10 Vermont Winter Vacation Guide 2016

CHRONOLOGICALLY LISTED

FIRST NIGHT BURLINGTON Burlington, December 31, 2015www.firstnightburlington.com802-863-6005Vermont’s largest, single-day festival of the arts, offering a healthful, responsible celebra-tion of the New Year by presenting more than 100 performances of music, dance, theater, comedy, and other performing arts in up to 20 venues in downtown Burlington on New Year’s Eve. First Night Burlington, now in its 32nd year, is the second oldest First Night celebration in America. Admission is with a First Night button.

STOWE WINTER CARNIVAL Stowe, January 16-24, 2016www.stowewintercarnival.com802-253-7321Stowe Winter Carnival celebrates its 42nd Anniversary in 2016! Enjoy over 15 fam-ily and competitive sporting events, while chasing away the winter blues of January in Stowe. From ice carving demonstrations and competitions to Snowgolf, Snowvolleyball and Kids Karnival Kaos, there is an experience for everyone! Stowe comes alive in January to celebrate the outdoors in winter.

STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS Brattleboro, June 3-5, 2016www.strollingoftheheifers.com802-246-0982A weekend to celebrate local farms and local food, built around the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade (Saturday, 10 am) featuring beautifully groomed heifer calves led by future farmers. Other weekend events include an all-day, 11-acre Expo with food, fun and entertainment, cycling chal-lenge rides, a street festival, farmers’ breakfast and more.

BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL Burlington, June 3-12, 2016www.discoverjazz.com, 802-863-7992Heralded as the unofficial start of summer, the 33rd annual Festival presents the greatest names in jazz alongside local and regional artists in venues all over the city. With art-ist interviews, films, workshops and perfor-mances by the lake, on Church Street and in the parks, there is something for everyone to enjoy during this ten day event.

VERMONT QUILT FESTIVAL Essex Junction, June 24-26, 2016www.vqf.org, 802-872-0034Be dazzled by the eye-popping color and design in hundreds of quilts on display. Shop the bustling Merchants Mall, enjoy free gal-lery talks, demonstrations, classes, appraisals, the Textile Detectives and more. The always-

festive Champagne and Chocolate Preview opens New England’s largest and oldest quilt event Thursday evening at the Champlain Valley Exposition.

VERMONT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS Mad River Valley (Waitsfield, Warren, Moretown, Fayston) August 1 – September 5, 2016www.vermontartfest.com802-496-6682A month-long celebration of the arts with over 100 events throughout the Mad River Valley. The Festival will entertain your soul, enlighten your mind and energize your spirit. Exhibits, demos and workshops, concerts and theater, lectures, tours and culinary extravaganzas—a multi-dimensional, multi-media Festival with something for everyone. The center of the state of Vermont is the center of the arts.

What’s Something Not to be Missed

When You Come to Vermont?

Introducing the Top Ten Time-Honored Events in Vermont! These outstanding and enduring events are worth the trip, no matter what time of year. Any Top Ten winner (see pages 8-9) who has won the designation ten times or more has been awarded as a permanent Time-Honored Event for Vermont. In the Top Ten Events history of nearly 25 years, there have been eleven Vermont events that have won ten times or more.

J. MICHAEL WORTHINGTON

BURLINGTON DISCOVER JAZZ FESTIVAL,BURLINGTON

EventsVERMONT CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE

Time-Honored

NEW WORLD FESTIVALRandolph, September 4, 2016www.newworldfestival.com802-728-6464A vibrant celebration of Celtic and French Canadian music and dance. Each year more than 70 exceptional musicians are drawn from New England, Canada and the British Isles. Concerts, music and dance workshops, chil-dren’s activities, and open dancing unfold on five continuous stages from noon to 11 pm.

SOUTH END ART HOP Burlington, September 9-11, 2016www.seaba.com, 802-859-9222Blending over 500 artists at 100 locations—sculpture, music, live demos, fashion and food. The Art Hop attracts over 30,000 attendees to the South End Arts District of Burlington each year to celebrate the arts.

TUNBRIDGE WORLD’S FAIR Tunbridge, September 15-18, 2016www.tunbridgeworldsfair.com800-889-5555On restored historical fairgrounds, the 21st century Tunbridge World’s Fair is a great family venue where visitors can get close to beautiful farm animals, and enjoy the mid-way, entertainment and music. Celebrating Vermont farming traditions, notably Antique Hill Museum, this fair also looks to the future of sustainable farming.

STOWE ROTARY’S OKTOBERFEST Stowe, September 30 – October 2, 2016www.stoweoktoberfest.comA celebration of the harvest highlighting our local beers. Four different Bavarian style bands perform during the weekend, with food, fun and dancing for all ages. Come enjoy peak foliage and have a beer or two with us.

U.S. OPEN SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS No longer held in Vermont. N

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NEW WORLD FESTIVAL,RANDOLPH

STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS,BRATTLEBORO

STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS