Manchester, VT | Exhibit: May 19-July 19

Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) presents Decades in the Making, a curated exhibition highlighting the work and perspectives of artists whose practices span more than 40 years. In partnership with SVAC, GNAT-TV has produced a three-episode mini-series that brings the exhibition to broader audiences through in-depth artist conversations. Curated by Charles Lysogorski, the exhibition features six longtime SVAC Artist Members: Joan Curtis, Richard D. Weis, Fran Bull, Mark Eliot Schwabe, Charles Lysogorski, and Susan Wilson. The mini-series documents the featured artists, their work, and the ideas that have shaped their practices over time. Hosted by SVAC curator Danny Volk, the series extends the gallery experience beyond its walls, offering audiences deeper insight into the artists’ processes and perspectives. It will air on GNAT-TV’s Comcast channel 1074 and be available on their digital platforms. More here.

Manchester, VT | June 17

Save the Date for the 8th Annual B2B Golf Classic, hosted by the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce (SWVT Chamber) and the Manchester Business Association (MBA). Come enjoy a friendly competition with other businesses and take in the breathtaking views of Southwestern Vermont at the Golf Club at Equinox. Players can look forward to playing 18 holes of golf while networking with other local businesses and non-profit organizations. There will be a raffle, online auction, lunch on the course, and a cash bar. The coveted B2B Cup will be awarded at the Awards Ceremony. The event is a fundraiser for the SWVT Chamber and the MBA. Early Bird registration is now open, here.

Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV) has been awarded a $5,000 Project Grant from Vermont Humanities to support a new youth media initiative, Youth Voices in Video: Community Storytelling Through Media Production. The grant will fund a series of free, hands-on video workshops for middle- and high-school–aged youth in Southwestern Vermont. Participants will learn the basics of storytelling, interviewing, filming, and editing while creating a one-minute video. Workshops will combine hands-on learning with discussion around media literacy, representation, and responsible storytelling. There is no cost to participate. Participants will also have the option to share their completed videos through the annual 1-Minute Film Festival. For more, visit here.

Arlington, VT | May 14, 6pm

The Arlington Common is proud to present a special screening of the acclaimed documentary Far Out: Life On & After the Commune. This 85-minute film chronicles the fifty-year odyssey of the writers, activists, and artists who founded two rural New England communal farms, offering a rare look at a movement that reshaped Vermont’s cultural landscape. There will be a live Q&A session with the film's director, Charles Light, and renowned poet and activist Verandah Porche, a central figure in the communal story. The story begins in the turbulent summer of 1968, when a group of radical journalists from the Liberation News Service left the city to establish communes at Packer Corners in Guilford, VT and in Montague, MA. For tickets, visit here.

Middlebury, VT | Submissions due: June 15

In honor of America’s Semiquincentennial, middle and high school students across Vermont are encouraged to participate in America 250: Expressions of Liberty, a statewide poetry and art contest exploring the theme: “What Does Freedom Mean to Me?” Presented in partnership with the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone, and Town Hall Theater, this inspiring initiative invites young Vermonters to reflect on liberty through their own lived experiences, hopes, and imagination. Selected works will be showcased at a public Constitution Day celebration on September 17 at 1pm at Town Hall Theater.Submissions are due by June 15 and may be sent to america250poetry@gmail.com. For contest guidelines and evaluation criteria, visit here.

Manchester, VT | May 16, 10am to 2pm

This spring, the Garden Club of Manchester (GCM) invites the community to dig into the season at their highly anticipated All Things Gardening - Plant, Bake, and Tag Sale. The Southern Vermont Arts Center’s Arkell Pavilion will transform into a Green and vibrant marketplace featuring locally grown starter plants, member’s perennials, unique garden treasures, and artisanal baked goods. More than just a sale, this annual tradition serves as a fundraiser supporting the GCM’s beautification and scholarship programs.  Whether you are a seasoned horticulturalist or a first-time gardener, the selection is curated for success in the Vermont climate. The event offers more than just greenery. Several GCM members are Master Gardeners who will be on-site to offer personalized advice on what to plant and how to help your landscape flourish. For those who prefer the kitchen to the garden, the Bake Sale is a destination in itself. For more, visit here.

Bennington, VT | May 17, 4pm

Sage City Symphony concludes its 2025-26 season with a Spring Concert in Greenwall Auditorium at Bennington College. The performance marks the retirement of Music Director Michael Finckel, who will appear as solo cellist in Johannes Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102, alongside Concertmaster Michael Emery. The program also features Paul Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, a vibrant and infrequently performed orchestral work. The symphony will be joined by singers from regional ensembles for a performance of Lili Boulanger’s Vieille prière bouddhique. Founded in 1972, Sage City Symphony is a community and college orchestra with close ties to Bennington College. Admission is free and open to all. For more, visit here.

Michael Emery

The Rupert Village Trust hosts a live performance by Lil Rev at the Sheldon General Store. Lil Rev is an award-winning Wisconsin-based entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, and author of over a dozen ukulele instructional books. He is well known for his folksy style, storytelling, and deep-rooted repertoire of blues, bluegrass, folk, Celtic, and his own singer-songwriter compositions. Lil Rev was voted best Folksinger in WI in 2004 and was 1996 National Blues Harmonica Champion. Register here. Tickets are free, but there is a suggested donation of
$10 at the door.

Dorset, VT | May 15-17; May 22-24

The Dorset Players along with Burns Insurance Agency, RE/MAX Four Seasons, and Union Underground/Union South present Something Rotten! at the Dorset Playhouse. Directed and choreographed by Renee Wymer with Dana Haley, and music direction by Lorri Bond, the show is set in the 1590s. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as Shakespeare. When Nostradamus foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers along with Bea and Portia realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz. The show was written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell with music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick. It is presented through arrangement with Music Theatre International. For tickets, visit here.

Dorset, VT

The 2026 season opens with Deceived (June 19–July 4), a new adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s classic thriller, Gaslight, by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson.  The cast includes Lucas Dixon and Caitlin Clouthier, who return to Dorset after appearing in last season’s The Book Club Play. Kelly McAndrew also returns following her acclaimed performances in Misery and the solo play Sidekicked. Completing the quartet is Ellen Grace Diehl, who has performed at major regional houses, including Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Cleveland Play House. Next up is The Understudy (July 10–July 18), written and directed by Dorset’s Resident Playwright and Pulitzer Prize Nominee Theresa Rebeck. Actors Jeffrey Bean and David Mason reunite after starring in the award-winning world premiere of Rebeck’s Dig, which successfully transferred to an Off-Broadway run at Primary Stages. Elizabeth Heflin rounds out the cast, bringing a storied career that includes Broadway’s The Government Inspector and a national tour of The Odd Couple with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. All performances take place at the historic Dorset Playhouse. Visit here for more.