Top 20 Vermont Events for 2009

See Yankee‘s travel bargains in Vermont

Yankee recommends that you call ahead to confirm dates and times.

MAY 1: WOODSTOCK,Opening Day at Billings Farm and Museum. Bring the family for the launch of the museum’s 27th season and celebrate with horse-drawn wagon rides and free ice cream. 802-457-2355; billingsfarm.org

MAY 23: BENNINGTON,Mayfest Juried Arts & Crafts Festival. Historic Main Street transforms into a showcase of arts and crafts, family entertainment, demonstrations, live entertainment, roving entertainers, and delicious fare ranging from barbeque to Indian. 802-442-5758; betterbennington.com

MAY 24: WILMINGTON,Great Duck Race. More than 2,000 yellow rubber ducks will enter the Deerfield River to benefit Vermont’s Make a Wish Foundation. More than 100 prizes, including gift certificates and products from local businesses and restaurants. Face painting, balloons, games, food, and a quacking contest, all on the lawn at Crafts Inn. 802-464-5618; boydfamilyfarm.com

JUNE 5-7: BRATTLEBORO,Strolling of the Heifers. A top event in southwestern Vermont, with 4H exhibits, a parade down Main Street, Dairy Fest, marketplace, Green Expo, music and dancing, a Royal Farmers’ Feast on Sunday, and farm tours. 802-258-9177; strollingoftheheifers.com

JUNE 13-14: MANCHESTER,Antique and Classic Car Show. This prestigious show at Dorr Farm features 43 classes of cars and 800 antique vehicles each year, plus a silent auction, raffles, live music, a variety of vendors, a midget race-car exhibit, automotive tech sessions, field games (including the sparkplug changing competition), and a parade through town. 800-362-4144; manchestercarshow.com

JUNE 28: EAST THETFORD,Strawberry Festival. Come to Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center to celebrate Vermont’s local organic agriculture. This “green” event includes a guided farm tour, cooking demonstrations, live music, and plenty of homemade strawberry shortcake, locally made food, and organic ice cream. 802-785-4737; cedarcirclefarm.org

JUNE 28, JULY 12, AUG. 9, 30: SALISBURY,SunTriathlon Series. Swim, bike, and run through Branbury State Park in one of four triathlon events this summer. In these challenging, fun events, all in picturesque surroundings, choose to run 3, 6, or 13 miles; bike 14, 28, or 56 miles; and swim 600 yards, 0.9 mile, or 1.2 miles. 802-462-2999; rushtonsports.com

JULY 3-5: TUNBRIDGE,Morgan Horse Days. Celebrate America’s oldest original breed, founded in Vermont, at Tunbridge Fairgrounds’ infield, old-time grandstand, and half-mile track. A holiday weekend of Morgan races and competitions. 802-763-7022; vtmorganheritagedays.org

JULY 4: WARDSBORO,July 4th Parade and Street Fair. Featuring marching bands, floats, antique cars, firetrucks, and much more, followed by an old-fashioned street fair with games, concessions, chicken barbeque, and auction. 802-896-6871; wardsborovt.com

JULY 10-12: TINMOUTH,SolarFest. Environmental fun with 65-plus workshops, a marketplace packed with renewable energy and sustainability exhibitors, food, crafts, Theater-in-the-Woods, and a full lineup of music, dance, and poetry on two solar-powered stages at Forget-Me-Not Farm. 802-235-2707 before June 15, 802-235-1513 onsite after June 15; solarfest.orgg

JULY 11: CRAFTSBURY COMMON,Antiques & Uniques Festival. More than 100 antique and craft vendors, jewelry makers, quilters, potters, woodworkers, and more. Visit the bake sale and grill, and listen to live Celtic music, all on the common, in support of the Vermont Children’s Aid Society. 802-655-0006; vtcas.org

JULY 16-19: KILLINGTON,Wine Festival. The headline event is Saturday’s Grand Tasting at the Peak, as a gondola ride brings you to a wine tasting with a view. Sunday, the Bubbly Brunch will take place at a fine area restaurant, and new this year is Nine & Wine, with wine samplings at each hole of Green Mountain National Golf Course. 800-337-1928, 802-773-4181; killingtonchamber.com

JULY 17-18: VERGENNES,French Heritage Day. Music, food, traditional craft demonstrations, exhibits, walking tours, horse and carriage rides, children’s activities, and a French Mass are only a few of the cultural offerings throughout town. Visit with the French Canadian Genealogical Society, fill up at the French toast breakfast, and don’t miss Friday’s “Veillee,” an evening with French food, Quebecois music, and dancing. 800-733-8376, 802-388-7951; frenchheritageday.com

JULY 24-26: BENNINGTON,Maplerama 2009 & The Shires Maple Festival. The annual trade show for Vermont maple syrup makers and maple product producers joins the first Shires Maple Festival, a new celebration of regional farming, local produce, specialty foods, and fine handcrafted products. Enjoy live music and entertainment, a food court, pancake breakfast Saturday and Sunday, workshops, demonstrations, a farmers’ market, and more, all at Colgate Park. 802-447-3900; colgatepark.com

AUG. 1-31, SEPT 5-7: WARREN, WAITSFIELD, FAYSTON, MORETOWN,Vermont Festival of the Arts. This month-long Mad River Valley festival features more than 100 events covering the visual arts, culinary arts, music, workshops, and tours. Don’t miss the craft fair of local artisans on Labor Day weekend, or the Big Red Barn show highlighting valley artists (all month long). 800-517-4247, 802-496-6682; vermontartfest.com

AUG. 7-9: BURLINGTON,Festival of Fools. Curated festival of street theater devoted to circus arts, music, and comedy for the whole family. Featuring international street performers, comedians, and more in downtown Burlington. 802-865-7166; burlingtoncityarts.com

AUG. 15: EAST CALAIS,Blueberry Festival. Taste Grand View Winery’s blueberry wine at this festival featuring local live music, blueberry pie (whole or by the slice), and blueberry jam, all from organic produce. 802-456-7012; grandviewwinery.com

AUG. 27-30: WILMINGTON,Deerfield Valley Farmers’ Day Fair. Traditional activities abound, including a talent show, ox and truck pulls, a horse show, children’s games (including a watermelon-seed-spitting contest), country jam session, cattle show, barnyard petting farm, pie-eating contest, exhibits, agricultural demonstrations, and more. 802-319-0117; dvfair.com

AUG. 29-SEPT. 7: ESSEX JUNCTION,Champlain Valley Fair. Vermont’s largest event celebrates agriculture and fun at the Champlain Valley Exposition fairgrounds for 10 fun summer days filled with live entertainment, circus acts, a carnival, shopping, favorite foods and snacks of all kinds, blue-ribbon competitions, animals, and concerts. 802-878-5545; cvexpo.org

SEPT. 5-6: BENNINGTON,Garlic & Herb Festival. From garlic ice cream to garlic jelly, this festival celebrates our favorite bulb in all its wonder and variety–pickled, roasted, braided, and of course, plain. Samples, demonstrations, Garlic Golf, hay maze, live music, and much more. 802-447-3311; lovegarlic.com