Calendar: Nov. 30 – Dec. 22

Please send event listings at least three weeks in advance.

Dragonfly art exhibition
Through Nov. 30
Landa Townsend’s art inspired by dragon fly habitats, “Dragonfly Habitat at the Edges of Weatherhead Hollow Pond: 2021-2023” is on display at Shelburne’s Pierson Library through Nov. 30. On Thursday, Nov. 30, 6-7 p.m. there’s a free artist talk. Townsend produce this series of woodblock prints to portray dragonfly behaviors and their unique environment.

Lost ski areas exhibit opening
Friday, Dec. 1, 5-8 p.m.
Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum’s newest exhibit “Searching for Vermont’s Lost Ski Areas” is a schuss down memory lane for those who learned to ski or ride at one of Vermont’s 175 “lost” areas. The museum’s search for information about Vermont’s “lost” ski areas, those that at one time operated a mechanical tow, has been a more than 20-year endeavor. The exhibit kicks off at the Museum in Stowe with an opening party Dec. 1, 5-8 p.m. All are welcome. The search for more information about Vermont’s lost ski areas is ongoing and the museum welcomes input from those who have memories and photos to share. More information may be found on the website. Part I, featuring 70 “lost” areas between the Massachusetts border and Route 4, runs through mid-October 2024. Part II of the exhibit will push further north and open next season.

Altered Layers reception
Friday, Dec. 1, 5-7 p.m.
Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne presents Altered Layers, its annual winter, group show featuring Elizabeth Nelson, Bonnie Acker, Miriam Adams, Elizabeth Allen, Philip Hagopian, Kate Longmaid, David Maille, Janet McKenzie, Ken Russack, Jessica Scriver, Carolyn Shattuck and Barbara Wagner, running through Jan. 31 at the gallery at 86 Falls Road in Shelburne Village. More info on the webiste, call 802-985-3848, email .

BTV Winter Market
Fridays, 2-6 p.m. & Saturdays, 12-6 p.m., thru Dec. 23
The BTV Winter Market is a European-style outdoor market featuring a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers, food vendors and cozy firepits in Burlington’s City Hall Park.

Holiday Trains
Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Middlebury’s Henry Sheldon Museum presents Holiday Trains: 30 Years Rolling Down the Tracks, a model train layout that stands three levels high, with two tracks running Lionel O gauge trains and the upper track running HO trains. In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the train layout, there will be an exhibition featuring a display tracing the history of the model trains at the Sheldon during the holiday season. This year the trains will be operating 1-3:30 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. More information or call 802-388-2117. On Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the museum is having a free open house with the model trains running, the annual holiday trees and wreaths raffle on view and more.

Auditions
Sunday & Tuesday, Dec. 3 & 5
The Valley Players will hold auditions for “Poet’s Choice” by Mary Pratt on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Valley Players Theater, 4254 Main Street (Rt. 100), Waitsfield. The play is the 2023 winner of the Valley Players’ Playwright Award and will be directed by Doug Bergstein. To read the script, download an audition form, and get more information. Email [email protected] with questions.

Visiting Artists and Writers Program
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
As part of its visiting artists and writers program, the Vermont Studio Center will host Stanya Kahn giving a virtual artist talk via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/er94ked3 to receive a link. Kahn is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in film/video with a practice that includes drawing, painting, sculpture/installation, sound and writing. Recent solo exhibitions include shows in Los Angeles, New York, London, Rotterdam and Berlin.

Father of Cross-Country Skiing
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
The father of cross-country skiing, John Caldwell, will hold a virtual conversation on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Caldwell competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics and later became a cross-country ski coach. He ultimately became the authority on cross-country skiing and wrote a series of books that helped develop a better understanding of the sport in North America. Caldwell was inducted into both the U.S. and Vermont ski and snowboard halls of fame. Vermont native and Nordic skier, Peter Graves will moderate this conversation. Graves served as a coach with the U.S. ski team and head coach at Harvard for six seasons. He is perhaps best known for his long career as a television and stadium announcer having covered 13 Olympic Games. This virtual discussion begins at 7 p.m. Please consider making a suggested donation of $10 to support the museum. Register.

Out of this world
Saturday, Dec. 9, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
A Science Fun Day, Dec. 9, will offer “out of this world” STEM activities for Grade 3-5 students at the University of Vermont 1:30-3:30 p.m. Space is limited to 30 participants. Although sponsored by the university’s 4-H program, membership in 4-H is not required, only an interest in exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics topics.
Register. Details about location and parking will be provided upon receipt of registration. Participants will have an opportunity to create, build and test as they engage in a number of fun, hands-on activities including flying helicopters on Mars, investigating alien genetics and building an egg-drop lander to deliver their “egg-stronaut” safely to the ground. For more info contact Lauren Traister or 802-656-7565.

Charlotte Central School Holiday Market
Saturday, December 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
There will be 60+ vendors, kid crafts, a silent auction, and delicious food. Proceeds help support CCS PTO programs like Teacher Grants and an Emergency Fund for school families.

Hinesburg Artist Series concert
Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 & 4:30 p.m.
The Hinesburg Artist Series will present its annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 10, with performances at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church in Hinesburg. The concert will feature the South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra under the direction of Rufus C. Patrick. The featured guest artist will be cellist Jiwon Lee. The featured works this year are David Lovrien’s compositions featuring traditional holiday music with minor alterations. The combined chorus and orchestra will also perform Gloria in Excelsis Deo and Masters in This Hall by Mark Hayes as well as Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas from Home Alone 2 and a wonderful Camp Kirkland arrangement of Ding Dong Merrily on High. This tradition dates back over 25 years. It will include a sing-along and maybe the appearance of a special guest. The concert is free, but donations are welcome and the audience is also encouraged to bring something for the food shelf. More information.

Menorah lighting
Monday, Dec. 11, 5:15 p.m.
Chabad of Vermont is holding the lighting of the menorah at the Shelburne Town Green in the corner of Falls and Shelburne roads on Monday, Dec. 11, 5:15 p.m. Organizers said there will be donuts, latkes and fun for everyone.

Constructive discourse discourse
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.
The League of Women Voters of Vermont presents Susan Clark speaking on constructive discourse Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. Clark is a writer and educator focusing on community sustainability and citizen participation, an award-winning radio commentator and former talk-show co-host. She has taught community development at the college level for 10 years. Besides the in-person presentation, the program will also be live-streamed by Onion River Community Access TV (orcamedia.net).

Visiting Artists and Writers Program
Thursday, Dec. 14, 8-9 p.m.
The Vermont Studio Center will host Anthony Goicolea in-person in the Red Mill Building on Thursday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. Goicolea is an N.Y.-based, multi-disciplinary artist who established himself in the late 1990s with a series of provocative self-portraits. His work ranges from photography, sculpture, and video to multi-layered drawings on mylar, oil on canvas and large-scale installations. His art is held in many public collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Guggenheim, the Museum of Modern Art, the Hirshorn Museum in D.C. and the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh. Free. More info.

‘Amahl & the Night Visitors’
Thursday (Salisbury) & Friday (Williston), Dec. 21 & 22, 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
Barn Opera’s production of ‘Amahl & the Night Visitors’ will have reduced price tickets for all performances and be performed in both Salisbury and Williston to help the production reach more Vermonters. The price of tickets is $10. Information and tickets.