Music fit for a king

The historical music performance group Arcadia Players will perform “Concerti for a King: Music from the Court of Frederick the Great” at Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple St., Hadley, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

Frederick II of Prussia was known not only for his military victories, but also for his strong support of the arts, which included commissioning composers.

In this performance, violinist Julia Glenn will perform works by Johann Gottlieb Graun and Franz Benda, and fortepianist Andrus Madsen will perform a keyboard concerto by C.P.E. Bach.

Tickets are $35 at the door or at arcadiaplayers.org (or $10 for students or low-income audience members through the Card to Culture program).

  

‘Sweetheart Deal’

Amherst Cinema will screen the movie “Sweetheart Deal,” a documentary about four sex workers in Seattle who are struggling with addiction, on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.

There’ll be a Q&A after the showing with Brittany Kaplan, the movie’s editor, who grew up in Amherst.

Kaplan has also worked on “The Vow,” “Harry and Meghan,” and “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo.”

Tickets are $11.75 for adults and $10.75 for seniors and students.

Two art exhibitions in Amherst

Gallery A3, at 28 Amity St. in Amherst, will have two exhibitions in November: “Ukraine” by Keith Hollingsworth and “From There to Here” by Ron Maggio.

The show will be open to the public starting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, through Saturday, Nov. 30, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.

“Ukraine” is a collection of mixed media and collage works about the current war between Ukraine and Russia. “From There to Here” features works that use grids in various forms.

4th annual Mt. Tom Trail Race Saturday

HOLYOKE — Kestrel Land Trust and its partner, Beast Coast Trail Running LLC, will host the fourth annual Mt. Tom Trail Race to benefit Kestrel’s land conservation efforts. The Saturday event take place entirely within the Mount Tom State Reservation, starting and finishing at Bray Lake.

The Mt. Tom Trail Race follows a rugged route along hiking trails throughout the Mount Tom State Reservation, straddling Easthampton and Holyoke. New this year, the event offers four ways to participate, for all trail-running levels. The main event is the 25K Trail Race and the 25K Relay Race with two-person teams. For participants who want a shorter race or a less strenuous option, Beast Coast has added a 10K Trail Race as well as a 5K Fun Run or Hike suitable for families. Day-of registration for the Mt.Tom Trail Race event will be open at Bray Lake at 8:30 am.

The 25K route will pass by the Mount Tom North Trailhead Park, a collaborative accessible public access project between the city of Easthampton, Kestrel Land Trust, and Pascommuck Conservation Trust that opened in 2022.

Proceeds from the race support Kestrel’s work to conserve and care for lands on and around the Mount Tom Range in Easthampton and Holyoke, as well as lands throughout the Connecticut River Valley. For 54 years, Kestrel has helped conserve more than 29,000 acres of forests, farmlands, and public conservation areas around the Valley.

More information can be found at www.kestreltrust.org.

Stavros holding 50-year salute

AMHERST — Stavros Center for Independent Living, a leader in advocating for and empowering individuals with disabilities, will hold its 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m., at The Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.

This special milestone commemorates five decades of Stavros’ dedication to creating a more inclusive and accessible world. From humble beginnings, Stavros CIL has grown into one of the largest and most impactful independent living centers in the region, providing crucial services such as advocacy, assistive technology, peer support, and transition services to individuals with disabilities.

The evening will include remarks from long-time advocates and community leaders, a look back at the history of Stavros, fundraising opportunities and networking opportunities with community members, supporters and partners.

Hadley Library to hold good taste silent auction

HADLEY — The Friends of the Hadley Public Library are holding a Good Taste Silent Auction featuring more than $1,000 in gift certificates from over 30 area restaurants and food specialty stores.

Bids are accepted during open hours at the Hadley Public Library, 50 Middle St., through Oct. 26.

Final winners of each bundle will be announced that day at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 is also the day of a book and bake sale.

All proceeds benefit library programs.

Majestic Saloon says goodbye

Last but not least: the Majestic Saloon, Northampton’s only explicitly queer bar, will close its doors after Halloween night. Naturally, though, they will not go quietly into that good night — they’ve got a full slate of events lined up until then, including these two.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., the Come Again Players will host their third shadow-cast production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” There’s a $20 cover charge at the door, which includes a “C.R.A.P. kit,” a bag full of props for audience members to use at specific moments in the show.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, at 9 p.m., more than a dozen local(ish) drag performers (including Alden Peotter, co-owner of the Majestic Saloon) will put on “The Majestic Finale,” hosted by DaishaDore Famouz. Admission to the 21-plus party is $10.

For both events, arrive early: The bar can only seat 49 people.

To read more about the Majestic Saloon and its coming closure, check out the Gazette’s Oct. 2 story.