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 OCTOBER 25: MAX ROACH CENTENNIAL FEATURING MAKAYA MCCRAVEN. 8 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. This fall, we’re joining colleagues from across the UMass campus — and in particular, our co-presenters in the Department of Music and Dance, the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies, and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts — to take part in an international celebration of the 100th anniversary of Max Roach’s birth.Max Roach the drummer, composer, and bandleader whose work defined a new era in jazz. Max Roach the artist-activist whose unflinching advocacy of civil rights was felt well beyond his music. Max Roach the educator who spent two decades as a member of the music and Afro-Am faculties at UMass, during which time he was instrumental in the campus’s transformation into an international center for jazz education. To lead our part of the celebration, we’ve tapped Makaya McCraven, who stands among the finest and most innovative drummers, composers, and bandleaders working in jazz today. McCraven also has a lifelong association with Roach. McCraven grew up in Amherst, the son of jazz drummer Stephen McCraven. And Roach was a mentor to Stephen and a family friend. McCraven is also an alumnus of UMass and of Jazz In July, the Fine Arts Center’s summer jazz education program, which Roach helped found. Tickets $30-$50, students $15. More information.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26: MAKE YOUR OWN INK CREATURE, WITH ERIC TALBOT. 1 to 3 p.m., Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Get into the spooky Halloween spirit! Learn how to draw an ink creature with Easthampton artist Eric Talbot. Great for all ages. $20, ages 7+ with an adult. Register.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26: HALLOWEEN PAWTY. 2 to 4 p.m., Amherst Dog Park, Old Belchertown Road. Bring your spooky and adorable pups to the Amherst Dog Park on October 26 for a fang-tastic time featuring a dog costume contest, raffle prizes and tasty treats. Costume categories: multiple dogs, best dog/owner combo, best dog as food, funniest, scariest, and best celebrity/character. Volunteers needed to solicit donations for raffle prizes, set up, clean up, judges, table assistant, raffle and food sales. Email at info@amherstdogpark.com. Suggested donation $5. Rain date is October 27.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26: AVERY SHARPE DOUBLE QUARTET: I AM MY NEIGHBOR’S KEEPER. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street.  Renowned local bassist/composer Avery Sharpe has composed a new work which highlights our commitment to one another. He initiated the project in response to the political and racial division that has grown over the past seven years in the country. Tickets $25/ $35 at the door.

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 .

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27: FREE, FAMILY- FRIENDLY PUMPKIN PAINTING.  12 to 3 p.m., Local Art Gallery and Mill District, 91 Cowls Lane. Join us in The Local Art Gallery for drop-in, Free, Family-Friendly Pumpkin Painting from 12-3pm on Sunday, October 27. We will provide all the materials while supplies last. While we are using tempura paint, be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on. Prepare to take home your wet pumpkin with some newspapers or leave them in the gallery to dry and pick them up before November 1. Great for all ages! Children under 14 must be actively supervised at all times. RSVP.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27:  GOODWIN MEMORIAL A.M.E CHURCH AND HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH JOINT WORSHIP. 4 p.m., Congregations of Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Church and Hope Community Church (formerly, Hope Congregational Church) will, for the very first time, gather together for a Service of Worship and Praise Fellowship. This historic event will be hosted by Hope Church located at 16 Gaylord Street. The Service will begin at 4pm and will end by 5:30pm, with refreshments to share following the event.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27: AMHERST RECREATION SPOOKTACULAR. 12 to 1 p.m., Downtown Trick or Treating with costume parade on the North Common from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and the haunted house and kids’ carnival spooktacular from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Amherst Recreation, the Town of Amherst, Jones Library Children’s Room, BID and Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

SUNDAY OCTBER 27: DROPKICK MURPHYS WITH PENNYWISE AND THE SCRATCH. 7 p.m., Mullins Center, UMass. Dropkick Murphys proudly remain Boston’s rock ‘n’ roll underdogs turned champions. Since 1996, the boys have created the kind of music that’s meant to be chanted at last call, in packed arenas, and during the fourth quarter, third period, or ninth inning of a comeback rally. Their celebrated discography includes four consecutive Billboard top 10 album debuts. Tickets $49.50 to $77.50.

MONDAY OCTOBER 28: AMHERST EDUCATION FOUNDATION’S 30TH ANNUAL TRIVIA BEE. 6:30 p.m. at the Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Four member teams compete in knowledge in costumes in advance of Halloween. It is the biggest fundraiser of the year for AEF. Proceeds support programs and projects created by teachers and staff  in the regional school district towns. There will be a raffle from area businesses, and pizza and refreshments for sale. Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman will emcee.

MONDAY OCTOBER 28: FIVE ON FILM: A SERIOUS MAN. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. Starring Fred Melamed, Hampshire College, Class of 1974. Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, 2009. Introduced by Hampshire College President Ed Wingenbach. It’s 1967, and Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife Judith (Sari Lennick) that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love Larry’s friend, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed), who seems to her a more substantial person than the feckless Larry. Tickets.

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.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30: PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY DRIVE OVERLAY DISTRICT. 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. The Planning Board is holding a public hearing to obtain feedback on the proposed increased density for housing along University Drive. Information on the proposal can be found here and here.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30: DEMOCRACY AND THE COLLEGE: A CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR JELANI COBB. 5 to 6 p.m., Johnson Chapel, Amherst College. Join us for Democracy and the College, a conversation with Jelani Cobb, author and educator, and Martha Umphrey, Provost and Dean of the Faculty. The first 20 attendees will receive a copy of one of Jelani Cobb’s recent books. The event will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Jelani Cobb is a staff writer at The New Yorker, writing on race, history, justice, politics, and democracy, as well as Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism and Dean of Columbia Journalism School. He recently co-edited The Matter of Black Lives, a collection of The New Yorker’s most groundbreaking writing on Black history and culture in America, featuring the work of legendary writers like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. Free and open to the public.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1 -3: VALLEY LIGHT OPERA PRESENTS THE MCADO. 7:30 on November 1, 2 p.m. on November 2 and 3, Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton. See Gilbert & Sullivan as you’ve never seen it before. Set in the Highlands of Scotland, the McAdo tells the story of a wandering minstrel and his dainty maiden, a tailor who became the Lord High Executioner, and the McAdo who leads them all. Preshow talk by Amherst resident Michael Greenebaum, a founding member of VLO at 1 p.m. prior to all matinees. Tickets.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1: NAVA DANCE THEATRE. 7:30 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. San Francisco-based Nava Dance Theatre comes to UMass as part of the Fine Arts Center’s Reimagine Residencies program. The company will spend a week on campus in production and engaging with students. The residency culminates in a public performance and question-and-answer session. Rogue Gestures/Foreign Bodies is a bharatanatyam, experimental movement, and live music production that explores the labor and lived experiences of South Asian immigrant women in the United States. It is inspired by the oral histories of Indian nurses who arrived as a result of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. Choreographer Nadhi Thekkek, and her collaborators explore the heavy and enduring work of immigrant women and the worlds they traverse. They ask, who puts a price on this labor? What is the cost of opportunity? Through community interviews, historical texts, and poetry, Rogue Gestures/Foreign Bodies negotiates these questions and examines what it means to belong in America. Tickets $45 and $32.50, Students $15.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2: SONG AND STORY SWAP WITH BLACK DOOR 74. 7 to 9 p.m., First Church, 165 Main Street. The monthly Song & Story Swap, now in its twenty-seventh year, is sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society of western Massachusetts. Visit the Folklore Society website at https://pvfs.us.Guest performers for the November 2 Song & Story Swap will be the musical ensemble Black Door 74. Black Door 74 is Afrostotle, Frost E. Beatz, & Rigo.  They met while working together in upstate New York and bonded over their shared passions for sound, rhythm and meaningful music.  Each member brings a mashup of musical influences to the band’s aesthetic. The result is a unique musical journey. Come enjoy it. Attendees will be invited to contribute a song or story on the topic of Political Engagement during an opening round of sharing. Donations accepted. Parking available behind the church.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5: SWEET COUNTRYMEN—JUDGE TENDERLY OF ME: COMMUNITY POETRY HOUR. 3 p.m. on Zoom. Take a mid-day break from the uncertainties of election day for an hour of poetry. Consider, through the poetry of Emily Dickinson and other, themes of discord and unity, the known and unknown, places of refuge and moments of hope for the future. All are welcome to hear the poetry reading and to sign up to read a poem of their choice. Sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum Free. Register.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7: UMASS SOLO AND CHAMBER CONCERT. 7 to 8 p.m., Woodbury Room, Jones Library, 43 Amity Street. Enjoy an evening of live music performed by musicians from the University of Massachusetts. Pieces and performers will be announced at the performance.

FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8-10: VALLEY LIGHT OPERA PRESENTS THE MCADO. 7:30 on November 8, 2 p.m. on November 9 and 10, Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton. See Gilbert & Sullivan as you’ve never seen it before. Set in the Highlands of Scotland, the McAdo tells the story of a wandering minstrel and his dainty maiden, a tailor who became the Lord High Executioner, and the McAdo who leads them all. Preshow talk by Amherst resident Michael Greenebaum, a founding member of VLO at 1 p.m. prior to all matinees. Tickets.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10: DIWALI CELEBRATION. 4 to 7 p.m., Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple Street, Hadley. The Pioneer Valley Indian Association invites all to join a celebration of the South Asian festival of Diwali, the festival of lights, on November 10, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm for cultural performances and dinner.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 11: ANNUAL SALUTE TO VETERANS BREAKFAST.  9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join the Central Hampshire Veteran Services for their Annual Salute to Veterans Breakfast on Monday, November 11 at 9:00 am! Breakfast will be at 9:00 am at the Bangs Community Center followed by a Ceremony at 11:00 am on the North Common in front of Town Hall. Special Guest: Courtney Bennet, MA, ATR, LPC – Creative Arts Therapy – VA Central Western MA FREE for All Veterans $15 donation for accompanying guests. Advanced Tickets ONLY Tickets available at Amherst Town Hall Service Counter & Amherst Senior Center. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information please contact: Central Hampshire Veteran Services at 413-587-1299 Amherst Senior Center 413-259-3060

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13: COVID 19 AND FLU VACCINE CLINIC: 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Bangs Center Room 101, 70 Boltwood Walk. The town will be offering COVID and flu vaccines this fall. Two clinics are being organized in collaboration with the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services through the regional Public Health Excellence grant. Pfizer COVID vaccines and regular and high dose flu vaccines will be offered and are available to all Massachusetts residents ages six months and over. Registration is highly recommended.  For more information, call 413-259-3077.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14: ANNUAL AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS DINNER. 5 to 8 p.m., Student Union Ballroom, 41 Campus Way, UMass. Celebrating excellence, impact and legacy! Each year, the Amherst Area Chamber bestows A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in business, education, and civic engagement across the area that the Chamber serves: Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland. The Annual A+ Awards Celebration will be held on Thursday, November 14 in the Student Union Ballroom at the University of Massachusetts. Tickets $90 or $700 for a table of 8.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14: ANGELIQUE KIDJO.  8 p.m., Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, Fine Arts Center, UMass. Genre defining. Era defining. Legendary. Choose your superlative. Angélique Kidjo embodies them all. Her magnetic stage presence, expressive, crystalline vocals, and infectious songs have kept music fans across the globe rapt for more than 35 years. The Beninois-French singer-songwriter burst out of Paris and onto the international stage via her 1989 album Parakou, and rose to world music superstardom two years later with the Billboard World Albums chart-topping Logozo. She has continued over the decades that followed to stand among the most revered artists in world music, winning new fans along the way with astounding live performances and fifteen remarkable studio albums, including a critically acclaimed 2018 song-by-song reimagining of the Talking Heads’ landmark Remain In Light, and her most recent release, 2021’s award-winning Mother Nature. Tickets $35-$75. Students $15 -20.

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. 

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.