Mon Oct 4 2010
Each year, a panel of independent judges chooses Vermont’s best activities, selected for their diversity and wide appeal. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announces the highly anticipated 2011 Top Ten Summer and Fall Events. The 2011 award recipients display a wide variety of unique Vermont attributes that will provide something fun for everyone in all corners of the Green Mountain State.
In order to qualify as a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Event, events must appeal to out-of-state visitors as well as Vermonters, and to a diverse audience, including children and families. Events should also be representative of the Vermont brand, featuring time-honored as well as contemporary experiences. Due to the additional attention a Top Ten Award garners, the event must be able to accommodate an influx of visitors up to twice the normal count.
The winners in chronological order include:
45th Annual Vermont Maple Festival: How SWEET It Is!
St. Albans, April 15 to 17
As summer approaches, it’s time to celebrate the state’s signature product: pure Vermont maple. The Festival is three exciting days for everyone - preschoolers to seniors. Main Street entertainment, maple exhibits, antique and craft shows, cooking demonstrations, sugarhouse tours, face painting, maple buffet, pancake breakfasts, fiddlers’ and youth talent shows, carnival, Sap Run, historical museum, Taylor Park picnicking, delightful downtown shops, maple treats, and a Grand Parade - much are free! www.vtmaplefestival.org, 802-524-5800.
Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival
Quechee, June 17 to 19, Fri. 3 pm - 9:30 pm, Sat. & Sun. 5 am - 9 pm
The 32nd annual Festival offers a fun and affordable family experience of music, laughter, children’s rides, shopping, great food, daredevil skydivers and breathtaking balloon rides and ascensions. Adults $10, ages 6-12 $5, under 6 free. www.quecheeballoonfestival.com, 802-295-2500.
LCI Father’s Day Fishing Derby
Lake Champlain, June 19 to 21, opens at 12 am on Fri. and closes at 4 pm on Sun.
The Derby, presented by Yamaha, is Lake Champlain International’s (LCI) flagship fundraising event and America’s oldest, largest, family fishing derby. The Derby, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2011, brings anglers from over 30 states to Lake Champlain to enjoy family, friends and fishing. There are three divisions of fish: cold water, cool water, and warm water, which include 12 different species of fish in 7 species categories eligible for cash and prizes. Registration fees. www.lciderby.com, 802-879-3466.
Vermont Quilt Festival - 35th Anniversary
Essex Junction, June 24 to 26 (Champagne & Chocolate Preview June 23 evening), Fri. & Sat. 9 am - 6 pm, Sun. 9 am - 3 pm
Treat your family to a delightful experience at New England’s oldest and largest quilting event. Be dazzled by the color and design of hundreds of breathtaking new and antique quilts. Enjoy entertaining free gallery talks and demonstrations, take in classes and lectures, shop the merchants’ mall, treat the kids to fun classes, and bring your quilts for appraisal - all at the air-conditioned Champlain Valley Expo in the heart of the beautiful Champlain Valley. $12, seniors and groups $10, children under 14 free. www.vqf.org, 802-872-0034.
Strolling of the Heifers
Brattleboro, June 3 to 5, 9 am - 6 pm
Get ready for the Tenth Annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend! Enjoy three days filled with great events to entertain and educate the whole family, highlighted by the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade featuring heifer calves led by future farmers, many other farm animals, tractors, floats, bands, clowns and more. When it’s over, follow the parade to our Green Expo for food, fun, entertainment, and information about healthy local goods and sustainable living. Free. www.strollingoftheheifers.com, 802-254-5546.
Vermont Summer Festival Horse Show
East Dorset, July 6 to August 14, Wednesdays - Sundays, 8 am - 4 pm
The Vermont Summer Festival attracts the best show jumping athletes, including Olympic medalists from across the country and around the globe. One of the most lucrative events in Vermont, the Vermont Summer Festival Horse show offers more than $750,000 in prize money. Show jumping is a spectator-friendly sport, which is easy to understand and exciting to watch. The show grounds include food and shopping concessions. Wed. to Sat. adults $5, children $3; Sun. adults $7, children $5. www.vt-summerfestival.com, 802-496-9667.
Vermont Cheesemakers Festival
Shelburne, July 24, 11 am - 4 pm
With over 50 cheesemakers, the highest number per capita in the country, Vermont is the premier artisan cheese state. At the 3rd annual Festival, you can experience our passion for making fine cheeses. Come taste local foods and meet the artisans responsible for it all. Buy, learn and network, but most of all, celebrate the bounty of the region in the historic Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms along the beautiful shores of Lake Champlain. $30. www.vtcheesefest.com, 802-479-9371.
Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival
Wilmington and neighboring towns, July 29 to August 7
Celebrate the farmer in us all! Embrace, experience and enjoy all the Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival has to offer. Over 60 “blue” filled events over 10 days! Fees vary. www.vermontblueberry.com, 802-464-5618 or 802-464-8092.
Vermont Festival of the Arts
Mad River Valley (Waitsfield, Warren, Moretown, Fayston, Middlesex, Granville, Rochester), August 1 through Labor Day Weekend
A five week long celebration of the arts, throughout the Mad River Valley and beyond. The Festival is comprised of more than 125 events ranging from exhibits and performances, to painting, poetry and crafts, poetry workshops, lectures, a full moon celebration and culinary extravaganzas. The center of the state is the center for the arts in Vermont. August is Art in the Mad River Valley. www.vermontartfest.com, 802-496-6682.
Addison County Fair & Field Days
New Haven, August 9 to 13, 10 am - 10 pm
Vermont’s largest agricultural fair. Children’s barnyard, cattle judging, tractor pulls, crafts, exhibits, live entertainment, midway, parade, ox pulling, draft horses, youth activities and VT products dinner. Adults $9 (Tues.- Fri.), $10 (Sat.), kids $2, under 5 free. www.addisoncountyfielddays.com, 802-545-2557.
Killington Hay Festival
Killington, Labor Day to Columbus Day
A five-week celebration of autumn in Vermont. Our collection of 35 giant hay animals are waiting to greet visitors as they explore Killington. Complete the family-friendly educational scavenger hunt, enjoy a harvest dinner, or play in our handcrafted hay maze. There’s even a special Killington Hay Festival brew from Long Trail and “Hay and Stay” packages for our guests to make a weekend of it in the beautiful Green Mountains! Free. www.discoverkillington.com, 800-337-1988.
South End Art Hop
Burlington, September 9 to 10, Fri. 5 - 9 pm, Sat. 9 am - 5 pm
Vermont’s largest visual arts exhibition, featuring more than 500 participating artists exhibiting their work in nearly 100 Burlington businesses and studios. The mission of the event is to highlight the connection of culture and commerce: art is good for business and business is good for art. This is an inclusive, all-ages community event, expressing the best of Burlington, attended by many thousands of residents and visitors. Free (except Strut Fashion Show is $12). www.seaba.com, 802-859-9222.
Glory Days Festival
White River Jct., September 10, 9 am - 5 pm
A family oriented, fun-filled day of celebration and education of railroading and transportation modes of the past, present and future. Hourly White River Flyer train excursions run along the Connecticut River while local food and street vendors showcase their wares. Live entertainment on the main and children’s stage captivate a multi-generation audience, providing a hometown fair feeling! At the end of the day relax on the grass during a live evening performance. $3 (ages 2 and under free). www.glorydaysoftherailroad.org, 802-295-5036.
16th Annual Southern Vermont Garlic & Herb Festival
Bennington, September 3 to 4, 10 am - 5 pm
Live music all day! Great food, from garlic ice cream, garlic nuggets, and garlic sausage, to garlic margaritas. Local favorite restaurants share their garlic delicacies. The festival features demos on planting and harvesting garlic, making wreaths and braids of garlic and cooking with garlic. Over 125 vendors; including garlic growers and offerings of fresh herbs, Vermont’s agricultural bounties, delicious garlic condiments, unique handmade crafts and more. Children’s activities! Camelot Village. $5, $1 under 12. www.bennington.com or www.lovegarlic.com, 802-447-3311.
Tunbridge World’s Fair
Tunbridge, September 15 to 18, Thur. & Fri. 8 am - 9 pm, Sat. 8 am - 10 pm, Sun. 11 am - 6 pm
A blend of active livestock shows, beautiful farm animals, competitive harvest and crafts exhibits, motorized pulling, free entertainment, and expanded midway and a superb Antique Museum with live enactors. As a family venue this couldn’t be better - for all ages and interests - tucked away in a charming valley. Together the fairgrounds and the village of Tunbridge form a designated Historic District. Thurs. $8, Fri. $10, Sat. $12, Sun. $10. www.tunbridgefair.com, 800-889-5555.
The Killington Classic
Killington, September 8 to 11
The Killington Classic Motorcycle Touring Rally is a must-attend annual event for New England bikers. We roll out the asphalt carpet as we host the famous 500+ participant parade of bikes to Rutland. Huge vendor village, bike demos and discussions, guided tours, poker runs, social events and more! It’s the largest motorcycle rally in Vermont, going strong for eight years running! $25 to register, free to attend. www.discoverkillington.com, 800-337-1928.
Stowe Rotary’s Oktoberfest
Stowe, September 23 to 25, Fri. 7 - 11 pm, Sat. 10 am - 8 pm, Sun. 11 am - 5 pm
A weekend celebration of the harvest and fall foliage events include a free, Friday night “Rocktoberfest” kick-off concert, a Saturday morning parade, and two days of oompah bands, authentic Bavarian foods, freshly brewed Vermont beer, traditional sing-alongs and dancing. Activities include silent auctions, raffles, a “bouncy-haus,” pumpkin painting and more for the kids. There’s something for everyone, young and old. Adults $7, 9 and under $5. www.stowerotary.com, 802-253-4788.
4th Annual Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival
West Dover, September 23 to 25, see website for hours each day.
The Festival celebrates the unique local talents of Vermont wineries, cheesemakers, specialty food producers and artists. This event brings together all that makes “Vermont Made” synonymous with top quality, ingenuity and tradition by hosting the Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Soup Contest, Exceptional Wine Pairing Dinners at local area restaurants, Cheese & Wine pairing, Chef Demonstrations, a Locavore Culinary Competition and tastings from many of the exhibitors. Adults $10, under 5 free. www.thevermontfestival.com, 802-464-8092.
Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival
Woodstock, September 24 to 25, 10 am - 5 pm
Attend this premier woodworking event in Vermont and view the best Vermont made wood products all under one roof. Buy wood furniture, bowls, baskets, jewelry, carvings, flooring, cabinetry, and more. New exhibitors, prizes and activities every year, with local food and music. Free shuttle ride to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park where one may tour the grounds, watch more woodworking demonstrations, and learn how we care for the forests that provide our craftsmen with wood. $10, age 18 and under free. www.vermontwoodfestival.org, 802-747-7900.
Pumpkin & Apple Celebration at the Billings Farm & Museum
Woodstock, October 1 to 2, 10 am - 5 pm
Hands-on activities and programs will highlight these two versatile fall crops, their historical importance, and many uses. Apple taste test and visitors vote for their favorite. Sample pumpkin bread; lend a hand in pressing cider, making pumpkin and apple ice cream, and drying apples. Apple races, pumpkin bowling, apples-on-a-string and apple butter making. Adults $12, seniors $11, children ages 5-15 $6, ages 3-4 $3, 2 and under free. www.billingsfarm.org, 802-457-2355.
Source: Vermont Chamber of Commerce. 10.1.2010
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