Summer in Vermont – 2014!
Early Summer in Vermont can still have chilly evenings and early mornings so always bring along a little jacket or sweater so you can enjoy the outdoors during those times. It’s a busy time in Vermont as Summer is very short this far North. There are often bikers, runners and horse riders on the roads so please drive slowly and carefully. Relax and enjoy this lovely state!
Big News for Mountain Bikers – Woodstock’s first mountain biking trails have been opened on Mt. Peg! There are lots of regular biking routes in the Woodstock area through Taftsville and Quechee. Didn’t bring a bike there are plenty to rent from the bike shop in downtown Woodstock.
New restaurants! Check it out:
The Hartland Diner in Jessup’s Plaza at Hartland 3 Corners – open 7 days a week for lunch and breakfast (served all day!).
The owners of the former Stella’s restaurant have opened a restaurant in Windsor at the railroad station (Windsor Station Restaurant and Barroom)serving dinner!
Opened in Quechee Singleton’s Market with food items, deli, Vermont products and clothing – check it out on Facebook. It has almost everything you could need from fresh fish, homemade sausages, wine, beer…the list is endless!
Firestone’s Restaurant in Quechee is now closed but River Stones restaurant is open in the same location with a lot of the old favorites on the menu as well as some new delicious sounding items.
Another new restaurant in Woodstock – The Worthy Kitchen where the Eastender used to be (on the East end of Rt. 4)! Very casual atmosphere, limited menu but the specials change and the food is good. Beer choices are endless.
If you are returning to the area from previous visits please note their are lots of restaurants in the area you may wish to try: Trap Door Bakery and Deli in Quechee, and in Woodstock: Melaza Bistro, Pi Brick Oven Trattoria(with Jazz music every Wed. at 7pm), and Mon Vert Cafe. Of course, many of my “old” favorites are still there: Kedron Valley Inn and Tavern(S. Woodstock), Keeper’s (Reading), The Black Rock Restaurant (Springfield), Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Long Trail Brewery(Bridgewater) for lunch, Harpoon Brewery (Windsor), Simon Pearce restaurant and The Parker House(Quechee) and many more!! The Kedron Valley Inn is only 3 mi. from the cabin. Bentley’s restaurant in Woodstock offers dancing to their DJ on Friday and Saturday nights at 10 pm
Kedron Valley Inn restaurant, S.Woodstock
Keeper’s Cafe in Reading, VT
Taftsville Covered Bridge has reopened. It’s been closed since “Irene” and it will be a great relief to have that access to River Road re-opened!
I recommend a visit to Sugarbush Farm (www.sugarbushfarm.com) where they have a wonderful education display and video on sugaring, a animal petting area and a wonderful cheese and maple syrup tasting room with of course a gift shop full of goodies to take home or buy for gifts.
Harpoon Brewery – Windsor – don’t forget live music on Thurs. evenings. And visit Farmstead Cheese (Sustainable Farmer) next door! They are expanding into cheesemaking at this location as well and offer lots of local products. Also in the same complex there is the Silo making Vermont’s own Vodka/Gin/Whiskey.
Brownsville General Store at the base of Ascutney mountain offers a daytime deli and a special dinner offering (eat in or take out) from 5-7pm every Friday night.
Brown’s Tavern is also open for dinner at the Ascutney Resort nearby.
If you stop at Mike’s Mobil just off Rt. 91 on Rt. 12/5 you’ll find a lot of hot foods to choose from, to keep you from needing to cook that first meal!
Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT gets top marks for it’s displays for young and old including the outside grounds www.montshire.org
Artisan’s Park in Windsor off Rt. 5 – home to many interesting places such as Harpoon Brewery, Sustainable Farmer (cheese making and other VT products), Simon Pearce outlet store, The Silo (manufacturer of Gin, Vodka and Whiskey) and Great River Outfitters who feature a lot of Water Activities – check out their calendar http://greatriveroutfitters.com
The Windsor Station Restaurant(Windsor, VT) has live music every Tuesday and Friday. Harpoon Brewery (Rt. 5 Windsor) has live music every Thursday and first Saturday. Browns Tavern (Ascutney Resort, VT) has Live music every Sunday Skunk Hollow Tavern (Hartland 4 Corners) has live music every Wednesday and Friday. For details of who is playing check the links below.
For Windsor area entertainment information:
Windsor Station: http://windsorstationvt.com/live-music
Harpoon: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor
Brown’s Tavern: http://brownstavern.webs.com/apps/calendar
Skunk Hollow: http://www.skunkhollowtavern.com/Entertainment.aspx
Often there is live music at RiverStones restaurant in Quechee, VT – Friday night at 8pm
For info on what’s happening at the Woodstock Town Theatre then check out: www.PentangleArts.org
For more cultural activities in the nearby area check out these sites:
www.hop.dartmouth.edu Hanover, NH
www.TupeloHall.com White River Junction, VT
www.ClaremontOperaHouse.com Claremont, NH
www.OperaNorth.org Lebanon, NH
www.NorthernStage.org White River Junction, VT
www.ArtistreeVT.org Woodstock, VT
Outdoor activities at Saint Gaudins, Cornish, NH www.sgnhs.org
May 23 – Woodstock, VT -Chris Bakriges & Stanley Chepaitis Concert, 7-9pm, http://http//www.artistreevt.org/chris-stanley.html
May 23-26, Windsor, VT – Simon Pearce, factory outlet sale, beautiful items with discounts up to 60%. After shopping enjoy visiting in the same area: Harpoon Brewery, Sustainable Vermont Farmstead Cheeses and the Silo. There are also canoe rentals at this location.
May 24-25 – Vermont Craft Council Open Studio at various locations, 10-5pm, look for yellow signs, http://www.vermontcrafts.com/links/open.html
May 28 – Woodstock, VT – Market on the Green, 3-6pm
June 1 – Woodstock, VT – 23rd annual Covered Bridges Half Marathon, www.cbhm.com
June 1 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum, Ice Cream Sundays
June 4 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
June 7 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum, Trek to Taste, 10-3pm,Choose from four different hike routes & along the way taste free, heart-healthy foods from local producers. Family games, crafts, demonstrations, ice cream social, music and more. www.TrekToTaste.info
June 7 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
June 10 – Woodstock, VT – Chamber Music Series, Unitarian Universalist Church, Woodstock, 4pm
June 11 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
June 13-15 – Quechee, VT – Hot Air Balloon Festival and Crafts Fair, www.quecheeballoonfestival.com
June 14-15 – Vermont statewide – Entrance to all VT state parks is free
June 14 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
June 18 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
June 21 – Hartland, VT – Third Annual Hartland Community Arts Jazz Festival -One Day Outdoor Jazz Festival. Over 60 musicians include nationally recognized special guests and favorite local jazz performers. Food vendors on site, big tent, adjacent playground, an event for the whole family. Festival goers are invited to bring a picnic and chairs. Featuring:Vermont Jazz Ensemble and a host of performers to be announced. hartlandcommunityarts. org for more info, 1pm
June 21 – Ascutney Mtn., VT – The Five and Dime Trail Run, all day, barbecue after the race,www.runreg.com/ west-windsor5dime-trailrun
June 21 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
June 25 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
June 26 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert on the Green, noon – 2pm
June 28 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
June 28 – Pomfret, VT – Suicide Six, Vermont Symphony Orchestra
(Gates open at 5:00 pm for picnicking) Anthony Princiotti, conductor The Vermont Symphony Orchestra proudly presents “Let’s Dance”. Bring a picnic, kick off your shoes, and join us for music from the world of dance – from waltzes to swing and polkas to salsa. Toe-tapping melodies by Strauss, Delibes, Borodin, and Gershwin will put you “in the mood” for dance hits from Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. The 1812 Overture, marches, and fireworks conclude the show. Admission: See www.pentanglearts.org for full pricing details.
June 29 – Woodstock, VT – Garden Tour -Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park,Woodstock. Explore the park’s colorful gardens on this short one-hour walk. More than beautiful scenery, this landscape reflects layers of careful design that are linked to the conservation movement in the 19th century. 10:30am
July 2 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum, Wagon Ride Wednesdays, 11-3pm
July 2 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
July 3 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
July 3 – Brownsville, VT – food and fireworks – POSTPONED till July 5
July 4 – Brownsville, VT – parade, 1 pm
July 4 – Fourth of July parades occur in most of the small villages but often on different days over the weekend and at different times of day so you can visit several during the Holiday. As they become advertised I’ll update the blog on where and when!
July 4 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Museum, Old Vermont Fourth of July, 10 – 5pm
July 4 – Hartland, VT – Old Home Day activities, Parade at 11am
July 4 – Woodstock, VT – activities in town throughout the day with fireworks at the High School after dark (games etc. at the school beforehand)
July 5 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
July 5 – Brownsville, VT – food and fireworkJuly 5 – Barnard, VT – Chicken Barbecue and Flea Market, Barnard Town Hall, 10am
July 5 – Pomfret, VT – Strawberry Supper, Pomfret Town Hall, seatings at 5pm, 6:15 and 7:30
July 6 – Reading, VT – Old Home Day, Parade 11:00, Ox Pull at 1pm, Duck Derby at 2pm, lots of activities, barbecue etc.
July 9 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
July 10 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
July 11 – Woodstock, VT,Woodstock History Center 26 Elm Street, Band Concert and Ice Cream Social, bring a chair or blanket, 7pm
July 12 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
July 13 – Woodstock, VT – Garden Tour, Marsh -Billings Rockefeller National Historic Park, 10:30am
July 16 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
July 17 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
July 18 – 20 – Killington, VT – Killington Wine Festival
July 18-19 – West Windsor, VT – 100 mi Endurance run and ride – Horses and runners will be on the area roads and trails for over 24 hrs. straight as they compete – Be Aware as you are driving especially at night. Glow sticks mark the evening route
July 19 – Woodstock, VT – St. James Fair, St. James Church and on The Green, 10 am
July 19 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
July 23 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
July 23 – Windsor, VT – Concert at the Commons, 6:30pm
July 24 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
July 25 – Windsor, VT – Beer tasting at Windsor Wine & Spirits, 4-6pm
July 25-26 – Woodstock, VT – Antiques and Art in Woodstock, Union Arena Community Center, Rt. 4, all day
July 25-27 – Woodstock, VT – Bookstock, Green Mountain Literary Festival, www.bookstockvt.org
July 26 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
July 26-27 – Windsor, VT – Harpoon Barbecue NE Championship, 11am, at Harpoon Brewery in Artisan’s Plaza
July 27 – Quechee, VT, 7:30-9:30, Summer Music Festival followed by fireworks, Quechee Ski Hill, bring a blanket, picnic, wine and enjoy.The Summer Music series will spotlight a variety of musical genres, showcase multi-faceted theatrics with a modern twist and perform renditions of classic musical selections. ADULTS: $30 PER PERSON; STUDENTS: $10; CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER: FREE, 100% of proceeds go to education of those surviving domestic violence.
July 28 – South Woodstock, VT – Green Mountain Horse Assoc. Chef’s Night, food, Wine, Beer tastings with equestrian entertainment, 5pm
July 30 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
July 31 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
Woodstock Farmer’s Market – every Wed. seafood specials; every Fri. Lobster Roll Dinners
Aug. 1 – Sep. 21 – Woodstock, VT, Annual Quilt Exhibition, Billings Farm Museum
Aug. 1 – Windsor, VT – Summer Art Show in the lovely gardens at Cider Hill Gardens on Hunt Road, www.ciderhillvt.com
Aug. 1 – Quechee, VT, 7:00-9:00, Summer Music Festival followed by fireworks, Quechee Ski Hill, bring a blanket, picnic, wine and enjoy.The Summer Music series will spotlight a variety of musical genres, showcase multi-faceted theatrics with a modern twist and perform renditions of classic musical selections. ADULTS: $30 PER PERSON; STUDENTS: $10; CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER: FREE, 100% of proceeds go to education of those surviving domestic violence.
Aug. 2 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
Aug. 2 – Windsor, VT – Car Show at Frazer Insurance Agency on Rt. 5, 11-3pm
Aug. 6 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
Aug. 7 – Woodstock, VT, Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
Aug. 8 – Woodstock, VT – SummerFest, downtown Woodstock, Local foods, beer, wine, crafts, 10 – 9pm
Aug. 9 – Windsor, VT – Harpoon Brewery Point-to-Point 100 mile bike ride
Aug. 9 – Woodstock, VT – New England Lobster Bake, Woodstock Golf Club, $38, 6-8pm, rsvp 457-6672
Aug. 9 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
Aug. 12 -13 – Perseid Meteor Showers, best viewing from midnight until dawn if the sky is clear and the moon not too bright!
Aug. 13 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
Aug. 14 – Woodstock, VT, Brown Bag Concert, The Green, noon – 2pm
Aug. 15-17 – Cornish, NH, Cornish Fair
Aug. 16-17 – Bridgewater, VT, Naked Table Project,
A Naked Table workshop is an immersive experience into the process of making your own furniture locally, and is done over the course of two days. In the workshop individuals and groups not only make their own tables, but they learn about furniture making basics and sustainable forestry principals from experts. Any experience level is welcome, and we provide all the tools necessary to make each table. There’s no better way to warm a home than to make the things in it together.Admission: View workshop prices online: http://nakedtable.com/collection
Aug. 16 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
Aug. 16 – Woodstock, VT – New England Lobster Bake, Woodstock Golf Club, $38, 6-8pm, rsvp 457-6672
Aug. 16 – Barnard, VT – Barnard Street Dance, 1pm – 10pm, food, musical acts, dancing, games
Aug. 17 – Woodstock, VT – Central VT Chamber Music Festival,North Universalist Chapel Society, 7 Church St, 4-6pm, free
Aug. 20 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
Aug. 21 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, noon – 2pm
NOW until Fall – Pomfret, VT – Proper Road portion of the annual Sculpturefest opens – thru the Fall. www.sculpturefest.org
Aug. 22-24 – Woodstock, VT – Downtown Sidewalk Sale
Aug. 23 – Quechee, VT – Scottish Festival, Sheep Dog Trials
Aug. 23 – Woodstock, VT – New England Lobster Bake, Woodstock Golf Club, $38, 6-8pm, rsvp 457-6672
Aug. 23 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
Aug. 24 – Woodstock, VT – First VT Overland Grand Prix, 53 mile dirt road bike race
Aug. 27 – Woodstock, VT – Market on The Green, 3-6pm
Aug. 28 – Woodstock, VT – Brown Bag Concert, noon – 2pm
Aug. 30-31 – Plymouth, VT – Annual Plymouth Folk & Blues concert, 2-5pm, www.plymouthfolk.com
Aug. 29-31 – Woodstock,VT – Pentangle Light Garden – artists will have sculptures incorporating lights on The Green for lovely night time viewing – also see below Sculpturefest
Aug. 30 – Woodstock, VT – Mt. Tom Farmer’s Market, Mt. Tom Parking Lot, 9:30-12:30
Aug. 30 – Woodstock, VT – New England Lobster Bake, Woodstock Golf Club, $38, 6-8pm, rsvp 457-6672
Aug. 30 – Fall – Pomfret, VT – King Farm portion of the annual Sculpturefest opens – thru the Fall. www.sculpturefest.org
Aug. 31 – Woodstock, VT – Annual Mozart Festival, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 4pm
Aug. 1 – Sep. 21 – Woodstock, VT, Annual Quilt Exhibition, Billings Farm Museum
Sept. 6-7 – Woodstock, VT – Art Festival on the Green, 10 -5pm
Sept. 13 – Woodstock, VT – Big Sam’s Funky Nation, jazz performance at Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org
Sept. 13 – Quechee, VT – Autumn Cheese Festival, VINS, 5:30-7:30pm, local cheese makers, VINS raptor exhibits, and a live bird program, www.vins.org
Sept. 14 – Windsor, VT – Vermont Mac & Cheese Challenge, Artisans Park, Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co., 11-3pm, www.vtmacandcheese.com
Sept. 27-28 – Woodstock, VT – 11th Annual Vermont Fine Furniture Woodsorking & Forest Festival. Sat. 9:30-5pm; Sun. 10-4:30pm, Union Arena, Rt. 4 E of Woodstock
Oct. 10-12 – Pomfret, VT – Ibex outdoor clothing Annual Tent Sale at Suicide Six
Oct. 11-12 – Woodstock, VT – Apples & Crafts Fair
Oct. 11-12 – Windsor, VT – Harpoon Octoberfest, Harpoon Brewery, Artisans Place on Rt. 5, noon – 6pm but doors close at 4:30pm, http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/festivals/872/2014-harpoon-octoberfest-vermont
Oct. 17 – Woodstock, VT – Jazzmeia Horn, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org
Oct. 18 – 19 – Woodstock, VT – Billings Farm Wagon Ride weekend
Oct. 24 – Nov. 2 – Woodstock, VT – Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org
Dec. 12 – Woodstock, VT – Hot Club of San Fancisco presents Cool Yule, Town Hall Theatre, www.pentanglearts.org