Fairs & Festivals

The Brookfield Ice Harvest Festival is held the end of January each year in Brookfield. This family event provides the opportunity to see how ice was harvested on Sunset Lake at the turn of the century. Activities include ice cutting and ice boom demonstrations, an ice-hauling contest, a chance to try hand-made snowshoes and view ice sculpting. Admission is free. Contact information: 802-276-3959.

Fiddlehead Festival

The Fiddlehead Festival 2010 will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Vermont Technical College campus in Randolph Center. This festival celebrates the growing season and the rich agricultural resources of the region. Favorites include the farmer’s lunch, musical performances, dancing, farmstead demonstrations, and workshops the popular “Wild Edibles”. Admission is free except for Farmer’s Lunch. Location: VT Tech, Route 66, 1 mile east from Exit 4 off I-89. Contact information: Regina Beidler 802-728-5601, Bob Eddy 802-728-5402. Vendor contact: John Lutz 802-728-6212, info@fiddleheadfestival.com, Fiddlehead Festival.


The Fourth of July Parade and Street Fest, held on the Fourth, is hosted by the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce and is one of the best Independence Day parades in Vermont! After the parade attendees head to the street festival on Merchants Row for a chicken BBQ and other food choices, games, crafts and entertainment. The parade is scheduled to start at noon on Sunday, July 4, 2010. The Randolph Village Fire Department has a popular fireworks display, typically on July 3rd. Chamber Contact information: 802-728-9027, mail@randolph-chamber.com, Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 18th Annual Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival will come to Randolph in mid-August, 2010. The festival features a two-week series of concerts for mixed ensembles performed by world-class artists at Chandler Music Hall. Dates will include major concerts in Chandler on August 21st & 28th, 2010. Contact information: 802-728-9878, tickets 802-728-6464, tickets@chandler-arts.org, Chandler Music Hall.

The Fourth Annual Last Mile Ride, hosted by Gifford Medical Center, 44 South Main St., Randolph, is scheduled for August 21, 2010. In 2009, more than 180 motorcycle riders participated in the charity ride to support Gifford Medical Center’s end-of-life care program and collectively raised over $32,000. Contact information: 802-728-7000, info@giffordmed.org, Gifford Medical Center.

New World Festival

The 18th Annual New World Festival is scheduled for Sunday, September 5, 2010 from noon to midnight. This all-day festival of Celtic and French Canadian music and dance featuring artists from New England, Canada and the British Isles is performed on five stages simultaneously in historic Chandler Music Hall and in other all-weather facilities. Location: Chandler Music Hall, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. Contact information: 802-728-9878, becky@chandler-arts.org, New World Music Festival.

For more information contact The Chandler at (802) 728-9878 or email director@chandler-arts.org.


A Vermont Top Ten fall event listing, the 139th Tunbridge World’s Fair, September 16-19, 2010, is a blend of active livestock shows with beautiful farm animals, a good old fair-time midway, and a competitive harvest and crafts exhibition. As a family venue this couldn’t be better—for all ages and interests—tucked away in a charming valley. Location: Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Route 110, Tunbridge. Contact information: 802-889-5555 or toll free 800-889-5555, info@tunbridgefair.com, Tunbridge Fair.