The tree illumination is only one part of the merriest downtown Amherst events.  Join us for the festivities from 3-6PM and then after, enjoy all that downtown has to offer! Shop, eat, and experience the heart of Amherst freshly decorated as a winter wonderland!

Schedule of Activities:  

• 3-6 PM – Fire Station Open House 

• 3-6PM – Crafts and activities with Amherst Recreation 

• 4-7 PM – Horse-drawn carriage rides 

• 4:30 PM – Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus performance 

• 5:00 PM – Tree lighting countdown 

• 5:30-6 PM – UMass Minuteman Marching Band performance

A new maple on the renovated North Common will be lit this year. Several adjacent trees and bushes will also be illuminated.

Amherst Rec will have a variety of glow in the dark games including horseshoes, ring toss, hula hoops and lawn darts as well as thier KultureCity Sensory Friendly Tent with headphones, fidget toys and sensory seating. Their craft will be Make Your Own Flakey the Snowfriend. All of this will take place at stations on and around the North Common.

This event is co-organized by Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) and made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the presenting sponsor bankESB, as well as Amherst College, the Mass Cultural Council, the Office of Edward Jones Financial Advisor Tim Hampson, TommyCar Auto Group, Down Right Productions of Florence, Muddy Brook Farms, the office of the Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, the Inn on Boltwood, and various Town departments including the Department of Public Works, Police, Fire, and Amherst Recreation. Family Outreach of Amherst will also join us as our Featured Nonprofit!