Quality
of Life - Annual Events
The
Burlington area hosts a variety of annual events throughout
the year. Here is a sampling of what we offer :
First
Night :
New
Year's Eve festival showcasing 500 performing artists including
children's activities, magic, comedy, theater, music and more
at 32 venues downtown. Attracts over 20,000 people. December
31.
Magic
Hat Mardi Gras Parade
Attracts
over 12,000 people to the Church Street Marketplace. Feb.
Winter
Festival
Cultural
and recreational activities, such as ice sculpting and dog
sled rides, indoors and out with a winter theme. Late Feb.
Burlington
Irish Heritage Festival
A
week-long celebration of Irish heritage. Traditional music
and dancing, art exhibits, lectures, theater performances,
poetry readings, and film festival. Mid-March.
Burlington
Farmers' Market
Local
farmers, bakers, and craftspeople sell their wares. Saturdays,
May through Oct. in City Hall Park.
Kids'
Day
A
festival for children including a parade, art displays throughout
the city, and a fun day of free activities on the waterfront.
Attracts 15,000 people. Early may.
KeyBank
of Vermont City Marathon & Relay
Quality,
regional road race consisting of a 26.2 mile scenic course
through city streets and along the lake. Late May.
Art's
Alive Annual Juried Festival of Fine Arts
Vermont
artists exhibition in the "Window Galleries." Art
activities, workshops, artists' demonstrations. Early June.
Discover
Jazz Festival
Discover
the hottest jazz this side of New Orleans! Voted one of the
"Ten Best Ferstivals in the Country" by US News
and World Report, this multi-day celebration brings great
music to the streets, parks, restaurants, clubs and waterways
of Burlington. Attracts 45,000 people. Early June.
Lake
Champlain International Fishing Derby
A fun-for-the-whole-family tournament on Lake Champlain that
benefits aquatic resource education. Attracts 6,000 people.
June.
Green
Mountain Chew-Chew
A
three-day food festival with live entertainment and food samples.
Attracts over 60,000 people. June.
Independence
Day Celebration
Fabulous
fireworks, activities, and entertainment celebrating our nation's
birthday. Attracts 60,000 people. July 3rd.
Vermont
Brewers Festival
A
celebration of the art of draft brewing. Twenty-five breweries
and 100 different brews. Mid-July.
Vermont
Mozart Festival
A
celebration of classical music with concerts in spectacular
indoor and outdoor settings. July-Aug. and Oct.-March.
Sidewalk
Sale
A
premier sales event held for over forty years on the Church
Street Marketplace. Late July.
Champlain
Valley Folk Festival
Experience
the best of traditional folk music and dance 'til dawn. Early
Aug.
Howard
Bank Criterium
Premier
national bicycling event in the heart of downtown Burlington.
Latino
Festival
A
cultural and musical extravaganza featuring performances,
dance workshops, language and more. Mid-Aug.
Burlington
Craft Fair
200
juried craft artisans present superior craft work with live
music, demonstrations, food and children's activities. Mid-Aug.
Champlain
Valley Fair
Vermont's
largest fair - ten days at the end of Aug., beginning of Sept.
- with over 300,000 people attending.
South
End Art Hop
A
celebration of the thriving arts community in Burlington's
South End with an evening of 50 open studios featuring 140
Burlington area artists.
Intervale
Organic Food & Garden Festival
Vermont's premier organic food event. Foods,
music, farm animals, workshops and hay rides. Early Sept.
Marketfest
Celebrates
Vermont's most beautiful season. Free entertainment highlighting
local youth, and shopping and dining discounts on the Church
Street Marketplace. Attracts over 10,000 people. Mid-Sept.
Lighting
Ceremony
100,000
tiny white lights illuminated on the Church Street marketplace
accompanied by a free musical performance to kick off the
Holiday season. Late Nov.