Free Programs @ the Y

Yup - It's that time of year again! The Downtown Burlington & Winooski YMCAs are offering another free program week,; I typically see these happen early Autumn & late Spring as new programs sessions are starting. From September 2 - 8, you can go & get a taste of what's in store for you with a Y membership. Some of the most popular are limited by space so you should call to reserve your spot but all group classes are open!

Tomorrow's the day

if you wanna hit up the Shelburne Museum for Free! Yup they're opening their newest building with ribbon cutting at 11 am but gates open at 10 & they're open until 8:30. After 66 years this wonderful new center will allow access year round & if you've never been before you'll soon see why that's so important; Activities & exhibits for all ages. Literally, I go every summer with my boys & the older generation & we're always finding something 'new' and exciting!! Check out this schedule to plan your day & I mean your DAY, you'll really wanna spend the whole day - promise. As always I'm assuming you have children since it's in the blog title so I'll suggest a nice picnic, they serve Great food but as with most attractions, I feel it overpriced. There's Huge lawns so bring a ball or something; gardens are great for bug & butterfly watching, there's even usually a few ducks swimming in the pond. The museum has a wonderful cottage for the younger crowd to play & dress-up, stories & crafts are also a key part to the experience. I love the playground in Alyssa's Garden, definitely always been one of my favorite pit-stops. My guys have always enjoyed watching the blacksmith & even checking out parts of the Ticonderoga. Older kids might get a kick outta the old Schoolhouse or strolling through an old train. There are a few buildings where strollers aren't recommended & even a couple where they're not allowed. Roads are hilly & being a mother of 2 with a double decker I'll also say they can be down right evil; dirt with rocks that one can compare with quicksand. Have no fear though - they have a shuttle!
Can't make it? Try for a library pass at your local branch or hit one of the other events coming up.

Maritime Festival coming up

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce named the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival a Top Ten Vermont Summer Event. The Festival has grown tremendously & has become a destination for people in Vermont, the United States and Canada. Now heading towards its 6th year, the Festival is a four-day celebration of Lake Champlain, showcasing hundreds of exhibits throughout sites on the Burlington Waterfront & musical performances (on multiple stages). Daily admission is free to most events with select events requiring admission (mostly night performances or museums).

Kids Day is Friday, August 16

• Narrated Cruises for Kids! Board the Northern Lights 10-11am & 2-3pm! (Reg. Adult price is $16)
• ArborTech Climbing Wall!
• Treasure Hunt!
• Get a Pirate Name & Learn to Talk like a Pirate!
• SEABA art exhibits!
• Children’s Comedy Series with Dustin Bruley!
• Burlington Dive Center Educational Activities!
• Ethan Allen Homestead Old Fashioned Games!
• Crate Escape Supernova Disc Dogs & Vermont Police Canine Association Dogs!
• Local Motion Bike Olympics & Helmet Hand-outs!
• Nightmare Vermont Pirates!
• Commedia Del Arte!
• Price Chopper Hopper - the fun inflatable obstacle course!
• Lake Champlain Sailing Center Kids Activities
• Plus, kids activities from the following non-profits: Burton CHILL Program, Demolay, AARP, Hunger-free Vermont & International Film Festival!

Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate shows starting about 11 all days, on the hour until 4 pm.

Other Festival activities include: Eco-Zone; Vintage Boat Show; Waterfront Wine & Food Festival; Pirate 5k Run; Mission Possible Adventure Race; sailboat, kayak & paddleboard rides; ALS Silent Auction; craft and international food vendors; Non-profit Exhibit Area showcasing community organizations.

NEW Events list

Summervale, Thurs 5:30 - 8 pm at the Intervale Barn
8/8 - VT Joy Parade preforms while you are invited to make some Dried Apple Rings
8/15 - The Dupont Brothers opens for Chris Dorman & The Whistle Pigs, churn your own butter
8/22 - Colin McCaffrey & Barika, fire up some corn tortillas
8/29 - Quiet Lion &  Afinque, ride the smoothie bike
9/5 - Dewey Drive Band opens for Lila Mae & The Cartwheels while you test out some edible flower creations
10/13 - Special end of season event, details TBA

Lunchtime Concerts in City Hall, Weds & Fri 12-1 pm
8/9 Kick ‘em Jenny Stringband (old-time), 8/14 Miriam Bernardo, 8/16 The Zeichner Family Band (Fiddle, Irish, Old-time, Folk), 8/21 Brett Hughes and Kat Wright (Americana/Singer-Songwriter), 8/23 Nate Gusakov Family Band, 8/28 Cinder Conk (Gypsy/Jazz), 8/30 Evil City Trio (Old-time)

Ben & Jerry's outdoor movie fest has 2 more showings this season. Meet outside their scoop shop (BYO seating) about dusk for the show! 8/13 - Escape from Planet Earth, 8/20 - The Avengers.

Groovin' on the green @ Maple Tree Place in Williston, 8/8 Real Deal, soul/r&b; 8/15 Sturcrazie rock & roll; ends 8/22 with a MJ tribute cover band

Come to Maple Street Park in Essex on Fridays

• August 9: The Yo-Yo People As seen on David Letterman, they hold a Guinness World Record, a 2008 Yo-Yo World Champion title, and have performed in over 20 countries.
• August 16: Woods Tea Company Live Irish music coupled with dry New England humor. This is their only performance for summer '13!

Bread & puppet theter in Glover - 

Sunday afternoons until 8/25th: Total This and That  Circus, 2pm .

All age outdoor performance in the Circus Field. Guided tours of the museum Sundays at 1 pm

Friday nights until 8/23rd: Evening Performance, 7:30pm.

Indoor performance for adults, in the Paper Maché Cathedral (behind the museum)

ArtsRiot is hosting a run of outdoor movies this summer on Sunday evenings. Instead of a drive-in, these movies will be bike-in. 400 Pine Street @ about 8 pm. 8/11 - Beetlejuice, 8/18 - Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 8/25 - TBA

Movies @ Main St "culturally enriches the Burlington community with free classic films presented weekly on our big 25 foot movie screen" Tuesday evenings at 7 pm in their Film House. Current schedule is as follows: 8/20  - "Little Shop of Horrors", 8/27 - "Sweet Smell of Success", 9/3 - "Captain Blood", 9/10 - "My Fair Lady", 9/17 - "Full  Metal Jacket", 9/24  - "Rebecca"

Museum passes

I've mentioned in another post that I heard you could check out an Echo pass from the Fletcher Free Library. As I reserved my pass a few weeks ago (popularity backs it up a bit) they handed me a flyer with all the other great passes you can reserve there to get Free admission!

Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington is open Daily May-Oct from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. & regularly costs $3-$6 a head.

Echo's open year round 10-5 pm & is the only one that charges with the pass, apparently it has gone up to $4 a person which stills beats the $11-$14.

LC Maritime Museum in Vergennes is open Daily May-Oct from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. & regularly costs $6-$10 per person.

Shelburne Farms is open year round (currently 9-5:30p) with a variety of happenings. I didn't check to see if the pass is strictly general admission but still would save $5-$8 a piece.

Shelburne Museum regularly cost anywhere from $5-$22 with a family day pass costing $55! Open 10-5 daily & until 7pm on Weds. 

Vermont Historic Sites include: Bennington Monument, President Calvin Coolidge, President Chester Arthur, Chimney Point, Hubbardton Battlefield, Justin Morrill Homestead, Mount Independence, Old Constitution House, Underwater Preserves, any of which could cost up to $8. Hours & location vary.

VT History Museum in Montpelier sells their family day passes for only $12 but  that's still $12 so if you're up for a drive I say check this one out anyways. Open Tues-Sat 10-4pm.

State parks average $3 each but with the pass you can have a carload into any of them for the day.