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Table of Contents
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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
Happy Friday, Burlington. We're heading into the weekend with a sky that can't quite commit. Expect increasing clouds through the afternoon with a chance of a few light, scattered showers, though nothing that should wreck your evening. Any spotty rain fades quickly, and Friday night looks dry with highs hovering in the mid 50s. Saturday brings a similar script, with some morning sunshine giving way to afternoon clouds. The heavier rain should track south through the Upper Valley and into southern New England, leaving Burlington in decent shape with temps reaching the upper 50s to low 60s. Sunday, just in time for Mother's Day, looks like the warmest day of the bunch. A few morning showers are possible, but the afternoon should open up with more sunshine and highs climbing into the mid to upper 60s. Keep an umbrella handy, but don't let it stop you from making plans.
And there are plenty of plans to make, starting tonight. Vermont Folklife kicks off the Young Tradition Festival with a Community Dance Party at the Contois Auditorium (149 Church Street) starting at 6:30, featuring contra and square dances, Bollywood steps, Tibetan circle dances, and more. Families with young kids are encouraged to come early. Over on Church Street, Phoenix Books is hosting a launch party at 7 PM for This Way But Not Here, a new book about the history and mythology of Lake Champlain by local tour boat captain Mathias Dubilier. If you've ever wondered whether Champ is real or if there's truly an independent island nation hiding in the lake, this is your evening. Laurie Kilmartin also brings her sharp stand up to the Vermont Comedy Club for shows at 7 and 9 PM tonight and tomorrow, and she's written for CONAN and the Academy Awards, so expect a very good set. Elsewhere, Steps to End Domestic Violence celebrates its 50th anniversary with the "Kaleidoscope" Spring Social at BCA Studios from 6 to 9 PM, with food from Poorhouse Pies, live music, survivor stories, and a raffle. The Persist Dance Party takes over 400 Pine Street from 6 to 9 PM with DJ Love spinning tracks to benefit Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. For something more reflective, Strings of the Subconscious offers a dreamwork workshop with live musical accompaniment at Kula Yoga in South Burlington from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Want a more low key Friday? Head to Wheeler Homestead for Flatbread Fridays from 4 to 6:30 PM, where the wood fired oven is cranking and a live band plays with no cover. Hot Neon Magic plays The Old Post in South Burlington starting at 8 PM if 80s covers are your thing, and Bloom & Bowl in Colchester offers free bowling and a girls' night out vibe starting at 7:30 PM (RSVP required). The Vermont Cannabis Convention also opens today at the DoubleTree in South Burlington and runs through tomorrow, with a full speaker schedule covering everything from living soil cultivation to federal policy.
Saturday is absolutely stacked. The Burlington Farmers Market returns to 345 Pine Street for its season opener, running 9 AM to 2 PM with over 70 vendors, live music, a kids tent, and yes, well behaved dogs are welcome. While you're there, the Burlington Lead Program will be running free soil and household item lead screening, and Vermont Folklife's Traditional Music Showcase performs from 10 AM to 1 PM as part of the Young Tradition Festival. Just up the block on Church Street, Build A Bouquet lets you piece together a free Mother's Day bouquet from flowers donated by Marketplace stores, starting at noon outside Homeport on a first come, first served basis. On Pine Street, the Mother's Day Pop-Up Market at AO Glass on Pine St opens at 10 AM with local makers and artisans, perfect for gift shopping before or after the farmers market. Over at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms, don't miss the free conversation with Fabrizia Lanza, director of the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School in Sicily, moderated by Vermont food writer Melissa Pasanen from 10 AM to noon. Shelburne Farms is also running its Sun to Cheese Tour at 2 PM and the general farm tour at 11:30 AM if you want to make a day of it down there. But the big Saturday highlight is Shelburne Museum Community Day, which is completely free and runs from 10 AM to 5 PM with guided tours, live music from three different acts, artmaking, blacksmith and printing demos, carousel rides, lawn games, and a seed share. We're hosting a Btown Brief IRL meetup [MEETUP] there starting at 2 PM, and we'd love to see you. This one came together last minute, so be sure to RSVP and get that head count up, because if you haven’t been to Shelburne Museum yet, it’s beautiful and what better way to do than with neighbors on a day filled with great stuff. Other Saturday social gatherings include our BTown Coffee Club [MEETUP] at Zero Gravity on Pine Street from 10 AM to noon and Board Game Brunch [MEETUP] at Old Town Cafe & Comics in Williston from 9 AM to noon For afternoon culture, the Green Mountain Chamber Players perform at College Street Congregational Church at 2 PM with a program featuring Dvořák's Piano Quartet No. 2. The Introduction to Zen Buddhism workshop at Vermont Zen Center in Shelburne runs from 9 AM to 1:30 PM, and a Crochet Class for beginners meets at Standing Stone Wines in Winooski from 2 to 4 PM. Then the evening picks up considerably. The VSO performs Carmina Burana at the Flynn at 7:30 PM with a free pre-concert talk at 6:30. The Young Tradition Festival wraps with a concert at 149 Church Street at 7 PM featuring the Québec duo Alex Kehler and Nicholas Williams, plus the Young Tradition Touring Group fresh off a performance tour in Sweden. Burlington Football Club hosts a community trivia night at BCA Studios from 7 to 9 PM benefiting COTS, with teams of up to six for $100 and childcare available at Champlain Elementary. If you'd rather dance, Start Making Sense brings their Talking Heads tribute to South Burlington at 8:30 PM with a full horn section for the entire show. Out in Essex Junction, Sparky's celebrates its 2nd Anniversary all day with live music from Jerborn and 90 PROOF in the evening, while On Tap hosts an 80s and 90s Dance Party with The Kwame Vibe starting at 9 PM.
Sunday is Mother's Day, and the ways to celebrate are plentiful. If you want to get outdoors, and the afternoon sunshine should cooperate, our Btown Brief Meetup crew gets together for Mother's Day Hike at Indian Brook Reservoir [MEETUP] and runs from noon to 2 PM with easy loop options and an optional lunch at The Mad Taco afterward. The annual Five Sisters Perennial Plant Swap returns to Catherine Street from noon to 2 PM, and you don't need to bring plants to take some home. The DoubleTree Mother's Day Brunch runs from 11 AM to 1:30 PM with chef carved prime rib, a raw bar, and a waffle station. In South Burlington, the Guardian Appreciation Breakfast hosted by Rec and Parks serves up pancakes, bacon, and more from 8:30 to 10 AM. Out in Shelburne, Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream hosts a Mother's Day Open House from 10 AM to 7 PM with BOGO single serves for moms, a card making station, and fresh blueberry muffins. The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum offers free admission for Vermont residents from 10 AM to 4 PM with guided tours and hands on activities. Over in Winooski, The Pampered Queen at Dwellness by Steinmetz offers free henna and food from Le Bon Goût from 3 to 5 PM. If your mom has a sense of humor, Partizanfilm is screening John Waters' Serial Mom at 230 College Street at 6:55 PM for one night only. You can also catch the Shelburne Farms Inn House & Garden Tour at 1:30 PM and the Shelburne Farms Tour at 11:30 AM on Sunday as well. Rounding out the day, the ONE Cleanup offers two chances to spruce up your neighborhood at 9 AM at Roosevelt Park and 2:30 PM in front of Barrio Bakery.
Support the Brief & Join the Crew
Why support? Every week, I sort through 24+ local sources: 12 event calendars, some of those being Seven Days, Front Porch Forum, Facebook events, plus 9 others and 12 news stations, from VTDigger to WCAX to Vermont Public to Community News Service, plus 8 others, to keep you connected. If this lengthy newsletter saves you time, or has introduced you to new experiences in Burlington, then definitely consider chipping in!
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The Btown Brief IRL - We’re now seeing 20–30 people at our weekly events! This weekend alone we have our weekly Saturday coffee event, a meetup at Shelburne Museum for their community day, and a hike and optional Mad Tacos on Sunday! Even more on the calendar and others to come (like age leaning events, in case that’s what you’ve been waiting for!).
So, 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.
Bring it on!
Ah snap, no one told me my Merch Store link was linked to the wrong page! So, if you’ve clicked on it before and are curious what’s in the Btown t-shirt shop, check it out now:
NOTE: NEW DESIGNS COMING OUT NEXT WEEK! Stay tuned. But then also, maybe get your favorite ones before the switch up!
Shop the Merch Store: [Here] – 15+ cool, Burlington-inspired designs on Comfort Colors tees.
Local News (All Links Clickable)
There’s a new 60 second Btown Brief News Quiz! Win monthly Btown merch by reading with intention.
"Very gratifying and rewarding that we're going to make good with our promises with the community and be able to move students in here," per WCAX.
After five years of students learning in the repurposed downtown Macy's building following the PCB discovery, the new BHS is 95% finished and preparing to host graduation in June before welcoming students this fall. The facility features a gym that holds over 3,000, an auditorium seating 700, geothermal heating and cooling, and security features built into every classroom. The attached Burlington Technical Center will draw students statewide for specialty courses. Community tours are planned for this summer, with a ribbon cutting and kickoff party set for August 22.
"This place is rad. We've been here for five years. We don't want to leave, but family's trumping all of that," per Seven Days.
Brothers Allan and Travis Walker-Hodkin moved to Burlington from New York City during the pandemic and quickly turned their 198 Main Street breakfast spot into a local institution, earning a nod from Bon Appétit in 2023 for their now famous #8 sandwich. While they've been vocal about the toll that Main Street's "Great Streets" construction took on their business, they say the closure is about family, specifically Allan's 2.5 year old twins and the pull to be closer to relatives back in New York. The restaurant will stay open until a new tenant takes over the space, likely within three months. They also spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign to save a scaled down Festival of Fools last summer after Burlington City Arts had to cancel, so their community impact extends well beyond breakfast. Be sure to send business their way while you still can, your taste buds will thank you.
"Vermont is meeting the energy challenges we face together — collaborating with electric utilities, supporting our weatherization partners, and working with educators, trainers, and employers to grow our climate workforce," per Vermont Business Magazine.
Efficiency Vermont's annual Better Building by Design conference drew more than 840 professionals to South Burlington this week and honored ten organizations with awards spanning affordable housing, energy efficiency, and a first ever workforce development category. Local highlights include Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth winning for the 10th Cavalry Apartments in Colchester, which transformed three National Register listed buildings into 65 mixed income homes while navigating historic preservation requirements, and Studio III Architecture and Scott + Partners Architecture earning the large business innovation award for BETA Technologies' 188,500 square foot electric airplane production facility in South Burlington, which uses over 250 geothermal wells and 50% less energy than a comparable building.
"Expressions of safety are crucial to all language," per Vermont Business Magazine.
UVM researchers published a study in Science Advances that upends a foundational assumption in psychology, linguistics, and AI. For over 70 years, researchers have organized word meaning around emotional dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance. The UVM team, led by Peter Dodds and Chris Danforth, analyzed billions of word uses and found that meaning is actually structured around power, danger, and structure, and that language is systematically biased toward safety rather than simply toward positivity. The practical implications are significant, particularly for AI and natural language processing systems that currently rely on the older emotional framework. If those models are built on flawed assumptions about how meaning works, they may be systematically misinterpreting human language.
"That's a big number. It's hard to imagine how we're going to do that, but we have to do it one step at a time," per VTDigger.
An independent liaison team reported that UVM Health needs to slash $300 million in expenses over the next three years, phasing in roughly $100 million annually, while also tackling productivity problems in its 1,000 physician outpatient Medical Group, which ran a $279.9 million deficit last fiscal year. The numbers are eye opening but not surprising in context. A 2024 Oliver Wyman report projected Vermont hospitals could face combined operating losses between $700 million and $2.4 billion by 2029. New CEO Steve Leffler has signaled a cooperative approach, and liaison team leader Mike Smith says the current leadership has "done a 180" compared to past administrations. The focus will start with administrative efficiencies and scheduling improvements, though everyone acknowledges that cuts of this scale will eventually touch services and staffing.
"If you look at the Lake Champlain shoreline, you'd probably think the lake level is close to normal or above normal, but it's actually more than a foot below average." per WCAX.
The culprit is a snowfall deficit that stretched from February through April. Burlington measured just 8.1 inches in March, more than 50% below the 17.5 inch average, and even Mount Mansfield's snowpack has been below normal since late March. While the region has actually seen a slight precipitation surplus over the past 90 days, most of that fell as rain rather than snow, which means the lake missed out on the slow, sustained meltwater it usually gets each spring. The good news is that forecasts for May through July lean slightly wetter than normal, which could help close the gap.
"Even if it calls itself wellness, if it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it's a duck," per VTDigger.
The bill, H.816, which passed second reading in the Senate on Thursday, would prohibit AI from making mental health diagnoses, creating treatment plans, or offering therapeutic guidance in Vermont. It would classify such use as "unprofessional conduct" enforceable under the state's Consumer Protection Act. Administrative uses like scheduling, billing, and transcription remain fair game. Rep. Daisy Berbeco of Winooski introduced the bill after learning clinicians were already using AI tools without clear guidelines, and the legislation also asks the Office of Professional Regulation to deliver recommendations on regulating AI use by licensed professionals by January 15 of next year.
"An extremely commonsense measure cannot, for some reason, clear the House," per Seven Days.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth is pushing a statewide ban on firearms in bars and restaurants after Burlington's own charter change, which city voters approved by a large margin in 2025, has repeatedly stalled in the House. The new bill, S.329, sidesteps the patchwork concern that Governor Scott has raised about municipality level regulations by applying the restriction everywhere. Baruth points out that 14 other states already have similar bans, including deep red states like Texas and Kentucky. The bill also includes measures to restrict firearm access for those involved in violent crimes and a prohibition on machine guns. Time is running short this session, and House Government Operations Committee Chair Matt Birong says the votes aren't there in his committee, though Speaker Krowinski has expressed personal support for the Burlington charter change.
"I have never witnessed a multi-agency operation in which one agency is so far out of alignment with others," per WCAX.
The Trump administration's border czar visited Vermont last week to meet with Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison, State Police Colonel Matt Birmingham, and the Burlington and South Burlington police chiefs about the March 11 ICE operation and protest. Morrison called the meeting productive but couldn't share specifics. Internal reviews by South Burlington and Vermont State Police have cleared local officers of policy violations, with Burlington PD's review still pending. Vermont's congressional delegation was not invited, and Rep. Becca Balint called the visit "highly unusual," saying lawmakers should have been notified and present.
"This is my retirement job. I left my former agency cuz I was tired of getting hit in the head with rocks at protests," per Seven Days.
Six hours of bodycam footage from South Burlington Deputy Police Chief Sean Briscoe paint a vivid picture of local law enforcement navigating an impossible position on March 11. The video shows Briscoe trying to walk a middle line between ICE agents pushing to execute their operation and hundreds of community members refusing to move, at one point apologizing to an ICE agent for appearing to "take sides" and later reminding his own officers that their mandate was to intervene if anyone, civilian or officer from any agency, was unlawfully assaulted. As the situation escalated through the afternoon, with ICE's tactical team deploying stun grenades and pepper balls, Briscoe ordered his officers to retreat. In one of the footage's most striking moments, he walks away from the scene visibly emotional and accepts a hug from a bystander.
"Now that we have voted to unionize, we're excited and hopeful the negotiation process will be swift and in good faith," per Seven Days.
Employees across Healthy Living's three locations in South Burlington, Williston, and Saratoga Springs voted 105 to 69 to join Workers United, citing concerns about wages and a lack of communication from management around major business decisions. The roughly 300 person workforce is now assembling a bargaining committee ahead of contract negotiations. Separately, South Burlington's Barnes & Noble voted 13 to 5 to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union, becoming the eighth location in the chain to organize. Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt made a personal trip to South Burlington before the vote, but employees said his pitch focused on money and failed to address their concerns around workplace safety.
"I grew up with a dark Catholic family that made a lot of jokes about everything, and so that's what I like to do onstage," per Seven Days.
Seven Days sat down with Kilmartin ahead of her four show run at Vermont Comedy Club this weekend. The interview covers her work writing jokes for the past two Academy Awards ceremonies alongside Conan O'Brien, her approach to dark comedy about death and motherhood, and her take on the viral "looksmaxxing" trend. Kilmartin is a longtime collaborator who spent years on the writing staff of O'Brien's TBS show and has built a reputation for sharp, unflinching material. Shows are tonight and tomorrow at 7 and 9 PM, and tickets are $25.
"Silver-tongued salesman Harold Hill strikes a chord in Meredith Willson's Broadway smash The Music Man at the Flynn Main Stage in Burlington," per Seven Days.
Seven Days' weekly roundup of top events includes several worth flagging for Burlington area readers. The Music Man hits the Flynn Main Stage on Monday and Tuesday, CAN-AM Con brings scale model makers and Lego enthusiasts to Williston's National Guard Armory on Saturday, and children's book author Rosemary Wells hosts an event at Pierson Library in Shelburne. Meanwhile, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore bring their folk forward duo to Bellows Falls Opera House on Saturday, and Vermont Studio Center in Johnson opens its doors for Vermont Week Open Studios on Sunday.
Quick Hits
Strafford native Noah Kahan returns to Studio 8H as the musical guest on SNL this Saturday alongside host Matt Damon. It's his second time on the show, following his 2023 appearance after the breakout success of "Stick Season." This time around he'll be performing tracks from his latest album, "The Great Divide," which dropped last month.
Vermont State University will graduate more than 440 nurses at its May and June commencements, a significant boost for a state facing a well documented nursing shortage. Over 80% of VTSU nursing graduates license to practice in Vermont. The university offers nursing programs across eight locations and online, and is expanding capacity at several campuses to open more seats.
Myer's Bagels in South Burlington caught some heat after posting social media ads that blended real photos with AI generated images. Loyal customers felt the doctored visuals misrepresented the shop they love, and the business pulled the images and posted an apology. Owner Adam Jones says he still sees value in AI for things like menu analysis but plans to be more careful with the marketing side going forward.
Winooski is throwing a Main Street Community Parade on Saturday, June 6 at noon as part of its Mosaic Campaign, an effort to keep foot traffic flowing to local businesses during the ongoing Main Street Revitalization construction. The parade starts at Winooski School District and ends at Maple Street, with a community lunch catered by local restaurants at the Winooski Senior Center. Free and open to all.
The Ethan Allen Tower reopens for the season this Sunday, Mother's Day, with views that make it one of Burlington's best kept not so secret gems. After opening day the tower will be open Fridays through Sundays until late June, then daily from June 22 through October 30. Hours start at 10 AM and run until dusk.
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 Athletics. Instead, be prepared for Vermont Green FC games!
May 2026
Events:
Friday, May 8, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Weekly Meditation at Outright Vermont (Free)
9:00 AM: Vermont Drinking Water Fair at Veterans Memorial Park (Free)
10:00 AM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club ($6)
10:00 AM: Art Gallery: "Echoes of a Flying Jewel" at McCarthy Art Gallery, Colchester (Free)
Happening Now: Mother's Day Sale at April Cornell, 131 Battery Street, Burlington
Happening Now: Vermont Cannabis Convention at DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington / also NECANN at Champlain Valley Exposition, 2:30–6:30 PM (Free; preregister)
12:00 PM: Walking Book Club at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
1:00 PM: Gardener's Supply Grand Reopening at Gardener's Supply, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Lake Champlain Land Trust Volunteer Event at Howes Landing, North Hero (Free)
2:00 PM: EEE Talk: Financial Literacy—Fraud for Seniors at Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington ($8)
3:00 PM: Block Printing Workshop at Saratoga Olive Oil Co., 86 Church Street, Burlington ($10–$20)
4:00 PM: Flatbread Friday & Live Music at The Wheeler Homestead, South Burlington (Free admission; food for purchase)
4:30 PM: Mindfulness Meditation at Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont (Free)
4:30 PM: 55th Anniversary of CSH Rotary at Fiddlehead Brewing Company, Shelburne (Free; cost of food/drink)
5:00 PM: Michael Freed-Thall Book Launch at Hotel Vermont (By donation)
5:30 PM: Gardener's Supply Grand Reopening at Gardener's Supply, Williston (Free)
5:30 PM: Learn. Shop. Mingle. Image Skincare Product Launch at Pierson Library, Shelburne
5:30 PM: May Essex Community Dinner at 30 Lincoln St, Essex Junction
6:00 PM: Kaleidoscope 50th Anniversary Benefit at BCA Studios, 405 Pine Street, Burlington ($40–$60)
6:00 PM: Persist Dance Party Benefit w/ DJ Love at SEABA Center, Burlington ($10 suggested donation; preregister)
6:00 PM: Winooski Pub Crawl starting at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski (Free) [MEETUP]
6:30 PM: Friday Night Ballroom at Vermont Swings / North Star Community Hall
6:30 PM: Strings of the Subconscious: Dreamwork Workshop at Kula Yoga, South Burlington (Donation based)
6:30 PM: Young Tradition Festival at Various Burlington Locations (Various prices) — includes Community Dance Party at 149 Church St, Burlington
6:30 PM: Zumba Masterclass with ZJ Caressa James & ZES Kyle J. Lamprecht at Spotlight Vermont, South Burlington
7:00 PM: Mathias Dubilier Book Launch: "This Way But Not Here" at Phoenix Books, Burlington ($3)
7:00 PM: Dads & Dungeons & Dragons at The Guild Hall (Free)
7:30 PM: Bloom & Bowl – A Girls' Night Out at 215 Lower Mountain View Dr, Colchester
8:00 PM: Karaoke Friday Night at Park Place Tavern & Grill (Free)
Not specified: Lumiere Brothers in VT: Interview with Hugo Martínez Cazón at 99.3FM WBTV-LP, Burlington
Performances
7:00 PM: VTIFF Screening: 'The Piano' (1993) at The Screening Room @ VTIFF ($6–$12)
7:00 PM & 9:00 PM: Laurie Kilmartin (Comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club ($25)
7:30 PM: 'WHITE' (Theater) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($14–$35)
7:30 PM: 'Rhinoceros' (Theater) at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center ($34–$54 sliding scale)
8:00 PM: Untapped: A Night of Drag and Burlesque at Monkey House, Winooski ($15)
Live Music/DJ
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell Blues Revue & Jam at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
4:00 PM: Lowell Thompson at Hotel Vermont (Free)
5:00 PM: Bob & Shane at On Tap Bar & Grill (Free)
6:00 PM: Swell at 1st Republic Brewing (Free)
6:00 PM: Freeway Clyde, Parker Shper at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10)
6:00 PM: Dan Parks at St Johns Club, Burlington
7:00 PM: DJ Two Sev, Ron Stoppable at Red Square (Free)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs (DJ) at 7 W Canal St, Winooski (Free)
7:30 PM: Bob Gagnon at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge (Free)
8:00 PM: Vundabar, Slow Fiction at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington ($25)
8:00 PM: Hot Neon Magic ('80s Tribute) at The Old Post, South Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Annie in the Water, Sophistafunk at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($20)
8:00 PM: The Pyros, Dad?! at Standing Stone Wines ($10)
8:30 PM: COOKED, Clock Out, Full Nelson & More (Hardcore) at Radio Bean ($15)
9:00 PM: Willverine / Snakefoot / DeLuca at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Bella Joan Monthly Residency at The 126, Burlington
9:00 PM: 90 Proof at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
10:00 PM: DJ Stevie B at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room (Free)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10/$15)
Saturday, May 9, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Community Bird Walks at Rock Point Center (Free; preregister)
9:00 AM: CAN-AM Con at Williston National Guard Armory ($5)
9:00 AM: Burlington Farmers Market at 345 Pine St., Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Free Soil and Household Items Lead Screening at Burlington Farmers Market (Free)
9:00 AM: Cornhole Tournament at Vermont Construction Academy ($50–$450; preregister)
9:00 AM: Member Mornings at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
9:00 AM: Community-Wide Food Drop-Off & Hygiene Drive at 44 N Williston Rd, Williston
9:00 AM: Conversation with a City Councilor at South Burlington Library (Free)
9:00 AM: Introduction to Zen Buddhism Workshop at Vermont Zen Center, Shelburne
9:00 AM: Garage Sale Fundraiser for Girls on the Run at 23 Apple Tree Ct, South Burlington (Free entry)
9:00 AM: Board Game Brunch at Old Town Cafe & Comics, Williston (Free) [MEETUP]
10:00 AM: Mother's Day Pop-Up Market & Glass Heart Stamping at AO Glass, 416 Pine Street, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Young Tradition Festival at Various Burlington Locations (Various prices) — includes Student/Mentor Showcase at 345 Pine St., 10 AM–1 PM (Free)
10:00 AM: Gardener's Supply Grand Reopening at Burlington & Williston locations (Free)
10:00 AM: Shelburne Museum Community Day at Shelburne Museum (Free)
10:00 AM: Green Mountain Woodcarvers Carve-In at Birds of Vermont Museum (Museum admission)
10:00 AM: NECANN: Vermont Cannabis & Hemp Convention at Champlain Valley Exposition (Free; preregister)
10:00 AM: STUFF THE TRUCK at 68 Randall St, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Miner Memorial Garden Pop-up Workday at 65 Green Mountain Dr, South Burlington
10:00 AM: Tending Rock Point – Tree Planting & Perennial Propagation at 5 Rock Point Road, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Agricultural & Culinary Traditions Connection to Place with Fabrizia Lanza at Shelburne Farms (Free)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington (Free) [MEETUP]
10:30 AM: French Conversation for All at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (Free; preregister)
11:00 AM: Fantasy Art Gouache Class with James Beihl at Fletcher Free Library (Free; registration required)
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
11:00 AM: Célébrons le Printemps! at Wheeler Homestead, South Burlington
11:00 AM: 2nd Anniversary Bash at 4 Lincoln Place, Essex Junction
12:00 PM: Build A Bouquet at Church Street Marketplace, Burlington (Free; first-come, first-served)
12:00 PM: Sparkling Maple Lemonade Can Release at 24 Sunset Dr, Burlington
12:00 PM: BIPOC Artist Market at Intervale Center (Free)
1:00 PM: The Poetry Experience at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
1:30 PM: USA Baseball NTIS ID Camp at Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington
2:00 PM: Kizomba Workshop & Social at South End Studio
2:00 PM: Beginner's Crochet Class at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski ($10–$15)
2:00 PM: Rad Folk Songs at Peace & Justice Center (Free)
6:00 PM: Garage Girls: Auto Confidence for Women at 200 Davinci Drive, South Burlington ($65/class or $275/series)
7:00 PM: Community Trivia Night to Support Burlington Football Club & COTS at BCA Studios ($100/team)
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park (Free)
7:30 PM: Saturday Swing Dance / Red Hot Juba at North Star Community Hall ($10–$20 sliding scale)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Goddess at Standing Stone Wines (Free)
Performances
12:10 PM: Partizanfilm Jr.: 'The Secret of Kells' at Partizanfilm ($6–$8.50)
2:00 PM: Green Mountain Chamber Players at College Street Congregational Church ($20–$35; free for students)
2:00 PM & 7:30 PM: 'WHITE' (Theater) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($14–$35)
2:00 PM & 7:30 PM: 'Rhinoceros' (Theater) at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center ($34–$54 sliding scale)
7:00 PM: VTIFF Screening: 'Double Indemnity' (1944) at The Screening Room @ VTIFF ($6–$12)
7:00 PM & 9:00 PM: Laurie Kilmartin (Comedy) at Vermont Comedy Club ($25)
7:30 PM: Vermont Symphony Orchestra: O Fortuna! at Flynn Main Stage ($10–$62) — free pre-concert discussion at 6:30 PM
Live Music/DJ
3:00 PM: Left Eye Jump at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Bob Cotton at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
7:00 PM: Baby Fearn w/ SARU & Julia Randall at The Monkey House, Winooski ($10)
7:00 PM: Young Tradition Festival Concert: Alex Kehler & Nicholas Williams at 149 Church Street, Burlington ($25 suggested donation)
7:30 PM: Femme Fest VI — Burly Girlies, Froggy, Pleasure Death, Blossom — at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge ($10/$15)
8:00 PM: Sweet Petunia & Fern Maddie at Radio Bean ($12/$15)
8:00 PM: Rangus / Blowtorch / Collin Hagood at Foam Brewers (Free)
8:00 PM: 90 PROOF @ Sparky's 2 Year Anniversary at Sparky's Bar & Grill, Essex Junction
8:30 PM: Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers (Talking Heads tribute) at Higher Ground Ballroom ($28)
9:00 PM: DJ Kwame / 80's & 90's Dance Party at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
10:00 PM: Roost.world (DJ set) at Light Club Lamp Shop ($10/$15)
10:00 PM: DJ Two Rivers at Rí Rá Irish Pub & Whiskey Room (Free)
10:30 PM: Clive at Radio Bean ($10/$15)
Sunday, May 10, 2026
General Events
6:30 AM: Wings for Life World Run, Walk or Roll at LCDI, 175 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington
7:00 AM: Early Birders Morning Walk at Birds of Vermont Museum ($10 suggested donation; preregister)
8:30 AM: Mother's Day – Guardian Appreciation Breakfast at 180 Market Street, South Burlington
9:00 AM: Sensory-Friendly Sunday at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Free; preregister)
9:00 AM: Mother's Day Call to Calm: Meditation & Sound Healing at Mariposa Collective, Essex Junction ($25)
9:00 AM: Old North End Neighborhood Cleanup at Roosevelt Park & Barrio Bakery, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: The Good Edit Mother's Day Morning of Pampering & Shopping at 41 IDX Drive, South Burlington (Free entry)
9:00 AM: Agricultural and Culinary Traditions with Fabrizia Lanza at Coach Barn, Shelburne Farms ($400; includes all meals)
10:00 AM: Free Admission Day: Anniversary of the Taking of Fort Ticonderoga at Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Gardener's Supply Grand Reopening at Gardener's Supply, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Mother's Day Tropical Disco at Homeport, 52 Church Street, Burlington (Free) — mimosa bar, chocolate fountain, photo ops, raffle
10:00 AM: Mother's Day Brunch at The Essex Resort & Spa ($35–$80)
10:00 AM: Mother's Day Brunch at Original Skiff with live music by Matt Hagan, 60 Battery Street, Burlington
10:00 AM: Mother's Day Brunch Buffet at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling ($30–$60)
10:00 AM: COFC: Spring Trail Work Series at 592 Governor Chittenden Rd, Williston
10:30 AM: Tantra Flow at Chace Mill, 1 Mill St, Burlington
11:00 AM: Mother's Day Brunch at DoubleTree at DoubleTree Hotel, South Burlington ($59 adults/$29 children)
12:00 PM: Mother's Day Brunch aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen at Waterfront, Burlington
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday at 1st Republic Brewing (Free)
12:00 PM: Mother's Day Hike at Indian Brook Reservoir in Essex — easy 2-mile or 3.6-mile loop; optional lunch at The Mad Taco (Free; $8 park pass may apply) [MEETUP]
12:00 PM: Five Sisters Perennial Plant Swap & Giveaway at 40–42 Catherine Street, Burlington (Free)
12:15 PM: Dungeons & Dragons Group A at Fletcher Free Library (Free; preregister)
12:30 PM: Social Sundays at Milton Artists' Guild (Free)
1:00 PM: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club ($6)
1:00 PM: Screen-Free Week Book Discussion at South Burlington Public Library (Free)
1:00 PM: Social Sunday Activity Workshop at Milton Artists' Guild (Free)
1:00 PM: Motel 6 Event at Motel 6, 74 S Park Dr, Colchester
1:15 PM: Mothers Day Special at 133 Broadacres Dr, Colchester
1:30 PM: Introduction to Local Plant Medicine Workshop at Vermont Zen Center, Shelburne
2:00 PM: The Pampered Queen Mother's Day Event at 111 E Allen Street, Winooski (Free; tips appreciated)
4:00 PM: Drop-In Tech Support at Fletcher Free Library (Free)
4:00 PM: Country Karaoke at Standing Stone Wines (Free)
5:00 PM: Womxn's Pick-up Soccer at Starr Farm Park, Burlington (Free) [MEETUP]
5:30 PM: Mindfulness Meditation Gathering at North Star Community Hall (By donation)
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)
6:00 PM: Mother's Day Film Screening: 'Serial Mom' (1993) at Partizanfilm, 230 College Street, Burlington
Karaoke Sundays at Einstein Tap House
Performances
2:00 PM: 'WHITE' (Theater) at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($14–$35)
2:00 PM: 'Rhinoceros' (Theater) at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center ($34–$54 sliding scale)
4:00 PM: Alan Chiang, Classical Piano at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington ($10–$25; preregister)
4:00 PM: Hinesburg Artist Series at Champlain Valley Union High School (Free; donations accepted)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont
1:00 PM: Frankie White at Foam Brewers (Free)
5:00 PM: Wine & Jazz Sundays at Shelburne Vineyard (Free)
6:00 PM: The Rough Suspects at Red Square (Free)
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 to be in the 802. Whether you're hitting the farmers market for the first time this season, exploring Shelburne Museum on the house, treating mom to brunch, or just enjoying the fact that we're finally getting some 60 degree days, get out there and soak it up. And if something in the news section above caught your eye, click through and give those local journalists some love.
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