Events & Festivals in Burlington

Winter farmers market moves indoors. Local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and crafts arrive weekly. The room feels warm. Conversation flows. Residents and visitors alike come for fresh food year-round. This is where the community gathers.

National touring productions of Broadway musicals and plays arrive at Burlington's historic theater. This is the region's main venue for large-scale professional theater. The experience is polished. It is formal. Theater lovers approve.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra plays Burlington's main concert hall. Major works dominate. Guest soloists join. The experience is formal. Classical patrons leave satisfied.

Burlington's Mardi Gras has a costume parade down Church Street, live Cajun and zydeco music, and themed restaurant menus. The mood is playful. It is celebratory. Mid-winter needs this burst of color.

Restaurant Week hits Burlington. Prix-fixe menus appear at lunch and dinner. Casual spots participate. Finer dining joins in. Locals explore. Visitors sample. The city's food scene opens wide.

Children hunt eggs in one of Burlington's larger parks. Age groups keep things fair and safe. The activity is simple. It is cheerful. Young families enjoy it.

Vermont International Film Festival screens independent work. Documentaries, features, shorts. Filmmakers stick around for Q&A. The programming challenges. Art house crowds and academics fill the seats.

The Vermont City Marathon winds through Burlington. Lake Champlain waterfront sections impress. Residential neighborhoods charm. Crowds cheer from sidewalks. Serious runners compete. Casual participants join the fun.

Dragon boats race Lake Champlain. Teams raise money for charity. Food vendors set up. Live music plays. Team tents dot the shore. All ages welcome. The mood is festive.

The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival takes over the city. Large tents host headliners. Intimate clubs show rising talent. Many outdoor shows cost nothing. The energy lifts. Jazz purists and casual listeners both find their groove.

July Fourth explodes on the waterfront. Food vendors line the shore. Family activities entertain. Live music builds to fireworks over Lake Champlain. The crowd is regional. The mood is patriotic.

The Vermont Brewers Festival commands the waterfront. Dozens of Vermont breweries pour samples. Craft beers span every style. Brewers mingle. Local food complements. Beer enthusiasts pilgrimage here.

This multi-day race includes professional and amateur cyclists. Burlington hosts the opening stage. The downtown criterium features fast laps on a closed street circuit. Cyclists fly past within feet. The action is gripping.

Burlington's Lake Champlain connection takes center stage here. Boat tours, historical reenactments, live music, and children's activities fill the schedule. Tall ships dock at the waterfront. The focus is educational. It is family friendly.

Burlington's main outdoor farmers market fills a city park. Summer and early fall harvests peak here. Produce, flowers, prepared foods, and crafts abound. The energy is high. The commerce is brisk.

South End Art Hop opens studio doors. The South End arts district transforms. Visitors tour workspaces. Demonstrations happen live. Installations surprise. Food trucks feed the crowd. Live music plays. The vibe is casual. Creativity rules.

Pride Vermont celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. The parade rolls down Church Street. Waterfront Park hosts the festival. Vendors sell. Performances entertain. Parties continue after dark. Everyone welcome.

The Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival happens at a farm outside town. Trebuchets launch pumpkins. Air cannons fire. Medieval engineering meets fall fun. Carving contests run. Food serves. Families play. Only in Vermont.

This festival screens films tackling global issues, human rights, and social justice. Documentaries dominate the lineup. Panel discussions and filmmaker talks round out the program. The crowd is thoughtful. They care about world cinema. They care about world issues.

The University of Vermont hosts a weekend of events for students and families. Open houses, performances, and sporting events fill the schedule. Traffic spikes. Hotel occupancy spikes. Visiting families pack the city.

Local artisans line the pedestrian mall with stalls selling gifts, crafts, and holiday foods. Lights drape the marketplace. Carolers perform. Skip the big-box stores. Shop here instead.

Burlington's holiday season kicks off with this ceremony. A large tree lights up at the top of Church Street. Local choirs perform. School groups perform. It is short. It is sweet. It is family oriented.

The University of Vermont Catamounts play Division I hockey on campus. Rival games draw large, spirited crowds. The atmosphere is loud. It is energetic. This is college hockey.

First Night Burlington bans alcohol. This New Year's Eve celebration spans multiple downtown venues. Ice sculptures line the streets. Early fireworks light the sky. Music, comedy, and theater fill the night. Families welcome. The arts take center stage.

Illuminated art installations line the Burlington bike path and Waterfront Park. Visitors walk a loop past creative light sculptures. The experience is peaceful. It is visually striking. Winter waterfront walks rarely look this good.