Vermont

February is a short but sweet month on the Vermont arts-and-entertainment scene

Published

4 months ago

January 30, 2025

February is a short but sweet month on the Vermont arts-and-entertainment scene

February is totally out of whack. Every other month has at least 30 days, but February apparently showed up late for the day-allocation meeting and only got a measly 28 days. Every now and then the day allocators feel bad for February and give it an extra day, but it still comes up at least a day late and a dollar short.

That just means you have to pack a lot more fun into each of those 28 days than you would in one of those longer, more drawn-out months. Fortunately, the arts scene in Vermont gives you plenty of opportunities to do just that. Here are 28 events to consider this month to really make time fly when you’re having fun.

Current exhibition at The Current

Through April 12, the solo exhibition “The Painters’ Hands” featuring the work of graffiti artist Timothy Curtis, which opened Jan. 16, continues at The Current, Stowe. Free. www.thecurrentnow.org

David Lynch films in Burlington

3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, the Vermont International Film Festival pays tribute to inventive filmmaker David Lynch, who died in January at age 78, with a trio of films starting with 1997’s “Lost Highway” starring Patricia Arquette and Bill Pullman, followed at 7 p.m. by the influential 1986 movie “Blue Velvet” and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 with what might be his masterpiece, 2001’s “Mulholland Drive,” The Screening Room, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $6-$12 per film. www.vtiff.org

Farmers Night author talk

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, author and Bradford school principal Kenneth M. Cadow, whose young adult novel “Gather” was a National Book Award finalist, delivers a talk as part of the Farmers Night series, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier. Free. https://legislature.vermont.gov/the-state-house/events/farmers-night-concert-series

The return of Mdou Moctar

8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, West African guitar act Mdou Moctar is back with opener Janel Leppin at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Abstract landscape art in Middlebury

5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, the opening reception for “Landscape Complexions,” a collection of abstract paintings by Addison County artist and architect H. Keith Wagner, celebrates the exhibition that will be on display through March 15, Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. Free. www.townhalltheater.org

‘Wake Up’ call in Waitsfield

7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, The Valley Players open their world premiere fully-staged reading of Roxbury playwright Jeanne Beckwith’s Depression-era play “Wake Up, Gloucester,” which runs through Feb. 16, Valley Players Theater, Waitsfield. $14. www.valleyplayers.com

Acoustic roots music in Lincoln

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, acoustic roots musician Eli West, joined by Stephanie Coleman and Matt Flinner, performs at this month’s installment of the Burnham Presents series, Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $20-$25. www.burnhampresents.org

Made-in-Vermont hip hop

9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, now based in Brooklyn, hip-hop musician Jarv is a Windsor native who’ll perform with King Green and Damn Skippy at Nectar’s, Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.liveatnectars.com

Folk/bluegrass act in Richmond

4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, the “P.M. Sundays” series presented by Valley Stage this month features folk/bluegrass duo Bookmatch, Richmond Congregational Church. $17.50-$27.50. www.valleystage.net

Michael Marcagi is back in Vermont

8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, Ohio-based singer-songwriter Michael Marcagi, who performed in Burlington last summer at Grace Potter’s Grand Point North concert series, returns to the region for a show with Ashley Kutcher in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Middlebury presents August Wilson play

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, The Acting Company presents a one-night-only performance of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” Wright Memorial Theatre, Middlebury College. $5-$25. www.middlebury.edu/arts

Stealing from Work is back at work

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13-Saturday, Feb. 15, 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15-Sunday, Feb. 16, the Burlington-based sketch-comedy revue Stealing from Work returns to the stage with its new show, “Love… Well, Actually” Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington. $17 or “pay what you can.” www.offcentervt.com

The Bad Plus adds Vermont show

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, jazzy, eclectic foursome The Bad Plus plays the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Sweet jazz for Valentine’s Day

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday it provides all sorts of opportunities for romantic nights out, including this concert by jazz supergroup Artemis as part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $7.50-$38.50. www.uvm.edu/laneseries

Romance (sort of) with Yes Darling

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, they flirt, they bicker and they sing – it’s Ryan Montbleau and Hayley Jane of Yes Darling, who on Valentine’s Day bring their staged concert to The Double E, Essex Experience. $25-$110. www.essexresort.com

Dwight & Nicole offer ‘Big Love’

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, the soulful Burlington-based group Dwight & Nicole presents a Valentine’s Day concert titled “Big Love,” Town Hall Theater, Burlington. $15-$35. www.townhalltheater.org

Lutalo plays Radio Bean

8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, rising Vermont-based indie-rock musician Lutalo performs following Burlington rockers Dari Bay, Radio Bean, Burlington. $18 in advance, $22 day of show. www.radiobean.com

VSO does modern classical

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s program “Modernism and the World of Yesterday” begins with works by Wojciech Kilar and Felix Mendelssohn and after intermission presents Anna Clyne’s “Sound and Fury” with narration by Vermont author M.K. Anderson followed by pianist Stephen Hough performing his piano concerto “The World of Yesterday,” the Flynn, Burlington. $8.35-$62. www.vso.org

Zenbarn welcomes Session Americana

7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Boston folk amalgam Session Americana joins the South Dakota-born group Humbletown at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com

Warren Haynes hits the Flynn

8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, rock guitarist Warren Haynes, known for his work with Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers Band, arrives with his solo band for a show presented by Higher Ground at the Flynn, Burlington. $49.75-$359. www.highergroundmusic.com

Rock with Rough Francis

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, Burlington rock heroes Rough Francis headline a show that includes DJ Collin Hagood, Blossom and Violet Crimes, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Higher Ground hosts ‘Love, Kelly Winterfest’

9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, the “Love, Kelly Winterfest” brings a night of hip hop with Famous Dex, YBN Nahmir, North Ave Jax, Souly Had and Kal Banx, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

‘Black Experience’ with Ta-Nehisi Coates

7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, author Ta-Nehisi Coates (“Between the World and Me”) headlines “The Black Experience ’25,” which includes music from SistaStrings and appearances by local guests DJ Melo Grant, poet Rajnii Eddins and racial-justice advocate Traci Griffith, the Flynn, Burlington. $23-$49.25. www.theflynn.org

A smoke-and-mirrors magic show?

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, billed as the “world’s dopest magic show,” “Smokus Pocus” is a weed-themed magic show coming to the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $33-$53. www.smokuspocus.com

Winter Is a Drag Ball under new management

8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, the annual Winter Is a Drag Ball enters its 30th year presented by Mike Oxready (taking over for long-running hosts The House of LeMay) with the theme “ResisDANCE and RevoluSHINE” benefiting Vermont CARES, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $32 in advance, $37 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

‘Tonight Show’ comic in Burlington

7 and 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28-Saturday, March 1, comic Mary Beth Barone, who made her late-night TV debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” stars in four shows at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com

Getting gory with ‘Sweeney Todd’

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Vermont Repertory Theatre opens its run (through March 7 and with warnings from the producers of a “blood zone” close to the stage) of the Stephen Sondheim musical about “Sweeney Todd,” aka “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $25-$40. www.vermontrep.com

Solas celebrates in central Vermont

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, the Irish-American group Solas brings Celtic sounds to the Barre Opera House. $24-$42.50. www.barreoperahouse.org

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

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Vermont

Vermont’s Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 14

Published

7 hours ago

May 27, 2025

Press Room

Vermont’s Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 14

MONTPELIER – Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 14 this year, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season.

“Vermont’s Free Fishing Day gives resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to go fishing without a license for the day in Vermont lakes and streams,” said Fish and Wildlife Interim Commissioner Andrea Shortsleeve. “Free Fishing Day is a great opportunity for an experienced angler to be a mentor to friends who have not gone fishing before. A day on the water could lead to a lifetime of great experiences and healthy local food.”

Free Fishing Day in Vermont also will be celebrated at the “Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival,” to be held at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station at 14 Bell Hill Road in Grand Isle. The festival will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Designed for young or novice anglers and families, this exciting event offers a variety of activities to participate in — including basic fishing instruction, fish biology and ID, crafts and lure making, and more. It also includes a chance for participants to catch big trout in a hatchery pond. No prior fishing experience is needed, and Vermont Fish and Wildlife will be supplying fishing rods, reels and bait for use by participants.

Vermont’s regular bass season also opens on June 14, marking the start of some of the hottest bass fishing action in the northeast. The season opens each year on the second Saturday in June and extends through the last day of November.

To learn more about fishing in Vermont or to purchase a fishing license, visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website at https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

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Vermont

A New Ad Campaign Aims to Heal Fraying U.S.-Canada Relations

Published

1 day ago

May 26, 2025

Press Room

A New Ad Campaign Aims to Heal Fraying U.S.-Canada Relations

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Tourism Eastern Townships

Feeling skittish about visiting Vermont’s provincial neighbor to the north because of President Donald Trump’s remarks about annexing Canada as a 51st state? Have you found yourself instinctively apologizing to anyone sporting a red-and-white maple leaf or wearing a Canadiens hockey jersey? Are you ordering more poutine in restaurants as a silent act of international solidarity?

If any of the above apply, the tourism board for Québec’s Eastern Townships has a message for you: “Come hug it out in the Eastern Townships.”

“At a time when global travel feels uncertain and international relations seem complicated, a corner of Canada is reaching out with a simple and heartfelt message: We miss you,” reads a new marketing campaign that launched on Memorial Day, which is considered the official start of the U.S. summer travel season.

The Canadian ad campaign kicked off with a 30-second video that is now airing in New York and New England on Facebook, YouTube and some broadcast television channels. Created by the Montréal agency La Bande and produced by Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est (aka Tourism Eastern Townships), the ad features a somewhat hesitant American tourist being welcomed to Québec not just in English but with open arms — literally.
“Our American guests are more than tourists, they’re part of our story,” Isabelle Charlebois, general director of Tourism Eastern Townships, explained in a press release. “This ad campaign is our way of saying: we appreciate you and we can’t wait to welcome you again.”

Given the rising political tension between Washington, D.C., and Ottawa, the reciprocal trade tariffs, and growing nationalism, travelers in both countries have been rethinking their international vacation plans, inflicting pain on both sides of the border. As Seven Days reported last week, only 98,000 visitors crossed into Vermont from Canada last month by car, down from 147,000 in April 2024 and just slightly more than the 84,000 who came in April 2022, when COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted.

Summer’s Back, but Canadian Tourists Are Not

By Derek Brouwer

Tourism

At stake are tens of millions of tourism dollars — and loonies. In March, the number of trips into Canada by U.S. residents declined by 6.6 percent, including an 8.7 percent drop in automobile travel compared with the same month last year, according to Statistics Canada. That decline has been acutely felt in the Eastern Townships. a collection of small, tourism-dependent villages, towns and cities in southeastern Québec.

It need not be like this. Many Vermonters feel a special affinity for our Québécois neighbors. We ski many of the same mountains, eat too much of the same cheese and accept nothing less than real maple syrup.

So, if you’ve been asking yourself, Are Americans even welcome in Canada right now?, you have an answer. To our friends in the Eastern Townships: Merci pour l’invitation. À bientôt!

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Vermont

Lightshift to build Vermont’s largest energy storage project

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2025

Press Room

Lightshift to build Vermont’s largest energy storage project

Lightshift Energy, a US-based developer, owner, and operator of energy storage projects, will build Vermont’s largest battery energy storage project at GlobalFoundries’ semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction. The project, which has completed permitting and contracting, will begin construction this year and is set to come online in early 2026.

Connecting directly to GF’s switchyard, the 16MW/52MWh system will be used primarily for peak shaving by storing electricity during periods of low regional demand and discharging it during peak times to alleviate grid stress. By lowering peak energy usage, the project will also improve regional grid resilience and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, particularly during high-demand periods when natural gas is the primary fuel source on the New England grid, according to a media release.

“GF has been a great partner on this project, which will not only reduce energy costs for its Vermont campus but also support regional electric reliability and Vermont’s clean energy goals,” said Michael Herbert, Lightshift Co-Founder and Managing Partner. “This project represents new applications for energy storage within the semiconductor industry, demonstrating how managing peak demand can improve efficiency for industrial operations, and how energy storage can be used to mitigate the impacts of large loads on the electric grid.”

“GF has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and maintaining global competitiveness right here in Vermont, while also being a supportive corporate citizen for the community,” said Ken McAvey, General Manager of GF Vermont. “Partnering with Lightshift aligns perfectly with these objectives and supports the sustainability goals of our customers, while propelling both GF and Vermont forward.”

Explore the latest trends and developments in the electronics industry, and join us at the upcoming Evertiq Expo events. The next editions are scheduled for May 28, 2025, in Cracow, Poland and on June 5, 2025, in Berlin. These gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to meet key industry players and attend insightful talks by leading experts. Don’t miss the chance to connect with innovators shaping the future of electronics.

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