Summer in Vermont is a double-edged lawn-mower blade. On the one hand, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Green Mountains come alive with endless fun things to do. On the other, FOMO is inevitable, as you can’t possibly squeeze in everything before the weather turns cold again. To guide your choices, read on for our picks of can’t-miss summer events. Whether you’re a soccer hooligan, a serious foodie or a theater aficionado, we guarantee you’ll find something to fill those fleeting summer days. Music fans, visit our music section for a roundup of outdoor concerts and festivals.
Vermont Green FC Women
Home games through June 22 at University of Vermont’s Virtue Field in Burlington and streaming. $8-15; free for kids under 5.
Since 2022, Vermont Green FC has been the hottest sports ticket in town. The USL League Two men’s club has cultivated a die-hard local fan base and routinely sells out its home games at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field. The Green are so popular that this season a second club joins them: Vermont Green FC Women.
Kicking off their inaugural season this week, the “Women in Green” will compete in the newly formed USL W League’s Northeast Division. Like the men’s team, the women’s roster is loaded with UVM players and others with local ties, as well as regional standouts. Also like their male counterparts, the women have been an immediate hit: While tickets to some games remain, their home schedule is almost sold out.
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Thunder Road Speedbowl: The area’s top stock car racers — including Gov. Phil Scott — compete for the coveted Milk Bowl at Barre’s iconic racetrack. Sunday, May 24, to Sunday, October 4, at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre. Times and prices vary.
Vermont Lake Monsters: Catch some of the region’s best college baseball players before they hit the major leagues. Saturday, May 30, to Saturday, August 8, at Centennial Field in Burlington. $7.50-19.50.
Vermont Overland: The state’s premier gravel bike race is a 55-mile grind that includes 7,000 feet of climbing. Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m., at Ascutney Outdoors in West Windsor. $195 to compete; free for juniors.
The Sound of Music in Concert
Wednesday to Saturday, August 5 to 8, 7 p.m., at von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow in Stowe. $59-149.
Do we really need to tell you, readers of an artsy newspaper in Vermont, why you should see a concert of the music from The Sound of Music in a scenic mountain meadow at the von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe? Cue Julie Andrews: How many of the average Vermonter’s favorite things were just listed in that one sentence?
Apparently you don’t need convincing, as demand for tickets to the Lyric Theatre-produced event has been so high that a fourth night was added to the August run. And why not? The concert features the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and some of the state’s most accomplished vocalists doing renditions from one of the most beloved musicals ever, about a family, the von Trapps, who are as synonymous with Vermont as good beer, skiing and maple syrup — you know, our other favorite things.
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Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival Tour: ‘America 250’: Celebrate the country’s quarter millennium with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s annual outdoor touring show and a program of patriotic favorites. Wednesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m., at Saskedena Six in South Pomfret; Thursday, July 2, 7:30 p.m., at Burke Mountain Resort in East Burke; Friday, July 3, 7:30 p.m., at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center; Saturday, July 4, 7:30 p.m., at Shelburne Museum; and Sunday, July 5, 7:30 p.m., at von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort Concert Meadow in Stowe. $10-35; free for kids 5 and under.
Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival: Class up your summer with intimate performances by some of the world’s finest chamber musicians. Saturday, August 22, to Sunday, August 30, at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester and other locations. $10-285.
New World Festival: Explore Vermont’s rich Celtic and Québécois heritage at this annual festival that melds world-class music, food and art. Sunday, September 6, noon-11 p.m., at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. $35-65; free for kids under 12.
Foodaroo
Sunday, August 2, 4-8 p.m., at the Historic Marble Works District in Middlebury.
$5; free for kids under 12.
Addison County’s robust food scene is increasingly diverse, boasting top-notch cuisine from almost every corner of the globe — if you’re willing to drive.
But what if foodies could sample those far-flung flavors in one spot without traversing the county?
For the past decade, Middlebury Underground has helped sate adventuresome appetites with its annual Foodaroo festival. The one-day event gathers restaurateurs, food trucks and other food businesses in Middlebury’s Historic Marble Works District to help you eat and drink your way through some of the best the area is serving up. Among the 20-plus offerings at this year’s festival are Ethiopian and Eritrean eats from A Taste of Abyssinia, gyros from Dougy Fresh Catering, Thingz From Yaad’s Jamaican fare, and two beverage gardens helmed by American Flatbread.
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Vermont Brewers Festival: The state’s signature craft beer event features 40-plus breweries and a stunning Lake Champlain view. What more could you want? (Answer: a designated driver.) Friday and Saturday, July 17 and 18, at Waterfront Park in Burlington. $60-115; $22 for designated drivers.
Champlain Valley Dinner Train: The high-class dining experience aboard this train between Burlington and Middlebury is truly moving. Saturdays and Sundays, July 11 to September 6, 5 p.m.; and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 11 to October 25, 4 p.m., from the Amtrak Station in Burlington. $220-440. rails-vt.com
Strawberry Festival: Just because Tom Brady has never eaten a strawberry doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Enjoy dinner, dessert and dancing at this homey staple. Friday, June 26, 4-7 p.m., at West Burke Village Park. Cost of food.
Puppets in the Green Mountains
Wednesday, September 16, to Sunday, September 20, at various locations in Brattleboro. Prices TBA. Tickets available June 1.
For 30 years, Putney’s Sandglass Theater has educated and entertained Vermont audiences through the art of puppetry. While its work encompasses material suitable for kids and grown-ups alike, this is not your average puppet show. Sandglass Theater productions are meant to provoke thought as much as chuckles.
In September, the organization mounts its 13th annual Puppets in the Green Mountains festival at locations throughout Brattleboro. Centered on a theme of “Beginnings, Endings and the Humanity Between,” the five-day event features artists from Vermont and around the globe working in an array of puppet mediums, from hand puppets to virtual reality puppets to some that are larger than life. Rooted in multicultural myths and current headlines, each show aims to answer the question of “what it means to be alive in a fractured world.”
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Quechee Balloon Festival: There’s more to this fest than hot air. In addition to colorful balloons dotting the skies, expect music, Frisbee-catching dogs and the Fair Explorer, a roving entertainer who performs from — what else? — a balloon. Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21, at Quechee Village Green. $25; $5 for kids 4-12; free for kids under 4.
Vermont Renaissance Faire: Adrian Paul from TV’s “Highlander” highlights this annual fête that’s always a good tyme. Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. $5-30; free for kids under 5.
Festival of Fools: It’s back! After scaling down last year, Vermont’s foremost street fair returns in full force with buskers, acrobats, circus acts and music. Friday and Saturday, July 31 and August 1, at various locations in downtown Burlington. Free.
Dorset Theatre Festival
June 19 to September 5 at Dorset Playhouse. $62-74.
Each summer for the past 50 years, the Dorset Theatre Festival has drawn world-class playwrights, directors and actors to southern Vermont. A destination for regional and world premieres, the festival routinely mounts works by some of today’s most acclaimed theater artists.
This summer is no exception. The lineup begins in June with Deceived, an adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 thriller Gas Light, which introduced that term to the lexicon. In July, catch The Understudy by award-winning screenwriter and playwright Theresa Rebeck, who debuted her 2019 play Dig at Dorset. Next up is the New England premiere of Brent Askari’s Advice, starring Katie Lowes of ABC’s “Scandal” and Adam Shapiro from “The Bear.” The season concludes with the Tony Award-nominated comedic murder mystery Lobby Hero.
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Weston Theater Company: Highlights this summer include the Johnny Cash jukebox musical Ring of Fire and Rent. Tuesdays through Sundays, June 10 to September 6, at Walker Farm Theater. $25-94.
Unadilla Theater: Located in two barns down a long dirt road, theater doesn’t get much more Vermont than this. Friday, June 26, to Saturday, August 29, at Unadilla Theater in Marshfield. $15-30.
Big Pond Improv Festival: Improv comedians from around the country descend on the Queen City for a weekend of made-up fun. Thursday, September 10, to Sunday, September 13, at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Price TBA.
Tunbridge World’s Fair
Thursday, September 17, to Sunday, September 20, at Tunbridge World’s Fairgrounds. $10-50; free for kids under 12.
Vermont suffers no shortage of lively fairs in the summer, from the roaring midways of the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction and the Vermont State Fair in Rutland to smaller carnivals up and down the Green Mountains. But for the true-blue agricultural fair experience, look no further than the Tunbridge World’s Fair.
Founded in 1867, the annual Orange County fair retains its rural charm and deep farming roots. Sure, you’ll find rides, games and fried dough aplenty, but the real draws are time-honored events such as the ox pull, swine agility races, and the goat and sheep costume contests.
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Champlain Valley Fair: Home of the “10 best days of summer.” Musical headliners this year include ZZ Top, Jordan Davis, and a Bow Wow, Soulja Boy and Fat Joe triple-header. Friday, August 28, to Sunday, September 6, at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. $6.50-76.50. champlainvalleyfair.org
Franklin County Field Days: After a year off in 2025, this family favorite is back in a new location. Thursday, July 30, to Saturday, August 1, at Hubbard Lane in St. Albans. $20.
Addison County Fair & Field Days: Whatever you do, don’t miss the demolition derby. Tuesday, August 4, to Saturday, August 8, on Field Days Road in New Haven. $5-60; free for kids 5 and under.
The original print version of this article was headlined “The Hot List | From the soccer pitch to the stage, here are some can’t-miss summer events”
This article appears in Summer Preview • 2026.
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