Calendar of Events – December 2, 2022 through January 6, 2023

Please send event listings to us at least three weeks in advance.

Family contra dance
Friday, Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m.
Vergennes Parks and Recreation presents a family contra dance at the Vergennes Opera House to kick off the town’s Holiday Stroll event. Atlantic Crossing plays; no experience required. More info by calling 802-877-6737.

Library book sale
Friday, Dec. 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Richmond Free Library holds a book, DVD and CD sale to benefit library programs. Email for more info or call 802-434-3036.

Museum open house
Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury has its holiday open house; museum admission is waived. Live holiday music, a Christmas tree raffle and a trains exhibit. Fun for all ages. For more info, call 802-388-2117.

Season of light
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2 p.m.
The Vermont Choral Union presents music for Advent and Chanukah, singing at the College Street Congregational Church in Burlington. For more info and tickets.

Vermont holiday market
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
See a variety of artists and craftspeople, makers of clothing, jewelry, wine, mead, woodcrafts and more at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Admission charged at the door. More info.

Good trade market
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 3- 4, noon-6 p.m.
At HULA Lakeside in Burlington, shoppers see 100 of the best makers from around the country. Purchase food and drinks; meet the creators. Tickets and more info.

Community carol sing
Sunday, Dec. 4, 4 and 5 p.m.
Dress warmly for this singalong of traditional holiday favorites, held at Richmond’s Old Round Church. The historic building has no heat, only what you create by singing vigorously. Event is subject to cancellation due to Covid concerns. Check for updates.

Cold-hardy grape conference
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Wednesday, Dec. 7
Cold-climate viticulture is a growing industry in Vermont and around the world. Join some of the wine growing industry’s top minds for a conference featuring lectures, tastings and panels. The event, which happens every three years, attracts wine growers and makers from around the world. To learn more or register for Vitinord 2022, which takes place at Hilton Burlington on Battery Street.

Christmas bird count
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7-8 p.m.
This 100-year-old tradition was launched by the Audubon Society and is a popular community science project. Participants monitor bird sightings in a particular area over a certain time. The Vermont Land Trust presents this free online discussion on how the count works and why it’s important. Learn more and pre-register.

Immigrant-owned markets
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
Vermont Humanities presents Charlotte Barrett of Historic New England discussing the Burlington and Winooski food markets with immigrant and refugee owners. Barrett will talk about the strong social support and connection these markets provide to the owners and others in their communities. Free talk is at the Brownell Library in Essex Junction in person. Call 802-878-6955 for info about online streaming.

Student recital
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Students in the University of Vermont music department give a performance at the Recital Hall building on the Redstone campus in Burlington. Free event. Call 802-656-3040 with questions.

Winter Lights ice bar
Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-10 p.m.
This special evening happens during Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum. Ticket holders may visit two outdoor ice bars, stocked with drinks and snacks, for visitors 21+. Ticket purchase includes all of the Winter Lights displays, plus two each of food and drink tokens to enjoy throughout your meander around the museum. More info or to buy tickets.

Leonard Cohen documentary
Thursday, Dec. 8, 7-9 p.m.
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song is the featured movie at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. This event is part of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. Complete schedule of films, plus trailers and tickets.

Gingerbread construction
Friday, Dec. 9, 4-5:30 p.m.
At the Richmond Free Library, ages 8-12 are invited to make gingerbread houses, complete with all the decorative details. Limited spaces for free event; register by calling 802-434-3036.

Solstice music
Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m.
The American roots band Low Lily joins forces with mandolinist Matt Flinner and double bassist Steve Roy, to celebrate the winter solstice with the warmth of energetic instrumentals. The musicians also sing in 3- and 4-part harmonies. Concert is at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Tickets and more info.

Broadway in Vergennes
Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.
The Vergennes Opera House brings the sounds of Broadway to the stage, with a professional and amateur cast. The program features tunes from Guys and Dolls, Ragtime and Hairspray. Doors and cash bar at 6:30. For tickets and more info.

CHARLOTTE
School holiday market
Saturday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Charlotte Central School holiday market welcomes community shoppers to visit over 50 exhibitors, a children’s craft table, a silent auction and several on-site food options. Vendor fees go to the Parent Teacher Organization to support a variety of student enrichment programs including STEM, theater, athletics, as well as their community emergency care fund. Entry into the market is free and open to the public. Email questions to us.

The Addams Family
Fri., Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. & Sat., Dec. 10, 2 & 6 p.m.
The Very Merry Theatre presents free performances of a kooky, spooky adaptation of The Addams Family, the hit Broadway musical about a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things macabre. Good for all ages, genders and species. O.N.E. Community Center, 20 Allen St., Burlington.

Burlington holiday market
Saturday, Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hotel Vermont in Burlington hosts local product vendors, food trucks and a live DJ at its holiday celebration. Raffles and a scavenger hunt entice shoppers. Details on the website.

Dogs make us happy
Saturday, Dec. 10, 4-5:30
The Vergennes Opera House invites the community to a free screening of the movie, 12 Dogs of Christmas. Call 802-877-6737 with questions.

Two sisters and a fiddler
Saturday, Dec. 10, 6-8:45 p.m.
Listen to the Beerworth Sisters, with Tim Swanson on fiddle, for a cozy evening in the loft at Shelburne Vineyard. Limited seating is first come, first served. Free performance.

Pops extravaganza
Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra presents its holiday pops concert, along with storytelling by Jane Lindholm and singing by the Lyric Theatre Singers. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the South Burlington Food Shelf. Concert is at the Flynn Theater; more info and tickets.

252 free concerts
Sunday, Dec. 11, 3-4:30 p.m.
Pianist David Feurzeig vowed to play a free concert in every one of Vermont’s 252 towns and cities. Enjoy his performance at the Richmond Free Library. David travels in his solar-charged electric vehicle; his concert series speaks to the sustainability of local music and events, as opposed to those distant locations worldwide that require plane travel. Feurzeig believes that classical music should not be intimidating or stuffy; he strives to bring humorous commentary to his shows and enjoyment for all ages. More info.

OrchestraPalooza
Sunday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m.
The Vermont Youth Orchestra presents its holiday concert at the Flynn Theater. The show includes hundreds of young musicians in three different orchestras performing a holiday-themed repertoire. For tickets and info.

Yule log tutorial
Monday, Dec. 12, 5:30-7 p.m.
Join chef Audrey Bernstein in a livestream class as she shows viewers the steps involved in making a festive Yule log, or buche de Noel as it’s called in France. Free City Market class.

Modernist architecture
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Burlington’s Architecture & Design Film Series continues with Part I of two free films about Albert Frey, a 20th century Swiss architect known for combining industrial designs with his love of the natural world at Burlington’s Contois Auditorium. Part II will be screened 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Both free movies may also be live-streamed on the scheduled day via a link.

Conspiracy theories deconstructed
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
Cultural critic Mark Dery delves into the history, causes and current proliferation of conspiracy theories and their threat to democracy. Pre-register for this free online Vermont Humanities event.

Meteor shower viewing
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7-9:30 p.m.
The Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee sponsors a viewing of the Geminid meteor shower. Good for families with children 5 and older. Time is spent both inside the StarLab and outside. To reserve a spot call 802-359-5000, ext. 245, or visit the website.

Climate change discussion
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
The League of Women Voters of Vermont presents the second in its lecture series on the impact of climate change on Vermont. A panel discussion will focus on the effects of climate change on Vermont landscapes. Panelists include Jillian Liner,Vermont Audubon; Jim Shallow, Nature Conservancy; Abbie Corse of the Corse Farm Dairy and VT Climate Council; and Josh Faulkner, University of Vermont and VT Climate Council. The program will be hosted via Zoom and is free, but registration is required.

Let your hair down
Friday, Dec. 16, 6-8:30 p.m.
Shelburne Vineyard welcomes the musical duo Hair Down for an evening of favorite seasonal songs. Music is in the loft. Show is free and family-friendly. Call 802-985-8222 for info.

English country dancing
Friday, Dec. 16, 7-9:30 p.m.
Burlington Country Dancers offers evenings of English country dancing with instruction at the Elley-Long Music Center on the campus of St. Michael’s College in Colchester. Dress casually and comfortably; newcomers lesson at 6:30 p.m. For more info, including upcoming dates of this recurring class, email Val.

Looking for instructors
Friday, Dec. 16 deadline
ACCESS CVU offers numerous affordable classes to the public and is based at Champlain Valley Union High. Program leaders are actively looking for class instructors for the winter-spring semester, which runs from Feb. 1- June 12. Fill out a new instructor form. Call 802-482-7194 with questions.

Illuminate Vermont
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 & 17, 4-8 p.m.
South Burlington’s Market Street area between Dorset Street and Route 116 comes alive for the holiday season. Stroll the open-air market to see treasures made by Vermont artisans, dance to the live music, enjoy the lights, artisan food and warm beverages. Free. More info at 802-846-4108 or email.

Persimmon pudding class
Saturday, Dec. 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
The Pie Guy demonstrates how to make a steamed persimmon pudding with lemon sauce for your holiday table. This free City Market class requires registration for streaming. More info and registration.

Vermont’s Nutcracker
Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 17 & 18
Vermont Ballet Theater and School presents a family favorite event at Burlington’s Flynn Theater, the story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince set to a score by Tchaikovsky. See the website for showtimes and tickets.

Horse-drawn rides
Saturday, Dec. 17- Saturday, Dec. 31
Shelburne Farms offers its popular horse-drawn rides, by wagon or by sleigh (if there is enough snow), at a variety of times during the second half of December. The rides are weather-permitting and sell out fast. For more info and to make reservations.

Call to young artists
Contest deadline: Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023
The Vermont Wildlife Education Fund organizes a wildlife art contest for students in grades 7-12. Prizes awarded and winners exhibited in February 2023. Find more info and an application.