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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
If you have been waiting all week for a day worth bragging about, today is it. The smoke that hazed us out on Thursday has cleared, the humidity is gone, and Friday is running sunny with a high right around 81. Enjoy it while it lasts, because Saturday gets complicated. The smoke drifts back in, mainly through the afternoon, the heat climbs toward 86, and showers and storms become likely by evening, with forecasters flagging strong gusts as the main threat in anything that turns severe. Sunday is the reward for putting up with all that. The storms scrub the sky clean and we reset to mostly sunny, a high near 77, and a brisk northwest breeze that will feel like fall snuck in for a quick visit. If you are picking one day for the waterfront, today is the easy call, and keep half an eye on the sky Saturday evening.
Friday belongs downtown. Main Street construction is finally done, and the city is celebrating with a two day Main Street Block Party that runs 1 to 7:30 today with live music, family activities, local business pop ups, and building tours along the rebuilt block. A short walk away, the 33rd Vermont Brewers Festival pours at Waterfront Park starting at 5:30, $60 in advance and $65 day of, and today's sunshine is exactly what you want for it. If your lunch hour needs a soundtrack first, the John Daly Band plays BCA's free Summer Concert Series downtown from 12:30 to 1:30, a lunchtime tradition now 14 years running.
The rest of Friday spreads out nicely. Essex Junction gets two good ones, starting with Brownell Library's 100th anniversary party at 4 with games, food, and activities for a library that first opened its doors in July 1926, then 90 Proof takes over On Tap at 9 with a set built entirely of songs you already know the words to. Film folks can catch Ask E. Jean at the Vermont International Film Festival at 4, the story of E. Jean Carroll's run from Miss Cheerleader USA to the first female editor at Esquire, six to twelve dollars with a second screening at 7. Out in Shelburne, Food Truck Friday at Sisters of Anarchy runs 5 to 8 with Ryan Sweezey on live music and Nameless Tacos handling dinner. Back on the waterfront, Sugarshack plays the Skinny Pancake patio at 8, free, part of the Dancing in the Streets series. Crafters with cat energy can take Crochet Night at Queen City Cat Lounge from 6 to 8, 45 dollars to crochet a catnip toy among adoptable cats with just eight spots. South Burlington hosts Hullabaloo's annual reunion show at the Old Post at 8, back by their own account from a world domination tour. And night owls have the best oddball pick of the season, Moth Night at Rock Point, where naturalists hang a lit sheet behind the building from 9 to 11:30 and see what flutters in for National Moth Week. Long sleeves and bug spray recommended.
Saturday morning is stacked before most folks finish breakfast. Our own BTown Coffee Club takes Zero Gravity from 10 to noon, free to join and always growing, so come say hi and start your Saturday with new friends. Early risers can grab the Intermediate Women's Mountain Bike Clinic at Catamount from 8 to noon for 80 dollars, learn where your food scraps go on a free composting workshop and facility tour at Green Mountain Compost in Williston from 10 to 12:15, or try cyanotype sun printing in Essex Junction from 10:30 to 12:30, no fee and donations welcome. Nature people get Community Phenology at Rock Point at 10:30, a free guided observation walk, and families can wander into Wild Turtle Weekend at ECHO, turtle programming from 10 to 3 both weekend days, free with admission. And the weekend's biggest draw by the numbers is the Champlain Valley Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the Expo, three to five dollars and free for kids under 16, running Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday afternoon keeps the party on Main Street. Day two of the Block Party runs 11 to 9 and adds steamroller printmaking with S.D. Ireland on lower Church Street from 12 to 5, which is exactly what it sounds like and worth seeing. DJ cRAIG mITCHELL spins Splash Dance in City Hall Park from 1 to 3, Ride Main Street rolls a celebratory group bike ride at 2 with valet bike parking near City Hall Park, and pinball people can chase a two thousand dollar prize pool at Extra Ball Battle 4 at the Pinball Co-op from 11. We will be on the water ourselves, so bring a board or kayak and paddle Shelburne Bay with us from 1 to 4, an easy paddle with a beach break for snacks in the middle. As the afternoon winds down, Summervale returns to the Intervale farmstead from 4 to 8, a free celebration of community and local food with live bands, lawn games, and food for purchase from the likes of Skinny Pancake and American Flatbread. Just watch the sky as evening storms approach.
Saturday night is soccer, then everything else. The Fletcher Free Library hosts a World Cup third place watch party from 5 to 6 in the Pickering Room, and the Green women play for a national title at 8 with watch info in the sports section below. Music side, the Twilight Series brings High Summer with Moondogs to City Hall Park from 6 to 9, SlipBizkit brings a nu metal tribute to Higher Ground at 8 for an all ages crowd, Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento plays Radio Bean at 9, eighteen in advance and 21 plus, and Michael Wilbur ignites Foam Brewers with sax driven alchemy from 9 to 11 with DJ AIMS and support from Kate Kush. And our crew is going to the movies, joining the Btown Brief IRL premiere of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey on the massive 60 foot T-Rex screen at Essex Cinemas. Meet us in the lobby at 7 for the 7:30 show, and grab your ticket ahead since good seats are going fast. Bound to be a good time so come join us!
Sunday morning resets gently. City Market pours coffee with its GM and board president at the South End store from 9 to 11, the Winooski Farmers Market fills the Falls Way from 10 to 2, and PopUp Sunday at the Soda Plant browses local makers on Pine Street from 10 to 2. The afternoon turns neighborly with the South Champlain Street Block Party from 1 to 4, a free second annual gathering with yard games, tie dye, and a pop up kids bike park. History fans should hear Finding Newport at the Ethan Allen Homestead at 2, a free lecture on the historical mystery of Ethan Allen's Black driver. And for something completely different in the other direction, Sunday polo at Amdez Polo Club in Shelburne opens its gates at 2:30 for a 3 o'clock match, tailgate style and picnic friendly.
Sunday afternoon is the main event. Argentina and Spain meet in the World Cup Final at 3, and you have two great rooms to watch it in. The Fletcher Free Library screens it free in the Fletcher Room from 3 to 5, and Citizen Cider runs its own final party with five dollar Unified Press and ten dollar smash burgers. And I’m sure countless others restaurants/bars will also be showing it! Counter programming abounds if soccer is not your thing. Monty Python's Life of Brian screens at VTIFF at 3 for six to twelve dollars, Crafternoons at the Odd Fellows hall runs its casual weekly craft and skillshare from 3 to 5, and the Girl's Day Out Pop Up Market takes over specs café-bar in Winooski from 3 to 7, free. Baseball caps the evening as the Lake Monsters host Special Olympics Night at Centennial Field at 5:05, with a jersey giveaway for the first thousand fans. Puzzle competitors can register for The Amazing Puzzle Race at the Boardroom at 6, a team race through a thousand piece jigsaw. And Social Distortion at Higher Ground is sold out, though the wait list is open if you want to gamble on punk rock providence.
Scroll down to Events Section for full list of events Friday-Sunday.
Strawberry-picking season all wrapped up, onto blueberries!
The Btown Brief IRL - Burlington Social & Activities
We’re now seeing 20–30 people at our weekly events! Thanks to everyone helping host events with me. And thanks to those that show up to make it worth it. Be sure to stop by for our weekly Saturday Coffee meetup at Zero Gravity at 10am. 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. Download Telegram before clicking link.
This Coming Week:
BTown Coffee Club – Saturday, July 18th @ 10 AM: Btown's favorite weekly social takes the big table on the right at Zero Gravity, free to join, just grab your own coffee and pull up a chair.
Paddle or Kayak @ Shelburne Bay – Saturday, July 18th @ 1 PM: bring your own board or kayak for an easy paddle along the bay with a snack break on the beach, meet in the lot near the walking trail.
Btown Brief IRL – The Odyssey Premiere – Saturday, July 18th @ 7 PM: we are seeing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey on the 60 foot T-Rex screen at Essex Cinemas, grab your ticket ahead and meet us in the lobby.
Pick-up Basketball – Wednesday, July 22nd @ 5:30 PM: competitive but friendly outdoor runs at Pomeroy Park in the Old North End, always free.
BTown Coffee Club – Saturday, July 25th @ 10 AM: same warm crew, same big table, come as you are.
Paddle at Oakledge Beach #2 – Saturday, July 25th @ 11 AM: round two on the water, this time launching from Oakledge Park.
Centennial Hills Hike and Winooski Circle – Sunday, July 26th @ 11 AM: the Centennial Woods loop with an optional beer stop after, bug spray advised.
Other Upcoming Events:
Lake Monsters Baseball & Fireworks – Saturday, August 8th @ 5:45 PM: A summer night at Centennial Field with the Lake Monsters, capped off with fireworks.
BTown Coffee Club – every Saturday @ 10 AM: the weekly staple runs all summer and into fall, so whichever Saturday you finally make it, we will be there.
Tired of scrolling? Play the BTown Digital Arcade instead!
The digital arcade is officially packed with 18 free, Burlington-themed games like Church St Surfers, Flappy Champ, Where in Burlington and BTown Wordle. There are zero ads to skip and no apps to download, just a straightforward way to kill some time. I also added monthly leaderboards that reset on the 1st, and whoever is holding the top spots will get named right here in the Brief. Go claim your bragging rights and set a high score over at play.btownbrief.com.
Never be bored in Burlington again. Use the BTown City Guide
The BTown City Guide is your cheat code for the city, and after months of tinkering it’s live for you right now. With 200+ sortable spots, real-time weather filters, and a "Surprise Me" button for when you can't decide, it's the only bookmark you need for weekend plans. Explore it by jumping straight in here. Or go over at btownbrief.com → BTown City Guide
Want to see everything I created? See it all at hub.btownbrief.com
See something good? Say something good. r/GoodBurlington
Check out the news posts in the subreddit! There is a lot of good happening in Burlington that never gets talked about. We built r/GoodBurlington to change that. Think of it as the opposite of doomscrolling. Found a hidden gem? Snapped a great photo? Want to shout out a local worker who made your day? Post it on the subreddit, or submit it through this quick [Google Form] and I'll share it for you. The best of what gets shared will show up right here in the Brief. Come drop your posts: r/GoodBurlington
Support the Brief to Keep it Running!
Why support? Every week, I sort through TONS of local sources: Seven Days events, Front Porch Forum calendar, Facebook events, Hello Burlington, Meetup.com, Eventbrite, Church St Marketplace calendar, Flynn, Higher Ground, Vermont Comedy Club, and then news stations like VTDigger, Seven Days, WCAX, WPTZ, Vermont Public, Community News Service, VT Cynic, The Other Paper, Vermont Business Magazine, Williston Observer, MyChamplainValley, The Charlotte News, to keep you connected. It takes a long time to curate and write about all this local content, so if this lengthy newsletter saves you time, or has introduced you to new experiences in Burlington, then definitely consider chipping in!
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.
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
There’s a new 60 second Btown Brief News Quiz! Win monthly Btown merch by reading with intention.
"an urban escape that still offers easy access to nature and a small-town experience." per NBC5
CNN's America's Best Towns to Visit 2026 list is out and Burlington landed sixth in the whole country, with New Haven the only other New England town to make the cut. Writer Jen Rose Smith called us America's smallest biggest city and praised the balance of Church Street, the Greenway, and a city that is half open space. We already knew, but it is nice when the visitors figure it out too.
"I went to the first game, and then I got completely sold. I was moved. Like, deeply moved." per Seven Days
Seven Days profiles the women's team's first season, and what a season it has been. Season tickets sold out before a single match, Virtue Field has been packed all summer, and Saturday's 1 to 0 semifinal win over Asheville City sent the Green to the national final against Salmon Bay FC in Seattle tomorrow night. The sports section below has your watch info. Everyone watches women's sports around here now.
"This is the other foot dropping in terms of the way Magnum is trying to destroy the social values of Ben & Jerry's." per VTDigger
The foundation that has carried the ice cream brand's giving for 40 years says it will close at the end of the year after parent company Magnum cut off funding and ordered its three staffers out of their South Burlington office. About $600,000 a year goes to Vermont groups like Migrant Justice and Outright Vermont, and that money now hangs on a judge's ruling over whether the corporate parent had the authority to withhold it. Magnum says the trustees ignored an independent audit, the foundation calls the review pretextual, and Ben Cohen keeps gathering signatures to buy the whole company back. The court decision is the piece to watch, since it settles both the money and who controls the brand's social mission.
"We're dedicated to telling stories that haven't been told. And there's a lot of them that haven't been told." per Community News Service
Vermont has nearly 200 historical societies and somehow its biggest city is not among them, so four local historians are building the Burlington History & Culture Center from scratch. Three years of groundwork and a Vermont Humanities grant later, they are aiming for a 1,000 square foot sample exhibit by the end of 2027, telling stories like Abial Anthony, a Black barber who worked Church Street for over 50 years, and Anne Connelly, the Blind Merchant of Burlington who opened schools for blind students at Helen Keller's request. They are hoping someone with an empty storefront will donate or discount the space, so consider this your nudge.
"These were tragedies. They did not need to happen. And it's not something that we're going to take sitting down." per NBC5
Dozens marched from City Hall to the federal building on Elmwood Thursday after federal immigration agents shot and killed two men at attempted traffic stops in Maine and Texas over the past several days. Organizers with Migrant Justice tied the moment back to the March raid on Dorset Street, while a Burlington city councilor argued that area police acknowledged problems that day without saying what they would change about their own actions. An ICE spokesperson said the agency supports peaceful protest but condemns actions that disrupt federal operations. Rally turnouts have grown each time, which is a story in itself.
"For many Vermonters, it's a beloved way to connect with neighbors, share local news and find lost cats." per Vermont Public
Vermont Public sat down with founders Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis as the hyperlocal institution turns 20, and the listener stories steal the show. One new arrival found her running partners two doors away, another built a backyard brick oven from three neighbors' spare fire bricks, and a librarian in a town of 1,200 called it her window to the world during the pandemic. The interview also gets into the thornier stuff, from politics moderation to how the business sustains itself. Twenty years of bear sightings and borrowed tools adds up to a real civic record.
"Somebody's gonna get a great deal." per Seven Days
In the department of very Vermont real estate, a 10,000 square foot Stowe estate that listed for $15.8 million last summer heads to absolute auction on July 22, meaning it goes to the highest bidder no matter the number. The spread includes an indoor sports barn connected to the house by an underground tunnel, four secret rooms, a reinforced concrete vault, and an antique red Stowe gondola perched over the driveway. Registered bidders only, so start rounding up your group chat now.
"My views when I'm in uniform don't necessarily match the views I have when I'm not in uniform." per VTDigger
VTDigger transcribed more than 100 hours of body camera footage from the March ICE standoff in South Burlington and published the result this morning, a ground level account of what a police line actually sounds like hour by hour. Officers debated car engines and puppy names between waves of neighbors calling them cowards, an ICE agent told the deputy chief it sounded like he was on the protesters' side, and the mundane details make the volatile ones land harder. All three police agencies declined interviews and said the footage speaks for itself. It is a long read and it earns the time this weekend.
"It really encourages families to find creemees all through the state and have a fun family summer. It's Vermont all the way around." per WCAX
File under reasons to love summer here. Adam Rice started selling the ten dollar Vermont Creemee Passport in April and has moved 3,000 of them so far, with 70 shops participating and a free creemee waiting for anyone who returns a fully stamped book. Proceeds are split among three Vermont children's and community charities, and shops like Richmond's Creemee Window say it is pulling in new faces every week. Pick one up at 20 participating shops or at creemeepassport.com.
"Just hearing them every single play I make, even if I literally touch the ball, they're cheering for me." per NBC5
Before the final, meet Louisa Thomsen, the Waterbury Center native who put up two goals and an assist in ten matches for the Green this season. Her brother Gavin calls the day before every kickoff to settle her nerves, her oldest brother Jack is flying to Seattle for the championship, and half of Waterbury has apparently been filling her cheering section all summer. Local kid, national stage, tomorrow night.
"A 2021 study by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that wildfire smoke is up to 10 times more harmful to humans than pollution like car exhaust because of PM2.5 particles." per Vermont Public
With Canadian smoke expected back over the region Saturday afternoon, Vermont Public's regularly updated guide doubles as your logistics cheat sheet for hazy days. It covers where to check live conditions on AirNow, how to sign up for air quality alert texts, how to rig a DIY box fan filter, and who is most at risk, including a note that the COTS Daystation in the Old North End offers filtered air during the day for folks without housing.
Quick Hits
A tanker truck caught fire on I-89 southbound between Milton and Colchester around 3:15 this morning, closing both lanes before crews reopened one by 5:30. State police say unknown mechanical issues sparked it, and the driver was evaluated and cleared at the scene.
WCAX previews this weekend's Vermont Brewers Festival, where more than 40 breweries pour at Waterfront Park tonight and tomorrow. The draw this year is a slate of festival exclusive collaborations, including a bourbon barrel aged maple stout from Kingdom Brewing and Backus Distillery and a watermelon wheat ale out of Rutland. Gates at 5:30 tonight and noon Saturday.
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!
Ready to play? Click the link below, enter your name, and show us what you've got. Btown Brief Quiz
Vermont Green FC:
The biggest soccer weekend in Vermont Green FC history starts tonight and runs on both coasts. The men open their USL League Two title defense at Virtue Field, hosting Newark's Ironbound SC in the Round of 32 after a second straight undefeated Northeast Division season. Ironbound arrives unbeaten themselves at 8 wins and 4 draws, with Portuguese striker Simão Agostinho and his team leading five goals the man to watch. The match is sold out, but the club says fans can still watch for free from the hill behind the north goal, which might be the best seat in Burlington tonight anyway.
Then Saturday night belongs to the women. The Green play Salmon Bay FC in the USL W League national final in Seattle at 8 PM our time, capping a debut season that sold out its season tickets before the first whistle. The broadcast runs on WYCI and streams free on SportsEngine Play, so you can bring the final to any porch in town.
And you do not need a couch for this one either. The club's running list of watch parties includes Devil Takes a Holiday, Ruben James, and Zero Gravity, all in Burlington, and word around town is that Mule Bar in Winooski will have the game on at 8 as well. Wherever you land, wear green.
Upcoming Home Games
Tonight, Friday July 17 @ 7 PM. USL2 Playoffs Round of 32 vs. Ironbound SC at Virtue Field. Sold out, with free viewing from the hill behind the north goal.
Events:
Friday, July 17, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Weekly Meditation at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Walk and Talk with Eileen at Allen Brook Nature Trail (parking lot), 39 N Williston Rd, Williston (Free)
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
9:00 AM: Family Friday With Linda Bassick at Pingala Café North Avenue, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Grab & Go Kit: Boba Tea at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: UVM Catamount Educational Summer Farm Stand at UVM Horticulture Research and Education Center, Pratt Pavilion, 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
10:00 AM: 'Champ: America's Lake Monster' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under)
10:00 AM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club, Williston ($6)
10:00 AM: Morning Tech Help at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free; preregister)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne ($15)
11:45 AM: Lunch with the Poets at The Innovation Café, Burlington — MEETUP.com
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: Main Street Block Party: July 17-18! at Main Street, downtown Burlington, Burlington
1:00 PM: Mah-Jongg at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston (Free)
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne ($20)
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
2:30 PM: Drop-In at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Pub Hour at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Friday Lego Builders at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Brownell Library's 100th Anniversary Party at Brownell Library, Essex Junction
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:30 PM: Laughter Yoga at Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Vermont Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park, Burlington ($60 in advance, $65 day-of)
6:00 PM: Crochet Night at Queen City Cat Lounge Friday! at Queen City Cat Lounge, North Avenue, Burlington ($45)
6:30 PM: Burlington FNG at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: Two Sev, Ron Stoppable, Xavier, Aidan at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: USL2 Playoffs Round of 32: Vermont Green FC vs. Ironbound SC at Virtue Field, Burlington (Sold out; free viewing from the hill behind the north goal)
8:00 PM: Kiley Latham, Skipipop at Einstein's Tap House, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Emo Night at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10/$15)
Times Vary: 33rd Annual Vermont Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park, Burlington
Performances
12:00 PM: Silver Wings - Aerial Dance for Folks 50+ at Murmurations Aerial, 208 Flynn Ave, Burlington ($30)
4:00 PM: Ask E Jean at Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
6:00 PM: Learn & Play Nemesis at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
Live Music/DJ
10:30 AM: Family Concert Series at Lake Champlain Chocolates Flagship Store (Pine St.), Burlington (Free)
12:30 PM: Summer Concert Series: John Daly Band at BCA Burlington City Arts, 149 College Street, Burlington (Free)
1:15 PM: 'Quartet Conversations' at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell Blues Revue & Jam at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Windjammer Summer Patio Music Series at Windjammer Restaurant, South Burlington
4:00 PM: Flatbread Friday at The Wheeler Homestead, South Burlington (Various prices)
5:00 PM: Food Truck Friday with Ryan Sweezey and Nameless Tacos at 4947 Spear St, Shelburne
5:00 PM: Porch Sessions: Willverine at The SEABA Center, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Sibling Reverie at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
5:00 PM: South End Get Down at Coal Collective, Burlington (Free; cost of food and drink)
6:00 PM: Dan Parks at St John's Club at Saint John's Club, Burlington
6:00 PM: Joe Adler at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
7:00 PM: Dusk Quartet at The 126, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Emoji Nightmare Presents: Lip Sync Lalapalooza at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($25)
7:00 PM: Longfriend Timefriend, We're Here! to Kill, Shy Husky, Better Things at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, Burlington (Donation)
7:30 PM: Breakin' Strings at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington ($20)
8:00 PM: Hullabaloo's Triumphant Return at The Old Post, South Burlington
8:00 PM: DD Island & The Wormdogs at Radio Bean, Burlington ($15)
8:00 PM: Dancing in the Streets: Sugarshack at 60 Lake St, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Tiffany Pfeiffer Trio at Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington ($15)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Moth Night at Rock Point! at Rock Point Center, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: 90 Proof @ On Tap at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: DJ CRWD CTRL at The Monkey House at The Monkey House, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: Rose Asteroid at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10/$15)
Saturday, July 18, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Intermediate Women's Mountain Bike Clinic at Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Governor Chittenden Road, Williston ($80)
8:30 AM: Sensory Friendly Mornings at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne (Free)
9:00 AM: Turf Time at South Burlington High School turf field, Dorset Street, South Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Member Mornings at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington
9:00 AM: 🥬☕Tracy Drive Popup Market! at Chile Colorado Ranchita, Tracy Drive, Burlington
9:00 AM: $5 and Dime! Artist Garage Sale at SEABA! at The SEABA Center, 404 Pine Street, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Burlington Farmers Market at Burlington Farmers Market, 345 Pine Street, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
9:00 AM: Grab & Go Kit: Boba Tea at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: BHS/BTC Community Tours! at 110 Institute Rd, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Beary Fun Beach Party! at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne (Free)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington — MEETUP.com
10:00 AM: 🐢Wild Turtle Weekend at ECHO🐢 at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, College Street, Burlington (Free with admission or ECHO membership)
10:00 AM: Nepenthes 101 - Tropical Pitcher Plant Workshop at Gardener's Supply - Williston, Williston ($26.50)
10:00 AM: Choosing Native Plants at UVM Horticulture Farm, South Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Free CSWD Composting Workshop & Facility Tour at CSWD Organics Recycling Facility / Green Mountain Compost, Redmond Road, Williston (Free)
10:00 AM: Carnivorous Plant Mini Bog Garden Workshop at Gardener's Supply, Burlington ($31.60)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open !! at AO Glass, Burlington (Free for all, come on in!)
10:00 AM: 'Champ: America's Lake Monster' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under)
10:30 AM: Insect Pollinator Walk at Rock Point Center, Burlington ($5-10 suggested donation; preregister)
10:30 AM: Create & Connect – Cyanotypes! at 21 Carmichael Street, Essex Junction (Free (donations welcome))
11:00 AM: Saturdays Are For The Classics at 127 East Shore Drive, Colchester
11:00 AM: Here to Help at 21 Buell St, Burlington
11:00 AM: $2k Extra Ball Battle 4 at The Pinball Co-op, South Burlington
11:00 AM: Main Street Block Party: July 17-18! at Main Street, downtown Burlington, Burlington
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Unearth a Cryptid: Meet Champ! at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne ($15)
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: Paddle or Kayak @ Shelburne Bay at Shelburne Bay Park, Shelburne — MEETUP.com
1:00 PM: Scout Troop Car Wash and Bottle Drive at St. John Vianney Catholic Church parking lot, Hinesburg Road, South Burlington
1:00 PM: Brett Ann Stanciu & Catherine Tudish at Phoenix Books (Burlington), Burlington (Free; preregister)
1:00 PM: New Member Orientation at The Media Factory, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister)
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne ($20)
2:00 PM: Ride Main Street at Valet Bike Parking near City Hall Park, Burlington
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
2:00 PM: Rad History: 'Parks and the Commons' at Peace & Justice Center, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Underland at Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
4:00 PM: Relax into Summer: A Reiki & Sound Bath Experience at The Wellness Collective, Colchester
4:00 PM: Summervale! at Intervale Center, 180 Intervale Rd, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
5:00 PM: Watch Party at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (free)
5:00 PM: World Cup Finals! at Citizen Cider, Burlington
5:00 PM: Burlington Watches Together: World Cup 3rd Place Playoff at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Vermont Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park, Burlington ($60 in advance, $65 day-of)
7:00 PM: Btown Brief IRL – The Odyssey Premiere at Essex Cinemas, Essex — MEETUP.com
7:00 PM: Chaston, Aras, Raul, Matt P at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Dads' Night Out: Sober Saturday Nights at The Guild Hall, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Sparkomatik at Monkey House, Winooski ($10/$15)
8:00 PM: USL W League Final watch parties: Vermont Green FC at Salmon Bay FC at Multiple bars (Devil Takes A Holiday, Ruben James, Zero Gravity), Burlington
11:00 PM: Mango Safari & Bobana at Radio Bean, Burlington
Times Vary: 33rd Annual Vermont Brewers Festival at Waterfront Park, Burlington
Times Vary: Champlain Valley Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($3-5; free for kids under 16)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Quartet Hops at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
10:30 AM: Community Phenology at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Porch Sessions: Matt Hagen at The SEABA Center, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: 21 Songwriters Festival at Burlington Beer Company, Burlington
1:00 PM: Splash Dance: DJ cRAIG mITCHELL at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
1:30 PM: Official Claire, C.B. Spencer, Perry Donovan at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
3:00 PM: Left Eye Jump at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Moe Reen & Louisa Stancioff at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
5:00 PM: Downtown Sextet at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Dan Parks at On Tap at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
5:30 PM: Live Music at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (free)
5:30 PM: Troy Millette at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Twilight Series: High Summer with Moondogs at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: The Faerie Godbrothers at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
6:30 PM: FRIDGE, pabgaf, creedbratton, i want my 50 dollars at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10/$15)
7:00 PM: Emoji Nightmare Presents: Snatch Game at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($25)
7:00 PM: Hullabaloo at The Old Post, South Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: JJ Gotti, YRMKD, W.T.C., YC, Sadboy, Julius, Bonfils, MXPLE at Burlington Odd Fellows Hall, Burlington (Donation)
7:30 PM: Sex With Jenna: Dating Show at Higher Ground, South Burlington ($18)
8:00 PM: Ginger Geezus Plays Spanked Puppy at Spanked Puppy, Colchester
8:00 PM: SlipBizkit at Higher Ground, South Burlington ($25)
9:00 PM: Michael Wilbur with DJ AIMS at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Fabiano Do Nascimento at Radio Bean, Burlington ($18/$25)
9:00 PM: Free Range Band at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Lizzie Murderz at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: Randal Pierce Trio at The 126, Burlington (Free)
Sunday, July 19, 2026
General Events
9:00 AM: Summer Forest Bathing: shinrin-yoku at Farm Barn, Shelburne ($35)
9:00 AM: City Market Co-Op: Coffee With GM and Board President at City Market Onion River Co-op, South End, Flynn Avenue, Burlington
9:00 AM: Trolley tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington (Prices $35 Adults Veterans $30 Senior Citizen $30 Children under 12 $15 Children Under 5 years free Student Groups minimum of 10)
9:00 AM: Grab & Go Kit: Boba Tea at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: BHS/BTC Community Tours! at 110 Institute Rd, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: 🐢Wild Turtle Weekend at ECHO🐢 at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, College Street, Burlington (Free with admission or ECHO membership)
10:00 AM: Winooski Farmers Market at 20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski (Free)
10:00 AM: PopUp Sunday at Soda Plant at The Soda Plant, Pine Street, Burlington
10:00 AM: Church Service with Art at College Street Congregational Church, 265 College Street, Burlington
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
10:00 AM: 'Champ: America's Lake Monster' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Regular admission, $17-23; free for members and kids 2 and under)
11:00 AM: Motorcycle Sunday at 127 East Shore Drive, Colchester
11:00 AM: The Power of Play Series: Create Your Own Story Cards at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne ($15)
12:00 PM: Feel The Stride Run Club at 31 Church St, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Cluckin' & Pluckin' at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (free)
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 for Adults, $15.99 for Kids 3-11, $4.99 for Infants 0-2)
1:00 PM: South Champlain St Block Party - All Welcome! at 255 South Champlain Street, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club, Williston ($6)
1:30 PM: House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn 2026 at Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne ($15)
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne ($20)
2:00 PM: Finding Newport: The Historical Mystery of Ethan Allen's Black Driver (The Thomas M. Achenbach Talk) at Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
3:00 PM: Monty Python's Life of Brian at Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
3:00 PM: Craft & Skillshare Afternoons! (Crafternoons) at Queen City Lodge Oddfellows Hall, Burlington
3:00 PM: Girl's Day Out Pop Up Market! at specs café-bar, West Canal Street, Winooski (Free)
3:00 PM: Watch Party at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (free)
3:00 PM: World Cup Finals! at Citizen Cider, Burlington
3:00 PM: Burlington Watches Together: World Cup Final! at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Sunday Polo Match at Amdez Polo Club, Shelburne ($10-20)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
5:05 PM: Vermont Lake Monsters Special Olympics Night at Centennial Field, Burlington ($12 for adults, $6 for kids)
5:30 PM: New Mindfulness Meditation Gathering at Hood Plant, Burlington (By donation)
6:00 PM: The Amazing Puzzle Race 1000 Piece at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness Practice at Hot Yoga Burlington, Burlington (Free)
Times Vary: Champlain Valley Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($3-5; free for kids under 16)
Live Music/DJ
9:30 AM: Community Science Workshop at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Sunday Classical: Kenneth R Meyer at 135 Church St, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Quartet Hops at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont, Burlington
11:00 AM: Blueberry Jam Brunch at Isham Family Farms, Williston
12:30 PM: Mikahely at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Uncle Jimmy at Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington
1:00 PM: Acoustic Brunch at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
4:30 PM: Milk Moon & Vampires Lunacy at South End Studio, Burlington
5:00 PM: Wine & Jazz Sundays at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
6:00 PM: Myra Flynn at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne ($26.75)
6:00 PM: Karaoke at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: Mango Safari, Boban, Ides of Marge, Magnolia at Monkey House, Winooski ($5/$10)
8:00 PM: Social Distortion at Higher Ground, South Burlington (SOLD OUT)
9:00 PM: Karaoke Sundays! at Einstein Tap House, Burlington (Free!)
Here are some of my favorite BtownBrief links:
The full list of things to do around town, always waiting for you when you need a plan: Things To Do in Burlington
Every restaurant and bar in town, with their real hours, so you can see what's actually open right now: Open Right Now
Every happy hour, daily special and cheap-night I've gathered so far: Food & Drink Deals
And if you'd rather just have one link for all of it: the guide, the arcade, the whole lot hub.btownbrief.com
That’s All, Burlington!
That is a genuinely absurd amount of weekend for three days. Soak up today's sunshine while it holds, keep one eye on the sky and the other on the air quality Saturday, and let Sunday's northwest breeze carry you into the final at 3. Whether you are steamrolling prints on Church Street, cheering the Green from a hill or a couch, or just finding out what shows up to a lit sheet at Rock Point after dark, we hope you squeeze the good stuff out of it.
Got a tip, a favorite haunt, or an event we should have on our radar? Send it our way, we are always listening. And if the Brief helps you plan your weekends, sharing it with a friend or chipping in keeps it coming.
See you Monday, Burlington.
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.
