Melting snow and geese flying north can only mean one thing; event season in Burlington is right around the corner! And this year is looking very promising indeed.  From sports and music, to food and performing arts, there’s going to be a lot of great event action in the Champlain Valley this year. Summer is a great time to plan your trip to Vermont around one of our many awesome events. Grab tickets to one of the upcoming festivals or concerts, a room at one of Burlington’s finest hotels, and enjoy the getaway of a lifetime!

Here’s a quick glimpse of what the summer has in store:

MAY 

The season kicks off with the triumphant return of Waking Windows. After a two-year hiatus, this music and art festival is finally going to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a great slate of acts from near and far. You can catch media darlings Japanese Breakfast, New England icons Dinosaur Jr. and a slate of local heroes when the festival kicks off on May 13th. The city of Winooski comes to life as musicians and other performers take the stage at a number of different downtown venues.

Vermont Green FC are Burlington’s newest kids on the block. Our very own USL League 2 soccer club kicks has its inaugural kickoff at UVM’s Virtue Field on Saturday May 28th with other matches running through the summer.

These days it can feel pretty good to embrace traditions, thankfully, the Vermont City Marathon will be back for it’s 33rd iteration on Sunday, May 29th. With help from the local and regional community of volunteers the VCM will be back on the Burlington Waterfront Memorial Day Weekend, a true kick off to summer in Burlington.

JUNE

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green offer one of the most scenic concert backdrops you’ll find anywhere. The series begins with The Head and the Heart on June 3 and runs through August with acts including Norah Jones, Fritz & the Tantrums and the National among the powerhouse lineup.

Also kicking off on the June 3 is one of the state’s biggest and most beloved events, the Discover Jazz Festival. It’s 39th iteration promises to get Summer going with 10 days of great shows with artists from around the globe.

The city of Burlington will be hosting its second annual Juneteenth festival on the weekend of June 19. Building off the momentum off last year’s inaugural event, this one will be bigger and better consuming Burlington’s downtown for a great weekend of celebration. Come on down and check it out!

JULY

Can’t mention Events in July without mentioning the 4th! Burlington has a great fireworks display on the waterfront on July 3rd and surrounding towns like Hinesburg, Williston, Colchester and Essex, have fireworks of their own on the 4th.

Thirsty? The Vermont Brewer’s Festival is back on the Burlington Waterfront after a two-year delay. Vermont Beer is a category all by itself and Brewer’s Fest is the best way to sample old favorites and new flavors. Known for it’s collection of astounding breweries from throughout the northeast, the VT Brewer’s Festival is a beer drinkers paradise on the Burlington Waterfront. Come check it out July 21st - 23rd.

July 28-31, the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival rounds out the month on the waterfront.  View the classic boats, long boats, canoe, kayak and Dragon boat demonstrations while listening to music and enjoying some local fare.

Thursday Concert Series at Battery Park is another fun activity for families and visitors.. Taking place every Thursday throughout the month of July, the Battery Street Concert Series has become tradition for locals and visitors alike, featuring regional musicians, marching bands and other unique performances.

AUGUST 

Burlington City Arts will host the Festival of Fools on Church St August 5 -7. This annual event is a favorite for locals and visitors alike with a calendar jam-packed with an eclectic range of street performers up and down the marketplace.  

The Champlain Valley Fair runs from August 26-September 4 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex. Along with the traditional rides and fair fare, there’ll will be a monster truck show, demolition derby and  musical performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Scotty McCreery, and Nelly.

Starting on August 30th, Burlington will also play host to the 2022 International Workshop on Agritourism. Which is an amazing opportunity for Burlington to showcase it’s forward-thinking environmental mindset to an international audience.

SEPTEMBER

Burlington sort of goes off in September. With hometown star, Grace Potter coming back to put on yet another epic Grand Point North music festival over the weekend of September 10th - 11th.. Annually, Grace packs the Burlington Waterfront for one of the most epic concerts in small town history. Find yourself caught between a Lake Champlain sunset and the GPN stage for the show of a lifetime!

This year in particular is special because Burlington is welcoming the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) Annual Boat Show. The Burlington Waterfront will be packed with classic boats for pedestrians to come down and take a look at! The perfect summer activity for families and kids!

The Northeast Street Rod Nationals also come to town every September to showcase some of the nations sweetest Hot Rods at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Jct. From fully restored American classics to ‘rat rods’ the Northeast Nationals is a fun time to be in town. This year, plan to check it out between September 22nd - 25th

Regardless of all these fun events, if you need something to do or a place to go this summer, come check out Burlington!