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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
If you have been waiting all week for the rain to let up, the weekend mostly delivers. Friday starts under patchy valley fog that burns off by late morning, then opens into afternoon sun with highs in the low 80s. Saturday is the warm one at 85, partly sunny through the morning before the clouds thicken up in the afternoon, with a few showers possible overnight. Sunday turns humid and unsettled because showers and thunderstorms fill in through the afternoon and evening with highs near 82.
Downtown is completely set up for BCA Festival of Fools starting at noon today, free across four pitches on Church Street and in City Hall Park, with more than 70 performances and something new kicking off about every half hour until 9. The park warms up first with Mélissandre T-B and François-Félix Roy at 12:30 in the summer concert series, and the Fools’ Twilight Series closes the night out there with Lily Golden at 6 and The Big Takeover at 7:30, also free. The waterfront has the big ticket, Sylvan Esso w/ Landlady ($54.50, kids 12 and under free) at Waterfront Park at 7. Comedy is stacked tonight, with Jordan Klepper on the Flynn Main Stage at 7:30 pulling from a decade of rally interviews, Rosebud Baker ($25) doing 7 and 9 o’clock sets at Vermont Comedy Club, and the free All That Jazz Comedy Showcase at The 126 at 7. Language lovers can drop into French Social Hour at the Hilton Garden Inn from 5:30, free with a cash bar. The Rustics play the St. John’s Club from 6 to 8, and night owls can land at Emoji Nightmare’s Cherry Pop Open Drag at the Monkey House in Winooski at 8.
Saturday is the fullest day of the weekend. Our own BTown Coffee Club [MEETUP] runs 10 to noon at Zero Gravity on Pine Street, free as always, so grab a coffee and find us. The Burlington Farmers Market is up from 9 to 2 further down Pine Street, Festival of Fools picks back up at 11 for its closing day, and the Fool’s Gold Book Sale spreads out on the Fletcher Free lawn from 10 with most books at $2. Early risers have the Green Mountain Club’s Camels Hump Loop [MEETUP] stepping off at 7:30, though sign ups for that one have already closed. Runners can lace up for the KW Fun Run/Walk 5K on Randall Street at 10 to benefit Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, gardeners can put in a shift at the Miner Garden Workday at the UVM horticulture farm in South Burlington from 10, and naturalists can join Community Phenology at Rock Point at 10:30. If your speed is quieter, James Kochalka reads at Phoenix Books at 11, Board Game Brunch [MEETUP] settles in at Old Town Cafe in Williston from 9, and the Vermont Psychic Expo takes over the Champlain Valley Expo from 10 to 5. COTS Back to School Bonanza fills the lot at 95 North Avenue from noon to 3. The evening splits between The Head and the Heart w/ Houndmouth ($58, kids 12 and under free) at Waterfront Park, Swing Dance with Emily Day and Friends at North Star with a lesson at 7, ‘No Exit’ at 2 and again at 7:30 at the Off Center, and the Fools’ Twilight Series sending the festival off with Milton Busker & the Grim Work at 6 and The Wolff Sisters at 7:30. And Vermont Green plays for the national title at 7:30, away in Flint and live on WCAX.
Sunday works best if you get out early. Trio Nuovo opens with free classical at the BCA Center at 10, the Winooski Farmers Market runs 10 to 2, and Mix & Mingle [MEETUP] holds down the afternoon at the Boardroom from noon. Sunday Polo in Shelburne opens its gates at 2:30 for a 3 o’clock match, and Champ’s Birthday Bash brings the Lake Monsters out against Lowell at 5:05, with the first 500 fans getting a cooler. Rock Point hosts “Offerings and Needs” at the fire pit behind the chapel from 4:30, the Queer Clothing Swap runs 5 to 8 at the Hunny Hive on Church Street, and Womxn’s Pick-up Soccer [MEETUP] could use bodies at Starr Farm Park at 5. The night belongs to Big Thief w/ Ben LaMar Gay at Waterfront Park, which is sold out with a wait list going, Aaron Chen: TECHNOLOGY ($25) at Vermont Comedy Club at 7, and Reversal of Man with NØ MAN, Blossom and CORRUPT WORLD at Radio Bean at 7:30.
Scroll down to Events Section for full list of events Friday-Sunday.
Track it all week, with patio, swim, and sunset scores, at Burlington Right Now.
Thundercat at the Waterfront Concert this Thursday.
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, August 1st @ 10:00 AM: Our favorite casual weekly social at Zero Gravity Brewery. Just good coffee, great conversation, and figuring out weekend plans!
Pick-up Basketball – Wednesday, August 5th @ 5:30 PM: Come play competitive pick-up basketball at Pomeroy Park. My favorite hobby.
Lake Monsters Baseball & Creemee Night – Thursday, August 6th @ 6:15 PM: Summer baseball at Centennial Field with creemees involved, which is the correct way to watch baseball.
Other Upcoming Events:
BTown Coffee Club – Saturday, August 8th @ 10:00 AM: Same time, same table, come say hi.
Lake Monsters Baseball & Fireworks – Saturday, August 8th @ 5:45 PM: A summer night at Centennial Field with the Lake Monsters, capped off with fireworks.
Trivia at Four Quarters – Thursday, August 13th @ 6:00 PM: The next trivia round in Winooski, two weeks out.
Tired of scrolling? Play the BTown Digital Arcade instead!
The digital arcade is officially packed with 32 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.
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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. I 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. If the Brief saves you time, or has introduced you to something new in Burlington, then definitely consider chipping in!
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
“This year’s lineup is one of our strongest yet, bringing together amazing street performers, incredible musicians, and some unforgettable surprises,” per Vermont Business Magazine.
The 18th Festival of Fools takes over Church Street and City Hall Park today and tomorrow with more than 70 free performances, running noon to 9 today and 11 to 9 Saturday across four outdoor pitches with something starting roughly every half hour. Galumpha, Cate Great, Snap Boogie, The Yo-Yo Guy, Kilted Colin and The Pocket Circus are all on the bill, with Circus Smirkus Road Show and Jacob Green One Man Band added Saturday. Everything is free, tipping the performers is encouraged, and the information tent outside the BCA Center hands out daily schedules. So please, go on and enjoy Church St to the fullest this weekend! It tends to be one of the funniest, busiest times of the year.
“This is nothing more than the Governor wanting to make sure Burlington is safe for residents and visitors, despite others framing this as a political issue,” per VTDigger.
Gov. Phil Scott directed state troopers to patrol downtown from July 29 through mid August, and Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak learned about it indirectly, then announced it herself in a Tuesday mass email saying the news had come to her attention the day before. His office pointed to a coming gathering of New England governors and Canadian premiers, an insurance industry conference, and UVM students returning for the fall. She said she welcomes state help while calling the lack of direct communication unfortunate, and the thing to watch is how troopers and the council’s own downtown plan land on the same blocks in August.
“I mean, I was at an event and an insurrection broke out. Don’t always see that coming. Sometimes things get strange,” per Seven Days.
Klepper brings his solo show to the Flynn Main Stage tonight, a storytelling set built from a decade of interviewing Trump supporters at rallies, with clips and slides pulled from the road. Opening for him is Steve Waltien, a Shelburne native and Middlebury grad who wrote for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” until CBS cancelled it earlier this year, and who says he has never played the Flynn Main Stage despite growing up going to shows there. The two met in the early 2000s Chicago improv scene at ImprovOlympic and have been working together on and off ever since. Klepper’s read on the moment is that the rally circuit has quieted down and people are turning up mostly to laugh in a room together.
“It’s great to be able to say good morning,” per Seven Days.
The Farmhouse Group spent three days in June turning the El Cortijo diner car on Bank Street into Burl’s Downtown Kitchenette, a nod to the space’s run as the Oasis Diner from 1954 to 2007. The 1953 Mountain View car was mostly left alone beyond new tables and booths, the existing staff stayed on, and the doors were closed only a few days. Executive chef Kevin Sprouse built a Southern leaning menu next to the diner standards, with grits at $4, smoked pork hash at $8.50 and a hot honey chicken biscuit at $15, and the pimento cheese is his mother’s recipe. It is the only one of the group’s five Chittenden County restaurants serving breakfast, it runs seven days a week now, and owner Jed Davis says mornings have been busier than expected while dinner is still finding its feet.
“Vermont’s charm isn’t the problem, it’s that the brand story wasn’t giving people a clear reason to go,” per Vermont Business Magazine.
Vermont rolled out its first dedicated tourism brand under the line “State of Inspiration,” built over nine months with the place branding firm DNCO. The research behind it is the interesting part, with 79 percent of American travelers calling Vermont appealing but only 15 percent naming it unprompted as somewhere they plan to go, and the state sitting 30th nationally for ad recall behind Maine and Massachusetts. Tourism is 9 percent of state GDP at $4.2 billion a year and brought 16 million visitors in 2024, so closing the gap between admiration and actual bookings is real money.
“We don’t see other independent local bookstores as competitors. Our competitor is Amazon,” per Seven Days.
Susan and Rick Cote opened Wild Meadows in late June at 27 Market Street in the Finney Crossing development, pairing a full bookstore with a café pouring espresso, housemade lemonade, wine and beer, plus pastries from Mirabelles and truffles from Birnn Chocolates. The Cotes have owned the weekly Williston Observer since 2020 and run the paper out of a back room of the shop. They employ 20 people full and part time, stay open until 9 Thursday through Saturday, and have already hosted a Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival pop up concert. Until now the closest full selection bookshops were Hyperbole in Richmond and Phoenix in Essex.
“There’s nothing compassionate or progressive about allowing our daily status quo to persist,” per Seven Days.
Most of the council’s Democratic caucus gathered on Bank Street to announce Burlington Forward, a resolution headed to their August meeting that would expedite hiring for the 10 officers funded in the new budget and create public space response teams able to issue citations and connect people with services. It pairs faster removal of unauthorized encampments with more shelter capacity and some sanctioned sites, and asks the state and neighboring towns to carry more of the load. A sizable chunk deals with zoning that would put needle exchanges and the planned overdose prevention center through more public review, which is why the press conference happened outside Vermont CARES. Councilor Buddy Singh said 89 people account for more than 1,500 public safety incidents this year, and 40 percent of them have housing.
“They’re not doctors, but Vermont’s justices of the peace do make house calls,” per Seven Days.
The August 11 primary decides the Democratic nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and auditor, the Republican nominee for the U.S. House seat, and every one of the 30 Senate and 150 House seats. The part that trips people up is that primaries do not get universal mail in ballots the way general elections do, so you have to request an absentee ballot. Early voting runs through August 10 at your municipal clerk’s office, you can register right up through Election Day, polls are open 7 to 7, and homebound voters can call their clerk the day before to have two justices of the peace bring a ballot over.
“(The dog breaths) actually weren’t that bad this year. We have some good dog parents,” per Community News Service.
Eighteen dogs lined up on the grass at the Winooski Farmers Market on Sunday for the market’s annual show, a $20 per entry fundraiser for the market and For the Love of Dogs Vermont, a rescue that rehomes around 800 dogs a year. Ahki, a three legged husky, took Cutest, Scar and his owner won Looks Most Like Their Owner on the strength of matching mohawks, and Penelope the Newfoundland won Worst Breath after drooling on the mayor. Judging that last category has been a mayoral duty since 2017.
“I’m not running against Aly, but for Vermont,” per Seven Days.
Aly Richards and Amanda Janoo have never run for office before, met over coffee at the Williston Gardener’s Supply café in February, and agreed to keep the race positive, a pledge that has held up across a long run of shared forums. A July 21 UNH poll of 558 likely Democratic voters found 52 percent still undecided, with Janoo at 26 and Richards at 19, and put Scott’s approval at 48 percent, down 11 points from August 2024. Richards is running on regional housing targets, a temporary end to the sales tax on building materials and free community college paid for with cannabis revenue, while Janoo proposes a state funded preventative primary care system costing up to $320 million, covered by surcharges on income above $250,000. Richards has Kunin, Dean and Shumlin behind her, Janoo has the Progressive Party, the AFL-CIO and Jerry Greenfield, and with more than half the electorate undecided this one is genuinely open.
“Silicon photonics is essential to AI infrastructure. For a decade, the industry talked about the shift from copper to optical as something that was coming,” per Vermont Business Magazine.
GlobalFoundries signed a letter of intent with the Commerce Department for a $300 million CHIPS award to develop silicon photonics, the technology that moves data with light instead of electrical signals inside AI data centers. The work runs through GF’s existing operations in Malta, New York and Burlington, which is the local part, and targets next generation optical materials, wafer technologies and advanced packaging. A separate agreement hands Commerce an equity stake of roughly 1 percent of the company. The release also carries supporting statements from a run of customers including AMD, Broadcom, Cisco, Corning, Lumentum, Marvell, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Qualcomm.
“It’s no coincidence that bridges are highly symbolic. They’re meant to convey, but more importantly, they are meant to connect,” per The Other Paper.
South Burlington finally put shovels in the ground Monday on the bike and pedestrian bridge over I-89, more than five years after it was first proposed. The span will link Staples Plaza and Quarry Hill on the west side to the University Mall on the east, so you can get between the two cities without taking your life in your hands at an interstate ramp. Phase one opens to the public in 2028, federal grants now total $17.9 million against a price tag just over $27 million, and the bridge still does not have a name.
QUICK HITS
Somebody bought a $2.75 million ticket at the Jiffy Mart on Kennedy Drive for Wednesday’s drawing and had not come forward as of Thursday evening. The numbers were 5-6-13-14-35-6, so go check your console.
UVM told lawmakers Tuesday it has around $60 million committed toward the stalled $100 million events center, more than halfway to its fundraising goal. The Senate attached a condition to its $10 million that the money comes back if UVM cannot raise the rest, and trustees vote in October.
Tuesday’s downpour overwhelmed disinfection at the Main Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the city proactively closed Blanchard Beach, Oakledge Cove, the Blodgett access area, the Coast Guard ramp and Perkins Pier. The city confirmed Friday morning that all of them are open again.
Emma Slater brought her doughnuts back to the county with a second shop at the Barns at Lang Farm in Essex, and sold 400 of them in a couple of hours on opening day. It runs Friday through Sunday, 8 to 3, with espresso and her piped churro style rings made from Nitty Gritty Grain flour.
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 you can climb the monthly leaderboard, which resets on the 1st. Make your name (or cool nickname) known to Btown!
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Vermont Green FC Final Match Preview vs Flint City Bucks
“158 clubs have narrowed to an elite duo. The title holders take on the four-time champions in what is expected to be the 31-year-old league’s most-watched final ever,” per Vermont Green FC.
The Green are one win from going back to back. They defend their national title Saturday at 7:30 against the Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan, and the hosts are no easy out. Flint went 10-1-1 to win the Great Lakes Division, owns four USL2 championships of its own, and will field two familiar faces in Judewellin Michel and Stephane Njike, both stars of Vermont’s 2025 title team. The Green have been ruthless in these playoffs, scoring 19 goals while conceding just 1, including the 7-1 semifinal rout of Laredo, and Ryan Zellefrow is the one to watch with 12 goals and 8 assists in his Vermont Green career. WCAX is carrying the final live, and SportsEngine Play has the stream if you would rather watch from a porch.
Events:
This is the curated cut. The full calendar, 25 sources refreshed twice a day, lives at Burlington events.
Friday, July 31, 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, Williston (Free)
9:00 AM: Trolley Tours at Perkins Pier, Burlington ($35 adults, $30 seniors/veterans, $15 kids under 12, under 5 free)
10:00 AM: UVM Catamount Educational Summer Farm Stand at UVM Horticulture Research & Education Center, South Burlington
10:00 AM: 'Dinosaur Safari' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington ($17-23 admission; free for members and kids 2 and under)
10:00 AM: Glass Factory and Storefront Open at AO Glass, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Coming Together: A Substance-Use Addiction Summit at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction (Free)
10:00 AM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club, Williston ($6)
11:30 AM: Shelburne Farms Tour 2026 at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne ($15)
11:45 AM: Lunch with the Poets at The Innovation Café, Burlington (Free) — MEETUP.com
12:00 PM: BCA's Festival of Fools at Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III at Spirit of Ethan Allen, Burlington ($36.99 adults, $15.99 kids 3-11)
1:00 PM: Adult Rummikub at Essex Free Library, Essex Junction (Free)
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)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:00 PM: Flatbread Friday at The Wheeler Homestead, South Burlington (various prices)
4:00 PM: Retro Game Night at Brownell Library, Essex Junction (Free)
5:30 PM: French Social Hour at Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown, Burlington (Free; cash bar)
6:00 PM: BHS/BTC Community Tours at Burlington High School & Tech Center, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Meno-Punk Meet Up at Back to Wellness, South Burlington (Free)
6:30 PM: Burlington FNG at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Aquarius Full Moon Circle at Leddy Park, Burlington (donation) — MEETUP.com
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: SMOKER'S PARADISE at Higher Ground, South Burlington ($8.13-$50)
Performances
1:55 PM: Peter Asher: Everywhere Man at Partizanfilm, Burlington (also 4:15 PM and 5:50 PM)
2:00 PM: Movie Screening (PG-13) at Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester (Free)
7:00 PM: All That Jazz Comedy Showcase at The 126, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Rosebud Baker at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($25, also 9:00 PM)
7:30 PM: Jordan Klepper at the Flynn Main Stage, Burlington
7:30 PM: 'No Exit' at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington ($25-30)
Live Music/DJ
9:30 AM: Junior Program Mini Quartet Hop at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free)
12:30 PM: Summer Concert Series: Mélissandre T-B & François-Félix Roy at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
1:30 PM: Mini Quartet Hop, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell's Blue's Revue at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Quartet Hop at Phoenix Books, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival at Phoenix Books, Burlington
4:00 PM: Danny & The Parts at Hotel Vermont, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Chris Bell Trio at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
5:30 PM: Radio Cowboy at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Fools' Twilight Series Concert: Lily Golden and The Big Takeover at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: The Rustics at the St. John's Club at St. John's Club, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Jerborn at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction (Free)
7:00 PM: Sylvan Esso w/ Landlady at Waterfront Park, Burlington ($54.50; free for kids 12 and under)
7:00 PM: Dari Bay, villagerrr, Benny Yurco at North Star Community Hall, Burlington (sold out)
7:00 PM: Better Angels at The Old Post, South Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: DJ Two Sev, Ron Stoppable, Calvin, Chaston at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Dancing in the Streets: Griftful Dead at the Skinny Pancake Burlington Waterfront, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Emoji Nightmare Presents: Cherry Pop Open Drag at Monkey House, Winooski ($5/$10)
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
8:30 PM: Flywlkr Album Release Party at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
9:00 PM: Splendid Torch, Ponyhustle at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: 4Q After Dark: A Benefit for Outright Vermont at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski ($36.22)
9:00 PM: DJ Cheetatah at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
9:00 PM: Magnetic Horse at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: The Randal Pierce Quintet at The 126, Burlington (Free)
10:00 PM: Live DJ at Rí Rá at Rí Rá Irish Pub, Burlington
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10/$15)
11:00 PM: Late Night Karaoke with Owen Leavey at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
Saturday, August 1, 2026
General Events
7:30 AM: Camels Hump Loop at the Forest City/Burrows trailhead, Huntington (sign-up deadline has passed) — MEETUP.com
8:00 AM: Weekly Bird Walk at Rock Point Center, Burlington (Free; preregister)
9:00 AM: Donate Your Used Baby Gear to Support VT Families at Memorial Hall, Essex Junction
9:00 AM: Burlington Farmers Market at 345 Pine St, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Board Game Brunch at Old Town Cafe & Comics, Williston — MEETUP.com
9:30 AM: Day-Long Mindfulness & Meditation Retreat at the Quaker Meeting House, Burlington
10:00 AM: Vermont Psychic Expo at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($20-30; free for kids under 12)
10:00 AM: KW Fun Run/Walk 5K to benefit Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity at 68 Randall St, South Burlington ($25-$40)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington (Free) — MEETUP.com
10:00 AM: Vermont Public Kids Day with Daniel Tiger at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with museum admission or ECHO membership)
10:00 AM: Fool's Gold Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington ($2 per book)
10:00 AM: Miner Garden Workday at UVM Horticulture Research & Education Center, South Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: 'Dinosaur Safari' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington ($17-23 admission; free for members and kids 2 and under)
10:30 AM: Community Phenology at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, Burlington (Free; preregister)
11:00 AM: Reading Is Golden Series: James Kochalka at Phoenix Books, Burlington (Free; preregister)
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free)
11:00 AM: Saturday Zentangle with Julia Davenport at Essex Free Library, Essex Junction (Free)
11:00 AM: BCA's Festival of Fools at Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: COTS Back to School Bonanza at 95 North Avenue, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Vermont Institute of Natural Science presents "Dinosaurs Are Birds" at the Colchester Meeting House, Colchester (Free)
1:00 PM: New Member Orientation at the Media Factory, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister)
2:00 PM: Sun to Cheese Tour 2026 at the Shelburne Farms Welcome Center, Shelburne ($20)
6:30 PM: Milton Artists' Guild Calcutta at Fraternal Order of Eagles #793, South Burlington ($100)
7:00 PM: Swing Dance with Emily Day and Friends at North Star Community Hall, Burlington ($20 sliding scale)
7:00 PM: Chris Bohjalian at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free; preregister)
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: USL2 National Final: Vermont Green FC at Flint City Bucks at Atwood Stadium, Flint MI — away game, broadcast live on WCAX
9:00 PM: SMOKER'S PARADISE at Higher Ground, South Burlington ($4.06-$50)
Performances
12:25 PM: Peter Asher: Everywhere Man at Partizanfilm, Burlington (also 2:45 PM and 6:15 PM)
2:00 PM: 'No Exit' at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington ($25-30)
3:00 PM: Latcho Drom at the Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
7:00 PM: Rosebud Baker at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($25, also 9:00 PM)
7:30 PM: 'No Exit' at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington ($25-30)
Live Music/DJ
1:00 PM: Splash Dance: DJ Rich Conte at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
2:00 PM: Rad Folk Songs at the Peace & Justice Center, Burlington (Free)
3:00 PM: Left Eye Jump at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Jesse Agan at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
6:00 PM: Fools' Twilight Series Concert: Milton Busker & the Grim Work and The Wolff Sisters at City Hall Park, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: Rik Palieri, William Ellis at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
6:00 PM: Kyle Stevens at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction (Free)
7:00 PM: The Head and the Heart w/ Houndmouth at Waterfront Park, Burlington ($58; free for kids 12 and under)
7:00 PM: Dan Strauss & Ted Looby at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski
7:00 PM: Andriana Chobot, Alice Grace at the Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington ($10)
7:00 PM: DJ Big Dog at Thingz From Yaad, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Jah Red at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Residual Groove at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
9:00 PM: Alternate Take at The 126, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: DJ Broosha, sjcosmos at Monkey House, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: DJ Kwame at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Lizzie Murderz at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski (Free)
9:00 PM: Two Baseballs in Space, Ruminations at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
10:00 PM: DJ Two Rivers at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room, Burlington (Free)
11:00 PM: Roost.world at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10)
Sunday, August 2, 2026
General Events
9:00 AM: MASKS ON! Sundays at ECHO at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Vermont Psychic Expo at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($20-30; free for kids under 12)
10:00 AM: Winooski Farmers Market at Winooski Falls Way, Winooski (Free)
10:00 AM: 'Dinosaur Safari' Exhibit at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington ($17-23 admission; free for members and kids 2 and under)
12:00 PM: Feel The Stride Run Club at 31 Church St, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Friends Book Sale at Fletcher Free Library, Burlington (Free)
12:00 PM: Mix & Mingle at The Boardroom Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction (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 the Shelburne Farms Inn, Shelburne ($15)
3:00 PM: Sunday Polo Match at Amdez Polo Club, Shelburne ($10-20)
4:30 PM: "Offerings and Needs" at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, Burlington
5:00 PM: Queer Clothing Swap at The Hunny Hive at Hunny Musturd, Burlington
5:00 PM: BHS Germany Trip: Lake Monsters Game Fundraiser at Centennial Field, Burlington
5:00 PM: Womxn's Pick-up Soccer at Starr Farm Park at Starr Farm Park, Burlington (Free) — MEETUP.com
5:05 PM: Vermont Lake Monsters vs. Lowell Spinners: Champ's Birthday Bash at Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field, Burlington
5:30 PM: New Mindfulness Meditation Gathering at the Hood Plant, Burlington (by donation)
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness Practice at Hot Yoga Burlington, Burlington (Free)
Performances
12:25 PM: Peter Asher: Everywhere Man at Partizanfilm, Burlington (also 2:45 PM and 6:35 PM)
2:00 PM: 'No Exit' at the Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington ($25-30)
7:00 PM: Aaron Chen: TECHNOLOGY at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($25)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Classical: Trio Nuovo at the BCA Center, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont, Burlington
12:00 PM: Days Between, Acid Wash, Dan Weintraub, Charlie Schramm at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
1:00 PM: Summer Concert Sundays at Vermont Pub & Brewery, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Cluckin' & Pluckin' ft. Jerborn at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Tom Pearo at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: Elijah Kraatz at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
7:00 PM: Big Thief w/ Ben LaMar Gay at Waterfront Park, Burlington (sold out, wait list available)
7:30 PM: Reversal of Man // NØ MAN // Blossom // CORRUPT WORLD at Radio Bean, Burlington ($15/$18)
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
What changed in Burlington since you last looked, openings, closings, and everything in between: Since You Checked
18 free Burlington-made games, one address: The BTown Arcade
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 your weekend. Get the outdoor plans in Friday and Saturday while the sun is holding, keep something waterproof handy once Sunday afternoon rolls around, and enjoy the fact that the beaches are back open. Got a tip, a favorite haunt, or an event we should have on our radar? Send it our way, we are always listening. See you later, 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.
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