A Bright Winter for Montpelier

By: Sheena Khan (Marketing & Communications Manager for Montpelier Alive)

Montpelier Alive has big plans this winter! Thanks to some successful grant writing and crowdfunding, we will be able to complete Phase 1 of our ambitious Bridge Illumination Project. The Bridge Illumination Project will artfully light up to seven

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, Sept

Montpelier is a hub for outdoor recreation, and is nestled in a valley where The North Branch and the Winooski rivers converge and public lands connect multiple networks of trails. Access to nature couldn’t be easier, from the Hubbard Park trails behind the Golden Dome to the mountain bike trails in North Branch Park. Montpelier is making its mark in the world of

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.

Downtown Montpelier is renowned for its wide variety of dining options, but step just outside of the mainstreet area, and find plenty of other amazing eating places. One neighborhood, along Barre Street and Stonecutters Way, offers fare that highlights farm to table, senior focused fare, or meals to help those in need.

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 dec

This winter, Montpelier Alive will artfully light up seven of Montpelier’s downtown bridges. Bridges are among the most important visual elements of any city. Lighting the bridges in the historic downtown will create a visual spectacle designed to add warmth and beauty to our cityscape, draw visitors from near and far, improve pedestrian safety, and celebrate the communi

Celebrate Halloween the Montpelier Way! This year downtown celebrates Halloween with something for everyone, from trick or treating to karaoke.    Trick or treating from 4:00 - 5:00 pm starts off the evening for the youngest crowd, followed by a Halloween costume parade and jamboree (including costumed pets) with a special guest! Parade meets up at 5:00 pm, at the corn

On November 16th, Montpelier will light up the town! For the first time in history, seven of Montpelier’s downtown bridges will be illuminated. To mark this historic event, Montpelier Alive will host a community bridge lighting ceremony and lantern parade, with music, refreshments, and a special performance by Cirque de Fuego.  For those wishing to participate in

No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, downtown Montpelier offers something for everyone throughout December, culminating in a “uniquely Montpelier” New Year’s Eve celebration. During the darkest month of the year, downtown lights up the evening (or afternoon, at 4pm!), with holiday lights, greens, and festive window displays. Local artists display

April isn't the most popular in Vermont...but it's full of hidden surprises. This year, thousands are expected to descend upon Montpelier for the once in a lifetime total eclipse on April 8th. The last time the Green Mountain State was in the path of totality was 1932; it won't happen again until 2106!   Downtown businesses are excited to have th

“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.

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.

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.

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! 

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. 

Show a little love to downtown Montpelier, shop local!   Enjoy shopping this holiday season, starting with Flannel Friday and Small Business Saturday!  Montpelier’s annual Flannel Friday kicks off the holiday season on November 29th, the day after Thanksgiving, followed by Small Business Saturday on November 30th. This year, visitors can shop and eat in Montp

After the destructive flooding in Plainfield and Barre last week, the Flood the Streets with Art event, re-scheduled for Wednesday, July 17th, has been revised to meet the current needs of our wider community.  Through the mediums of art, writing, and music, as well as a chance to donate to help the 2024 floo

Guitar Sam, a business that opened in 1981, closed this year, after 42 years in business! Carolyn Grodinsky met with Kevin Crossett recently and learned about how the store and how the downtown has changed over these years.   Kevin opened Guitar Sam when he was 25. He had previously worked in retail but wanted to work for himself. He said people thought he was crazy,

  Hiking Mount Hunger   Nestled in the heart of Central Vermont, Mount Hunger is a beloved hiking trail that offers breathtaking views, a moderately challenging ascent, and in the fall, some of the most stunning fall foliage in New England. If you're staying in or around the state's charming capital city, this hike is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the natural

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 li

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.

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!

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.

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. 

Tell us your story, how & why you got started to become a personal coachand bodyworker.   I've been providing personal coaching for a long time.  It started as "just a job" in the early 80s and it soon became a passion to become healthier and educated and pass this on to others including my family.I want to blend my passion for movement, wellness, and healing with

Tell us a bit about Capital Kitchen and how you came to own the store. 

I had known Jess Turner, the former owner, for years when I heard that she was ready to move on. I have to admit I had been eying the shop for quite some time--I love anything food related, so much so that it became a running joke at Bear Pond Books, my previous gig, that food wa

Member Highlight: Kristin Cantu of Greenway Institute   Tell us about Greenway Institute and how it found its way on the VCFA campus?    Greenway Institute is building a different approach to undergraduate engineering education that will better serve students, industry, and the world. Our mission is to inspire current and future g

Tell us about the history of Guare and Sons The Guare family funeral business has been a part of the history of Montpelier for more than one hundred years. It is one of the longest-running family businesses known in Montpelier. In 1921 Thomas and Florence Guare purchased the Frank E. Hall Funeral Home which was located on East State Street in Montpelier. Mr. Guare also opened

  Member Highlight: Kelly Cook, owner of Minikin What do you sell at Minikin?    We sell baby and children’s clothing and toys. We currently offer clothing from newborn sizes up to 7 years of age. We choose brands that focus on ethical manufacturing practices, and use of natural fibers such as organic cotton, bamboo, and wooden toys. We want to offer ite

What is StoryWorkz and what services do you provide?
 We founded the company 34 years ago, in 1990, and we help companies (and nonprofits) of all sizes grow through story-based marketing.  We are a collaborative of about a dozen fun and experienced marketing professionals who do everything from photo and vi

What's the story behind the gallery? How long has it been around and where has it been housed over the years?   On August 8th, 1895, the Wood Gallery of Art was created by a deed of gift in trust by Montpelier artist Thomas Waterman Wood. This was a gift of art to the residents of Montpelier. T.W Wood’s donated works including copies of paintings that he did o

Member Highlight: Sharon Estes Whyte of Althea’s Attic   When did you open Althea's Attic and where does the name come from?   Althea’s Attic started 25 years ago as a pop up in my living room in Cape Elizabeth Maine. I invited other local artisans to join me and soon after I took the “show on the road” popping up all over New Englan

Member Highlight: Deborah Glottmann of the Mitzvah Fund   What is the Mitzvah Fund and how did it get started? The Mitzvah Fund is a small veterinary non profit. We provide non emergency routine, surgical and dental veterinary care for the animals of low income seniors, low income veterans, unhoused neighbors, and disabled first responders.     The Mitzvah fund

Member Highlight: All Brains Belong Tell Us about All Brains Belong.  All Brains Belong is a nonprofit in downtown Montpelier that provides flexible ways to get healthcare and connect with community, while also educating the community on how to become a more welcoming place for all brains. We call it “All Brains Belong” because we believe that no

Member Highlight: Elena Gustafson, owner of Magpie & Tiger   Tell us about your store and how  you chose its name: Magpie & Tiger is inspired by my mother's telling of stories to my sister and I when we were young. She couldn't read or write very well, but it never stopped her from sharing folktales and stories told to her by her mother, although I su

Member Highlight, Jolynda Burton, Director of Monteverdi Music School   Tell us a bit about Monteverdi Music School, how long it's been around, how it was started, types of classes offered, and your interests as the Director.   Monteverdi Music School is the Montpelier area’s community music school at 46 Barre Street in Montpelier. A member organization of the Center fo

Tell us about yourself and your start as a small businesswoman:   I am an artist at heart and love creating beautiful spaces with the hope that people will enjoy what I put together. My background is herbalism and education, I taught primary school right out of grad school, Anna Maria College. When I was ready to start a family, I wanted to do som

How did Lost Nation Theater get started in Montpelier, and what motivates you to create your annual programs at City Hall?   Lost Nation Theater incorporated as a professional non-profit Vermont theater company in Bristol, Vermont, in 1977, when 6th generation Vermonter and Founding Artistic Director Kim Bent came back home for the

Member Highlight: Justin Dain, chef/owner of Oakes and Evelyn    Tell us a bit about you, your background and your path to opening Oakes and Evelyn. I grew up in Waterbury Center, Vermont and started cooking at the age of 15 at Stowe Mountain Ski Area.  I loved the environment of the kitchen mentality and started exploring culinary schools for after high s

Tessera Therapeutic Massage is a solo practitioner massage therapy office specializing in oncology massage and manual lymph drainage. My office was originally located on Elm Street but like many, I was displaced by the flooding in 2023. I'm now located at the Cross House at 56 East State Street. Two days a week, I'm in the Radiation Oncology d

Member Highlight: Wes Hamilton, co-owner of Three Penny Taproom    The original idea for Three Penny was to open a brewery or brewpub. We were actually on the verge of signing a lease for the old clothespin factory space when that plan fell apart. As we re-imagined the business to be a "craft beer bar" focused on beers that weren't found at most places w

Montpelier Alive awards announces its 2024 grant funding to 10 downtown Montpelier Community Events   Montpelier Alive works to create a vibrant and livable Montpelier by celebrating its heart and soul: its downtown. One way it brings the community together is through events. Montpelier Alive’s annual Downtown Events Grant Program supports many of these events and is announ

Washington County’s July flood impacted much of the Winooski River Watershed (This watershed begins in the town of Cabot and flows 90 miles to Lake Champlain in Colchester.) The watershed drains approximately 1,080 square miles in central Vermont, encompassing all of Washington County, along with other Vermont counties and is the largest tributary watershed to Lake Champlain. It inclu

Montpelier Alive is excited to enter 2024 with many hopes and visions for a brighter year, following a challenging year. We look forward to all our downtown businesses reopening and new ones setting up shop in the empty storefronts. One such new opening is Naive Melody Instrument Exchange at 95 State Street. Stay tuned for their grand opening. Other businesses devastated by the floods a

March means Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women and the myriad contributions they make to society. Montpelier’s woman-owned small businesses run the gamut from Althea’s Attic Boutique to Zutano. There are also Montpelier mavens breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated indu

Montpelier’s Race Against Racism 

Almost every year for the past decade, Montpelier-area high schoolers organize a phenomenal event that supports and fosters local student activism. According to Heather McLane, Community Based Learning Advisor at Montpelier High School, what began as the humble idea of freshman Hope Petraro and adult activist Hen

When people think of Vermont, they imagine maple syrup, colorful leaves, and skiing. Vermont’s ski mountains are some of the best in the Northeast with resorts such as Sugarbush, Mad River, and Bolton; all of which are under an hour's drive from Montpelier. While not having a mountain of its own, Montpelier’s central location offers residents and tourists a reason

There is so much that can be highlighted about Montpelier’s female community leaders and small business owners that one can create a whole series on the topic (and we just may do so!).    By providing opportunities for wealth creation and economic advancement in minority communities, BIPOC businesses play a critical role in bri

Montpelier, VT - Local shoppers can get started on their holiday shopping while supporting downtown Montpelier’s recovery at Moonlight Magic, powered by VSECU, on Friday, October 20 from 5-9pm. Nearly a dozen recently reopened businesses will offer deals and festivities and stay open late that evening to welcome shoppers and thank the community for their support aft

Get an early start to your holiday shopping at Montpelier’s annual Moonlight Magic evening on Friday, October 18th from 5 - 9 pm, sponsored by EastRise Credit Union. Enjoy some of the best sales of the year, grab a meal and enjoy street performances along your route. Starting at 5:15 pm at City Hall, catch Her Majesty’s Secret Circus, a funny, spectacular, must-see show that features amazing ci

Montpelier Alive, the capital city’s downtown association, has coordinated with 14 businesses to act as collection points for the National Life Group Do Good Cupboard, located at 58 Barre Street in front of the Montpelier Senior Activity Center.   Established during the pandemic, the Do Good Cupboard is a community resource available 24/7 for those who need emergency, shelf

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. 

The Taste of Montpelier Food and Arts Festival Returns to the Capital City September 14th and invites both Food and Art Vendors to join! The Taste of Montpelier Food and Arts Festival, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op, returns for its fourth year. Taste features local restaurants, favorite regional artisanal foods, local artists, chef demos, beer and cocktail gardens and amazing str

The Taste of Montpelier Food and Arts Festival Returns to the Capital City September 14th and invites both Food and Art Vendors to join! The Taste of Montpelier Food and Arts Festival, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op, returns for its fourth year. Taste features local restaurants, favorite regional artisanal foods, local artists, chef demos, beer and cocktail gardens and amazing str

A Locals Guide to Holiday Shopping and Events in Montpelier As the snow falls into the capital city, lights twinkle in every window, and the tight knit community comes together to celebrate the magic of the season. Montpelier might be a quaint capital, but during the holidays, its festive charm rivals larger neighboring towns. Here, the locals come together in a spirit of wa

Botanica Florals is a highly-regarded local retail florist that sources flowers from local growers along with hand-picked selections from around the world. With the goal of enhancing connection in the community for special occasions, Botanica Florals allows its customers to express sentiments through the sharing of beauty and nature. 

Last winter, Botanica Florals gr

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 throug

  The Taste of Montpelier Food Festival, presented by Hunger Mountain Co-op, returns for its third year. This year it’s the main event of Montpelier’s Reopening Celebration! Taste features food trucks, vendors and artisans, chef demos, beer and cocktail gardens and street performers - this year’s Taste of Montpelier has it all!    The main attraction, The Great Taste

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!

On July 10th, devastating rains resulted in the North Branch of the Winooski River cresting more than 20 feet, filling business basements and retail spaces with floodwaters. More than 4,000 volunteers came to town to help businesses clean up and recover, with the goal of enabling our restaurants and retail stores to reopen as quickly as they can. The commun

On January 8th, 2024, Ben Doyle, chair of the Montpelier flood of 2023 Commission and Montpelier’s congressional delegation called for a rally to restore its downtown post office, after the building which housed it was devastated during last summer’s historic flooding. Community members spanning all ages demonstrated their needs and frustrations in order

I especially enjoy our downtown during the holiday season - the beautifully decorated historic buildings, the diversity of our downtown stores, the unique products they offer, and the delicious foods at cafes, restaurants, and bakeries to stay warm and visit with friends. Additionally just outside downtown, shoppers can enjoy skiing, sledding, hiking… in our incredible park

From Kayaking to Disc Golf: Wrightsville Beach Offers More than Just Swimming Wrightsville Recreation District is known for its easy access and sandy beach, but it’s not just about swimming. Located in Middlesex just five miles from downtown Montpelier, the reservoir and recreation area offers a breadth of outdoor activities from kayaking to disc golf, bird watching, picnicking, or just lyin