Summer Guide 2021

montpelier is back!
A Return to Community
By Dan Groberg, Executive Director - Montpelier Alive
The sun is shining again in Montpelier! As vaccination rates rise and
COVID counts fall in turn, we can begin to look forward to a summer
together again in community. After months apart, we can’t wait to come
together and enjoy an incredible lineup of fun events. Here’s some of
what you can expect in the months to come:
Montpelier Alive’s Art Walk, supported by orthfield Savings Bank,
will take place on June 4th, August 6th, and October 1st. Art Walk
provides a fun and casual way to experience art, meet local artists, and
explore downtown Montpelier shops, restaurants and galleries. You can
pick up an Art Walk guidebook and begin your walk at any of the presenting
venues (look for the Art Walk balloons!). June’s Art Walk will feature
19 venues, a COVID-era high, including two new venues. The event
features a variety of art, ranging from vinyl art by Matt Denton on display
on Rebel Heart to pandemic inspired collage by Sally Smith on display
at umping Raindrops. Several venues will reopen to the public for the
first time since the pandemic began. The walk begins on riday, une
4, and viewing times vary by venue. or more information, visit www.
montpelieralive.org/artwalk.
photo by Glenn Russell/VT Digger
capital city farmer’s market
saturdays thru october
juneteenth june 19
shidaa drum and dance celebration
of diversity and community july 3
brown bag concert series
thursdays in august & september
art walk august 6 & october 1
taste of montpelier food festival
september 11
one world festival september 24-26
June and July bring two opportunities to celebrate the incredible diversity
of our community On Saturday, June 19th, 5-8pm, there will be a
commemoration of uneteenth with a celebratory evening on the State
House Lawn. The celebration and reections will be focused on the word
Liberation as organiers share Black History in Vermont and make space
to discuss the continued impacts of systemic racism in our state. This
community event will include food available for pre-order from Black
businesses and home cooks and a slate of speakers and performers from
across the state. On Saturday, July 3rd from 5-8pm on the State House
Lawn, Shidaa Cultural Education and Echange will host an evening of
music and dance celebrating community and diversity. Enoy an array of
performances and delicious food from local vendors.
August and September bring events for the whole family!
On six Thursdays at noon starting Thursday, August 5, Montpelier Alive
will host the Hunger Mountain Co-op Brown Bag Summer Concert
Series. This free lunchtime concert series in Christ Church Courtyard will
feature local and regional acts like Sabouyouma, Them Boys, and A2VT.
On Saturday, September 4th, caterpillars take over City Hall! North
Branch ature Center brings The Caterpillar Lab to downtown Montpelier
for a ourney into the incredible world of ew Englands native caterpillars
and their habitats. This hands-on, over-the-top exhibition features
open-air displays for people of all ages. All part of a five-day caterpillar
residency at the Nature Center!
On Saturday, September 11, enjoy the inaugural Taste of Montpelier
Festival. The Taste of Montpelier will bring the best of Vermont’s culinary
scene to the heart of its capital city and feature events that appeal
to foodies and families alike with world-class entertainment paired with
world-class food. roceeds benefit the Vermont ood Bank and Montpelier
Alive.
inally, September is capped off with the One World Festival of Arts
and Imagination from September 24th-26th. The One orld estival
will showcase murals created by ten teams from across Vermont.
October promises even more fun. Mid-october will feature Moonlight
Madness, powered by VSEC, with street performances and late night
shopping hours at downtown businesses. On Halloween, the Montpelier
Fall Festival returns with a spooky carnival on the State House Lawn,
a costume parade, downtown trick-or-treating, and more!
Learn more about all the upcoming events in Montpelier at
www.montpelieralive.com.
12 The WORLD ~ 2021 Summer Guide