through advanced. Prizes, Raffle, Refreshments. $60 per person Information and Registration at https://www.joneslibrary.org/pickleball .
TUESDAY OCTOBER 29: COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE MINDY DOMB. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road. If you have a time sensitive matter, please don’t wait for these hours. Reach out to Rep. Domb by email at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or by phone at (413) 335-1362.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2: HOLIDAY ARTS MARKET. 12 to 4 p.m., Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. Complete your gift giving shopping while supporting local makers and crafters. 40+ local vendors and artisans. Indoor and outdoor shopping. Rain date is Sunday, November 3.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 4: THE FEINBERG SERIES: THE ACADEMIC LABOR MOVEMENT NOW. 6 p.m. on Zoom. In recent decades campuses have relied more and more on contingent instructors and graduate workers who have little job security and often receive poverty wages. As the percentage of tenure-track faculty has plummeted, the number of highly paid administrators has expanded by leaps and bounds. Who and what has driven these shifts? What are the consequences? And how have instructors, students, and community supporters organized to improve labor and learning conditions? Historian and longtime adjunct Joe Berry will explore these questions alongside adjunct and organizer Diana Vallera, who recently led a successful 49-day adjunct strike at Columbia College in Chicago. Free. Register.
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.
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 : 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.
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.
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
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.
THURSDAYS OCTOBER 31 THROUGH DECEMBER 5: STOLEN BEAM SERIES. 7:30 to 8:50 p.m. on Zoom. Would you welcome a place to learn why some people are talking about reparations for African-Americans? A 5-session class will take place this fall, called The Stolen Beam Series. This educational series was developed by members of the Reparations Committee of the Jewish Community of Amherst and will be facilitated by members of that committee.The class will meet via Zoom for five Thursdays this fall (October 31, November 7, 14, 21, and December 5) from 7:30 – 8:50 pm. This course requires reading, viewing, active participation, and a commitment to show up for each session. Registration is now open, and closes on October 22. Learn more and register.
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 THURSDAY OCTOBER 31 PAINTINGS BY GILLIAN HAVEN. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Amherst Town Hall Gallery, 4 Boltwood Avenue. An exhibition of paintings by local artist Gillian Haven is now on view at the Amherst Town Hall Gallery. The artist will be honored at a reception on Friday, September 27th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and the Amherst Autoharp Workshop will provide musical accompaniment. Gillian Haven is a prolific painter of the Pioneer Valley’s landscapes, natural landmarks, and rural scenes. Her art is both a personal meditation on the places depicted and a celebration of the place we inhabit. The Gallery is on Amherst Town Hall’s first and second floors, 4 Boltwood Avenue. The exhibition runs through October 31st.
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.