Summer 2009
This Season
Places to go and things to do
This year is the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s historic visit to the lake that bears his name. Lake Champlain Quadricentennial events, celebrating the heritage and natural splendor of the lake, are taking place through 2009 and peak this summer. Upcoming “Signature Events” will include the following:
- St. Albans Franco-American Heritage Festival: Music, art, historical displays and more, with a Franco-American spin. June 18—20.
- Champlain International Waterfront Festival: A massive event on the Quadricentennial calendar, this sprawling festival contains a wealth of activities including a parade, fireworks, concerts by stars such as Buddy Guy and much more. July 2—14.
- Vergennes French Heritage Day: “The Oldest City in Vermont” showcases its heritage and French roots. July 18.
Other events include the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, a natural history tour, a theme-night Lake Monsters baseball game, even a cycling route along Champlain’s path. There’s something for every age and area of interest. For a complete list, visit www.Champlain400.com and click on “Events.”
May 21
Long Trail End-to-Enders’ Workshop
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Is hiking the Long Trail — all 272 miles — a dream of yours? Hit the trail with the help of the Green Mountain Club and the collective wisdom of its members. Long Trail end-to-end veterans share the ins and outs of the trails, from bugs to food to snoring campmates. They’ll get you prepared for maybe the longest walk of your life. 6:30 to 9 p.m. $25. (802) 244-7037.
May 24
KeyBank Vermont City Marathon
Burlington
Not in shape? Not a problem. Vermont’s best-known marathon is as much a spectator sport as it is a running one. Boisterous, cheering onlookers do their best to encourage the 8,000 runners (individuals and relay teams) on the 26.2-mile-long journey over the hilly Burlington terrain. It’s a festive atmosphere, including Taiko drummers, runners occasionally in costumes and an emcee who keeps the festivities running smoothly. 8 a.m. wheelchair division start; 8:05 runner start. Free to watch. Top spot to watch is by the Burlington Waterfront, near the finish line. Arrive early; parking is difficult in Burlington this day. (802) 863-8412.
May 30 — Aug. 30
Photography and the Quality of “Place”
Bennington Museum, Bennington
Photographers like Ansel Adams and Alfred Stieglitz are masters at capturing places and landscapes. It is the “quality of place” theme in their work — and others — that will be featured in this three-month-long exhibit. The exhibition also contains photographs drawn from the Bennington Museum’s permanent collection as well as other local collections. Many images feature the Bennington area, including stereographs created by the H. C. White Co. in North Bennington at the turn of the 20th century. $9 and less. (802) 447-1571.
June 1 — Oct. 12
SculptCycle
Montpelier
What happens when creative artists get their hands on bicycle parts — and are asked to design new sculptures? It’s called SculptCycle, and the captivating results will be on display throughout Montpelier this summer. The program began last summer, and the 20 sculptures, some with moving parts, were enthusiastically received by the community. You can take a walking tour (free) and see the display, and even purchase one if you’re interested. (802) 223-9604.
June 4
Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller
Shelburne Museum, Shelburne
What a night for music! One of Vermont’s best summer series — the Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on The Green — outdoes itself by putting four singer-songwriters on the same stage on one night. Harris, known for being a superb collaborator, joins forces with folksy Shawn Colvin, pop-rocker Patty Griffin and country-Americana artist Buddy Miller for a tour called “Three Girls and Their Buddy.” This show will take place on the beautiful Shelburne Museum Green, where the sunsets provide better visuals than any light show you’ve ever seen. 6 p.m.
$50 in advance, $54 day of.
(888) 512-7469.
June 5 — 14
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, Pink Martini and Esperanza Spalding are just a few of the headliners at this year’s Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Now in its 26th year, the festival pulls together A-list stars, emerging artists, cutting edge sounds and music-in-the-streets accessibility, all in a hip small city by Lake Champlain. The result is sublime.
Ticket prices vary, some events free. (802) 863-5966; www.discoverjazz.com.
June 6
Barn Owl Dance with the Subdudes
Quechee
A benefit concert for the Pentangle Council on the Arts, this four-hour event will be held at the Vermont Institute for Natural Science Nature Center. Along with music by rootsy New Orleans band the subdudes, there will be a catered gourmet picnic, silent auction, tours of the grounds and a live raptor demonstration. 5 to 9 p.m. $75. (802) 457-3981.
July 17
Rosanne Cash
Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury
Country-folk star Rosanne Cash will treat the Northeast Kingdom to a quality of music that doesn’t come ’round often to that corner of the state. The eldest daughter of the late Johnny Cash, Rosanne has made a name in her own right: The AllMusic guide calls her simply “one of the pre-eminent singer-songwriters of her day.” She is back on the touring scene after surgery for a benign brain ailment, and in recent years she has also been writing a column, “Measure for Measure,” for The New York Times. 7:30 p.m. $30 and less. (802) 592-3190.
Aug. 22 — 23
Vermont Antiques Dealers Association Antiques Show
Hunter Park Pavilion, Manchester
Who says antiquing is ... antiquated? The Vermont Antiques Dealers Association hosts its yearly Antiques Show, and is allowing anyone 30 or under in for free. Seems like a great idea to welcome the next generation to the hobby — or sport, as some view it. Some of the best dealers in the state bring paintings, signs, tools, furniture, toys and housewares. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. $8. (802) 885-3705.
Friday Night Sailing
Lake Champlain Community
Sailing Center, Burlington
What better year to learn sailing or brush up on your skills than the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s visit to Vermont’s big lake? The Community Sailing Center in Burlington offers an array of sailing events throughout the summer for first-timers on up to experienced racers. The most fun can be found on Friday nights, when the club hosts Ladies’ Night Out, Couples’ Night Out, Friday Mini Refresher and 420 Racing. Fees vary depending on activity. (802) 864-2499.
Schedules subject to change: please call ahead to events.
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