AMHERST — Holiday season in Amherst commences this weekend, with free parking in downtown for Small Business Saturday and Amherst Scout Troop 504 offering Christmas trees for sale at Kendrick Park starting on Black Friday.
Downtown in December, as the Amherst Business Improvement District is calling it, includes a number of events, including the Merry Maple celebration late on the afternoon of Dec. 5 and Greeting Card Days that run from Dec. 5 to 7, with special offers at some retail shops and restaurants.
The fourth annual Sip ‘n’ Shop Stroll on Dec. 18 will feature horse-drawn carriage rides, boutique browsing, “prix fixe” menus, and a pop-up Makers and Artisans Market.
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Amherst History Center, 45 Boltwood Walk, an historic post office window, part of the main exhibit, will be used for Letters to Santa.
During that time, as well as the week of Dec. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m., children can drop their letters in the post box that is believed to have served as the post office within the Amherst House Hotel in the late 1800s.
All letters will then be hand-delivered to Santa Claus during the Merry Maple lighting.
Free Parking Saturdays will continue through the month of December.
In addition to the Christmas tree sales Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Scouts will be at Kendrick Park Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m until the trees are gone. The sales will also take place on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Scouts have 275, 6- to 10-foot tall trees, both Silver pines and Fraser firs.
Winter/ Holiday Market
The Amherst Farmers’ Market, which for 54 years has been held on the Town Common, will migrate indoors as a Winter/ Holiday Market starting Saturday.
Vendors will be set up in the Bangs Community Center on Boltwood Walk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through Dec. 20.
Collecting food and other items
A food and necessities drive to benefit the Amherst Survival Center is taking place at West Street Coffee & Tea, 450 West St., starting Monday at 7:30 a.m.
Suggestions for the collection, which runs through Dec. 6, include non-perishable food items like canned meats, rice and pasta, as well as cereal, oatmeal and flour. For other items, suggestions include diapers, feminine care, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
On weekdays the collection will run until 1:30 p.m. and the final day 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hadley tree lighting
Hadley Celebration of Lights takes place at the Hopkins Academy Gazebo on Route 9 Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
The event will include a tree lighting, caroling and light refreshments, while Hopkins students will collect unwrapped toys. A visit by Santa Claus also is expected.
PVTA improvements
In a periodic written report to the Town Council, Town Manager Paul Bockelman, as the town’s representative to the PVTA Advisory Board, noted public transportation improvements that are underway.
With Amethyst Brook Apartments in Pelham opening over the summer, a route from Amherst to Greenfield was adjusted to add a stop both there and at the Pelham Community Center. This took place in late September and has increased ridership, he wrote.
At the University of Massachusetts campus, an expansion of the bus maintenance garage, visible from Governors Drive and Commonwealth Avenue, is expected to be complete in March. This is to accommodate service of the 60-foot articulated, or accordion-style, buses that are often used in Amherst during the school year.
Meetings
MONDAY: Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall.
WEDNESDAY: Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Funding Subcommittee, 3 p.m.; Planning Board, 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY: Housing and Zoning Subcommittee of the Planning Board, 11:30 a.m.