Vermont
The Magnificent 7: Must See, Must Do, May 15-21
Take a Trance on Me
Saturday 18
This year’s Bandwagon Summer Series, presented by Next Stage Arts, kicks off at the Putney Inn with an unbeatable double billing. Persian violinist and kamancheh (an Iranian bowed string instrument) player Mehrnam Rastegari (pictured) and Mediterranean psychedelic-surf trio Habbina Habbina transport audiences to the Middle East and beyond.
Golden Skate Warriors
Saturday 18
Vermonters cheer on the women and nonbinary athletes of Green Mountain Roller Derby at the team’s Back in Black Bout at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Hard-hitting skaters enter a heart-pounding face-off against New York’s Salt City Roller Derby at this full-contact showdown.
Yiddish You Were Here
Thursday 16
Burlington’s Ohavi Zedek Synagogue presents a benefit concert for its Full Circle Preschool featuring Boston-based trio Fun Yener Velt, Yiddish for From Another World. After wine and cheese at an art show of works donated by OZ community members, musicians Jessica Kate Meyer, Hankus Netsky and Itay Dayan perform everything from soulful Carpathian Jewish songs to joyful klezmer jams.
One-Stop Shop
Thursday 16
At Rutland’s Downtown Sip + Shop, more than 20 local stores pair up with Vermont beverage and food purveyors for a delicious day of drinking and supporting small businesses. Ticket holders pick up a map and commemorative tote bag before tracking down all the tastings, from mocktails at the Rutland County Pride Center to Golden Rule Mead at GreenSpell Plant Shop to Inspired Cookies’ whoopie pies at Phoenix Books.
Short Squeeze
Friday 17-Sunday 19
Junction Arts & Media invites all White River Junction-area filmmakers to enter a race against the clock at the 48-Hour Film Slam. Beginning on Friday evening, registered teams have just two days to write, shoot and edit a short film, which will be screened to audiences at an awards ceremony on Sunday night. Start storyboarding now.
The Family Stone
Friday 17-Sunday 19
The William Eddy Lecture Series at St. Johnsbury’s Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium returns with artist, author and birder Rosemary Mosco‘s address “Panels and Pigeons: How Comics Help Us See Local Wildlife in New Ways.” The weekend fun continues with Mosco leading two kids’ cartoon workshops, a creative get-together over drinks at Kingdom Taproom and Table, and nature walks through Matsinger Forest in Danville.
This Is 40
Ongoing
Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville invites art lovers to party like it’s 1984 at its “40 Years Together” exhibit. Visitors are invited to break out their hair crimpers and shoulder pads for a 1980s-themed reception on May 16, where they’ll get the first look at a vast collection of modern and historical works by Vermont artists, as well as originals by gallery founder Alden Bryan and his wife, Mary.
Vermont
Here are five places to ice skate in Vermont this winter
How to see a reindeer in Vermont
Vermont Reindeer Farm in West Charleston is home to the only three reindeer, or caribou, living in the state. Here’s what it’s like to visit them.
Looking for ways to enjoy the rest of the cold New England winter?
While staying indoors often seems better than facing the cold, the region has lots of outdoor activities that brighten the winter season, including skiing, snow tubing and, of course, ice skating. From Burlington to Stratton, Vermont has plenty of indoor and outdoor ice rinks, many of which offer lessons, concessions and special events in addition to ice skating.
Here are five places in Vermont where you can go ice skating this winter.
Spruce Peak Village Ice Rink
This outdoor ice rink is located in the heart of the village at Spruce Peak, a ski resort in Stowe formerly known as Stowe Mountain Lodge.
Guests can skate daily surrounded by the majestic ski slopes of the Green Mountains. On Friday nights, the Spruce Peak Village ice rink hosts glow skate parties with a light show, glow sticks and a live DJ. Skate rentals and lessons are also available for purchase.
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday or noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Spruce Peak, 7412 Mountain Road, Stowe
Ice Haus Arena
Located up at Jay Peak Resort near the Canadian border, Ice Haus Arena is the newest ice-skating arena in the state. The indoor rink is complete with bleacher seating, a rental and repair shop, four locker rooms, a pro shop, a snack bar and of course, an NHL-sized rink where guests can participate in public skating or skating with sticks and pucks.
General admission to the rink is $6, with skate rentals available for $6, skate sharpening available for $7 and helmets available for $3.
When: Online schedule updated daily
Where: Jay Peak Resort, 830 Jay Peak Road, Jay
C. Douglas Cairns Recreation Arena
This indoor arena has not one, but two NHL-size ice rinks for hockey, public skating and stick and puck practices. Off the ice, Cairns Arena also offers a pro shop and a cafe with hot food, snacks and drinks.
Skating at Cairns costs $5 for adults or $3 for children and seniors, and skates are available to rent for an additional $5.
When: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday, with exceptions. Check the online schedule at cairnsarena.finnlyconnect.com..
Where: 600 Swift St., South Burlington
Mill House at Stratton Mountain Resort
Surrounded by the scenic Stratton Mountain Resort, Mill House Pond is the perfect outdoor spot for public ice skating or skating lessons.
Public skating costs $20, and bookings can be made online.
When: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Thursday-Friday and Sunday-Monday
Where: Stratton Mountain Resort, 5 Village Lodge Road, Stratton Mountain
Riley Rink at Hunter Park
A large indoor sports facility, Northshore Civic Center has an Olympic-sized ice rink, along with a concession stand and retail shop. The rink offers public skating, stick and puck practice, hockey and skating lessons.
When: Check the online schedule for weekly updates
Where: 410 Hunter Park Road, Manchester Center
Vermont
Unemployment claims in Vermont increased last week
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Vermont rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 375 in the week ending February 21, up from 357 the week before, the Labor Department said.
U.S. unemployment claims rose to 212,000 last week, up 4,000 claims from 208,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Rhode Island saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 132.0%. Michigan, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 49.9%.
USA TODAY Co. is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s weekly unemployment insurance claims report.
Vermont
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Thursday, Feb. 26
The 2025-2026 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.
TO REPORT SCORES
Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
▶ Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
▶ Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
THURSDAY’S H.S. GAMES (REGULAR SEASON)
Boys basketball
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Peoples at North Country, 6:30 p.m.
Northfield at Stowe
Hazen at U-32
Oxbow at BFA-Fairfax
Winooski at Middlebury
Watch Vermont high school games on NFHS Network
Mount Mansfield at South Burlington
Essex at St. Johnsbury
BFA-St. Albans at Colchester
Lamoille at Spaulding
Lyndon at Harwood
Williamstown at Twinfield/Cabot
Rice at Champlain Valley
Randolph at Montpelier
Lake Region at Thetford
(Subject to change)
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