ALL WEEKEND LONG…
July 4 & 5: For Quechee Club members, the fun keeps rolling this holiday weekend with a family pentathlon, bonfire, poolside entertainment, fireworks, and more!
July 5-8: Watch the phoenix rise as the X-Men fall during a showing of the film, Dark Phoenix, playing at Pentangle Arts’ Woodstock Town Hall Theatre!
THURSDAY, JULY 4…
For our post on all holiday activities, click here.
8:30 AM: Lace up those running shoes bright and early; it’s the 43rd Annual John Langhans 7.1-Green Mile Road Race! Walk or run your way through beautiful downtown Woodstock, snag a free t-shirt and snacks, then stick around for the free Kids’ Fun Run at 10:30 AM. Register now online, or show up early on race-day to register on the village green.
10 AM – 5 PM: Then, head to the farm for patriotic fun with a historic twist! During Old Vermont 4th at Billings Farm & Museum, the whole family is invited to celebrate with a game of historic baseball, sack races, 1890 flag-making, debates, spelling bees, wagon rides, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and much, much more! See the link for more details on this unmissable event.
11 AM: Then, reenact a historic moment in American history during the community reading of Frederick Douglass’ July 5, 1852 abolitionist speech – happening at the Norman Williams Public Library.
2 – 3:15 PM: View art though the eyes of conservationists during Art Tour at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, featuring a collection of stunning landscapes by acclaimed painters of the Hudson River School. Registration recommended, see link for details.
5 – 7 PM: Set on the majestic front lawn of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, the view is as drool-worthy as the food during a spectacular picnic BBQ! Savor southern flavors like friend chicken, Billings Farm mac and cheese, watermelon, homemade ice cream, and more over live music and lawn games under the sun! See link for pricing and additional information.
5 – 9 PM: This 4th of July gets an extra dose of fire thanks to a live performance by Billy Wylder – sampling songs from the band’s new album, Strike the Match – happening at Feast & Field in bucolic Barnard.
6 – 10 PM: Want to give this holiday an extra spark? We have a feeling that a BBQ, music by the BorderStone band, family-friendly fun (think kids’ crafts, touch-a-trunk, public skating…), and fireworks at the Woodstock Union High School will do the trick!
7 – 9 PM: Or if you find yourself near the Quechee Gorge, stop in to the Public House for some challenging, fun trivia with your crew!
FRIDAY, JULY 5…
10 AM – 5 PM: Step outside of the box and inside the kitchen with Foodways Fridays at Billings Farm & Museum, where you’ll learn how heirloom vegetables from the farm are used in historic recipes. See link for details.
11 AM – 1 PM: Then, continue your tour through flavor country with a tasting at the Woodstock Farmers’ Market, featuring rich, luxurious Road Trip Fudge.
2 – 3 PM: Later, experience firsthand what life was like on the brink of nuclear war during Fallout Fridays at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, where you’ll tour a 1960s-era fallout shelter. Pre-registration recommended, follow the link to learn more.
7 – 8 PM: Watch the waters of the Ottauquechee River rush by to the tune of the South Royalton Town Band during an Old Fashioned Band Concert and Ice Cream Social! Happening at the Woodstock History Center, this community event is fun and free for all.
7:30 – 9 PM: Or, if you’d like to trade the river for the mountainside, head to Suicide Six Ski area for a performance by The Vermont Symphony Orchestra, showcasing the composers who set America to music: Gershwin, Joplin, Bernstein, Copland, and John Williams. The night ends with a literal bang with a breathtaking firework show! Follow the link to purchase your tickets now!
SATURDAY, JULY 6…
9 AM – 12 PM: On your mark, get set, Parkrun! The timed 5k is back on the trails of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP – so register now!
9:30 – 10:30 AM: Get a crash-course in culinary herbalism during this Summer Garden Tour at Kelly Way Gardens – where parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and twenty other herbs share the spotlight! This event is $10 for visitors, free for Woodstock Inn & Resort guests. No reservations necessary.
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Shop everything that’s in-season-fresh at the Mt Tom Farmers’ Market, set in the shade of Mt Tom.
Set the kids loose on the trail of natural discovery with these events:
- 10 AM – 5 PM: Welcome to the wonderful world of insects! At the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, you’ll meet insect experts, beekeepers, entomologists, and the caterpillars, bees, and other creatures they study during the Incredible Insect Festival! Demonstrations, exhibits, crafts, and games round out a day of investigatory fun! See link for details.
- 11 AM – 5 PM: Then, double up on your scientific discoveries with Botanical Investigation Day at the Montshire Museum of Science. Kids will be getting up close and personal with plant cells, seeds, tree rings, flower dissection, and more! Click the link for schedule and pricing details.
- 1 – 2 PM: Walk in the shoes of a park ranger and even work toward your own badge with Junior Ranger Adventures at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP! See link for details.
1 – 3 PM: Struggling in the heat? Then snag a taste of cool, bittersweet cider varieties during the Eden Ciders tasting at the Woodstock Farmers’ Market.
2 – 3 PM: Discover secret gardens hidden from view during the Life in Full Bloom tour at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP – and learn about those who conceived and nurtured these stunning spaces. Pre-registration recommended.
Later at 5 PM, choose from:
- 5 – 8:30 PM: Horseback riding under the setting sun during Twilight Pleasure Rides with GMHA – culminating in a potluck dinner. Pre-registration appreciated, but not required.
- 5 – 11 PM: The hits just keep on coming at The American Vinyl Music Festival – where iconic members from your favorite classic rock bands come together at Suicide Six. Follow the link for program and ticket information.
6:30 – 10 PM: Missed Feast & Field on Thursday? Don’t fret – the open-air stage will come alive again, this time for a Haitian Roots dance party featuring live music by Lakou Mizik PLUS tasty eats from Fable Farm and Kiss the Cow.
7 – 9 PM: Take the bait: now’s your chance to learn how to fish on the clear waters of Silver Lake, during the Let's Go Fishing Clinic! In this two hour session, experts will cover a basic introduction to fishing from aquatic ecology to casting, knot tying, and regulations, concluding with a chance to fish. Free plus the cost of park entry.
SUNDAY, JULY 7…
1 – 1:30 PM: Ever wonder what it takes to care for the avian patients and residents of the VINS Nature center? Now’s your chance to take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour that includes viewing Rehab-in-Action and touring the ICU, prep areas, and flight cages of the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation. Then, explore the Nature Center and attend a Live Bird program. See link for pricing.
1 – 4 PM: Explore the heart of Woodstock Village to the soothing sounds of Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon – featuring an outdoor performance at 1 The Green! Refreshments including lemonade and cookies are often served.
2 – 3:15 PM: From private family bedrooms to a bowling alley, soda fountain, and service wing, you’ll explore the Hidden Spaces of the Rockefeller mansion during this insightful tour at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. Reservations recommended.
3:30 – 8 PM: It’s time to hit the ice! Join Upper Valley Curling for a summer BBQ, followed by the first night of summer curling at the Union Arena in Woodstock. This Summer Curling Kick-off party is open to anyone who previously curled with UVC or attended a Learn to Curl event. Click the link for RSVP details.
6 – 9 PM: Explore beautiful gardens and the local artistry of cheesemakers, farmers, beekeepers, and dairymen through the culinary delights of the Red Barn Dinner series at Kelly Way Gardens. Click the link for pricing and menus.
7 PM: Or if you’d rather dine the DIY way, join Odyssey Events for the hands-on cooking class, the Soufflé Also Rises, to create a sumptuous meal and then eat what you make! See link for details.
