Skiing marathons, ice harvesting and a Wassail Weekend are all on the list of <link http: www.vtchamber.com events index.html external-link-new-window>Vermont's Top 10 Winter Events for 2008/2009. The list is issued by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce after judges comb through hundreds of snow-season festivities—big and small.
Take a moment to chill out this summer by perusing these Vermont winter events. Of note to skiers and riders: This year marks the 27th running of the <link category craftsbury>Craftsbury cross-country skiing marathon; there's a nordic ski race benefit in Stowe; and the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Killington will be nationally televised. Cool.
Top 10 Winter Events 2008/09 (In Chronological Order)
Wassail Weekend
Woodstock, December 12 - 14, 2008
Wassail Weekend in Woodstock celebrates twinkling holidays in the quintessential New England Village. A festive holiday weekend with a spectacular horse parade, caroling around the village green, holiday house tour, musical events, yule log, and Santa’s visit to the Winter Wonderland. Shop, dine, stay - find gifts for everyone in our unique stores or relax in a cozy inn and enjoy fine cuisine. Experience holiday magic in Woodstock, Vermont! Some events have fees. Sponsored by the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce.
888-496-6378or visit: www.woodstockvt.com.
First Night Montpelier - 15th Anniversary
Montpelier, December 31, 2008, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. (January 1, 2009)
Central Vermont’s drug and alcohol-free, family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. There’s something for everyone with music, dance, theater, storytelling and magic, plus children’s activities, an international food court, poetry slam, 5 km road race, ice skating, parade & fireworks. Twelve incredible hours of entertainment for one price! Before December 31: $10/single, $40/family. Day of: $12/single, $50/family.
802-223-9604 or visit: www.mdca.org.
Art in the Snow
Brandon, January 24-25, February 28-March 1, March 28-29, 2009; Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Sundays 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
On the fourth weekends of January, February, and March, Brandon’s artists open their studio doors to visitors for the opportunity to experience their creative community. Brandon has been called "the art and soul of Vermont" and the creative economy is red hot. This is the public’s unique chance to see that creative process in action! Open studios to include painters, potters, jewelers, sculptors, photographers, folk artists, fabric artists, and glass artists.
802-247-6401 or visit: www.brandon.org.
Brookfield Ice Harvest - 30th Year
Brookfield, January 31, 2009, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The 30th Annual Brookfield Ice Harvest recalls the history of ice harvesting in Brookfield through a talk, demonstration, and hands-on competition for young and old. Prizes are awarded. This is a great family event, with food, skating, dog sledding and many other features. 802-276-3959.
TD Banknorth Craftsbury Marathon
Craftsbury Common, January 31, 2009, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This point-to-point cross-country ski race and tour has been presented by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for 27 years. Offering exciting competition, the marathon is the largest x-country ski event in the Eastern United States, with half of the 725 participants coming from out of state. The marathon (25 or 50 km) has a special Family Touring Class. Registration fees.
802-586-7767 or visit: www.craftsbury.com.
Indigenous Expressions: Peoples of the Lake Champlain Basin
Burlington, February 14, 2009 and ongoing, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Explore more than 11,000 years of regional Native American history and culture at ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center’s special, facility-wide Quadricentennial experience. You’ll discover the indigenous people’s intimate connections to the landscape that allows them to survive and thrive in the ever changing Lake Champlain Basin. Through exciting exhibits, activities, imaginative interactives, a contemporary portrait gallery, lectures, films, artifacts and multimedia presentations, you’ll connect with the past, present, and vibrant future of our native neighbors. Free with ECHO admission.
877-ECHOFUN (877-423-6386) or visit: www.echovermont.org.
Burke Mountain Dog Sled Dash
East Burke, February 28 - March 1, 2009, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One of the longest-running traditions at the Montshire Museum. For the past 15 years, Dr. Norbert Yankielun, engineer at CRREL (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory) has shared his experiences as a scientist and explorer, and instructs Museum visitors on how to build an igloo. Dr. Yankielun, whose new book “How to Build an Igloo” has been recently published by W.W. Norton & Company, will be on hand to lend his expert advice on building with snow. Visitors “make friends with winter,” and learn about the amazing insulating power of snow. If nature cooperates, by mid-afternoon an igloo village built by Museum visitors emerges!
802-626-7300 or visit: www.skiburke.com.
Vermont Flower Show
Essex Junction, March 6 - 8, 2009; Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sun. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vermont’s premier flower show offers three days of Spring the first weekend in March. Visitors see a grand central display filled with flowering plants, water features and stonework. The 2009 theme is "Child’s Play" with a focus on encouraging garden play for children and the young at heart. The central display includes a fairy house forest, kinetic sculpture, Mr. McGregor’s veggie garden, water features, a tree house and a star gazing tent. Over 100 exhibitors display at the show. Three days of seminars and educational workshops are held. There is a professional floral competition. Kids will find a special room all their own devoted to hands-on activities and scheduled performers to entertain them. Vermont Certified Horticulturists are on hand all three days to answer any gardening or landscaping questions. Fee.
888-517-6484 or visit: www.vermontflowershow.com.
Relay for Life Nordicstyle
Stowe, March 7-8, 2009; Sat. 6 p.m. to Sun. 6 a.m.
Join us as we Celebrate, Remember and most importantly Fight Back against cancer at the 6th Annual Relay For Life NordicStyle at the Trapp Family Ski Touring Center. Join us this year as we camp out during this all night event, cross country ski, snowshoe the trails and put the fun into fundraising to find a cure for cancer. Be part of American Cancer Society’s historical event...Relay For Life NordicStyle.
866-466-0626 or 802-872-6304. E-mail: www.cancer.org.
Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix
Killington, March 14-15, 2009
More than 100 of the top snowboarders in the world compete in Slopestyle and Superpipe at Bear Mountain. Competition venues and live entertainment venue are open to the public, free of charge. The excitement will peak on Saturday with a concert and Superpipe finals. The overall winners of the three-stop Grand Prix series will be crowned at Killington. The entire event will air nationally on NBC.
802-422-6867 or visit: <link http: www.killington.com>www.killington.com
If you have attended one of these in the past, please share a quick review!
