Adventure into Amherst: Discovering Downtown

A new school year brings new faces, fresh opportunities, and the excitement of discovering a new home. At Amherst Innovative Living, we were happy to help welcome students through Adventure into Amherst, an orientation event co-hosted by the Amherst Business Improvement District, Amherst College, and UMass Amherst.

By bringing students downtown, the college, university, and BID helped build connections between campus and the surrounding community. The event gave students a chance to explore Amherst beyond the classroom, meet local business owners, and discover places that could become part of their everyday college experience.

More than 35 local businesses participated, welcoming students into the coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, and bookstores that make downtown Amherst special. Our team joined local businesses to connect with students, share resources, and help them get to know the area.

An interactive scavenger hunt encouraged students to visit participating businesses, giving them a fun way to explore downtown and meet the people behind their potential new favorite spots. At AIL, students also had the opportunity to enter our giveaway for a Nintendo Switch 2! Congratulations to our winner, pictured below and thank you to everyone who stopped by to meet our team!

The celebration also featured live music in the heart of downtown at Kendrick Park. Together, the music, activities, and welcoming businesses offered students their first taste of Amherst’s vibrant community.

Moving to a new place for college can feel exciting and overwhelming. Events like Adventure into Amherst help make that transition more welcoming by creating opportunities to ask questions, make connections, and feel a sense of belonging.

We’re grateful to the Amherst BID, Amherst College, UMass Amherst, and our fellow local businesses for coming together to welcome students. Our team loved being part of the celebration, and we look forward to seeing students make Amherst their own throughout the year!