Amherst Kicks Off the Winter Season with the Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple on December 5th
November 25, 2025
Amherst, MA – The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID), and the Town of Amherst invite the community to gather for one of the region’s most beloved holiday traditions: the Annual Lighting of the Merry Maple. On Friday, December 5, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, downtown Amherst and the North Common will transform into a winter wonderland filled with music, activities, lights, and festive cheer.
Co-Presented by bankESB and Amherst College, and supported by UMass Amherst, this event brings hundreds of residents, students, and visitors together each year to celebrate the start of the holiday season. The event primarily takes place on the newly designed Amherst North Common, with satellite events at the Amherst Fire Station and other downtown locations. The Lighting of the Merry Maple is free and open to all to attend!
“The Lighting of the Merry Maple is a shining example of what’s possible in our community when local organizations and the Town come together,” said Jacob Robinson, Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “We look forward to welcoming all members of the community to this festive start to the winter season, and are honored to bring this event to life each year.”
“The Merry Maple exemplifies what makes Amherst special: community-centered, local artists and musicians, and a vibrant downtown that comes alive during the holidays. I encourage folks to make this just one of many visits to Downtown throughout the month of December,” said John Page, Executive Director of the Amherst Business Improvement District.
The Amherst Police Department is hosting a Holiday Gift Drive from November 24 to December 19 and will be collecting donations at the Merry Maple. Unwrapped gifts, books, gift cards, or wrapping supplies are welcome. Donations will be distributed to the Amherst Survival Center, Bridge Family Resource Center, and Amherst School Department.
Many participants, sponsors, and volunteers help bring the Merry Maple tradition to life each year, including: bankESB, Amherst College, UMass Amherst, The Jones Library, Muddy Brook Farm, the Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus, UMass Treble Choir, Amherst College Zumbyes, Amherst Community Theater, UMass Minuteman Marching Band, the Office of Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, and the Town of Amherst Departments of Public Works, Police, Fire, and Amherst Recreation.
Before and after the festivities, attendees are encouraged to explore and enjoy the restaurants, shops, and small businesses that make downtown Amherst a vibrant community destination. For more information, visit amherstarea.com/merrymaple.
Schedule of Events
- 3–6 PM: Amherst Fire Station Open House at 68 North Pleasant Street.
- 3–5 PM: Crafts & Games with Amherst Recreation, including sensory-friendly options.
- 3–5 PM: Crafts with the Jones Library, and storytime sessions at 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM in the Town Hall (1st Floor Meeting Room).
- 4 PM on: Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides courtesy of Muddy Brook Farm (rides pause during the Marching Band performance).
- 4 PM: Caroling throughout downtown with the UMass Treble Choir and the Amherst College Zumbyes.
- 4:30 PM: Amherst Regional Middle School Chorus Performance on the steps of Town Hall.
- 5:00 PM: Tree Lighting Countdown on the steps of Town Hall.
- 5:10 PM: Amherst Community Theater Performance on the steps of Town Hall.
- 5:30 PM: Santa & Flakey the Snowfriend parade through downtown Amherst and arrive on the Common by fire truck.
- 5:30–6 PM: UMass Minuteman Marching Band Performance on the Common.