Amherst July Fourth Events Include Peace Walk to Northampton
A peace walk to Northampton and a reading of the Declaration of Independence anchor the regional holiday weekend.
Amherst hosts several Fourth of July weekend events, including an Interfaith Peace Walk that will stretch to Northampton and a communal reading of the Declaration of Independence.
On Saturday, July 4, an Interfaith Peace Walk honoring Frances Crowe and Paki Weiland will begin at the Amherst Common at 8:30 a.m., with participants stepping off at 9 a.m. The nine-mile walk along Route 9 will include water stations, rest stops, and ride support along the route to Northampton, where a potluck will be held at Northampton Friends at 1 p.m. according to event organizers. Volunteers can email 2026july4peace@proton.me for more information.
Also on July 4, the Amherst Historical Society will present a communal reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon on the steps of Town Hall. The event will begin with church bells ringing throughout town at noon, followed by the sounding of a conch shell to summon residents, a historical practice used to call town meetings. Representative Mindy Domb will open the reading with the Preamble, and the Amherst Area Gospel Choir will perform. A discussion panel featuring youth, mid-career, and elder panelists will follow. Anyone interested in reading portions of the Declaration can contact the Amherst Historical Society at info@amhersthistory.org.
On Friday, July 3, UMass Amherst will host an Independence Day celebration from 5:30 p.m. on the South Lawn next to McGuirk Alumni Stadium, featuring music, food, and family activities, with fireworks beginning at dark. The rain date is Sunday, July 5.
On Sunday, July 5, South Congregational Church and the Amherst DEI Department will collaborate to host a community reading of Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" at 3 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street. The theme for 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, is "Reaffirming Our Unalienable Rights." Community members of all ages can register as readers at ttps://tinyurl.com/RFDT26.
Other July events in Amherst include concerts at the Amherst Town Common, the Yidstock festival from July 9 to 12 at the Yiddish Book Center, and office hours with Representative Mindy Domb on July 17 and July 20 for constituents of the Third Hampshire District to discuss state legislation and seek assistance.