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Table of Contents
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Weather & Weekend Rundown:
Labor Day weekend arrives with the friendliest forecast we have had in a while, so go ahead and make plans. Friday is the warm one, mostly sunny and near 78, with a stray shower possible between 1 and 3 in the afternoon and a cooler night in the mid 50s behind it. Saturday runs partly sunny and breezier near 73, and the weekend's only real rain chance is a passing shower or storm around mid afternoon, so keep the fair and market plans a little loose for an hour or two. Sunday clears out completely, mostly sunny near 73 with the humidity gone, and Labor Day Monday is the prize, sunny and near 78. Track it all week, with patio, swim, and sunset scores, at Burlington Right Now.
Friday belongs to the fair and the South End. The Champlain Valley Fair runs noon to 10 in Essex Junction today and adult admission drops to $10 after 5, then ZZ Top with George Thorogood & the Destroyers ($39-69) take the grandstand at 6 with doors at 5. Down on Pine Street, the organizers say tonight is the last South End Get Down of the summer, so swing through the block party between 5 and 9 for one more lap of the food trucks and a goodbye to your favorite vendors. Over in South Burlington, the South Burlington Farmers Market sets up on the airport rec path from 5 to 7 with Bart Feller playing, and the first 75 households through get $5 in market spending money. The Waterfront Silent Disco ($25) meets at 6 at 1 College Street in front of ECHO, headphones on, dancing along the water. Music people have a free night if they want one. New York cosmic soul act Lady Moon & The Eclipse plays Foam at 9 with Beccs opening, free and all ages, and Alligator Wine plays a free Dancing in the Streets set on the Skinny Pancake waterfront patio from 8 to 11, while 90 Proof plays the Spanked Puppy in Colchester Friday evening. Punk Rock Queer Prom ($10) fills the Light Club Lamp Shop at 8 with four bands, Cat Crash, the Eyetraps, Emo Girls Kissing and We're Here! To Kill, 21 plus. Comedy fans, Matthew Broussard's 7 PM shows at Vermont Comedy Club ($30) are sold out both nights, but the 9 PM shows Friday and Saturday still have seats. And a heads up for anyone hoping to catch Sierra Ferrell on the green at Shelburne Museum tonight, the show is sold out and Higher Ground's waitlist and ticket exchange are the only ways in.
Saturday is the fullest day of the weekend, and we are out in it. Our own BTown Coffee Club [MEETUP] takes the big outdoor table Zero Gravity at 10, no agenda, just coffee and good conversation, and then a bunch of us are heading to the fair. Btown at the Champlain Valley Fair [MEETUP] meets at 1 at Expo North, the first big building after you come in through the Red Gate by the parking lot. Weekend admission is $20, an unlimited ride bracelet is $40 and parking is $10 a car, so carpool if you can, and come eat fried things with us. Pine Street does its market double header, the Burlington Farmers Market from 9 to 2 at 345 Pine, and the Burlington Vintage Market Fall Flea right next door at Barge Canal, also 9 to 2, with 15 plus dealers of vintage clothing, vinyl and $5 piles. South Burlington goes big. Park Fest spreads nine acts across five parks from 1 to 4:15 with a passport you stamp at each stop for prizes and free shuttles running between them, then the International Food Festival ($35) at Veterans Memorial Park from 5:30 to 7:30 buys five tasting plates from vendors of your choice, and everyone attending has to register. Saturday night, Bow Wow, Soulja Boy and Fat Joe ($39-69) headline the grandstand at 7 with doors at 5:30, Emoji Nightmare's Pride Ball ($35-40) fills the Higher Ground Ballroom with Drag Race All Stars winner Angeria Paris VanMichaels and King of Drag winner King Molasses under a Denim & Diamonds theme, doors 7:30, 18 plus, and Pile's Rick Maguire plays Radio Bean at 8 with Vehicle, one of the last shows there before the Bean closes next week. Also Saturday, Wild Inside ($12), the film about Flaco, the owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo and lived wild in Manhattan, screens at VTIFF at 1 and again at 3, Soup for Two and Salmo ($10) play indie folk at the Venetian Soda Lounge from 7 to 9, Josh Panda brings his southern soul rock and roll to Foam at 9 for free, three indie folk bands play the Odd Fellows hall on North Ave from 6:30 to 10, and Queeraoke with Lizzie Murderz keeps Standing Stone Wines in Winooski singing Saturday night. Mountain bikers, VMBA Days at Bolton runs 10 to 4 with guided rides, downhill clinics, a dual slalom and a Lawson's Finest après.
Sunday is the clearest day of the weekend and the fair's last. The final day of the Champlain Valley Fair runs 10 to 10, and Night Ranger and John Waite ($39-69) close out the grandstand at 7 with doors at 5:30, and tickets bought before show day include fair admission. Alabama Shakes with Emily King at Shelburne Museum at 7 is sold out, waitlist and official exchange only. Sunday Night Mass ($30-38) brings Toronto house and techno producer Sydney Blu to the Showcase Lounge with Maus and Valkyrie, doors 7:30, 18 plus. Daytime is easy. The Winooski Farmers Market runs 10 to 2 on Winooski Falls Way, Sunset Watchers Club is partying at the free, family friendly Sunday Session at Four Quarters Brewing in Winooski from 1 to 8 with four DJs, and the Sunday Polo Match ($10-20) at Amdez Polo Club in Shelburne goes tailgate style at 3 with gates at 2:30, so bring a chair. Dads can drop into the Dad Guild Run Club on the bike path at 7:30 AM, dads only. Board gamers get Mix & Mingle [MEETUP] at The Boardroom from 12 to 5, letter writers have the new monthly Burlington Letter Writing Group at Zero Gravity from 10 to 11, crafters have Crafternoons at the Odd Fellows hall from 3 to 5, and the LGBTQIA+ Women's Dance at the St. John's Club runs 4 to 8 with DJ Corey, lake views and a cash bar, $15-20 suggested donation.
Scroll down to Events Section for full list of events. Or check my events page.
Vintage Market exploration
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, September 5th @ 10 AM: The weekly no pressure hang at Zero Gravity Brewery, grab a coffee and find us at the big table on the right.
Btown at the Champlain Valley Fair – Saturday, September 5th @ 1 PM: We are taking the group to the fair in Essex Junction, meet us at Expo North just inside the Red Gate for rides, fair food and the midway.
Pick-up Basketball – Wednesday, September 9th @ 5:30 PM: The Wednesday evening run at Pomeroy Park in the Old North End, outdoors and free, all skill levels welcome.
Other Upcoming Events:
Btown Bites at Bluebird Barbecue – Thursday, September 17th @ 6 PM: Our young adult dinner group for ages 21 to 35 takes over Bluebird Barbecue on Riverside Ave, reservations are made in advance so RSVP early.
Every game, every app, everything I made for Burlington:
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I put out a redesign of the website that holds all 80+ projects I made for the city, be sure to take an afternoon and check them all out.
And of course, one of my favorites, the ALL DAY FEED.
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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!
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Local News (All Links Clickable)
"So when we get to the fest, it's almost like a Vermont singer-songwriter summer camp," per Seven Days.
The third Homegrown in Vermont festival takes over Spruce Peak Arts in Stowe on Saturday with more than 20 acts alternating across two stages so the music never stops, including Madaila, Ali McGuirk, Kyle Chadburn, Reid Parsons and organizer Troy Millette. The closer is Guster front man and Williston resident Ryan Miller, backed by Hadestown composer Michael Chorney's seven piece Freeway Clyde, playing Tom Petty's Wildflowers front to back. Last year Miller led a Vermont all star Kinks tribute at the same fest, which draws more than 1,000 people.
"These tires were to break loose and end up on a public beach or break loose and end up floating and hitting a boat at high speed -- that's the main concern with it," per WCAX.
Boat captain Gary Lefebvre's sonar picked up thousands of tires strung together along the bottom of Cumberland Bay between Crab Island and the Plattsburgh Boat Basin in early August, a mass he estimates at 100 to 200 yards long that looks like an old breakwater lost in transit. A month later they are still down there, and New York's Department of Environmental Conservation says it is looking into whether to open an investigation.
"Currently, the Bean is facing a very serious, immediate, and seemingly insurmountable financial obstacle," per Seven Days.
Owner Lee Anderson announced Wednesday that a $29,000 liquor liability bill from the club's insurer, due immediately, forced the decision, and the Bean's last official day is Wednesday, September 9, with the Light Club Lamp Shop next door closing too. Anderson opened Radio Bean in 2000 and said in January he would hand it to a new ownership group this summer, a transition the finances have now stalled, though he says the closure could last weeks or months rather than forever. He floated a mini festival at the club over Labor Day weekend to end with a bang, so watch their socials.
"It is no longer an emergency housing program," per VTDigger.
As of September 1, anyone seeking a state motel voucher has to call the state between 8 and 4:30 on weekdays, since the night and weekend intake that Vermont 211 handled has ended, and in July alone 211 took 1,024 housing calls tied to the program and did 541 intakes. The change is the first piece of the Vermont Homeless Response Continuum the Legislature passed in June, which also caps stays at 70 days outside the winter months, lowers the room caps and pairs each recipient with a case manager. Advocates like End Homelessness Vermont's Brenda Siegel say the law was meant to make access more flexible and call this the most restrictive version they have seen, so the tradeoff is better services for fewer people.
"This is a problem that should have been solved before I went to the hospital with my upper lip hanging from my face," per Seven Days.
The city delivered its recommendation Monday night to the Animal Control Committee, which heard from several people who said Moose bit or charged them over three years and will issue a written decision in the coming weeks. Owner Diane Wheeler, a Franklin County deputy prosecutor who plans to retire next month, appeared by video and argued the committee has no jurisdiction because she and the dog have left Burlington, while admitting she let Moose off leash at times and drove him to her mother's New North End home in violation of earlier orders.
"If these tariffs stay active, we're not going to have a business," per VTDigger.
Sen. Peter Welch gathered business owners at Jay Peak on Tuesday, where the resort's president said Canadian visitors dropped 35% last ski season and have gone from disappointed to angry, and a Newport snow groomer dealer said Canada's planned retaliatory tariffs would add about CA$250,000 to each of the three machines he is delivering across the border this month. Jasper Hill Farm had its worst year ever in 2025, lost a Canadian holiday order after the newest tariffs were announced and has paid duties as high as 50% on cheesemaking equipment for its Hardwick project. Welch has a bill with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to repeal the 1930 law behind the tariffs and refund what has been paid, though he admits it has little chance in this Congress.
"Whether that was, you know, casing for theft or looking in windows for other reasons, we obviously don't know at this point, but suspicious enough that we're interested in identifying and chatting with him if possible," per WCAX.
UVM released a new image Thursday after a second sighting Wednesday around 10 PM near Wing-Davis-Wilks on the Redstone campus, one night after the first, of a man believed to be 40 to 60 years old in a red shirt looking into residence hall windows. UVM Police could not find him and say there is no sign he entered a building. Anyone who spots him can call UVM Police at 802-656-3473 or use the CATSafe app.
"There have been patients that I personally thought, 'I don't feel safe having this patient in my assignment without a CPSA with them,'" per VTDigger.
In June the hospital quietly limited licensed nursing assistants from serving as sitters for patients at risk of falling, wandering or hurting themselves, steering those patients toward remote video monitoring or a pool of 17 patient safety attendants per shift covering 14 inpatient units and the emergency department. LNAs told VTDigger the remote monitors fail for patients with dementia or psychosis, one counted five incidents where safety was compromised, and two unions sent a cease and desist letter August 20 asking the hospital to pause the change while contracts are bargained. The backdrop is money, since UVM Medical Center projects a $43 million loss in the fiscal year that starts October 1 and the network has already proposed $140 million in cuts.
"So many hundreds and hundreds of Tibetans, Nepalese, and even the foreigners, they lost their life, and we are here in solidarity for them," per WCAX.
A glacier collapse high in the Himalayas set off a flash flood along the Nepal Tibet border on August 26, and Vermonters with family there are still struggling to reach them, including several employees of Namaste Kitchen Express in Burlington and Shelburne, whose owner Tuka Pradhan is raising money to send home. The Tibetan Association of Vermont held a prayer session for those lost and is collecting donations for relief in Nepal and Tibet. Interestingly enough, my direct coworker at GlobalFoundries is visiting family in Nepal for the past 2 weeks and is supposed to be back mid-September. Haven’t heard back from him yet; prayers him, his family, and friends are doing okay!
"This is about the heart and soul of Ben & Jerry's," per VTDigger.
Ben & Jerry's named three new directors to the independent board that guards its social mission on August 26 and signaled it intends to replace the Ben & Jerry's Foundation entirely, days after a judge tossed part of a lawsuit by former board members against parent The Magnum Ice Cream Company. Co-founder Ben Cohen says the appointments were made improperly and the fight is over who controls the brand's activism, while the company calls it governance under the merger agreement and points to an unreleased 2025 audit alleging mismanagement at the foundation, which Cohen denies. The foundation, which hands out roughly $600,000 a year in Vermont grants, was forced out of its South Burlington office last month, lost its company funding last year and expects its reserves to run dry by year's end. A new Ben & Jerry's Linked Prosperity Foundation was registered in January as an LLC by a former company finance head and a company lawyer, and no one from the current foundation has been offered a seat.
QUICK HITS
New yurt at Bolton Valley expands access for athletes with disabilities — Vermont Adaptive opened the Taff Adaptive Yurt at Bolton Valley on Thursday, a 27 foot year round space with a big deck and an accessible ramp next to its cramped old room in the base lodge, named for the late Douglas Taff, whose donation funded it.
'Diverging diamond' at I-89's Exit 16 will be open by end of the month — Vermont's first diverging diamond interchange at Exit 16 in Colchester will open by the end of September, exact date still to come, ending the left turns across oncoming traffic and adding paths for bikes and walkers. The project team has a table with a driving simulator in the fair's North Expo building through Sunday if you want to practice.
Poco in Burlington to Pause Dinner and Open for Lunch — Poco at 55 Main Street serves its last dinners for now through Saturday, then closes for a week and reopens September 12 as a lunch spot with Italian sandwiches and salads, coffee drinks and a full bar, after siblings Stefano Cicirello and Susie Ely struggled to find consistent kitchen staff.
Burlington police search for suspect in stabbing of a wheelchair user — Burlington police are looking for the man who stabbed a wheelchair user in the face on Lake Street near Depot Street around 10 AM on August 22, last seen on Sherman Street near North Champlain with a thin beard, an orange durag and a crossbody bag, and they are asking Old North End residents and workers to check their camera footage.
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
UVM Athletics: No. 11 Men's Soccer Stays Unbeaten as the Catamounts Hit the Road
No. 11 Vermont closed out a four match homestand by shutting out Holy Cross 2-0 on Tuesday's Pep Rally night at Virtue Field, with Noel Bjork scoring his first goal as a Catamount in the seventh minute and Pieter Bultman adding his second in as many matches after halftime while the Cats held a 4-0 edge in shots on goal. That leaves them 3-0-1 and unbeaten through four for the second straight season, and they take their first road trip of the year Saturday to Sacred Heart at 5 on ESPN+.
Women's soccer had a tougher Thursday, falling 5-1 to Boston College on Youth Day and Poster Day at Virtue Field, though Eleni Stowell's 26th minute free kick was her first career goal and Sophia Kling made 5 saves. The Catamounts sit at 0-4-2 and visit Saint Joseph's on Sunday at 1.
Basketball season is taking shape too. The men announced a non conference schedule with a home opener against Quinnipiac on November 8 and a December 6 trip to Florida, the first meeting between the programs since 2015-16, and the women's non conference slate brings Oregon to Patrick Gym on November 11, a first for the program, after a home opener against Keene State on November 2.
Sep 11: Field Hockey vs. LIU (Fri ⦁ 3:00pm)
Events:
This is the curated cut. The full calendar, 25 sources refreshed twice a day, lives at Burlington events.
Friday, September 4, 2026
General Events
8:00 AM: Weekly Meditation at Outright Vermont, 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)
10:00 AM: UVM Catamount Educational Farm Stand at Pratt Pavilion, UVM Horticulture Research and Education Center, 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: Duplicate Bridge Games at Burlington Bridge Club, Williston ($6.)
10:00 AM: International Vulture Awareness Day at Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington (Regular admission, $4.50-9; free for members and kids under 3.)
10:00 AM: Morning Tech Help at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South Burlington (Free; preregister.)
11:00 AM: Gymkhana! at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction
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: Champlain Valley Fair at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($7-20; $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under.)
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: 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: Donation-Based Ear Acupuncture at Community Acupuncture SoBu at Community Acupuncture SoBu, 366 Dorset St Suite 10, South Burlington (By donation)
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: Stand Up for Democracy in Malletts Bay at W. Lakeshore Drive at Blakely Road (Bayside Park area), Malletts Bay, Colchester (Free)
4:00 PM: Half Priced Oysters at La Reprise at La Reprise, Burlington
4:00 PM: Skiff Oyster Hour at Hotel Champlain, Burlington
4:30 PM: Laughter Yoga at Iyengar Yoga Center of Vermont, Burlington (Free.)
5:00 PM: South Burlington Farmers Market at BTV Airport Recreation Path, Burlington International Airport, Airport Drive, South Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: South End Get Down (season finale) at South End Get Down block party, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: Pride VT Fundraiser with No Fun Intended at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski ($10)
6:00 PM: 90 PROOF @ The Spanked Puppy at The Spanked Puppy, Colchester
6:00 PM: Double Shot is coming back to the Colchester Legion! We can’t wait! at 8 South St, Colchester, VT 05446-3632, United States, Colchester
6:00 PM: Waterfront Silent Disco at Burlington Waterfront, meet at 1 College St in front of ECHO, Burlington ($25)
6:30 PM: Burlington FNG at Outright Vermont, Burlington (Free.)
7:00 PM: Friday Night at Specs at Specs Cafe & Bar, Winooski (Free)
8:00 PM: Two Sev, Ron Stoppable, Eli, Aras at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Dancing in the Streets: Alligator Wine at The Skinny Pancake Burlington Waterfront, Burlington (Free)
Performances
7:00 PM: Matthew Broussard at Vermont Comedy Club at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($30; SOLD OUT)
9:00 PM: Matthew Broussard at Vermont Comedy Club at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($30)
Live Music/DJ
12:15 PM: Caterpillars Up Close at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington
2:00 PM: Dave Mitchell Blues Revue & Jam at Red Square, Burlington
4:00 PM: Windjammer Summer Patio Music Series at The Windjammer Restaurant, South Burlington
4:00 PM: Zachary DeFranco at Hotel Vermont, Burlington (Free)
5:00 PM: She Was Right at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
6:00 PM: ZZ Top w/ George Thorogood & the Destroyers (CV Fair Grandstand) at Champlain Valley Fair Grandstand, Essex Junction ($39-$69; doors 5 PM)
6:00 PM: VT Bluegrass Pioneers at Jericho Café & Tavern, Jericho (Free)
7:00 PM: Sierra Ferrell w/ The Brudi Brothers at Ben & Jerry's Concerts on The Green at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne ($57-$105; doors 6 PM; SOLD OUT, waitlist only)
7:00 PM: Bright Brown at Venetian Cocktail & Soda Lounge, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Luis Betancourt, Puppy Love at Monkey House, Winooski (Free)
7:00 PM: The Phil Abair Band at The Old Post, South Burlington (Free)
8:00 PM: Dead Sessions at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne ($20)
8:00 PM: Punk Rock Queer Prom with Cat Crash, the Eyetraps, Emo Girls Kissing, We're Here! To Kill at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10; 21+; doors 7:30 PM)
8:15 PM: Joe Something, Tabarnak at Monkey House, Winooski ($10)
8:30 PM: MJT w/ moon ppl at Radio Bean, Burlington ($15)
9:00 PM: Lady Moon & The Eclipse w/ Beccs at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: IncaHoots at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Karaoke with DJ Big T at McKee's Original, Winooski (Free)
10:00 PM: Live DJ at Ri Ra! at RiRa Irish Pub, Burlington (Free)
11:00 PM: DJ Taka at Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington ($10/$15)
Saturday, September 5, 2026
General Events
9:00 AM: Burlington Farmers Market at 345 Pine St, Burlington (Free)
9:00 AM: Crystals, Rocks and Minerals Closing Sale at 70 Wright 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: Burlington Vintage Market Fall Flea at Barge Canal Market, 377 Pine St, Burlington
10:00 AM: Champlain Valley Fair at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($7-20; $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under.)
10:00 AM: BTown Coffee Club at Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington — MEETUP.com
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!)
11:00 AM: Saturday Zentangle with Julia Davenport at Essex Free Library, Essex (Free)
11:00 AM: Saturdays Are For The Classics at Bay & Brisket, Colchester
11:00 AM: Chess Club at South Burlington Public Library & City Hall, South 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)
12:00 PM: Toqehsuwok in the Farmyard at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne (Free.)
1:00 PM: Btown at the Champlain Valley Fair at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction — MEETUP.com
1:00 PM: New Member Orientation at The Media Factory, Burlington (Free; donations accepted; preregister.)
2:00 PM: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
2:00 PM: Tours at Merrymac Farm Sanctuary, Charlotte ($25)
3:00 PM: Left Eye Jump at Red Square at Red Square, Burlington
4:00 PM: Community Discussions on Health and Wellness at Richard Kemp Center, North Winooski Avenue, 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: South Burlington Farmers Market at South Burlington Parks & Rec, South Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: International Food Festival at Veterans Memorial Park, Dorset Street, South Burlington ($35 per person) — MEETUP.com
6:00 PM: Summer Garden Adventure Dinner at Horsford Gardens & Nursery, Charlotte ($185)
7:00 PM: Good Night/Life: Burlington | Benefit for Hope Connections for Cancer at Featured Bar of the Month, Burlington ($13.39)
7:00 PM: Sisterhood Campfire at Leddy Park, Burlington (Free.)
10:00 PM: Habibi Funk at Radio Bean, Burlington ($10)
Performances
1:00 PM: Wild Inside at Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington ($6-12)
7:00 PM: Matthew Broussard at Vermont Comedy Club at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($30; SOLD OUT)
9:00 PM: Matthew Broussard at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington ($30)
Live Music/DJ
10:30 AM: Community Phenology at Rock Point at Rock Point Center, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Park Fest at Five South Burlington parks (Park Fest passport route), South Burlington (Free)
2:00 PM: Uncle John's Band at Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling, Essex (Free)
2:00 PM: Sister Speak at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
5:00 PM: Shane's Apothecary at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
5:30 PM: Live Music at Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington (free)
5:30 PM: Mowgli Giannitti at Switchback Beer Garden & Smokehouse, Burlington (Free)
6:00 PM: David O & Mike Schuster at Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne (Free)
6:30 PM: Live Music at the Odd Fellows Hall (Waves of Adrenaline, Young Laidy, A Montreal Paul) at Queen City Lodge Oddfellows Hall, 1416 North Ave, Burlington
7:00 PM: Bow Wow, Soulja Boy & Fat Joe (CV Fair Grandstand) at Champlain Valley Fair Grandstand, Essex Junction ($39-$69; doors 5:30 PM)
7:00 PM: Soup for Two & Salmo at the Venetian Soda Lounge at The Venetian Soda Lounge, Burlington ($10)
7:00 PM: Holding Napoleon & Alice Grace at Community of Sound, Burlington ($5-$25)
7:00 PM: DJ Big Dog at Thingz From Yaad, Burlington (Free)
7:30 PM: Bermuda Search Party at Higher Ground, South Burlington ($15-$20; doors 7 PM)
8:00 PM: Pride Ball w/ Emoji Nightmare, Angeria Paris VanMichaels, King Molasses, GAYBAR, Skipipop at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington ($35-$40; doors 7:30 PM)
8:00 PM: Rick Maguire (of Pile) w/ Vehicle at Radio Bean, Burlington
8:00 PM: The Red Newts at Monkey House, Winooski ($5)
9:00 PM: Josh Panda Band at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
9:00 PM: Jerband at On Tap Bar & Grill, Essex Junction (Free)
9:00 PM: Queeraoke with Lizzie Murderz at Standing Stone Wines, Winooski (Free)
10:00 PM: Live DJ at Ri Ra! at RiRa Irish Pub, Burlington (Free)
Sunday, September 6, 2026
General Events
7:30 AM: Dad Guild Run Club at Burlington Bike Path, Burlington
8:30 AM: Champlain Valley Fair Open Show at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction
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: MASKS ON! Sundays at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Champlain Valley Fair at Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction ($7-20; $10 for parking; free for kids 4 and under.)
10:00 AM: Burlington Letter Writing Group at Zero Gravity Brewery, Pine Street, Burlington (Free)
10:00 AM: Dinosaur Safari Exhibit at ECHO at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington (Free with Admission or ECHO Membership)
11:00 AM: Motorcycle Sunday at Bay & Brisket, Colchester
11:30 AM: Stroll & Sample (Hinesburg, VT) at Hinesburg Park-and-Ride, Hinesburg — 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)
12:00 PM: Mix & Mingle at The Boardroom - Board Game Cafe, Burlington — MEETUP.com
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: The Ultimate Chocolate Tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates, Burlington ($16)
2:00 PM: Tours at Merrymac Farm Sanctuary, Charlotte
2:00 PM: Counting Butterflies for Conservation: The Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas at Birds of Vermont Museum, Huntington ($5-15 suggested donation; preregister)
3:00 PM: Craft & Skillshare Afternoons! (Crafternoons) at Queen City Lodge Oddfellows Hall, Burlington
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
5:00 PM: South Burlington Farmers Market at South Burlington Parks & Rec, South Burlington (Free)
5:30 PM: New Mindfulness Meditation Gathering at Hood Plant, Burlington (By donation)
6:00 PM: New Leaf Sangha Mindfulness Practice at Hot Yoga Burlington, Burlington (Free.)
7:00 PM: Night Ranger & John Waite (CV Fair Grandstand) at Champlain Valley Fair Grandstand, Essex Junction ($39-$69; gates 5:30 PM)
7:30 PM: Sunday Night Mass w/ Sydney Blu, Maus, Valkyrie at Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington ($30-$38)
Performances
4:00 PM: LGBTQIA+ Women's Dance at Burlington St. John's Club, Burlington ($15-20 suggested donation; cash bar)
Live Music/DJ
10:00 AM: Sunday Brunch Tunes at Hotel Vermont, Burlington
12:00 PM: Sunday Funday at 1st Republic Brewing, Essex (Free)
1:00 PM: Andriana & The Bananas at Foam Brewers, Burlington (Free)
1:00 PM: Sunday Sessions with Sunset Watchers Club at Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski (Free)
2:30 PM: Ali T at Maquam Barn & Winery, Milton (Free; cost of food and drink)
4:30 PM: Offerings and Needs at Rock Point at Fire pit behind the Chapel, 20 Rock Point Road, Burlington
6:00 PM: Joe Agnello & Friends at Red Square, Burlington (Free)
7:00 PM: Alabama Shakes w/ Emily King at Ben & Jerry's Concerts on The Green at Shelburne Museum, Shelburne ($80.50-$175; doors 6 PM; SOLD OUT, waitlist only)
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
Where in Btown? shows one local photo and asks you to name the spot. Harder than it sounds, and a good one to pass around the table at Coffee Club.
That’s All, Burlington!
That's the long weekend, and it is a good one. Ride the last days of the fair, hit a market or two, and get out to the Bean while you still can. If the Btown Brief makes your week a little easier, you can support it at ko-fi or on Venmo (@btownbrief), and it genuinely helps keep this thing running. 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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