Manchester, VT | May 22 - 25

Manchester’s Memorial Day Weekend Sales are back and bigger and better than ever! Explore a curated mix of locally owned boutiques, specialty food shops, home décor stores, designer outlets, and artisan galleries. Whether you’re searching for the latest fashion, unique Vermont-made gifts, or gourmet treats, you’ll find it here. More than 20 Manchester retailers are offering special promotions and exclusive in-store offers all weekend long. It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your wardrobe, find one-of-a-kind items, and support local businesses. Check out all the deals here!

Images courtesy of the Manchester Business Association

Manchester, VT | June 6, 10am to 4:30pm

Among the tried-and-true signs that spring has bloomed at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, is the joyful arrival of kids, lambs, and calves at Hildene Farm and the Goat Dairy. Visitors will have the chance to meet all the adorable babies at a variety of  Meet the Baby Animals events throughout the summer. Visitors can explore both the goat dairy and dene farm, where they'll be greeted by the babies and their adult companions: alpacas, cows, chickens, rabbits, and, of course, Peaches the pig. For more information, click here.

Bennington, VT | May 23, 10am to 5pm

Get ready for the 39th Annual Mayfest Arts and Crafts Festival, returning to Downtown Bennington! At this free and family friendly event, you will find 100+ local vendors, live performances on multiple stages, food trucks, and more! Plus, Main Street businesses will offer exclusive deals, and downtown restaurants will be serving up their specialties. Organized by the Better Bennington Corporation, this is one of Southern Vermont’s signature spring events. There's plenty of free parking, so don't miss this vibrant celebration! Visit here for more.

From L to R: Maria Reade (Woman of the Year), Mikayla Fisette (Young Woman in Leadership), and Sean-Marie Oller (Lifetime Achievement)

More than 150 community members gathered at Hildene’s Lincoln Hall on May 13 for the fifth annual Women in Leadership Luncheon, presented by Beacon Bank and hosted by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Young Woman in Leadership Award was presented to Mikayla Fisette, a leader with VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region, who was recognized for her exceptional ability to bring energy, creativity, and thoughtful leadership to every initiative she is part of. The Woman of the Year Award was presented to Maria Reade of Grateful Hearts Manchester. As Head Chef, Maria has helped lead a remarkable community effort to prepare and distribute thousands of healthy meals each month for neighbors facing food insecurity. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Sean-Marie Oller. Over the course of her career, Sean-Marie has demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service and community betterment through her work on the Bennington Select Board, the School Board, and through her leadership of the Tutorial Center.

Bennington, VT | Registration Now Open!

Race registration for United Counseling Service’s 9th Annual UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash on November 7 at the Berkshire Family YMCA (BFYMCA) is now open here. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Registration prices increase on September 30 and participants registered by October 1 will receive a custom UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash beanie. All 5K finishers will receive a custom 2026 finisher’s medal. The Kids’ Dash will take place directly following the 5K in the field adjacent to Gage Street at the race site. This year’s event benefits Chickens for Change (C4C), a program of UCS’ division of Children, Youth, and Family Services (CYFS). 

Manchester, VT | May 21, 6pm

Andris Berry’s music is a mix of country, Irish folk, and rock –simple, honest, and full of heart. It’s built on acoustic instruments like guitar, fiddle, and harmonica, with a few electric edges when things heat up. You’ll hear songs that sound like they could’ve been sung around a campfire, or played on an old jukebox in a roadside bar. Some are foot-stompers, some are slow and aching. But they all come from the same place – storytelling through song. Head over to Depot 62 for some delicious southeastern Mediterranean cuisine and some great tunes!

Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Baklava Express at Next Stage Arts. Brooklyn-based Baklava Express creates vibrant, high-energy music that evokes the atmosphere of an open-air Mediterranean market. Blending ancient and modern instruments, the ensemble performs original compositions rooted in Turkish, Greek, Armenian, Arab, Mizrahi, and Sephardi musical traditions, while naturally weaving in touches of jazz, flamenco, rock, and Ottoman classical music. Led by oud player and composer Josh Kaye, the group crafts music that feels both timeless and contemporary. For tickets, visit here.

Middlebury, VT | June 5, 7, 11 & 13

La Traviata principals: Avery Boettcher (Violetta Valéry), Jared Esguerra (Alfredo Germont), and Andrew Manea (Giorgio Germont) 

The Opera Company of Middlebury’s 23rd season finale begins with a new production of La Traviata at Town Hall Theater. OCM Founder and Artistic Director Douglas Anderson has previously directed La Traviata for the company in semi-staged form but has long been eager to realize it as a full production. This time, Anderson sets the opera in the 1920s. The decade inspired Anderson as a pivotal period in American history when women challenged social conventions. The cast incorporates local singers as well as members of the Young Artist Program in comprimario roles. Tickets can be purchased in person or here.

Arlington, VT | June 5 - June 13

The Arlington Common Community Theater is roaring back to life with a production that is purposefully falling apart. Directed by local theater veteran Tim Rice, the celebrated ‘play within a play’ disaster comedy, The Play that Goes Wrong – written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields – will perform at the Arlington Common Performance Hall.  The ‘play within a play’ follows the well-meaning but accident-prone Cornley University Drama Society as they attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery. The performance will run for four evenings: June 5 & 6 and June 12 & 13 at 7:30pm, with a matinee on June 7 at 2pm. A special dinner and a show will take place on June 6 at the Watkins House at 6pm. Seating is limited. To purchase tickets, visit here.