The opening weekend of the Vermont Festival of the Arts has arrived. With so much to do, it will be a great weekend (and month) to immerse yourself with art, music, theater, food and fun!
The Festival Frolic takes place at Lareau Farm on Sunday, August 2, starting at 6 p.m. There will be picnicking, flatbread, games and music by Susan Picking and Ragged Company. Come join the fun as we come together and celebrate the arts. Bring a picnic and blanket and relax, let the children run on the sweeping green lawns, listen to great music and hang out with your family and friends. New this year is the Teeny Tiny Art Show. This is your first chance to see the spectacular pieces that have been donated by artists from around Vermont. Snap up a beautiful painting at a ridiculous price! To top off the evening, Northstar Fireworks will set off a fabulous light show that will paint the sky. Make sure to bring your family down to Lareau Farm for an old-fashioned picnic.
Running concurrently to the Frolic is the opening reception of the Big Red Barn Art Show. This is the 18th year of the show (as old as the festival) and has artwork from artists throughout the Mad River Valley. Come and meet the artists on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Check out what else is happening this week at the festival. There are over 100 events happening over 37 days, so there is something for everyone. Particular highlights this week include David Garten's pop-up gallery opening reception on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Village Square Shopping Center and the artist talk and reception for Sacred Connections at Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Saturday. Over the weekend, swing through Moretown for the On The Way Art Show at the Moretown Town Hall and visit Elga Gemst's studio across the street. Next Tuesday is the opening reception of the Photo Show at the Round Barn.
If you've started planning beyond this week, there are still tickets available for the Taste of The Valley. With your entry you will get tastes from restaurants and food producers throughout The Valley, music from the Big Basin Band and Shrimp, artists painting en plein air (in the open air), a silent auction, the Teeny Tiny Art Show and the Iron Chef Competition. The best deal in town!
There will be plenty of signs leading the way to festival events throughout The Valley. Stop by the festival information center at the Festival Gallery to learn more about everything that is going on or visit the festival tent at the Waitsfield Farmers' Market. For information, call (802) 496-6682 or email
This week at the festival
Here’s what’s coming this week for the Vermont Festival of the Arts!
Thursday, July 30
-
- Big Red Barn Art Show opens, Lareau Farm, noon-9 p.m.
- Pete 'n' Keely, The Skinner Barn, 8 p.m.
Friday - July 31
- With Women, Phantom Theater, 8 p.m.
- Pete 'n' Keely, Skinner Barn, 8 p.m.
- David Garten Photo Pop-Up Gallery: My Personal Cuba, Opening Reception, at the former hardware store in Village Square, 6-8 p.m.
- Music Fun - Fridays on the Farm, American Flatbread, 6-8:30 p.m.
Saturday - August 1
- On the Way Art Show, Moretown Town Hall, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Mad Women in the Attic Open Studio, Elga Gemst Studio, 1104 Route 100B Moretown, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Poetry Society of Vermont Summer Festival, Knoll Farm, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Making Sacred Connections opens, WUCC, noon-5 p.m., Artists' Talk and Reception 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- With Women, Phantom Theater, 8 p.m.
- Pete 'n' Keely, Skinner Barn, 8 p.m.
- Bond on the Pond, Big Picture Theater & Café, Picnic 7 p.m.; movie, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday - August 2
- Big Red Barn Art Show "Meet the Artists" Opening Reception, Lareau Farm, 5-7 p.m.
- Festival Frolic, food, fun and fireworks! Lareau Farm, 6-10 p.m.
- Teeny Tiny Art Show & Sale, Festival Frolic, Lareau Farm, 6-10 p.m.
- Blueberry Sunday Pick & Picnic, Knoll Farm, 9 a.m.-noon.
- On the Way Art Show, Moretown Town Hall, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Fairie House Building, Lareau Farm, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Jazz Brunch with Anthony Santor & Friends, Big Picture Theater & Café, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Making Sacred Connections, WUCC, noon-5 p.m.
- Celtic Concert, Warren United Church, noon-1:30 p.m.
- Pete 'n' Keely, Skinner Barn, 8 p.m.
Monday - August 3
- Photo Show Opens at The Round Barn, weekdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Make Your Own Pizza workshop, The Warren Store, 4-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday - August 4
- Berry Vinegar & Salad Dressing Workshop, American Flatbread, Lareau Farm, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Photo Show Opening Reception, Round Barn, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday - August 5
- Paddleboard Yoga, Clearwater Sports, at Blueberry Lake, 4-5 p.m.
- Round up, live music, The Sweet Spot, 4:30 p.m.-dark.
- Architecture as Art slideshow, Warren Public Library, 7 p.m.
- Pete 'n' Keely, Skinner Barn, 8 p.m.
- Make sure you check out these exhibits happening every day during August!
- Aqua Aerobics, SHaRC, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 9 a.m.
- Art at the Mad River Distillers Tasting Room, corner of Routes 17 and 100, Wednesday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
- Art by Architects, Warren Public Library, Monday, 10a.m.-7p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Artisans’ Gallery, open daily, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Art Therapy Association of VT Art Show, Big Picture Theater and Café, open daily.
- Barre Method Classes, SHaRC, Thursdays at 10 a.m., Fridays at noon.
- Big Red Barn Art Show, Lareau Farm, Thursdays through Sundays, noon–9 p.m.
- Bob Aiken Paintings, The Bridges Gallery, open daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Cooking Classes, The Store, Wednesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays, 6-8 p.m.
- David Garten Photography Pop-Up Gallery, Village Square Shopping Center, Thursday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.
- Gaelic McTigue Folk Art, All Things Bright & Beautiful, 27 Bridge Street, Waitsfield; open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Ken Amann Leather, Artisans' Gallery, open daily, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Mad River Antler Artistry, Artisans' Gallery, open daily, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Moosewalk Studios, 200 Orion Road (off Lincoln Gap Road) Warren, Friday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Monday-Thursday by chance or appointment.
- Photo Show, Round Barn, weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; weekends, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
- StoryWalk®, Revolution Trail at Lareau Farm, open daily.
- Studio Aerobics, SHaRC, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 5:30 p.m.
- Tent Thai, Mad River Massage, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Traditional Norwegian Rosemaling, Festival Gallery, 5031 Main Street (2 Village Square), Waitsfield, open daily, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Waitsfield Farmers’ Market, Mad River Green, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Zumba with Roarke Sharlow, The Bridges, Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
