Manchester, VT | July 30, 6:30pm

Join Green Mountain Media Group (GMMG) for an exclusive outdoor concert at the Manchester Community Library featuring Sam Lardner and his international band, Barcelona, to benefit the Bennington County Multicultural Community Center (BCMCC). Varroomba! is Lardner's latest U.S. touring project featuring donation-driven concerts throughout the Northeast for deserving local organizations. BCMCC is dedicated to helping newly arrived immigrants and refugees from global crisis zones acclimate and resettle in Southern Vermont. Sam and his band have been serving up a unique Mediterranean fusion sound now for over two decades. A blend of Americana and Flamenco, often described as "James Taylor meets the Gypsy Kings", gives their music plenty of headroom for storytelling and lyrical expression while bouncing raucously from covers to originals on a bed of powerful rhythmic forms. Tickets are $25 per person or $35 per couple at the door. Kids under 12 are free. Food trucks and beverages will be available on-site. All proceeds will be donated to BCMCC. Don't miss it! For more, visit here.

Manchester, VT | July 29, 6pm

The Town of Manchester invites one and all to free concerts at Factory Point Town Green Park on select Wednesdays now through August 12. There will be music for all ages, so bring a picnic basket and camp chairs for an evening of charming entertainment! Local legends of rock & roll, Don’t Leave, will bring the party to town next Wednesday, and you won’t want to miss it! Don’t Leave is celebrating 40 years of making music and you’re invited to groove the night away. For more, visit here.

Natalie Philpot & Lee Romano of Don’t Leave

Ludlow, VT | August 22 & 23, 11am to 5pm

The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, the official organizer of the Best of Vermont Summer Festival, is proud to announce the return of this beloved two day celebration at Okemo Field. Now in its sixth year, the festival continues to bring together the people, flavors, sounds, and traditions that make Vermont shine in the summertime. Attendees can look forward to: live music; line dancing; craft beverage producers; cheese and maple makers; specialty foods and small batch culinary artisans; local artists, makers, and fine crafts; family friendly activities and a lively kids zone; and community organizations and regional businesses sharing their work. The festival welcomes locals, new residents, second homeowners, and visitors for a weekend that celebrates Vermont’s creativity, culture, and community spirit! For more, visit here.

Manchester, VT | July 28, 7:30pm

Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning (GMALL) is excited to partner with the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) to present the encore screening of REUNION: Ordinary Lives Viewed Up Close. As the Niskayuna High School Class of 1962 approaches their 80th year, REUNION offers a heartfelt reflection on aging, legacy, and resilience. Through candid interviews with ten classmates, the film looks back on lives lived, impacts made, and what it means to grow older with purpose. Blending memory with hope, REUNION captures a generation still looking forward – with curiosity, gratitude, and a quiet determination to leave a lasting mark on the time they have left. REUNION is executive produced by Dorset’s Bob Van Degna and there will be a talk back with him after the film. The screening will take place in the Arkell Pavilion. Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets, please call 802-867-0111 or visit here. 

North Bennington, VT | August 23, 1pm to 4pm

Join the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce for the 3rd annual New Vermonters Welcome Picnic! This amazing event is open to newcomers who have moved to Vermont in the past 1 to 5 years. Come to beautiful Lake Paran in North Bennington for a day of sun, fun, and food for all ages! Besides the amazing water activities you can do at the lake, there will be yard games and other great activities in store. This family-friendly event is part of the Chamber’s efforts to help build community and roots for newcomers to the state. Feel free to share with other new Vermonters in the region! The event is sponsored by Heritage Family Credit Union. Admission is completely free for all new Vermonters and their families. Tickets are limited, reserve your spot soon here, and please make sure to reserve tickets for any family members or friends planning to join you! 

Castleton, VT | August 15, 10am to 3pm

Step back in time as hostesses in Colonial attire greet guests in homes along Castleton’s historic Main Street during the 86th Annual Colonial Day Historic House Tour. This annual event features over a dozen sites throughout the village including outstanding period homes, public buildings, and historic sites. The Federated Church on Main Street, described as builder Thomas Royal Dake’s architectural masterpiece, is a popular stop on the tour. At the Higley House, home of the Castleton Historical Society, visitors can tour the exhibits, antique tools, carriage collection, and period fashion display of 19th century clothing and accessories. The tour will be held rain or shine and tickets for $25 can be purchased on Main Street. For more, visit here.

Ranson Rehlen House

Rutland, VT | Thursdays & Fridays, now through August 7

The Paramount Theater presents big screen blockbusters in their Summer Movie Series featuring family favorites, comedies, adventures, and classics. Unless otherwise noted, admission to all films is $5, including all taxes and fees. Thursday and Friday evening screenings begin at 7pm, while select classic films will be shown free of charge on Friday afternoons at 2pm. The next blockbuster screening is Twister on July 23, followed by The Breakfast Club on July 24. Other screenings include Jaws, The 39 Steps, The Goonies, and more! Concessions will be available, too. Tickets can be purchased at the Heritage Family Credit Union Online Box Office here.

Manchester, VT | July 31, 6pm

Northshire Bookstore welcomes authors Tim Weed and Jenna Blum to discuss their latest books. In The Gatepost, one woman's quest to find her father pushes her beyond the boundaries of space, time, and the human mind. Murder Your Darlings is a hilarious and eviscerating tale of love, loss, and deadlines. Tim is the author of The Gatepost, A Field Guide to Murder & Fly Fishing, Will Poole's Island, and The Afterlife Project. He serves on the core faculty of the Newport MFA for creative writing and is the cofounder of the Cuba Writers Program. Jenna is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of the novels Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, and The Lost Family. She is the CEO and cofounder of the online author interview platform A Mighty Blaze and one of Oprah.com readers’ Top 30 Women Writers. Visit here for more.

Chester, VT | Now through August 30

Multi-media artist Paul Neuman.
Photo courtesy of DaVallia Gallery.

DaVallia Gallery is pleased to present Material Witness, a new exhibition of mixed-media works by artist Paul Neuman. Paul's work transforms reclaimed materials, vintage printer's type, weathered wood, found objects, sculpture, and functional forms into richly layered works that explore memory, family, and the passage of time. Many of Neuman's pieces incorporate antique objects and salvaged materials whose natural patina becomes an essential part of the finished work. Fish frequently appear throughout as recurring symbols inspired by his childhood in his family's fish market, representing family, nourishment, history, and personal identity. Located in the heart of Chester's historic Stone Village, DaVallia represents nationally recognized and emerging artists working across painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and mixed media. For more, visit here.

Manchester, VT | July 25, 4pm

The School of Outrageous Shakespeare (SOS), in partnership with the Dorset Players, presents an afternoon of free, outdoor Shakespeare! Join performers from the SOS, directed by Gary Meitrott, and from the "Making the Argument" workshop directed by Meg Kemble, for an afternoon of selected scenes and monologues. Hosted in the idyllic Riverwalk Park in Manchester, this show is a celebration of language, the expansiveness of human emotion, and Shakespeare in the natural world. Performances are free to the public. Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for comfortable outdoor seating. Visit here for more.