High summer is doing its thing, and the calendar is loaded from the Champlain Islands clear down to the Shires. This weekend leans local in the best way: farm parties, a teenage cast tackling the founding fathers, blueberries by the bucket, and a whole afternoon set aside for fairies and gnomes. Here's where to point the car Friday through Sunday.
Friday, July 24
Kick the weekend off with cows and cocktails. Moos & Brews & Cocktails Too! runs 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, an adults-only evening of craft brews, spirits, and live music from Plymouth Rocks, with food-truck bites and Billings Farm cheese to soak it all up. Pours come from 7 Balls Brewing, Caledonia Spirits, Cold Hollow Hard Cider and more; tickets are $25, or $20 if you're a member.
In Middlebury, the Town Hall Theater Young Company opens 1776 at 7 p.m., a cast of local teenagers taking on the debates that led to the Declaration — fitting timing with the nation's 250th on the horizon. Tickets run $10 to $25, and there are matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. if Friday's booked.
For something quieter, the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival brings its Afterlight Festival Artists concert to Colchester, with a prelude at 6:45 p.m. leading into works by Bloch and company. Details are on the Vermont.com listing.
Saturday, July 25
Bennington goes blue. The fourth annual Blueberry Festival takes over The Apple Barn & Country Bake Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — a free, hometown affair with a blueberry bake-off, live music, kids' activities, craft vendors, and more berry-forward treats than you can reasonably eat. The Bennington chamber has the rundown.
Out on the water, the Champlain Islands Farmers Market sets up in Grand Isle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with produce, prepared food, and island makers — a good excuse to make the drive out to the Islands for the day.
Up in Greensboro, the Highland Center for the Arts hosts the Vermont Fairy Festival from noon to 4 p.m., billed as an enchanted afternoon for magical creatures of every stripe — fairies, wizards, gnomes, pixies and trolls all welcome. Full details on the Vermont.com listing.
Over in Franklin County, Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosburg Falls closes out its first artist residency with a presentation from Constance Jaquay, a Los Angeles movement artist and filmmaker wrapping two weeks on the grounds.
And when the sun goes down, Danville rolls the projector. Movie Nights on the Green presents Dirty Dancing at 8:30 p.m. on the town green near the gazebo — free admission, free popcorn, bring a blanket. The Vermont.com listing has the particulars.
Sunday, July 26
Free music, big field, no cover. The Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury series brings Nashville's Mark Taylor to Dog Mountain at 5 p.m., all 90s-inspired feel-good country — pack a chair. Catamount Arts presents.
In Orange County, the Braintree Bluegrass Brunch gathers at the Braintree Hill Meetinghouse for live music, bike rides, food, and family fun, with the Ben Kogan Band and Red Skies serving up a roots-driven Americana set. Chandler Center for the Arts has the details.
Back in Middlebury, the free Summer Sounds series closes the weekend outdoors on the Town Hall Theater's Maloney plaza, with hometown favorites The Traveling Middleburys on the Tilly Stage. Catch it via Town Hall Theater.
Nine counties, one weekend, and not a single reason to sit still — go find your people out there.

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