Vermont Art & Cultural Festival Guide 2009
Vermont Open Studio Weekend
Statewide – May 23-24, 2009
Vermont’s natural scenic beauty is enhanced each spring when the work of Vermont artists and craftspeople can be seen firsthand during Vermont’s annual Open Studio Weekend. Open Studio Weekend is a statewide celebration of the visual arts and the creative process in which Vermont artists and craftspeople invite the public to visit them in their studios during Memorial Day Weekend. More than 260 sites will be open during this event, with more than 285 artists and artisans participating. For more information, visit www.vermontcrafts.com.
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Burlington – June 5-14, 2009
Enjoy a unique mix of concerts, dances, jams, street parties, cruises on Lake Champlain, workshops and more. For more information, visit www.discoverjazz.com.
Annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade & Festival
Brattleboro – June 6, 2009
See the stars of the annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade – 100 flower-bedecked bovine beauties – begin strolling up Main Street at 10 a.m. The parade will be followed by a festival featuring music, Green Expo, and more until 3 p.m. at the Brattleboro Retreat grounds, where you’ll also enjoy square dancing from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 802-254-2407 or visit www.strollingoftheheifers.com.
Vermont Quilt Festival
Essex Junction – June 19-21, 2009
The 33rd Vermont Quilt Festival takes place at the Champlain Valley Expo. Enjoy over 500 beautiful quilts on display, shop in more than 80 booths brimming with quilts, fabrics, gift items and more, and choose from over 80 classes and lectures with noted teachers. Take part in the contest awards ceremony and the Champagne and Chocolate Preview, Thursday evening, June 18 and have your treasured quilts appraised on Saturday. For more information, visit www.vqf.org.
Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft and Music Festival
Quechee – June 19-21, 2009
The skies over Quechee will be filled with colorful hot air balloons during the 30th annual festival. This family-oriented event includes food, arts and crafts, more than 50 artists and artisans, and live entertainment. Rides are available for a fee throughout the weekend and reservations are recommended. For more information, visit www.quecheeballoonfestival.com.
Vermont Days
Statewide – June 13-14, 2009
Vermont Days is the weekend to celebrate the arrival of summer and enjoy a free sample of Vermont’s excellent fishing, state parks, and historic and cultural resources. All Vermont State Park day areas, state-owned historic sites, and the Vermont Historical Society Museum in Montpelier will be open at no charge. June 13 is free fishing day – the one day in the year when residents and non-residents may go fishing without a license. For more information, visit www.vermontvacation.com.
St. Albans Franco-American Heritage Festival
St. Albans – June 19- 20, 2009
Celebrate the long, rich cultural heritage of Franco-Americans as well as the natural history of the Lake Champlain region. Musical performances, historical exhibits, public arts displays, genealogy and more. This is one of the signature events of the 2009 Lake Champlain Quadricentennial. For details, visit www.celebratechamplain.org.
Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show
East Dorset – July 1-August 9, 2009
The Vermont Summer Festival is a six-week show jumping competition that is New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show. The Vermont Summer Festival offers over $750,000 in prize money, making it the richest sporting event in the state of Vermont. For more information, call 802-496-4878 or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
Celebrate Champlain Burlington International Waterfront Festival
Burlington – July 2-14, 2009
Samuel de Champlain explored Lake Champlain in 1609. Now, 400 years later, thousands of visitors and Vermonters will commemorate this anniversary with an unforgettable event on Burlington’s waterfront. Produced by Jay Craven in conjunction with Burlington City Arts, the waterfront festival will be an extravaganza featuring Native American, Franco-American and Vermont performers, music, dance, fireworks, a parade and more. For more information, visit www.celebratechamplain.org.
Vermont Morgan Horse Heritage Days
Tunbridge – July 3-5, 2009
The annual Vermont Morgan Horse Heritage Days show will be held at the historic Tunbridge, Vermont Fairgrounds. This amateur-friendly show is always a great time and spectacle that showcases the history, ability, and versatility of the Morgan horse. Participants and viewers are taken back in time via the atmosphere of the grounds and the seldom seen, old time Morgan competitions. For more information, visit www.vtmorganheritagedays.org.
Vermont Mozart Festival
Shelburne, Stowe, Vergennes, Grand Isle, North Hero, Essex, Colchester, North Ferrisburgh – July 19-August 9, 2009
Venue locations include Shelburne Farms, Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow, Inn at Essex, Middlebury Town Hall Theater, Grand Isle Lake House, Kingsland Bay and Basin Harbor. Family series concerts are held on Sunday mornings at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company in Shelburne. Ticket prices range from $5 to $50, with most evening concerts starting at approximately 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.vtmozart.org.
Vermont Brewers Festival
Burlington – July 17-18, 2009
The Vermont Brewers Association is pleased to present the annual Vermont Brewers Festival in Burlington's scenic Waterfront Park. The Vermont Brewers Festival is the longest running outdoor brewers festival in the East, and it's no wonder since Vermont is home to more breweries per capita than any other state. For more information, visit www.vermontbrewers.com/festival.html.
SolarFest 2008 – Vermont’s Renewable Energy Festival
Tinmouth – July 10-12, 2009
SolarFest’s 14th annual festival in Tinmouth is a renewable-energy powered celebration of the performing arts, sustainable living, and community. Three tents house over 40 workshops on renewable energy and sustainable living topics, plus world class performers on two solar-powered stages. For more information, visit www.solarfest.org.
Champlain Valley Folk Festival
Ferrisburgh – July 31-August 2, 2009
Join a magical gathering of folk musicians, dancers, and crafts persons for a nonstop family-oriented 3-day festival celebrating its 26th year. Kingsland Bay State Park. For more information, visit www.cvfest.org.
31st Annual Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival
Manchester – July 31-August 2, 2009
This annual event features 175 artists and artisans showcasing pottery, glass, fiber, photography, leather, jewelry, metal, graphics, painting, prints, wood, furniture, and more. For more information, visit www.craftproducers.com
Vermont Festival of the Arts
Waitsfield – August 1-31, 2009
One of the most diverse festivals in New England, the Vermont Festival of the Arts is designed to entertain the soul, enlighten the mind and energize the spirit. Enjoy daily exhibits, workshops and demos by a variety of artists. If you have an artistic flair that you'd like to share, consider participating as an artist. The event will encore on Labor Day Weekend. For more information, visit www.vermontartfest.com.
Our festivals are too numerous to list here; search our Vermont Travel Planner for more great festivals. |
