Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. — LUDLOW — The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce will join with FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) to offer a very special business presentation called “Encore Entrepreneurship Class” on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. in the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium. The program will feature Chris Herriman of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Montpelier…

By Stephen Seitz WOODSTOCK – Visitors from all over are expected to descend on the Woodstock Green July 24-26 for the annual Bookstock Literary Festival. Book sales begin at 9 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. on July 24, opening day. Food and exhibitor tents will be open on the Green from 10 a.m. to…

Saturday, July 25 at 9:30 a.m. — BELMONT — The 9th annual Mount Holly Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, July 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a self-guided tour of diverse, high altitude gardens, including a wide range of perennials, organic vegetables, and truly creative landscaping ideas. Depending on the gardens in the…

July 24-25 — WOODSTOCK — Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is pleased to partner with Bookstock, the Green Mountain Festival of Words to offer some special book-related activities. Two special literary offerings will occur in the park during Bookstock: a special writing and drawing workshop for young people; and a ranger-led Robert Frost poetry walk. Youth are invited…

Friday, July 24 at 6 p.m. — CASTLETON — The Castleton Downtown Gallery in Rutland will feature the works of local Vermont artists Denis Versweyveld and Judith Rey running from July 15 through Aug. 15, with an artist reception scheduled for Friday, July 24 at 6 p.m. Entitled “A Sense of Place,” the exhibit will feature paintings,…

July 25-26 — WOODSTOCK — Vermont Antiques Dealers’Association will present its 41st consecutive show and sale and offer their wares for sale in room settings that promise to delight visitors. With dealers from around New England, as well as Missouri, California, New York, Kentucky and Ohio, “Antiques & Art in Woodstock” will open July 25 and 26…

The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association (VRPA) is partnering with 39  Vermont communities to offer deeply discounted amusement park tickets to Bromley Mountain Adventure Park in Manchester, Vt.; Arbortrek Canopy Adventures in Jeffersonville, Vt.; Great Escape/Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, N.Y.; and Six Flags New England in Agawam, Mass. Save up to 36 percent off…

By Robin Alberti Favorite summer pastimes vary greatly as there are many fun activities to fit into a relatively short season. Some can’t wait to get out their golf clubs, others their grills. You can lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails, or spend the day swimming, kayaking or canoeing one of Vermont’s…

Tuesday July 28 at 7 p.m. — CASTLETON — Castleton College is pleased to present Left Eye Jump as part of the 20th Annual Castleton Summer Concert SeriesTuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. at the Castleton Pavilion. Out of Burlington, Left Eye Jump plays blues music with the authentic sounds of Chicago, Texas, New Orleans, California,…

Submitted Alcohol-based inks will be used to create abstract coasters in a workshop on Sunday. Friday, July 17 — KILLINGTON — Killington ART Garage is excited to kick off the 2015 Killington’s Wine Festival Weekend with artist Peter Huntoon. On Friday, July 17, Huntoon will share his unique painting techniques and various creative concepts while producing a…

Friday, July 17 at 6 p.m. — MENDON — On Friday July 17 at 6 p.m., the Red Clover Inn will be hosting a special fundraiser to benefit Killington Music Festival. Join them for a delicious dinner by chefs Jake Hurm and Mike Ryan while enjoying music by the Killington Music Festival’s Young Artists. Chef Hurm will…

By Polly Lynn This sculpture by Patrick Farrow is an iconic piece in Downtown Rutland’s Depot Park. Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. — RUTLAND — The Chaffee Art Center introduces “Metamorphosis: Love of Change” on exhibit from July 10 to Aug. 29. An artists reception will take place on Friday, July 17 from 5 to 7…

Courtesy of Brandon Music Britt Connors & Bourbon Renewal Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. — BRANDON — The members of Bourbon Renewal are no stranger to Brandon Music, as regular visitors will know them as members of the John Funkhouser Quartet, but this concert marks Britt Connor’s debut performance at the unique Brandon venue. Hear their blend…

Submitted “The Kid Thing” focuses on two lesbian couples contemplating parenthood. July 17-19, 24-26 — RANDOLPH — As many readers will remember, Central Vermont was a hotbed of anti-civil union sentiment during Vermont’s difficult 2000 debate about civil unions, and attitudes here had not changed much by the time same-sex marriage was approved in 2009.  To build…

Submitted By Polly Lynn Saturday, July 18 — RUTLAND — “You’d have to drive to Burlington to get a show like this!” said DJ Craig Hahn (a.k.a. “DJ Token” in this circle, as he’s in the minority as a heterosexual.) Held the third Saturday of each month since April, The Local in downtown Rutland has…