ALL WEEKEND LONG…
May 30 – June 1: Whip up a dish of homemade happiness during cooking classes with Odyssey Events in Bridgewater where you’ll craft ravioli, fettuccini, and tortellini with three fillings and sauces. See link for details.
June 1 & 2: From dressage to show jumping and cross-country, it’s all covered at the June Horse Trials with the Green Mountain Horse Association – a two-day equestrian event for skill levels from beginner novice to novice, training, and preliminary. See link for details, but don’t delay– this event usually has a waiting list!
June 1-2 & beyond: Watch the late Queen of Soul bring down the house during a showing of the film, Amazing Grace. Featuring Aretha Franklin’s never-before-seen concert footage from 1972, this is a can’t-miss film that’ll take you back in time – playing at Pentangle Arts’ Woodstock Town Hall Theatre.
THURSDAY, MAY 30…
2 PM: View acclaimed Hudson River School paintings and learn how those works influenced the conservation movement during the tour, Conservation Through the Artist's Eye, at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Also at 2 PM, visitors can explore the treasure trove of objects throughout the Mansion during the conversational tour, Art Pick, at Marsh-Billings Rockefeller NHP.
6:30 – 8 PM: Want to toss your food waste the green way? Then head to Pomfret for an essential Backyard Composting Workshop, where you’ll discover not just how to compost scraps in your own backyard, but get expert answers, and even purchase a composter to get you started!
7 – 9 PM: Love brain-teasers and memory-busters? Then head to Pub Trivia at the Public House to test your knowledge and compete to win in Quechee!
FRIDAY, MAY 31…
10 AM – 5 PM: Get cooking at Billings Farm & Museum during this edition of Foodways Fridays – featuring a how-to on utilizing seasonal vegetables and herbs and a historic recipe you can try at home! See link for pricing and details.
2 PM: Did you know the Rockefellers had their own 1960s fallout shelter – and you can step inside? Don’t miss this chance to tour a slice of Cold War history during Fallout Fridays at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. Registration recommended.
6 – 9:30 PM: It’s tie dye time at Branch Out Teen Night – where teens can gather, chatter, and create colorful tee-shirts with their own unique design at Artistree in Pomfret – all for FREE!
7 – 9 PM: Meet Director Josh Melrod at the community screening of his powerhouse film, Major Arcana, playing at Pentangle Arts’ Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. Watch and unveil one man’s struggle to break his spiral of poverty and addiction by returning to Vermont and building a home with his own hands. Free with suggested $5 donation.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1… is National Trails Day!
8:30 AM: Start this holiday off right with a rake in hand as you join WAMBA for a series of Aqueduct Trail maintenance projects till 12:30 PM! Then, stick around for a much-deserved BBQ potluck.
9 AM: Get pumped for the inaugural Parkrun 5k coming to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP! As the first of many, this timed 5k will build your confidence, stamina, and spirit through weekly races happening in this beautiful national park all summer long. Walkers and runners welcome. Registration required. See link for details.
9:30 -10:30 AM: Or for a more casual scene, head to the grounds of Kelly Way Gardens for their Summer Garden Tour, where you’ll explore A Tasty Terroir: Soil & Nutrient Density to learn how resident gardeners employ techniques to make the organic produce’s nutrition and health a cut above the rest. This event is free for Woodstock Inn guests, $10 for visitors. No reservations required.
10 – 11 AM: Hop on The Magic School Bus Live as Ms. Frizzle and the gang blast into outer space at Pentangle Arts’ Woodstock Town Hall Theatre! Recommended for grades K through 5. $6 per person.
10 AM – 1 PM: Add a touch of nature to your wardrobe with an Eco-Printing Workshop at Artistree! See link for pricing and details.
10 AM – 2 PM: The whole family can learn how to tie and cast flies, and explore a fish habitat during the 18th annual Chang Fly-fishing Event with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.
10 AM – 3 PM: A free festival of food, fun, and the great outdoors is headed your way! Sample the flavors of spring at Trek to Taste, the annual celebration of trails, local food, and healthy living at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. Take a hike from easy to moderate or hearty (or even tackle all three), then reward yourself with an ice cream treat, wood-fired pizza, gourmet snacks, live music, fun activities, a showcase of presentations from 15 different schools, and more! Free for all.
10 AM – 5 PM: Admire the abundance of life around you on a guided walk at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science to celebrate National Trails Day – in addition to VINS’ daily activities and exhibits. Included with admission.
11 AM – 2 PM: Want to try out the latest in golf equipment? Then hit the driving range for Callaway Demo Day at the Woodstock Country Club.
2 PM: Meander through Woodstock’s grand gardens, both formal and secret, as part of the Gardens through the Generations Tour at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. Registration recommended.
5 & 7 PM: It’s a true community food event – and you’re invited! Join friends and neighbors at the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon Pre-Race Pasta Supper at Suicide Six Ski Area for fabulous food, drinks, live music, and dancing on the deck. $20 per person, $10 for children.
6 – 10 PM: Looking for live music? Stop by the Public House Pub in Quechee to hear the sweet sound of the band, Wool jamming the night away.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2…
8:15 AM: On your mark, get set, go: the long-awaited Covered Bridges Half-Marathon begins at Suicide Six Ski Area! If you’re not hitting the pavement for a personal record, find a spot along the sidelines to cheer on your favorite competitors, then celebrate at the finish line with live music by the Conniption Fits.
9 AM – 12:30 PM: Partner up for 18 holes on the green with the Vermont Golf Association Mixed Scotch Championship at the Woodstock Country Club (open to VGA members)! Spectators welcome.
11 AM – 3:30 PM: Then, forage for your favorite fungi during Mushroom Hunting with VINS – complete with a slideshow to help beginners correctly identify edible mushrooms, followed by mushroom hunting, and even a cooking demonstration! See link for pricing and registration.
2 PM: Go behind-the-scenes in a Rockefeller family home during the Hidden Spaces Tour at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, featuring secret rooms like the service wing, bowling alley, and more. Registration recommended.
4 – 7:30 PM: Then, end the weekend with farm-fresh flavors on the tip of your tongue! At the Chaine du Vermont Spring Evening Dinner at Kelly Way Gardens, you’ll enjoy an outdoor reception and multi-course dinner presented amidst springtime splendor by the Woodstock Inn’s Chef Rhys H. Lewis. See link for pricing and details.
