Follow us on Instagram by clicking the image above. @BtownBrief
Table of Contents
***For best viewing experience, scroll all the way up in email and click Read Online**
Weather & Weekend Rundown:
We woke up to a crisp morning in the 30s and low 40s, but sunshine is doing the heavy lifting today and we should land somewhere in the low 50s by late afternoon. The clear skies carry right into tonight, with temps dipping back into the upper 20s and 30s overnight. The real story is the weekend with Saturday and Sunday are both looking dry and mostly sunny with highs pushing into the upper 50s and low 60s across the Champlain Valley. A few clouds may drift through Saturday afternoon, but nothing to worry about. Monday shapes up to be the gem of the stretch, with sunshine and highs near 70. Enjoy it while it lasts, because shower chances creep back in by Tuesday night and Wednesday, and the pattern looks generally unsettled heading into the end of next week.
Friday afternoon and evening have tons going on. If you can still snag a seat, Bert Kreischer brings his "Permission to Party" tour to The Flynn at 7 PM. Over at Higher Ground, Pattie Gonia's "SAVE HER!" drag and climate show is sold out tonight, which tells you something about Burlington's taste. Just down Flynn Ave, the Made Here Film Festival continues through Sunday at Burlington Beer Company, with over 55 films from New England and Québec filmmakers, all free to the public. For live music, Robber Robber celebrates their album release at BCA Studios on Pine Street starting at 7:30 PM, with Taxidermists, Roost.World, and Vanish Works also on the bill. The Rustics play Americana folk and blues at Switchback Brewing from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and if you're in the mood to move your feet, the Queen City Contras April dance kicks off at St. Anthony's Parish Hall on Flynn Ave with doors at 6:30 and a beginner lesson at 6:45 (no partner needed). Meanwhile, World of Hurt Wrestling brings Tony Atlas, Jillian Hall, and Doink The Clown to 20 Allen Street at 7 PM. Across the lake in spirit but just down the road in South Burlington, Illuminate Vermont runs from 5 to 9 PM on Market Street with live music from Sticks and Stones, fire performance from Cirque de Fuego, caricatures, and more; all free. The Golden Hour Social Club throws a 90s themed dance party at the Delta Hotels on Williston Road from 7 to 10 PM ($15 for dancing, $35 with drinks; flannel and combat boots encouraged). And if you're looking to wind down a Friday with wine and laughs, Wit & Wine at Shelburne Vineyard features four comedians starting at 8 PM. For the politically curious, the EEE Lecture at Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington features WCAX political reporter Calvin Cutler on the Vermont legislative session from 2 to 3 PM.
Saturday is where things get borderline ridiculous. The morning starts early with the 15th Annual Greg Noonan Memorial Homebrew Competition at Queen City Brewery on Pine Street at 8 AM, while over in South Burlington, Free Community Shred Day at Pet Food Warehouse runs from 9 to 12 (the more you shred, the more the hosts donate to Golden Huggs dog rescue). Dog owners can head to the Farrell Park romp [MEETUP] in South Burlington at 9:30 AM. At 10 AM, you've got options: the Bike Swap at North Star Sports on Main Street runs until 5 PM with gravel bikes, mountain bikes, kids bikes, and more. The Earth Day Waterfront Cleanup meets at the Sailing Center on Lake Street at 10 AM. World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at Wheeler Homestead on Dorset Street is free and part of a global event spanning 80 nations. The Pollinator Garden Workday at the UVM Horticulture Farm in South Burlington runs from 10 to noon (register at fhfvt.org). Out in Essex Junction, Mud Season Magic at Sand Hill Park lets kids dig for worms, race wheelbarrows, and get gloriously messy from 10 to noon. Also in Essex Junction and running through Sunday, the 7th Annual Vermont Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Expo at the Champlain Valley Exposition features over 150 vendors, cosplayers, comic creators, and guests from Babylon 5, Ghost Hunters, and more ($20/day or $30 for both). For a mellower morning, come out and meet some great neighbors during our BTown Coffee Club [MEETUP] at Zero Gravity on Pine Street from 10 to noon, and Board Game Brunch [MEETUP] runs at Old Town Cafe & Comics in Williston from 9 to noon.
The Saturday fun keeps rolling into the afternoon and evening. Family Art Saturday at BCA on Church Street runs 11 AM to 1 PM, inspired by their current "Human Impact" exhibition. The Bloom Flower & Home Market opens at noon at Hula on Lakeside Ave with over 90 vendors selling plants, decor, art, and gardening supplies (this one runs through Sunday and has sold out before, so grab tickets). The Free Women's Empowerment Self-Defense seminar at United Fighting Arts Institute on Williston Road runs from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, teaching fundamentals of BJJ, Muay Thai, and JJJ with no experience required. At 3 PM, the HOPE Works Roller Disco takes over the O.N.E. Community Center on Allen Street. Created in collaboration with Joy Riders VT, Vermont's BIPOC Skate Club, skates and DJ Grateful Muse are provided, just bring a helmet and a suggested $10 donation to support survivors of sexual violence during Awareness Month. Illuminate Vermont returns for its Saturday edition on Market Street in South Burlington from 5 to 9 PM, free, with Fran Briand opening for Quadra on the main stage, ventriloquist Al Getler, and more. A Couples Dance Class for total beginners starts at 5 PM at Lines Vermont Studio in South Burlington ($40 per couple). That evening, the Women's Adventure Film Festival lands at Main Street Landing at 7 PM with inspiring short films celebrating women in adventure sports. If you're after something heavier, Dance With The Dead and Magic Sword hit Higher Ground at 8 PM for a night of dark synth and electronic metal. And the Ray Vega Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble brings trumpet, congas, and piano to the Venetian Soda Lounge from 8 to 10 PM.
Sunday rounds out the weekend with the big one: the 6th Annual City Nature Celebration at the Intervale Center from 10 AM to 2 PM. This is a full day of hands-on adventure, planting in the silver maple floodplain forest, a bicycle powered pesto blender, aquatic insect education, a nature themed open mic, and free native plants to take home. It also kicks off the Spring Bees & Butterflies Bioblitz, a community science project running through May 31 where you can document early season pollinators on iNaturalist. The Burlington Anime-Fest runs 10 AM to 5 PM at the Doubletree in South Burlington with voice actors, vendors, and a huge cosplay contest (kids free). At noon, the Btown Brief Meetup crew is meeting for Hiking at Shelburne Farms [MEETUP] at the Welcome Center for a group trail walk (no dogs allowed at the farm, heads up). The Spring Wildflower Walk at Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester goes from 1 to 2:30 PM, following the Ledges Trail through calcium rich soil where early blooms thrive (space limited to 20). At 2 PM, a free Cannabis Home Grow Class at Lucky You on College Street covers everything from seed germination to harvest (21+ only, limited to 20 spots). Also at 2, there's a Clothing Swap at KULA on Dorset Street in South Burlington, so bring what you've cleaned out, shop other people's closets, grab a drink. The Abstract VT: Live! monthly music showcase is at the Venetian Soda Lounge from 5 to 7 PM featuring Allison Fay, Michael Nault, and Jesse Taylor. The Sci-Fi Expo and Bloom Market both continue into Sunday as well. And closing out the weekend with a bang, Hippie Sabotage brings their genre bending electronic sound to Higher Ground at 8 PM.
Support the Brief ❤️
2,749 of you read this every week at a blistering 70% open rate! That's pretty wild, and I'm genuinely grateful for your attention week in & week out. Right now 25 supporters help keep it running, and I'd love to grow that number from 0.9% of readers to 5%. It’s a simple goal, but one I’d absolutely love to reach to feel like the Btown Brief is truly sustainable (1 year down, many more to come!)
Every week I comb through 24+ local sources, event calendars like Seven Days, Front Porch Forum, Facebook, and many more; plus news outlets like VTDigger, WCAX, Vermont Public, and more. Then I curate all the best events and news so you don't have to spend time finding them! I do all of this around a night-shift job, so your support genuinely helps keep the Btown Brief going. If the Btown Brief saves you time or has introduced you to something new in Burlington, consider becoming a supporter!
2026 Subscriber Goal We're aiming for 5,000 subscribers this year. We're at 2,749. If you know someone who'd get something out of this, send them to BtownBrief.com.
Become a Monthly Supporter: [Here] – Tiers start at $5. $10+ tiers get fresh Btown Brief merch!
One-Time Donation: [Here] – Buy me a coffee for the late-night editing sessions. Can also choose ANY monthly donation amount here.
Shop the Merch Store: [Here] – 15+ subtle, non-touristy designs on Comfort Colors tees.
The Btown Brief IRL - We’re now seeing 20–30 people at our weekly events! Be sure to stop by for our weekly Saturday Coffee meetup at Zero Gravity at 10am. Everyone is welcome! It’s a great place to talk about weekend events too, along with news and life updates. So come find things to do this weekend together:
Join the Meetup (It’s FREE): Join Meetup group | RSVP here
Join the Telegram Group Chat: [Telegram Link] – Plan casual hangouts with other Briefers, or just another way to find us for our Saturday coffee event.
Those delish Sweetwaters nachos have returned
Local News (All Links Clickable)
There’s a new 60 second Btown Brief News Quiz! Win monthly Btown merch by reading with intention.
"It's the only remaining Lumiere production building anywhere in the world," the report noted of the Burlington Beer Company building hosting the festival, per ABC22/FOX44.
The Made Here Film Festival is in full swing at Burlington Beer on Flynn Ave and runs through Sunday. There's a fun bit of history behind the venue: the Lumiere Brothers, pioneers of early cinema who hosted one of the first film screenings in Paris in 1895, had a film production factory in that very building in the early 1900s. The festival itself features over 55 films from New England and Québec filmmakers, plus workshops and panels. It's free, open to the public, and a good reason to spend a few hours in the South End this weekend.
Vermont has the fewest fast food restaurants per capita of any state in the country, and Vermont Public's Brave Little State dug into why that stat is both a point of pride and a bit of a performance, per Vermont Public.
The episode traces the decades long history of Vermonters fighting to keep chains out, most memorably in Manchester, where a McDonald's battle in the late 1970s became a proxy war over the town's identity. (McDonald's eventually won, but only after agreeing to a toned down design with a wood shingled roof.) The kicker is that a UVM economist found Vermont's fast food spending isn't all that different from neighboring states; Vermonters just drive farther for it, sometimes across Lake Champlain on a ferry for Chick-fil-A. The whole piece is a fun, well reported look at the gap between Vermont's self image and its actual cravings.
"Food is a huge part of community, and so just coming together to celebrate food as part of that community and feel like an insider when it comes to maple syrup, what's not to love about that?" said Allison Hope of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association, per WCAX.
The 59th Annual Vermont Maple Festival kicked off today in St. Albans and runs through Sunday. The weekend lineup includes vendors and live music on Main Street, sugarhouse tours, a craft and food show on Saturday, and Sunday's 8.5 mile Sap Run from Swanton to St. Albans plus a parade. There's also the Best Maple Menu Contest, inviting northwestern Vermont restaurants to show off their best maple dish, with a winner announced in early May. If you're looking for a day trip this weekend, the forecast is cooperating nicely.
"She's huge. She has the most expressive mezzo-soprano voice," said Vermont Symphony Orchestra executive director Elise Brunelle, per Seven Days.
This is a genuine coup for Burlington. Graves is one of the most celebrated mezzo-sopranos in the world, known for singing at the 9/11 memorial service and performing the title role in Carmen on nearly every major opera stage. She'll give a solo recital this Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 PM at the First Congregational Church, just months after announcing her retirement. The concert is a fundraiser organized by Patrick Brown of the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center, with proceeds going to a Jamaican school that lost its roof in Hurricane Melissa. Tickets are $50.
"We are not enforcing their warrant. We are not helping them clear a path to get in," South Burlington Deputy Chief Sean Briscoe told officers on the scene that day, per The Other Paper.
The department released roughly 60 hours of body camera footage and a nearly 100 page after action report last week, and the picture that emerges is one of local police caught between federal agents and the community they serve. Chief Bill Breault's report concludes that South Burlington officers did not use excessive force and did not violate the state's Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. Body cam footage shows Briscoe repeatedly pushing back on ICE's approach, at one point asking federal agents whether the operation was worth it for one person. Perhaps the most telling moment: after the standoff ended, Briscoe thanked a protester, shook their hand, walked back to his cruiser, and said to a fellow officer what a lot of people were probably thinking.
"Barbecue kinda grasped me in my soul," said chef Jason Evans of his time at culinary school in Charleston, per Seven Days.
Evans moved from Rutland to Chittenden County and has set up shop in the University Mall parking lot near Dorset Street, serving Texas and Kansas City style smoked meats. The menu features chopped brisket, pulled pork, and pickle marinated fried chicken sandwiches, all smoked over pecan wood with a simple celery salt and black pepper rub. Specials include barbecue poutine and fried ribs with Alabama white sauce. He's currently serving Wednesday through Saturday, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, though hours can shift with weather and events.
Chittenden County Prosecutor Declines to Charge Six Protesters Arrested at South Burlington ICE Raid
"To charge these six individuals with no criminal records, and expect that they bear the burden of all the harm caused that day — is not something I was interested in our office being a part of," State's Attorney Sarah George said in a statement, per VTDigger.
George's decision not to prosecute drew a sharp response from state law enforcement leaders, who called it "a disheartening decision that sets a dangerous precedent." The six were arrested during the March 11 ICE raid on Dorset Street, an operation later found to have been triggered by mistaken identity. George also called for an independent review of police conduct that day and referred the three Burlington cases to the Burlington Community Justice Center for restorative justice. The move fits a pattern for George, who declined to charge elderly protesters cited at a Williston ICE surveillance center earlier this year and who faces reelection in 2026 with her approach to prosecution very much on the ballot.
"One of the things that the planning commission said is that they wanted the bridge to be iconic, and to help people understand where South Burlington is," said community development director Ilona Blanchard, per Vermont Business Magazine.
The South Burlington City Council awarded a $20.14 million contract to Engineers Construction, Inc. for Phase I of the long discussed walk and bike bridge over I-89 at Exit 14. If you've ever tried to cross that cloverleaf interchange on foot or by bike, you understand why this has been in the works since the 1990s. The bridge will be red, intentionally eye catching, and construction could begin as soon as this summer. Total project cost is estimated at $27.5 million, with the bulk coming from federal grants. Expect some evening lane closures on I-89 during construction, with traffic diverted through Williston, South Burlington, and Winooski.
"Our immediate investigation revealed that a single shot had been fired into a vehicle and both the victim and suspect had fled in separate vehicles," South Burlington Deputy Police Chief Sean Briscoe said, per WCAX.
A 19 year old Burlington man, David Francis-Lutz, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting into a car in the Domino's parking lot on Shelburne Road on Tuesday night. Court documents say Francis-Lutz had been harassing two coworkers, and when a friend arrived to pick the women up, he grabbed a gun from his car and fired. The bullet hit the driver, Jarred Merriam, who had no connection to the dispute and was simply giving his friends a ride. Merriam drove himself to the hospital with injuries to his chin and arm. Francis-Lutz was arrested at his Burlington home, where the Glock used in the shooting was found among other firearms. He has no prior criminal history and is being held without bail.
"Being vertically integrated makes a huge difference. If your own weed is really good, you're better off than the place next to you," said Bern Gallery owner Tito Bern, per Seven Days.
Vermont is very much a buyer's market for cannabis right now. Burlington alone has 11 dispensaries, and Morrisville (population 2,000) somehow has five. Seven Days takes a look at how retailers are differentiating themselves amid tight competition and strict Cannabis Control Board rules that ban free samples, giveaways, and most traditional promotional tactics. Strategies range from loyalty programs and deli style flower sales to tax inclusive pricing and appeals to buy local, especially near the Massachusetts border where corporate multistate operators are undercutting Vermont's small shops on price. Other are doing awesome events to build community, like the folks over at Lucky You in downtown Burlington. Check out their Cannabis Home Grow Class this Sunday!
"It feels like back to the future," said Sweetwaters owner David Melincoff, per WCAX.
After four years away, the Church Street staple reopened Thursday at its original location. If you lost track of the shuffle: when Sweetwaters closed, Pascolo Ristorante moved into its space from a block up the street. Now both restaurants have returned to their original spots. Head chef Jessee Lawyer, who started at Sweetwaters as a fry cook, is back in the kitchen with many of the old favorites plus some updates. They're starting with dinner five nights a week and plan to gradually add lunch service. Melincoff acknowledged the challenges that drove the closure, including pandemic slowdowns and downtown safety issues, but said he believes in Burlington long term and wants to bring the patio energy back to the street.
Quick Hits
A national poll of over 3,000 drivers ranked the Exit 14 ramp to Williston Road as the most stressful off-ramp in Vermont, citing short merge distances, backed-up exit queues, and signalized intersections positioned close to the ramp. Brattleboro's I-91 Exit 1 and Montpelier's I-89 Exit 8 rounded out the top three. Anyone who has tried to get off at Exit 14 during rush hour is nodding right now.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has hired Lisa Gerlach as her new Chief of Staff. Gerlach brings experience from two Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns, a stint as Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor Zuckerman, and a role as lead organizer for the American Federation of Teachers Vermont. The position had been open since Erin Jacobsen's departure in February, with CEDO Director Kara Alnasrawi filling in on an interim basis.
Nearly three years after the July 2023 floods, FEMA approved another $2.2 million in public assistance funding for Vermont. Over $1.1 million goes to VTrans for railroad track and bridge repairs in Chester along Route 103, and another million plus goes to Royalton for Broad Brook Road repairs. The funding is part of a larger $1.2 billion national package for public assistance projects.
How good of a reader are you? Think you’re keeping up with Burlington news? It's time to prove it. Every Monday and Friday, we're dropping a quick 5-question quiz covering the local news you just finished reading. You've got just 60 seconds to answer them all. No looking back allowed. Use the same unique name each time you play so everyone can track your stats in our Hall of Fame, where you'll compete for titles like Sharpshooter (highest accuracy), Speed Demon (fastest average time), and Streak Leader (most consistent player). Make your name (or cool nickname) known to Btown!
And yes, there are PRIZES. Each month, we'll reward the top performers based on the best combination of Total Score and Average Score. That means playing consistently AND playing well will pay off. The more quizzes you complete with high scores, the better your chances of winning. I mean, who doesn’t want cool Btown Merch gear sent to them?
Ready to play? Click the link below, enter your name, and show us what you've got. Btown Brief Quiz
View the potential prizes on the Btown Brief Merch Store
UVM Athletics:
No new updates on UVM sports. The school year is wrapping up! Stay tuned for Vermont FC updates, next home game Saturday May 23rd.
Saturday April 25th UVM Men’s Lacrosse vs Binghamton
Events:
Friday, April 24, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Weekly Meditation at Outright Vermont (Free)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Champlain Valley Quilt Show at Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction ($8, Free under 12)
10:00 AM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club ($6)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Earth & Space-tacular Festival at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free with admission)
All Day: Made Here Film Festival at Burlington Beer Company (Free; donations accepted)
Happening now: IAABC Foundation Animal Behavior Conference at Hotel Champlain
Starts today: Hineni: Jewish Mindfulness Retreat at Burlington Friends Meeting
Happening now: 2026 Awareness & Prevention Youth Summit at The University Mall
Happening now: Volunteer Appreciation Week, Williston
Happening now: Kubota Orange Days at 30 Champlain Dr, Colchester
1:15 PM: Tour the South Burlington Public Library (Free)
2:00 PM: EEE Spring Lecture: Reporter Calvin Cutler at Faith United Methodist Church ($8)
4:30 PM: Mindfulness Meditation at Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont (Free)
4:30 PM: Global Talk, Local Taste at Burlington Beer Company ($0–$18)
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Illuminate Vermont at 180 Market Street, South Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Sophie Zeman-Hale Art Reception at J. Kenneth Fine Art (Free)
5:30 PM: French Social Hour at Hilton Garden Inn (Free, cash bar)
5:30 PM: Fourth Friday Dinner & Conversation for Midlife Women at various South Burlington locations ($67–$127 sliding scale)
6:00 PM: Arianna Petta Art Reception at McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael's College (Free)
6:00 PM: Pottery Date Night at 794 W Lakeshore Dr, Colchester
6:00 PM: Switch It Up! Nintendo Game Night at Brownell Library (Free)
6:00 PM: RAR Spring Tune Up Series (WTNB) at Old Spokes Home Community Workshop ($125–$190)
6:30 PM: Friday Night Ballroom at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
6:30 PM: Pop & Drop at 530 Community Dr, South Burlington
6:45 PM: Queen City Contras — April Dance at St. Anthony's Parish Hall, 305 Flynn Ave ($5–$12)
7:00 PM: Party Like It's 1999! 90s Themed Dance Party at Delta Hotels by Marriott Burlington
7:00 PM: Fund-a-Thon Dance Party at Adventure Dinner Clubhouse, Colchester (By donation)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs at 7 W Canal St, Winooski (Free)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill (Free)
Performances
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Spring Slam Tour Wrestling at ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St ($20–$75)
7:00 PM: Bert Kreischer "Permission to Party Tour" at The Flynn ($135+)
7:00 PM: Pet Store: A Live Sitcom at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($10)
7:00 PM & 9:00 PM: Todd Barry Comedy at Vermont Comedy Club ($30)
7:30 PM: Aristo Sham, Van Cliburn Gold Medalist — Piano Recital at UVM Recital Hall ($5–$48.50)
8:00 PM: Pattie Gonia: SAVE HER! (Drag Show) at Higher Ground Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
8:00 PM: Wit & Wine Comedy at Shelburne Vineyard ($12–$16)
Live Music/DJ
4:00 PM: Danny & The Parts at Hotel Vermont (Free)
5:00 PM: Duncan MacLeod Trio at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
5:30 PM: Tom Bisson at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse (Free)
6:00 PM: Cocktail Piano with Paul Webb at Venetian Soda Lounge (Free)
6:00 PM: Sticks and Stones at Illuminate VT at 180 Market St, South Burlington
7:00 PM: The War Turtles, shewiththelightning, Nadia at 1416 North Ave ($10)
7:00 PM: Sundown at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
7:00 PM: Freeway Clyde at Radio Bean ($10)
7:30 PM: Juice (w/ Night Protocol) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($20)
7:30 PM: Emily Yacina w/ Gracie Gray & Bo Malcolm at The Monkey House, Winooski ($10)
7:30 PM: Robber Robber Album Release Show (w/ Taxidermists, Roost.World) at BCA Studios, 405 Pine St ($18–$25)
7:30 PM: Bob Gagnon at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge (Free)
8:00 PM: Tea Eater + The Pilgrims at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: The Devon McGarry Band at The Old Post (Free)
8:00 PM: Dance for Your Neighbor — VAAP Benefit (DJ sets: Kate Kush, Matt Payne, Skipipop, NewMantra, Slaytt) at The SEABA Center ($10–$100 sliding scale)
8:00 PM: DJ Two Sev, Ron Stoppable at Red Square (Free)
8:00 PM: DJ Chaston, Naomi, Aidan at Red Square Blue Room (Free)
8:30 PM: Two for Flinching at Last Stop Sports Bar, Winooski
9:00 PM: IncaHoots at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Tallgrass Getdown at Radio Bean ($10)
9:00 PM: Rap Night Burlington at Drink ($5)
10:00 PM: Artist Closet at 165 Church St, Burlington
11:00 PM: moon ppl plays phish at Radio Bean ($10)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10–$15)
Saturday, April 25, 2026
General Events
7:30 AM: April Bird Monitoring Walk at Birds of Vermont Museum ($10–$15 suggested donation)
7:30 AM: Public Auto Auction at 298 James Brown Dr, Williston
8:00 AM: 15th Annual Greg Noonan Memorial Homebrew Competition at Queen City Brewery
9:00 AM: Member Mornings at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
9:00 AM: Awasiwi Woods DGC Volunteer Work Day at 500 Dorset St, South Burlington
9:00 AM: Free Community Shred Day at Pet Food Warehouse
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Champlain Valley Quilt Show at Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction ($8, Free under 12)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Board Game Brunch at Old Town Cafe & Comics, Williston (Free) — MEETUP
9:30 AM: Exercise Walk/Run Spring Series at Leddy Park Arena (Free) — MEETUP
9:30 AM: Dog Romp at Farrell Park in South Burlington (Free) — MEETUP
9:30 AM: Stepping Stones Intergenerational Rock Painting at Heineberg Community Senior Center (Free)
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM: 2026 Vermont Spring Go Tournament at Main Street Landing ($15) — MEETUP
10:00 AM: Alliance Française French Book Swap at 43 King Street, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: 2026 Bike Swap at North Star Sports, 100 Main St, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Earth Day Waterfront Cleanup at Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (Free)
10:00 AM: Total Beginner Tap For Adults — 8-Week Series at Lines Vermont Dance Studio
10:00 AM: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at 1100 Dorset St, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Cary Garden & Pollinator Garden Workday at 65 Green Mountain Dr, South Burlington
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Tending Rock Point — Prepping the Garden at 5 Rock Point Rd, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery (Free) — MEETUP
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Earth & Space-tacular Festival at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free with admission)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Vermont Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Expo at Champlain Valley Exposition ($20–$30)
All Day: Made Here Film Festival at Burlington Beer Company (Free; donations accepted)
11:00 AM: Spring Ephemerals With Kathleen Stutzman at Birds of Vermont Museum ($10–$20 suggested donation)
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Family Art Saturday at BCA, 135 Church St (Free, $10 suggested per participant)
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Bloom Flower & Home Market at Hula ($8–$15)
12:30 PM: Free Women's Empowerment Through Self-Defense at 1891 Williston Rd, South Burlington
1:00 PM: Air Force vs Marines Challenge Workout at 340 Avenue D, Williston
1:00 PM: Gentle Spring Sound Bath at The Wellness Collective
1:00 PM: The Poetry Experience at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Earth Day Celebration at Battery Park (Free)
2:00 PM: Cultural Activity: Tea Ceremony Exploration at Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington
2:00 PM: Texas Hold'em Tournament at Pearl Street Pub
2:00 PM: Lake Champlain Chocolates Ultimate Tasting Experience at 750 Pine St, Burlington
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: From Housing Justice to Civic Power: A Vermont Action Summit at First Unitarian Universalist Society (Free)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: HOPE Works Roller Disco (w/ DJ Grateful Muse) at ONE Community Center (By donation — SOLD OUT)
4:00 PM: Grand Opening at PierVana Hair-Spa-Jewels, Shelburne
5:00 PM: Couples Dance Class (Total Beginners) at Lines Vermont Dance Studio
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Illuminate Vermont at 180 Market St, South Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Celebrate Public Philosophy Week with Matthew C. Halteman at Phoenix Books, Burlington
7:00 PM: Women's Adventure Film Festival at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
Performances
7:00 PM: Dance! at University of Vermont
7:00 PM & 9:00 PM: Todd Barry Comedy at Vermont Comedy Club ($30)
7:30 PM: South Burlington Community Chorus Spring Concert: "GLORIA!!" at Elley-Long Music Center, Saint Michael's College ($20–$25)
8:00 PM: The Ultimate Tribute to the Bee Gees at The Flynn ($43–$95)
Live Music/DJ
5:00 PM: Cooper at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
7:30 PM: Vermont Jazz Ensemble (50th Anniversary) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge (SOLD OUT)
8:00 PM: The Ray Vega Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble at Venetian Soda Lounge
8:00 PM: Dance With The Dead + Magic Sword (w/ Megan McDuffee) at Higher Ground Ballroom ($29.50+)
8:00 PM: Marcie Hernandez at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: Wet Denim & MOMDAD at Einstein Tap House, 165 Church St
8:00 PM: Sooflay w/ The Problem With Kids Today, Skrom & Tabarnak at The Monkey House, Winooski
9:00 PM: Moonbird at On Tap Bar & Grill
Sunday, April 26, 2026
General Events
10:00 AM: Tree ID and Natural History Tour of Oakledge Park (Free)
10:00 AM: Tech Sundays: Zoom Basics at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Burlington Anime-Fest at DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington ($12–$20)
10:00 AM: COFC: Spring Trail Work Series with Andy at 592 Governor Chittenden Rd, Williston
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Spectacular Nature Day at The Intervale Center (Free)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Heritage Winooski Mill Museum Family Day at 20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski (Free)
10:00 AM: Usui Reiki Level 1 Course and Attunement at 875 Roosevelt Hwy, Colchester
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Vermont Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Expo at Champlain Valley Exposition ($20–$30)
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Earth & Space-tacular Festival at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free with admission)
All Day: Made Here Film Festival at Burlington Beer Company (Free; donations accepted)
11:00 AM: Tincture Making: Folk & Ratio Methods at 28 Howard St, Burlington
11:00 AM: Monthly Clothing & Food Drive at Queen City Lodge Oddfellows Hall
11:30 AM: Weekend Clean Up Crew at Top of Church St (Free)
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Champlain Valley Quilt Show at Holy Family Parish Hall, Essex Junction ($8, Free under 12)
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Bloom Flower & Home Market at Hula ($8–$15)
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday at 1st Republic Brewing (Free)
12:00 PM: ASL Silent Board Games at The Boardroom – Board Game Cafe
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Hiking at Shelburne Farms (Free) — MEETUP
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: The Amazing Puzzle Race (500 piece) at The Boardroom – Board Game Cafe ($40/team) — also on MEETUP
12:30 PM: Social Sundays at Milton Artists' Guild Art Center (Free)
1:00 PM: Queen City Brewery April Yoga Class at Queen City Brewery
1:00 PM: "Stop-By" Gameshow! at The University Mall
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Guided Spring Wildflower Walk at Niquette Bay State Park, Colchester (Free)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Volunteer Open House at Shelburne Museum (Free)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Gear Swap & Sale at Community of Sound (By donation)
1:00 PM: 'The Power of Play: RPGs Are Literacy!' at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Mobile Pet Food Shelf at Winooski Senior Center (Free)
1:30 PM: Queer Reads Book Club: Night Sky with Exit Wounds at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Cannabis Home Grow Class at Lucky You, 190 College St (Free, 21+)
2:00 PM: Game Show Sundays at Pierson Library (By donation)
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Clothing Swap at 100 Dorset St, South Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Sunday Pickup at Calahan Park, Burlington
3:30 PM: New Alpha Fundraiser — Jamaica Recovery Relief at 38 South Winooski Ave, Burlington
4:00 PM: Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Climate Action Collective Networking Night at Burlington Friends Meeting (Free)
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pearl Street Neighborhood Clothing Swap at 342 Pearl St, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Womxn's Pick-up Soccer at Starr Farm Park (Free) — MEETUP
5:00 PM: VT Synth Society Meetup at Community of Sound (Free)
6:00 PM: Sunday Night Trivia at The Lazy Goat Tavern (Free)
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness Practice at Hot Yoga Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Karaoke Sundays at Einstein Tap House (Free)
Performances
3:30 PM: Denyce Graves — Jamaica Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert at First Congregational Church UCC, Burlington ($50)
6:30 PM: Supernova Drag & Karaoke with Lizzie Murderz at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski ($15–$20)
7:30 PM: UVM Philharmonic at UVM Recital Hall (Free)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont
Brunch: Acoustic Brunch at Foam Brewers
2:00 PM: Tom Pearo at Foam Brewers (Free)
3:00 PM: Ray Vega Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble at First Congregational Church, 39 Main St, Essex Junction ($12–$20)
5:00 PM: Slow Burn Sundays at Venetian Soda Lounge
5:00 PM: Abstract VT: Live! at Venetian Soda Lounge ($12)
5:00 PM: Wine & Jazz Sundays at Shelburne Vineyard (Free)
7:00 PM: XBongX, Fifth World, crisis actor, my hands were tied at Radio Bean ($10–$15)
7:00 PM / 8:00 PM: Hippie Sabotage (w/ Kembe X) at Higher Ground Ballroom ($35)
7:30 PM / 8:00 PM: Makaya McCraven (w/ EVNGwear) at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($28)
UID Pre-K Fundraiser with Disco Phantom at Foam Brewers
Here are some of my favorite BtownBrief links:
Full list of 202+ activities to do at anytime is always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do
Full list of restaurant reviews here.
View the full list of food & drink deals here.
That’s All, Burlington!
What a weekend we've got on deck. With sunshine, warmer temps, and a calendar this packed, there's really no excuse to stay on the couch. Get out there, support the people putting these things together, and click through to the full articles above when you get a chance. The local outlets doing this reporting deserve the traffic.
If you like what I do, help support the newsletter by buying me a coffee using the link below. Or, right to our Venmo @btownbrief. Or, buy an advertising spot for your business.
