Food festivals allow us to go deeper into our favorite foods and enjoy an exploration into Vermont’s taste of place. It's a chance to taste, sample, celebrate, and get a little silly, too. When else can you participate in a pie eating contest, watch a cooking demonstration, and also sample new products that take farm fresh ingredients to the next level? From small town celebrations to large food festivals and everything in between, Vermont likes to enjoy great food and drink straight!
June 30th - Burke Strawberry Festival, West Burke Park
Taste the sweetness of June strawberries at this annual Burke event. Enjoy live music, kids events, crafts from local artisan and of course, very fresh strawberry shortcake. Small town celebrations are are great way to explore Vermont. This is the first fruit of the summer, jump in your car and head over to Burke for your first taste of summer fruit.
July 21st & 22nd - Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington
A festival celebrating craft beers and the brewers who brew them. The third weekend in July at Burlington's Waterfront Park with scenic views of Lake Champlain framed by the Adirondack Mountain Range. Tickets are still available!
July 28th - August 6th -The Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival, Wilmington
This nine-day festival is all about the blueberry. Visitors can enjoy the Big Blue Parade, a Blue Street Fair, children's activities, jam making, blueberry-themed specials in the local eateries, blue music events, a blue car auto show, blueberry bake sales, blue beer, as well as pick your own blueberry opportunities.
August 6th - Vermont Fresh Network's 25th Annual Forum Dinner, Shelburne
For one special evening in August, farmers and chefs from all across Vermont come together to prepare a sensational meal for you and fellow food enthusiasts. It is a fundraiser for the Vermont Fresh Network — all proceeds go to continuing programming that helps bring more Vermont grown and raised food to the table.
August 6th - 13th - The 9th Annual Vermont Open Farm Week, statewide
Farms across the state are opening their barn doors and garden gates to give you behind-the-scenes access. What’s the greatest part about Open Farm Week? Every farm is unique! Milk a cow and harvest a carrot at one farm, enjoy a farm fresh barbecue with a live band at the next.
August 13th - Vermont Cheesemakers' Festival, Greensboro
Farms across the state are opening their barn doors and garden gates to give you behind-the-scenes access. What’s the greatest part about Open Farm Week? Every farm is unique! Milk a cow and harvest a carrot at one farm, enjoy a farm fresh barbecue with a live band at the next.
August 24 - 27th - A Taste of New England at Spruce Peak, Stowe
Spruce Peak welcomes top chefs, farms, and producers from around New England to showcase their passions, skills, and dedication to culinary excellence. The weekend is highlighted by a 5-course dinner under the stars, featuring courses from each guest chef, and is wrapped up with a Vermont Food & Beverage Showcase on the Village Green.
September 2nd - Annual Southern Vermont Garlic Festival, Bennington
Celebrate the “stinking rose” with garlic-lovers from throughout New England. For one day each year, Bennington turns into Garlic Town USA. Sample food and crafts from hundreds of different vendors, all made from - surprise - garlic and herbs! Everything from garlic ice cream to garlic jelly, pickled garlic, roasted garlic, garlic braids and, of course, plain garlic bulbs of every variety will be available for sampling and purchase, along with garlic braiding and cooking demonstrations.
Cover photo courtesy of Justin Brouillard from the Vermont Fresh Network Annual Forum of 2019.
This content was supported in part by Specialty Crop Block Grant 02200-SCBGP-18-05, awarded to Vermont Fresh Network by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets.
