June 26, 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Experience Street Fest in Manchester, where the town’s historic Main Street becomes a pedestrian-only destination for food, fun, and live music provided by the Lustre Kings (Main Street Stage) and the Andris Berry Band (Town Green Stage). Street Fest is proudly sponsored by Union Underground and Charlie’s Cafe and Coffee. Note: Main Street between the Bonnet Street roundabout and Memorial Avenue will be closed to traffic between 3pm and 9:30pm. Please find alternative arrangements for your family’s pets, as pets are not allowed at the event, unless they are service animals. For more info, visit here.

Manchester, VT | June 25; July 23; and August 20

Experience the storied elegance of the Lincoln family legacy during an intimate, after-hours journey through the breathtaking 412-acre estate of Hildene. Your adventure begins at Hildene Farm, where the working landscape offers a firsthand look at Hildene’s commitment to conservation. As you tour, you will enjoy a freshly prepared appetizer, featuring ingredients harvested mere feet from where you stand. From the farm, you will be transported to the state-of-the-art Goat Dairy to meet the award-winning herd of Nubian goats and discover the solar-powered facility and creamery where guests will sample a bespoke charcuterie spread. Your next steps take you back in time as you approach “Sunbeam,” Hildene’s restored 1903 Pullman Railcar. Your entrance will be accompanied by the sound of live ragtime piano music. Savor a refreshing mocktail as you enjoy the elegant ambience of luxurious train travel and learn the dynamic story of the Pullman Porters. To conclude, you will visit the blooming Formal Garden for hors d'oeuvres, a final cocktail hour with complimentary beer and wine, and a cash bar for spirits. The attire is Vermont Elegant. Comfortable footwear recommended for farm paths. Visit here for more.

Dorset, VT | July 10, 5:30pm

May 24, 2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of the iconic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, better known as the Judgment of Paris. In honor of this, the Dorset Inn is hosting a Judgement of Paris Wine Tasting. 50 years ago, a panel of eleven judges gathered at the intercontinental hotel in Paris, France to taste two blind flights of wines (Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon) from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and California. Stephen Spurrier was a wine merchant and owner of L'Academie du Vin, a wine education school in Paris. He knew he was taking some risk blind tasting French and American wines, but never expected what would happen next. American producers would rank #1 in both flights! Of course, controversy ensued. This milestone moment offers a reason to raise a glass and celebrate one of the most pivotal moments in wine history. There will be five paired tastings followed by a grand finale wine judgement. The cost per person is $175 (includes tax and gratuity). For reservations, call 802-867-5500.

GNAT-TV presented its 2026 GNATTY Award for Community Impact to Shawn Harrington of the Manchester Historical Society during Hats Off to Summer: A Celebration of GNAT-TV on June 3, recognizing his years of dedication to preserving local history, fostering lifelong learning, and strengthening community connections through storytelling. A storyteller, historian, educator, producer, and community volunteer, Harrington has been a longtime collaborator with GNAT-TV. Through programs including Time Stamp, Manchester Memories, Nothing’s New, and Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning, he has helped bring local history to life, preserve stories that might otherwise be lost, and create opportunities for meaningful community engagement. Through his partnership with GNAT-TV and the Manchester Historical Society, Harrington has helped build a lasting resource that connects audiences with the people, places, and stories that shape Southern Vermont.

July 1 to July 31

Where’s Waldo? Throughout the month of July, you can find Waldo in local businesses all over Manchester! Join in Northshire Bookstore’s fun scavenger hunt and win great prizes! The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs will be hiding throughout Manchester, VT and Saratoga, NY. Stop by either Northshire Bookstore location to pick up your passport and begin the search. Where’s Waldo is the creation of Martin Handford, whose entertaining drawings of crowd scenes swept the world in the late eighties. In celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is once again teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and 250 independent bookstores all across the country for some scavenger hunt fun as well as to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses. Visit here for all the details!

BBA Scholarship night, photo courtesy of SCF

The Stratton Community Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded 26 scholarships valued at $249,000 to graduating seniors across the region this June. In partnership with generous local families and donors, the Foundation presented 15 college scholarships and 11 trade scholarships to students representing Burr and Burton Academy, Leland & Gray Union High School, and Arlington Memorial High School. This year’s awards mark a major milestone for the organization with the official launch of the Foundation’s Trade Scholarship Program. The four-year college scholarships and two-year trade scholarships are designed to ease the financial burden on local graduates as they transition into college or specialized training to prepare for careers in the 21st century. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients!

Manchester, VT | Wednesdays, June 24 through August 12, 6pm

The Town of Manchester invites one and all to free concerts at Factory Point Town Green Park on Depot Street. There will be music for all ages, so bring a picnic basket and camp chairs for an evening of charming entertainment! The Gold Dust Gypsies will kick off the concert series TONIGHT! They’re a highly popular veteran tribute band based in upstate New York that honors the legendary music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. Known for their powerhouse vocals and engaging stage presence, they’ll regale you with iconic hits like "Dreams," "Rhiannon," and "Go Your Own Way.” Visit here for more.

Bomoseen, VT | July 6, 6pm

Check out the fabulous musical stylings of Patrick Sargent at The Lake House on Lake Bomoseen! Patrick was born in Phoenix, AZ, grew up in Concord, NH, and now resides in Sunderland, VT. An avid lover of music from an early age, Patrick started playing music at three years old as well as doing theater and writing novels. After having gone through some ups and downs, Patrick dedicated his entire life to music, playing original songs and covers. A multi-instrumentalist, he  plays bass, drums, guitar, and sings. Set on the shores of Lake Bomoseen, The Lake House offers lakeside dining with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and warm Vermont hospitality. Whether you're heading to the docks for cocktails at sunset, a casual lunch on the patio, or a cozy dinner indoors, you'll find a relaxed atmosphere, great food, and unbeatable views. Open to the public and guests alike, it's the perfect place to gather by the water. For more, visit here.

Dorset, VT | Now through  July 4

The Dorset Theatre Festival’s 2026 season has opened with the new gripping adaptation of a classic psychological thriller, Deceived by Johnna Wright & Patty Jamieson, based on the play Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton. Before “gaslighting” was a term, it was a weapon. In fog-bound 1901 London, a young bride begins to sense something terribly wrong in her home – dimming lights, phantom footsteps, whispers in empty rooms. Her devoted husband insists it’s all in her imagination. As the disturbances grow more sinister, she must uncover the truth before she loses her sanity. This gripping drama delivers shocking twists and a final, breathtaking reveal. Director Jackson Gay returns to Dorset after helming the Festival’s acclaimed productions of The Book Club Play (2025), Sidekicked (2024), Stephen King’s Misery (2023), Wait Until Dark (2022), and Slow Food (2019). For tickets and more, visit here.

Arlington, VT | Opening Reception: June 27, 2pm to 4pm

Arlington's Canfield Gallery will present an exhibition of pastel and oil paintings by the late, celebrated Vermont plein air artist Mallory Bratton Rich from June 27 through August 28. A founding member of the Canfield Gallery, Ms. Rich was a widely-known and well-loved leader of the fine art community that is centered in the small hamlet of Arlington, home of Norman Rockwell, Rockwell Kent, and other accomplished American artists. Her pastels and oil paintings were prized for their fresh, pure color, strong composition and sensitive brushwork. Her work has been carried by galleries in New York and New England and now hangs in many private and corporate collections. She passed away in May 2025 after a long struggle with cancer and is survived by her husband Harry A. Rich, also a celebrated painter, and her children, Whit, Steven, and Jennifer. The Canfield Gallery is in the Martha Canfield Memorial Library. For more, visit here.