Learn from the experts: Chefs share their secrets!
Sep 08 2022
The Taste of Montpelier Food Festival is unlike any food festival you've been to before. Forget about those stuffy events with $100 tickets off in the middle of a hot field. Join us in the heart of Montpelier's downtown to get a true taste of what we're all about. Fun, approachable, delicious.
A Unique Flavor: Entertainment at The Taste of Montpelier
Sep 06 2022
Montpelier Alive’s Taste of Montpelier, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op is so much more than a food festival. Unlike any other food festival of its kind, featured entertainment includes fantastical shows of juggling, acrobatics, yo-yo tricks and vaudeville skits. Foodies and arts enthusiasts alike will find something to savor at the festival’s main event, The Great Taste on Saturday, September 10th from 1-4pm on State Street.
Hunger Mountain Co-op Brown Bag Concert Series
Aug 04 2022
During lunch-hour on weekdays, Montpelier’s streets are bustling! Between lawmakers, lawyers, business owners, and tourists, everybody enjoys taking a break and frequenting the abundance of eateries downtown. As people wander and search for a place to sit and relax in the Vermont summer weather, they might hear melodies drifting from the Christ Church Courtyard, where live musicians take the stage every week in August and early September. The Hunger Mountain Co-op Brown Bag Concert Series, hosted by Montpelier Alive, features excellent music from across the region. These free and fun noon-time concerts brighten everyone's day, even if just passing by. Check out this year’s line-up, curated by Fred Wilber, past owner of Buch Spieler Records.
Vermont Mountaineers: Community Summer Baseball at its Finest
Aug 02 2022
Montpelier is unique for so many reasons, including the endless recreation opportunities in and around the city. One of the many hidden gems in this town includes the historic grandstand and baseball field at the recreation area on Elm Street. The Mountaineers are proof that small towns can dream big!
Quench Your Thirst in Central Vermont
Jul 28 2022
Vermont's craft beverage makers have become a major driver of visitors to the state and Central Vermont has been a hotbed of this trend. But it’s not just our world-famous beers that will quench your thirst.
High Summer: Upcoming Events in Montpelier
Jul 22 2022
Summertime in Montpelier is always very eventful, and we are certainly in full swing! The next two weeks are especially packed with fun and unique events. Here is a summary of what lies ahead...
Do Good Fest: Doing Good For the Community and Beyond…
Jul 14 2022
Do Good Fest has been one of the most successful music festival ventures in the state of Vermont. For eight years, the festival has been rocking Central Vermont with popular music for a good cause. We found out a little more from Beth Rusnock, President of the National Life Group Foundation, about this fabulous upcoming event.
July 3rd Festival Spectacular! Food Truck Festival and Parade Performer Highlights
Jun 30 2022
Montpelier’s July 3rd Celebration is centered around community, food, and fun! Walking to the State House lawn alongside groups of other festival-goers is an experience unto itself. From a distance, you can see the food trucks lined up on State Street and you can hear musicians on the Main Stage. Excitement builds as spectators await the joyous parade at 6:15pm.
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An Inter-Galactic Independence Day in Montpelier!
Jun 16 2022
Families and friends, kids of all ages - join us at the new FamilyFest at this year’s July 3rd Independence Day Celebration! Montpelier Alive hopes to reignite the flame for family fun by offering an eclectic variety of performances this year on the Main Stage on the State House Lawn from 2-5pm.
July 3rd Independence Day Celebration in Montpelier is Back!
Jun 09 2022
The streets of Montpelier have been pretty quiet on Independence Day over the past couple of years. We know the community has been eager to come together to celebrate, and the parade and fireworks have been greatly missed. We’re happy to say that the Montpelier Alive team has been hard at work to bring back the Capital City’s largest festival of the year!
Discovering The Front Gallery and Art Walk
Jun 02 2022
This Friday, June 3rd, is Art Walk in Montpelier! Montpelier Alive's Art Walk, supported by Northfield Savings Bank, showcases a wide array of community artists at venues throughout the city. On the first Friday of every other month, Montpelier celebrates the arts by partnering with artists and venues and creating a unique and entertaining event. This week, we take a look at the Front, an artist-run cooperative gallery on Barre Street and venue #7 in June's Art Walk.
Creative Aging Takes the Stage at June's Art Walk
May 25 2022
“Creative aging is an important component of healthy aging, empowering older adults to reflect on life experiences through artistic skills and share their imaginations and ideas with friends, family, and the community" Central Vermont Council on Aging is hosting a celebration of creative aging on Friday, June 3rd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Beautiful Montpelier: A Conversation with Linn Syz about Downtown Flowers
May 19 2022
We recently sat down with Linn Syz, former board member at Montpelier Alive, to discuss her efforts to keep Montpelier’s downtown streets beautiful and full of colorful flowers. Linn has volunteered for years to maintain and expand the plantings across Montpelier. Her efforts are key part of Montpelier Alive’s broader commitment to downtown beautification, including holiday decorations, the procurement of benches and trash cans, public art, and more. We asked Linn about the history and the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into the downtown flowers.
Summer Events in Central Vermont
May 11 2022
Some would say that summer is the best season in Vermont. Even though we can make the case for every season, it's hard to argue with gorgeous weather (escape the humidity and visit our magical land where the average high in July is just 83!), long summer evenings, front porch living, and dips in the swimming hole. But summer in Vermont also means fun, festive, and unique events throughout central Vermont!
Green Up Day: Making Montpelier Sparkle!
May 06 2022
Each spring, after the last snowfall, when the smallest patch of snow melts from the shadiest corner of the lawn, we begin the process of cleaning up the yard. Somehow, everything from a toy truck, to gardening tools, and even a half filled can of beer, begin to appear randomly scattered across the brown patchy grass. We can’t quite recall how it got there, and why we forgot to pick them up last fall, but nevertheless, it isn’t pretty! By May, the work weekends begin and the grass turns greener. After Green Up Day, on May 7th, our lawn as well as everyone else’s in Vermont, begins to sparkle!
Celebrate Spring during Montpelier's Month-Long Mayfest!
Apr 28 2022
The month of May is host to a full calendar of fun, family friendly events in the Capital City. While you’re Downtown, stop in to some of our amazing restaurants and independent shops & boutiques.
Enjoying Spring in Montpelier
Apr 14 2022
This is spring here, tumultuous and dramatic, and full of wonder. It’s as if we forget every year, and are taken by surprise as the sun sets and the evening wood frogs chime in.
Together Again: Supporting Community through Downtown Event Grants
Mar 24 2022
Montpelier Alive recognizes the importance of festivals and events, and how embedded they are in community life here. One way that we support these events is through our Downtown Event Grant Program.
New Horizons for Bailey Road
Mar 03 2022
Montpelier Alive loves watching businesses build from the ground up. We remember when Bailey Road first opened, and it has been wonderful to see the business grow. We recently supported Bailey Road with a grant through our Welcome to Montpelier Program to support new and expanding Montpelier businesses. Here, Sarah DeFelice tells us a little more about Bailey Road’s journey, and the new vision she has for her expanding store.
A Place to Stay
Mar 03 2022
Montpelier, nestled into the heart of Vermont amidst the Green Mountains and at the convergence of three rivers including the notable Winooski, is a quaint gem of a town. Montpelier is the smallest Capital in the Nation, with the vibrancy of a bustling city. Known for its abundance of restaurants and cafes, and weekend family-friendly community events, Montpelier radiates activity.
March for Meals: The 50th anniversary and celebration of the Meals on Wheels program, A lifeline for many Vermonters
Mar 03 2022
According to the Vermont Foodbank, one in seven Vermonters are struggling with food insecurity. The rugged rural beauty that defines Vermont can make it a challenging place to live for older adults, who often struggle with transportation. The isolating nature of rural living can make it hard to even determine who is in need. Meals on Wheels is a lifeline for these home-bound seniors.
The Frozen Onion: A Fat Bike Revolution
Mar 03 2022
From my house, situated on the river near the Mountain Bike trails, I see Fat Bikers pass by every day. As they move slowly down the frozen river, and cut up through the woods, I often wonder what the appeal is. As a Mountain Biker myself, I am tempted to give it a try, but I'm not sure I could give up a good ski day to get on my bike. I thought maybe Jen and Kip Roberts, co-owners of Onion River Outdoors, could shed some light on the Montpelier Fat Bike Revolution, and tell us a bit about the upcoming Frozen Onion event, where they will be offering Fat Bike demos.
Downtown Spotlight: Hugo's Bar and Grill
Mar 03 2022
We are excited to welcome Hugo’s Bar and Grill to our Capital City! The new restaurant plans on opening on February 12, and we wish them a successful start.
Downtown Spotlight: The Social
Mar 03 2022
Montpelier Alive had the chance to connect with Michael Drake, owner of the new restaurant The Social, now open at The Inn at Montpelier, 147 Main Street. We can't wait to check it out!
Downtown Spotlight: Oakes & Evelyn
Mar 03 2022
Montpelier continues to draw exciting new businesses, in spite of the pandemic. Montpelier Alive had the chance to connect with Justin Dain, Chef and Owner at Oakes & Evelyn, which recently opened at 52 State Street in the former Kismet location in downtown Montpelier.