Vermont - Fairs and Festivals

• For more fun activities, see Vermont Events page

Food Works Garlic Festival
Two Rivers Center, 64 Main Street
Montpelier, VT
Phone: 802- 223-1515

September 11, 2010

See Map

Local farmers will provide fresh food and chefs will prepare garlicky treats & music will be performed all day. Other activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, a kids' tent, silent auction, educational workshops, and of course, great food, including free flatbread pizza, salad and many samples. Time: Noon-6 p.m. Information: www.tworiverscenter.org

Harvest Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum
Route 12 and River Road
Woodstock, VT
Phone: 802-457-2355

October 9-10, 2010

See Map

Join in this celebration of the Vermont harvest featuring a traditional husking bee and afternoon barn dance; cider pressing, harvesting root vegetables, putting food by and more; spiced cider and homemade doughnuts. Information: www.billingsfarm.org

New World Festival
Chandler Music Hall, 71 -73 Main Street
Randolph, VT
Phone: 802-728-9878

September 5, 2010

See Map

For 18 years this festival has been celebrating Northern New England's Celtic and French Canadian heritage with traditional music and dance. Featured performers include Norouet, Cantrip, Long Time Courting, Jeremiah McLane, Rapetipetam, Dent-de-Lion, callers Adina Gordon and Nils Fredland, the No Strings Marionette Company and many more. Five performance stages, all-weather tents, children’s activities, food and crafts. Location: Chandler Music Hall, Bethany Church and tents, 71 - 73 Main Street. Time: noon - midnight. Cost: adults, $35; youth 13 - 18, $10; children 12 and under, $5. Information: 802-728-6464 or visit www.newworldfestival.com.

Plymouth Cheese & Harvest Festival
President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, 3780 Route 100A
Plymouth Notch, VT
Phone: 802-672-3773

September 19, 2010

See Map

Celebrate the bounties of the harvest and the award-winning world of Vermont-made cheese. Cheese sampling by members of the Vermont Cheese Council and guided tours of the Plymouth Cheese Factory; wagon rides, historic farm & craft demonstrations, cheese recipe contest, barbecue, and other activities for the entire family. Helene Lang performs as Beatrix Potter at 2 p.m. Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: www.historicvermont.org/coolidge/

Tunbridge World's Fair
Tunbridge, VT
Phone: 800-889-5555

September 16-19, 2010

See Map

Old-fashioned agricultural fair in rural setting; working antique displays; horse, pony and oxen pulling; horse racing; cattle and horse shows; junior 4-H exhibits; contra dancing; gymkhana; free shows; midway. Information: www.tunbridgefair.com

Vermont State Fair
175 South Main Street (Route 7)
Rutland, VT
Phone: 802-775-5200

September 3-12, 2010

See Map

Agricultural events include horse & cattle shows and exhibits, farm museums, horse, pony & ox pulling contests, ox shows, sheep & goat shows, horse shows, etc. 4H building, maple sugar house, dairy center, forestry building, fish & game and pet & poultry building. Many free shows including: Rosaire’s Racing Pigs, Eudora Farms Petting Zoo, Magic of Lance Gifford & Co., Horses, Horses, Horses, Galaxy Girl and much more. The midway will provide over 35 rides. Information: www.vermontstatefair.net

Brattleboro Literary Festival
Multiple venues on Main Street
Brattleboro, VT
Phone: 802-365-7673

September 30 - October 3, 2010

Readings, panel discussions, and special events will showcase 34 emerging and established authors including former U.S. Poet Laureate Maxine Kumin, two-time National Book finalist Marilyn Nelson, Newbery award winning author Katherine Paterson, best-selling fiction authors Sue Miller and Allegra Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon S Wood, and non-fiction authors Nick Flynn, Bruce Feiler and Jeffrey Zaslow. See website for schedule and fees. Information: 802-365-7673 or visit www.brattleboroliteraryfestival.org.

Burlington Book Festival
Various locations around town
Burlington, VT
Phone: 802-658-3328

September 24-26, 2010

Experience three days of readings, signings, panels, film screenings, musical performances, workshops, lectures, demos and more. All this plus original theatre and special events featuring literary luminaries from around the world - and just around the corner. Guests include poet Galway Kinnell, New Yorker Magazine cartoonist Harry Bliss, Vermont fiction writer Howard Frank Mosher, and former U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith. Times and fees vary; see website for details. Information: 802-658-3328 or visit www.burlingtonbookfestival.com.

Celebration of the Vine Harvest Festival
Boyden Valley Winery, Vermont Route 104
Cambridge, VT
Phone: 802-644-8151

September 18 - 19, 2010

The Harvest Festival includes a variety of events, from wine tasting to live music, with activities that will appeal to all ages, like a grape stomping contest, vendors, grape picking from the vine, clowns, face-painting, hayrides, a corn maze, and more. Time: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days. Cost: adults, $10; children 12 and under, free. Information: 802-644-8151 or visit www.boydenvalley.com.

Champlain Valley Exposition
Route 15
Essex Junction, VT
Phone: 802-878-5545

August 28-September 6, 2010

See Map

Vermont’s largest fair and the state’s largest event, established in 1923. Agricultural displays and 4-H, horse, sheep and dairy shows, fine art and craft sales, giant pumpkins and 50-ton sand sculpture, spectacular midway rides and games, food, free entertainment stages, racing pigs, hypnotist, & bands. Coca-Cola Grandstand features top-name concerts; tractor & truck pull, demo derby and extreme motorcycle show. Open from 10 a.m. to midnight daily Information: www.cvfair.com

Colors of the Kingdom Festival
1302 Main Street
St. Johnsbury, VT

September 18, 2010

Bringing together the best of two long-running, annual festivals - St. Johnsbury's Fall Festival and Fairbanks Museum's Festival - to create one exciting, eventful, town-wide extravaganza. Celebrate St. Johnsbury and its cultural and natural history with exhibits, tours, demonstrations, music and parade. Find treasures of today as you browse through the farmers market, craft vendors and food court. Time: NA. Cost: NA. Information: 802-748-3678 or visit www.nekchamber.com.

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival
Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton and St. Johnsbury, VT
Phone: 800-639-6379

September 26 - October 2, 2010

This week-long includes local history, entertainment, photo ops, church suppers, crafts and tours in Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton and St. Johnsbury. Each has special historic and cultural background and the local volunteer hosts are pleasant and informative. Plenty of places to stay only a few miles to each town. Information: 802-748-2372 or visit www.nekchamber.com.

Stowe Oktoberfest
Jackson Ice Arena, Park Street
Stowe, VT
Phone: 802-253-4788

September 24-26, 2010

Stowe's Jackson Ice Arena will be transformed into a Bavarian village for this annual celebration of harvests and fall foliage. From oompah bands to authentic German foods to freshly brewed Vermont beers to pumpkin and face painting, there's something for every "villager," young and old. Time: Friday, 7 - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: adults, $7; youth ages 9 - 20, $5; under 9, free. Information: 802-253-4788 or visit www.stoweoktoberfest.com.

Vermont Small Farms Food Fest
Shelburne Orchards, 216 Orchard Road
Shelburne, VT
Phone: 802-985-2753

September 13, 2010

See Map

This traditional celebration is jam-packed with taste-testing foods from local farms and food producers, a wonderful lineup of Vermont musicians, delightful tractor hayrides, a cool Tractor Petting Zoo, the a-mazing haybale maze, great facepainting, ropemaking, neat apple prints, and lots of info available about interesting area organizations. Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: www.shelburneorchards.com

Bennington Irish Music Festival
Colgate Park, 1545 West Road
Bennington, VT
Phone: 802-447-3900

September 4 - 5, 2010

The Bennington Irish Music Festival will boast over 20 hours of music, food, crafts and lots of stuff for kids. Headlining bands include: Maura O’Connell, Black 47, Young Dubliners, McPeake, Shana Morrison (daughter of legendary Van Morrison-and 10 times Irish National Fiddle Champion Seamus Connolly, Hair of the Dog, Jerry O’Sullivan, Laurel Martin Trio, Kieran Jordan, the Highland Rovers and many more. Time: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. both days. Cost: adults, $30 per day; $50 for both days; children 12 and under, free. Information: 802-447-3900 or visit www.benningtonirishmusicfestival.com.

Bennington Quiltfest
Mount Anthony Union Middle School, 747 East Road
Bennington, VT
Phone: 802-442-5944

September 18 - 19, 2010

The annual Quiltfest features over 200 quilts, demonstrations, vendors, a featured quilter, raffle quilt drawing, a People's Choice Award, and food concession. Time: Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: adults, $6; youth under 18, free. Information: 802-442-5944 or visit www.benningtonquiltfest.com.

Guilford Fair
Guilford Fairgrounds, Weatherhead Hollowm Road
Guilford, VT
Phone: 802-254-2228

September 5-6, 2010

See Map

The Guilford Fair is a traditional agricultural fair with garden, fanciwork, handicrafts and hobby exhibits, chainsaw and sheep shearing demonstrations, cattle and horse shows, BINGO, games, food and midway rides. The Fair has something for all ages. Information:www.guilfordfairvt.com

Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival
Route 9
Bennington, VT
Phone: 802-447-3311

September 4-5, 2010

See Map

Join garlic-lovers from throughout New England as they come to sample food and crafts from 50 different vendors all made from garlic and herbs. Everything from garlic ice cream to garlic jelly, pickled garlic, roasted garlic, garlic braids and, of course, plain garlic bulbs of every variety will be available for sampling and purchase, along with planting and braiding demonstrations as well as cooking demonstrations. Time: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: adults, $5; children 12 and under, $1. Information: 802-447-3311 or visit www.lovegarlic.com.

The Big Buzz Chainsaw Carving Festival
Barre Pinske Art Studio, 50 First Avenue
Chester, VT
Phone: 802-228-5830

September 27 - October 3, 2010

Chainsaw Carvers from around the country gather to show their skills for this week long event. Carvers work as a team on an 8’ bear carving to be auctioned off Sunday, proceeds going to fight cancer. Time: Monday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: free. Information: 802-228-5830 or visit www.yourplaceinvermont.com.

Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival
4 Catamount Lane.
Wilmington, VT
Phone: 802-464-8092

September 24 - 26, 2010

See Map

The 3rd Annual Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival is a weekend showcase for Vermont wines, Vermont specialty foods and artisans of all types celebrating the rich uniqueness, quality and ingenuity of Vermont producers. Set in the backdrop of our world renowned Vermont fall foliage; attendees will discover, savor and enjoy Vermont vintners, small specialty food producers, painters, publishers, cheese makers, potters, jewelers, chefs, photographers and farmers. Times and costs: see website for details. Information: visit www.thevermontfestival.com.