Things to Do in Burlington in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Burlington
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Lake Champlain freezes into stunning ice formations by mid-December - the waterfront transforms into a winter photography paradise with ice shelves stacking up along the shore, particularly dramatic at Oakledge Park where you can walk right up to 3-4 meter (10-13 foot) ice walls
- Holiday market season peaks December 10-23 with the Church Street Marketplace fully decorated - over 60 local vendors set up heated stalls selling Vermont maple products, handmade woolens, and hot cider, open daily 10am-8pm with significantly fewer crowds than similar markets in Boston or Montreal
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails open by early December at Intervale Center's 8 km (5 miles) of groomed paths - free to use, rarely crowded on weekdays, and you're skiing through actual working farmland with mountain views that locals consider superior to paid resort trails
- Restaurant reservation availability improves dramatically after December 20 when students leave for winter break - suddenly you can walk into places like Honey Road or Butch + Babe's on a Friday night, something impossible during the September-November peak
Considerations
- Daylight ends around 4:15pm by mid-December - this genuinely affects your touring schedule since outdoor activities essentially need to wrap by 3:30pm, and the waterfront bike path isn't well-lit enough for safe evening use
- Snow can be unreliable in early December - the past three years have seen the first significant accumulation arrive anywhere from December 8 to December 28, which makes planning skiing or snowshoeing activities a gamble if you're visiting December 1-15
- Wind chill off Lake Champlain regularly drops the feels-like temperature to -12°C to -15°C (10°F to 5°F) - that 70% humidity works against you in winter, making it feel considerably colder than the actual air temperature, particularly brutal on the waterfront after 3pm
Best Activities in December
Lake Champlain Winter Waterfront Walks
December is actually the most interesting month for the waterfront because you catch the lake in transition - some days it's open water with dramatic wave action against the rocks, other days you're seeing ice formation in real time. The 12.9 km (8 mile) Burlington Bike Path from Oakledge to the Winooski River delta becomes a winter walking route with almost nobody on it weekday mornings. Go between 10am-2pm when temperatures peak and you get the best light for photography. The ice shelves at Oakledge Park typically start forming in the second week of December and build throughout the month into these massive frozen wave formations.
Vermont Craft Brewery Indoor Tours
December is prime brewery tour season because production schedules ramp up for winter releases and taprooms are decorated but not yet slammed with holiday crowds. Zero Gravity, Foam Brewers, and Queen City Brewery are all within a 1.6 km (1 mile) radius of downtown and offer heated indoor spaces - crucial when you need to warm up between outdoor activities. Most taprooms run 30-45 minute tours on weekends showing the actual brewing process, and December releases tend toward darker beers and barrel-aged varieties that pair well with the season.
Shelburne Museum Winter Admission
The museum switches to winter hours in December with only 6 of 39 buildings open, but that's actually the appeal - you get the historic houses decorated for 1800s-style Christmas, heated and intimate, without the summer crowds. The 18 hectare (45 acre) grounds become a winter landscape you can explore on snowshoes (free to borrow at admissions). Located 11 km (7 miles) south of Burlington, it's Vermont's best indoor-outdoor cultural activity when weather is variable. The Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial Building stays heated and houses the museum's best collections.
Mount Mansfield Gondola Rides and Summit Access
Stowe Mountain Resort, 45 km (28 miles) east of Burlington, typically opens its gondola for winter operations by mid-December. Even if you're not skiing, the gondola takes you to 1,160 m (3,806 ft) elevation for mountain views across the Green Mountains and Champlain Valley. December offers clearer days than January-February, and you beat the peak ski season crowds. The summit lodge provides heated indoor space and the descent takes 8 minutes. This is your best bet for high-elevation winter scenery without actual mountaineering.
Church Street Marketplace Holiday Shopping and Street Performances
The four-block pedestrian marketplace gets fully decorated the first week of December with overhead lights, heated vendor stalls, and a different vibe than summer. Street performers still work the blocks (yes, even in winter - they set up near the heated bus shelters) and the mix of local shops, Vermont food vendors, and holiday market stalls runs daily through December 23. This is where locals actually do holiday shopping, not a tourist attraction dressed up as local life. The marketplace stays partially covered and buildings block wind, making it more comfortable than the open waterfront.
Intervale Center Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Once snow coverage hits 15 cm (6 inches), usually by December 15-20, the Intervale's 8 km (5 miles) of trails become the best free Nordic skiing in the Burlington area. You're skiing through actual working farmland along the Winooski River with the Green Mountains as backdrop - it's the Vermont postcard scene without paying resort prices. Trails are groomed by volunteers, typically within 24 hours of snowfall. The land is flat to gently rolling, perfect for beginners or people who want exercise without technical challenge.
December Events & Festivals
South End Art Hop First Friday
The monthly gallery walk continues through December on the first Friday (December 5 in 2026), with 30-plus studios and galleries in the Pine Street arts district opening 5-8pm. December's version includes holiday sales and heated wine service at most venues. This is working artist studios, not tourist galleries - you're seeing where locals actually make art and buy pieces. Free shuttle buses run loops through the district.
Festival of Trees at ECHO Center
The Lake Champlain science center hosts decorated trees from local nonprofits and businesses, typically running December 1-23. More interesting than it sounds because many trees incorporate Lake Champlain themes or Vermont ecology - it's part fundraiser, part local culture display. The ECHO Center itself stays heated and offers indoor activities when weather turns harsh, located directly on the waterfront.
New Year's Eve First Night Burlington
The city's alcohol-free New Year's celebration takes over Church Street and City Hall with indoor and outdoor performances, ice sculptures, and fireworks over the lake at midnight. Button admission (around 15-20 USD) gets you access to 40-plus performances across multiple heated venues. Locals actually attend this one - it's not just tourist programming. Expect temperatures around -7°C to -4°C (20°F to 25°F) for the midnight outdoor events.