Vermont

Here are 10 summer festivals in Vermont to attend this year

Published

1 year ago

June 5, 2025

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Here are 10 summer festivals in Vermont to attend this year

Pitchfork Music Festival Will Not Return To Chicago In 2025

After 19 years, the Pitchfork Music Festival has announced it will not return to Chicago in 2025.

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Looking forward to spending time outdoors at a festival or fair this summer?

Luckily, Vermont has plenty of exciting festivals lined up to celebrate the season all summer long, from June through September. From food festivals to outdoor concerts to historical agricultural fairs, the state is sure to have the perfect festival for the whole family to enjoy.

Here are 10 festivals in Vermont to attend this summer.

Vermont State Fair

The Vermont State Fair, Vermont’s oldest agricultural fair, will return this summer for the 179th time. Hosted by the Rutland Agricultural Society, this five-day event will include live entertainment, carnival rides and food trucks, as well as agricultural demonstrations like animal races or tractor shows.

Hours and ticket information for the 2025 Vermont State Fair will follow in the coming weeks.

When: Tuesday, Aug. 12 through Saturday, Aug. 16

Where: 175 S Main St., Rutland

Do Good Fest

Back in Montpelier this July is Do Good Fest, a charity music festival that benefits the Vermont Foodbank. This year, Do Good’s headliner is Grammy award-winning band The Fray, who will be joined by the Plain White T’s and Sammy Rae & The Friends.

Along with the big concert, this festival will also have two dozen food trucks, a beer garden, a donation drive and a fireworks show. General admission to Do Good Fest costs just $5, but all size donations are accepted. Children ages five and under enter for free.

When: Saturday, July 12 from 2-9 p.m.

Where: National Life Group, 1 National Life Dr., Montpelier

Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival

Head over to the 45th annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival for a dreamy weekend of hot air balloon rides through the scenic Upper Valley sky. As the longest-running hot air balloon festival in New England, this event also features live music, a kids zone and over 50 artisan vendors of local foods and goods.

Tickets, which cost $25 for adults or $5 for children, include admission for the whole weekend, so guests may come and go throughout the three-day festival. Balloon rides are sold separately.

When: Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. Hours are 3-8 p.m. on Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Where: Quechee Green Park, 70 Village Green, Quechee

Vermont Blueberry Festival

Nothing says summer like fresh blueberries, and Southern Vermont’s Deerfield Valley is celebrating the popular fruit with a 10-day festival.

The area-wide festival will feature various blueberry-themed events, including a blueberry parade, a blueberry kids fair, a blueberry craft fair, a blueberry parade, blueberry planting classes, a blueberry dessert competition and a blueberry pie eating contest. Additionally, the festival will be accompanied by lots of live music, farmers markets and special blueberry-infused creations from local restaurants and bars, including blueberry chicken tacos, blueberry pancakes and blueberry lemon martinis.

While most of the events for the blueberry festival are free, some may have individual costs. A full schedule with details can be found online.

When: Friday, July 25 through Sunday, Aug. 3.

Where: Various locations in Deerfield Valley

Champlain Valley Fair

Close out summer at the 103rd Champlain Valley Fair, coming to Essex Junction at the end of August. The iconic fair has plenty of agricultural demonstrations and competitions, cooking competitions, carnival rides and games, a demolition derby and more.

The ten-day fair also features a different entertainment act each night, including Lil Jon, Dustin Lynch and Gabriel Iglesias this year.

Tickets are now available online, with single-day admission starting at $12 for adults and $6 for children. Concerts and rides are sold separately.

When: Friday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, August 31. Gates open at noon on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

Where: 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction

Vermont Brewers Festival

Established in 1991, the Vermont Brewers Festival is a popular two-day craft beer event located on the picturesque shores of Lake Champlain. While sipping on beer from over 30 craft breweries, guests can shop from local food and goods vendors, enjoy live music and play lawn games like giant beer pong.

Tickets cost $60 in advance or $65 day-of. Each ticket includes 15 tabs to use as drink tickets, with five extra tickets available for purchase inside. Designated driver tickets are also available for $22 on-site only.

When: Friday, July 18 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 19 from noon to 4 p.m. or 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Waterfront Park, 10 College St., Burlington

Art in the Park

Each summer, the Chaffee Art Center hosts an Art in the Park Festival showcasing fine art, photography and crafts from local artists. The free festival also includes specialty foods, children’s activities, live music and demonstrations of artworks in progress.

When: Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Main Street Park, 5 S Main St., Rutland

Burlington Wine & Food Festival

Burlington is celebrating summer with the perfect festival for wine lovers – a day of wine tasting and food sampling on the shores of Lake Champlain. The festival will feature wines from all over the world, including Italy, Spain, France and right here in Vermont, as well as artisan cheeses, meats and chocolates.

Admission costs $80 per guest for advance tickets or $95 on the day of the event. The price of the ticket includes all food sampling, wine tasting and on-site presentations.

When: Saturday, June 21 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. or 5-8 p.m.

Where: Hula Lakeside, 50 Lakeside Ave., Burlington

Best of Vermont Summer Festival

Back for a fifth year, the Best of Vermont Summer Festival is a newer festival that celebrates summer with live music, craft beverages, artisan products, specialty foods, antique tractors and kids activities. Ticket and scheduling information for this fair will be published online when made available.

When: Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Okemo Field at Route 103 and Bixby Road, Ludlow

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

In early June, jazz music will fill the streets of downtown Burlington for the 42nd Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Musical acts will range in everything from local high school bands to a closing night tribute to Alice Coltrane, one of the most influential women in jazz.

Ticket prices vary depending on the specific show. All tickets can be bought online.

When: Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8

Where: Various locations in downtown Burlington

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Vermont

OUTDOOR ACCESS FOR DISABLED IN VERMONT

Published

7 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Louis Arevalo rides his adaptive mountain bike through the trails at Randolph Town Forest during an adaptive assessment on Thursday, June 25. Nick Bennette, with the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, rides behind.

Zoe McDonald/Vermont Public

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Mountain bike enthusiasts have been working for years on an ambitious 485-mile, multi-use trail called The Velomont that will span the length of the state.

When finished, the collaborative project will knit together existing trail networks, connect 27 communities and include huts and hostels for overnight stays.

New trail construction is finally ramping up after years spent on permits, plans and public input. And organizers say they want to make it as user-friendly as possible.

“For us, it’s not a huge lift to just be mindful when we’re trying to build trail or improve trail to think about the adaptive rider,” said Angus McCusker, the Velomont trail director with the nonprofit Vermont Huts and Trails.

McCusker is referring to the growing number of disabled athletes who mountain bike with specially designed equipment.

“The challenge,” said McCusker, “is we’re connecting to existing trail networks that were never intended for adaptive bikes. So, where we can, we’re trying to do adaptive assessments.”

Louis Arevalo, left, straps into his adaptive mountain bike and chats with Jeff Dickson of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Angus McCusker with Vermont Huts and Trails, and volunteer Thatcher Hinman (all from left) ahead of a trail accessibility assessment in Randolph, Vermont, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Zoe McDonald/Vermont Public

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Louis Arevalo of Essex Junction is one of several adaptive athletes helping with that, most recently on some slightly overgrown single track trails in Randolph, a central Vermont town nestled along the eastern edge of the Green Mountains.

Arevalo pedals with his hands. He rides an electric powered recumbent-style three-wheeler that sits low to the ground. His service dog Azul chases along nearby.

“Once you realize what these bikes are capable (of) or this equipment actually opens up, it kind of blows your mind,” he said.

Arevalo was paralyzed in a skiing accident six years ago. Being able to get back on the trails has been a game changer, he said smiling.

“There’s a reason we live in the Green Mountain state. It’s because we like to get outside…you know, seeing the squirrels and chipmunks and birds… I mean, it’s life.”

Nick Bennette, of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association, guides an adaptive bike over a narrow bridge, pointing out that other adaptive riders may have trouble getting across.

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But adaptive rigs like Arevalo’s are wider and heavier than regular mountain bikes, and not all trails are user-friendly.

Nick Bennette, who was testing a different type of adaptive bike, got hung up on several tight turns.

“It’s helpful to have different kinds of adaptive bikes on these tests because they all handle a little differently,” he said.

Bennette is executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, another nonprofit spearheading efforts around the Velomont. He and others involved in the assessment are taking detailed photos and notes on ways to make the trails more accessible.

“Just scalloping out a bit of material on the outside of that corner,” said Bennette, pointing to the area the bike got caught. “That will allow adaptive bikes to make that corner without really changing the way the trail rides.”

Angus McCusker with Vermont Huts and Trails is working to create accessible accommodations along the Velomont Trail, including a multi-group space in Randolph and a hut in Chittenden that has been outfitted with accessibility in mind.

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Contractors are also trying to reduce barriers at the trail’s overnight accommodations. This summer, contractors are building a new ADA accessible hostel in downtown Randolph.

And two remote huts along the trail will have locked sheds with off-road wheelchairs so bikers don’t have to haul their own.

At the Chittenden Brook Hut, McCusker highlighted a new ramp and wider driveway.

“So if you’re an adaptive rider, you can imagine rolling right up here and you can transfer to your chair that’s available here, and then roll down the ramp and go down to the fireplace, to the privy, to make your meal,” he said.

Louis Arevalo stayed at the hut last summer with other adaptive riders — his first camping trip since his accident.

“There was a babbling brook right there…and it was really refreshing to have easy access to a beautifully built hut that was easy to navigate, and then have these world-class trails right out the door,” he said. “And with these Velomont trails, I can actually plan a hut-to-hut trip with other people.”

The Chittenden Brook Hut includes accessible ramps, storage for adaptive bikes and specialized off-road wheelchairs for visitors.

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Jeff Alexander is counting on it. He’s director of strategic partnerships with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities access outdoor recreation.

An economic impact analysis the group commissioned estimates their programming generated more than $10 million last year.

“So the adaptive community has money, they travel, they want to travel and they want to play with everybody,” Alexander said. “We just need to level the playing field so that everyone can play together.”

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Vermont

VT Lottery Powerball, Gimme 5 results for July 8, 2026

Published

17 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.

Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.

Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.

Here’s a look at July 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 8 drawing

12-29-37-43-55, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from July 8 drawing

01-05-23-36-38

Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 8 drawing

Day: 0-1-3

Evening: 2-4-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 8 drawing

Day: 3-9-5-9

Evening: 9-2-0-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from July 8 drawing

12-15-23-27-40, Megaball: 03

Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 8 drawing

16-18-43-48-50, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.

All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.

Vermont Lottery Headquarters

1311 US Route 302, Suite 100

Barre, VT

05641

When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily

What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?

Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Poll: Most young Vermonters say they’re likely to leave state amid affordability concerns – VTDigger

Published

1 day ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Poll: Most young Vermonters say they’re likely to leave state amid affordability concerns – VTDigger

University of Vermont students gather at a protest on campus in Burlington in April 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.

Nearly two-thirds of Vermonters ages 18 to 34 say they’re likely to leave the state within five years in search of adventure or a cheaper place to live, according to a poll from the University of New Hampshire.

Overall, the poll estimated that 86% of Vermonters find the state at least somewhat unaffordable.

“The issue of affordability has been a very important thing across New England,” said UNH political science professor Andrew Smith, who runs the institution’s survey center. The poll, released Tuesday, includes response data for five New England states, excluding Maine.

In general, the survey found, most residents say Vermont is a good place to live — or even a great one.

Nevertheless, about 40% of Vermonters of all ages want to leave the state, according to the report from Smith’s team. Housing prices and other cost-of-living concerns are the foremost drivers of the trend, researchers found, followed by tax rates. Connecticut and Rhode Island showed similar overall rates of desired departure.

Among young people, though, Vermont’s numbers stand out.

Smith’s research found that 63% percent of Vermonters between 18 and 34 say they’re somewhat or very likely to move out of the state in the next five years. That’s a much higher rate of planned departure than in any other state surveyed. Responses varied from 28% in New Hampshire to 44% in Connecticut.

But according to Smith, New England often sees a beneficial “boomerang effect”: former residents eventually returning to their home states, often as higher earners.

In a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Phil Scott said that although he hadn’t seen the poll, he wasn’t surprised by reports that many Vermonters are considering a move.

“I think there’s a lot of frustration out there,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do to make Vermont the affordable state that these folks need.”

About half of young Vermonters who said they want to move away cited the cost of living as a primary reason, while roughly as many said they were looking for a “new adventure or more excitement.” By contrast, less than a quarter of those older than 64 foresee leaving, according to the poll.

Outmigration of young people could worsen the state’s existing workforce shortage, according to Kevin Chu, who leads the research nonprofit the Vermont Futures Project. Scott’s administration has made workforce development a priority in light of what his office called a “growing demographic crisis.”

Chu added that by design, services such as public education and healthcare are supported disproportionately by working households that tend to pay higher taxes and insurance premiums. When the base of income earners shrinks, the problem can then intensify for those bearing the brunt of rising costs, he added.

“There’s a demographic reality in which the economic burden is being shouldered by a small and shrinking pool of young working-age people,” Chu said.

Tuesday’s poll also indicated that Vermonters who have completed more education say they’re less likely to leave the state. For Chu, that’s likely because such households tend to earn more — and also because they tend to be older.

Julie Lowell, deputy director of the Montpelier research nonprofit Public Assets Institute, offered a grain of salt in relation to Tuesday’s report. While migration is crucial to keep track of, Vermont’s overall population turnover tends to be about 5% or less each year, she said. And although the state does have an unusual number of young people intending to leave, that age group is always the most mobile in any study, she said.

In recent years, more of Vermont’s older population has possessed more wealth to contribute to public services, Lowell added. For example, she said, her organization has found that more Vermonters aging out of the workforce has not appeared to decrease state tax revenues in recent years.

But it’s true that many Vermonters are struggling to make ends meet, she said. The state’s lowest earners have seen low wage growth in relation to other New England states, she said, and basic needs are getting harder to cover.

“We’re seeing prices, in large part driven by housing and healthcare, really outpacing our increases in household incomes,” Lowell said. “Many people are feeling insecure.”

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