Open studios & craft fairs
Readsboro Arts Festival
Sep 21, 10-4, Readsboro Central School, readsboroarts.org
The 7th annual Readsboro Arts Festival features the work of artists and craftspeople from southern Vermont and includes performances by local musicians and free art-making activities for all ages.
38th Fall Craft Festival
Sep 21-22, On the Green, Rt 11, Chester, 10-4p, 802 875-
2626, chesterfallfestival.org
Over 60 Vermont & New England crafters & artisans show and sell their creations in one of Vermont’s most picturesque Fall settings! Historic and beautiful Chester, Vermont sets the stage for this glorious event. Food vendors, non-profit displays.
Brattleboro-West Arts 4th Annual Open Studio Tour
Sep 28-29, 10-5p, West Brattleboro, Brattleboro-west-arts.com
Brattleboro-West Arts’ 5th annual open studio tour brings together 19 artisans at 13 eclectic locations in West Brattleboro and Marlboro. This year’s festival is bigger and better, with local artists, food and live music. Visit landscape artists, portraitists and abstract painters, a weathervane maker, a rug braider, a wood carver and a stone mason as well as artists who work with hand-dyed silks, colored porcelain, blown and fused glass, and locally harvested hardwoods. Tour maps available at C.X. Silver Gallery, 814 Western Ave, West Brattleboro.
10th Annual Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival
Sep 28-29, 9-6p Sat, 10-4:30p Sun, Union Arena, Woodstock, vermontwoodfestival.org
Wood products are an important part of Vermont’s culture and history. Stop by the 10th annual festival and visit more than 60 Vermont furniture makers, wood turners, cabinetmakers and much more. With live demonstrations and a more.
Big Buzz Chainsaw Carving Festival
Oct 12-14, all day, MacKenzie Field, Rt 103, Chester (the field is behind Stone House Antiques & across from Jack’s Diner) 508-965-3211
Artist Barre Pinske produces The “Big Buzz” Chainsaw Carving Festival. On the last day, a collective carving, made by over 20 professional chainsaw artists will be auctioned off and all proceeds will directly benefit a cancer charity.
Weston Antiques Show
Oct 4-6 (gala preview Oct 3), Weston Playhouse, Rt 100, Weston
802 824-5307, westonantiquesshow.org
Set in the heart of the Green Mountains at the peak of fall foliage, the Weston Antiques Show has been attracting collectors, dealers, residents, and tourists alike since 1959. Regarded as one of the best small shows in New England, thousands of attendees
flock to Weston every year to enjoy the show, the setting, and the season. This antiques show features renowned dealers from across the U.S. with American and English furniture, accessories, Americana, folk art, silver, samplers, paintings, oriental rugs, jewelry and more. The Weston Antiques Show is not to be missed for any serious collector, as well as the blossoming antiques enthusiast.
Okemo Antiques Show
Oct 4-5, Base Lodge of Okemo Mtn Resort, 77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow
717 259-9480, cleggantiques.com
The 20th annual Okemo Antiques Show brings together 32 of America’s finest antiques dealers, displaying their wares in lovely room settings. Although the show’s focus is on country Americana, the offerings of its exhibitors range from the formal to country in furniture, accessories, folk art, textiles, woodenware metalware, stoneware, and glass. Show opens with gala preview party on Friday from 3-6p.
Foliage Open Studio Weekend
Oct 5-6, statewide, all day, visit vermontcrafts.com for map
This is the second year that the Vermont Crafts Council is presenting an Open Studio tour in the fall, although the spring studio tour has been offered since 1993. VCC Director Martha Fitch points out that unlike last fall when the state was dealing with the aftermath of road damage from Tropical Storm Irene, this year the traveling is easy as Vermont roads are smooth and bridges have been fully repaired. “It’s a rare invitation to go behind the craft shows and exhibits to view the creative work environment and speak with the artist,” says Fitch. “You can explore straight or winding, paved or dirt roads, and be treated to brilliant scenic vistas, classic Vermont villages, and warm welcomes from artists whose studios are normally private spaces.”
43rd Annual Newfane Heritage Festival
Oct 12-13, On the Common, Newfane, VT Rte 30, newfaneheritagefestival.blogspot.com
Juried arts, crafts and specialty products from more than 90 exhibitors the feature at this annual event. Included are many wonderful new exhibitors along with long-time favorites, the Church’s famous Homemade Apple Pies and apple crisp, Church Deli, Outdoor Food Tent, Super Raffle, family entertainment and more.
40th Annual Harvest Art and Craft Show
Oct 12-13, 9-5p, Mount Snow, West Dover, mountsnow.com
A great way to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Crafters and Artisans from across New
England are set up in our base lodge featuring everything from honey products to fine art to unique gifts to fudge. Admission is free.
Art in the Park
Oct 12-13, 10-5p, Main St. Park, Rutland, chaffeeartcenter.org
Celebrate the 52nd anniversary of Art in the Park. Meet the artisans and enjoy food, music, demonstrations and kids’ activities.
River Valley Artisan Tour
Oct 12-13, start at Westmoreland, N.H. Town Hall, 10-4p, rivervalleyartisans.com
The River Valley Artisans is made up of artists and artisans in towns along the Connecticut River. Travel the scenic back roads of southern Vermont and New Hampshire during the peak foliage season and enjoy the works of local artisans.
Studio Open House at Carol Schnabel’s studio
Nov 22-23, 3-8p Fri, 10a-5p Sat, 410 Green River Road, Guilford
Carol Schnabel’s weaving studio in Guilford has been the gathering place for local artists to show their work at this annual studio open house for more than a decade. Refreshments. For information or directions, call 802 257-1894.
35th Annual Putney Craft Tour
Nov 29-Dec1, 10-5p, Putney, putneycrafts.com
The Putney Craft Tour is a unique opportunity for tour goers to visit art and craft studios and observe pieces in progress. It also offers a chance to do some holiday shopping. Each year the tour sees more than 3,000 visitors from all over New England and beyond. Visit putneycrafts.com to preview the artists works, find maps, lodging, restaurants and other cultural highlights.35th Annual Putney Craft Tour Nov 23-25, 10-5p, Putney.
11th Annual Walpole Artisans Tour
Nov 29-Dec 1, 1-8p Fri, 10-5p Sat-Sun, Walpole and Bellows Falls areas, walpoleartisans.org
Artisans from throughout the Walpole, N.H., area and Bellows Falls, VT, will be featuring their artwork and giving demonstrations. Discover unique gifts, innovative wearables, beautiful home furnishings and much more. Artisans will be available to discuss works. Hubs for this year’s tour will be at 250 Old Keene Rd in Walpole, N.H., BobTaylor Wedding in Alstead, N.H., and 33 Bridge St in Bellows Falls.
The Cotton Mill 2-day Open Studio & Holiday Sale
Dec 7-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 thecottonmill.org
The Cotton Mill houses more than 60 small businesses and artists’ studios. Painters, dancers, glassblowers, ceramic artists, circus performers, jam and granola makers, jazz musicians, toymakers and many more call the Cotton Mill their home. Just minutes from downtown Brattleboro, the holiday sale features demonstrations, performances, holiday shopping, music, food and good cheer.
Brattleboro Clayworks
December (all month), Annual Holiday Sale
532 Putney Rd – on Rt. 5, below Friends of the Sun,
Brattleboro, 802 254-9174, brattleboroclayworks.com
Each December Clayworks has extended hours for your holiday shopping. Check back for particulars as the holiday season approaches. Brattleboro Clayworks is southern Vermont’s ceramics resource center. Founded in 1983, Clayworks seeks to increase access to ceramic media for the southeastern Vermont, northwestern Mass., and southwestern N.H. communities.
Cherry Street Artisans 6th Annual Holiday Craft Sale and Café
Dec 7-8, 9-9p Sat, 11-4p Sun, 44 Cherry St, Brattleboro, cherrystreetartisans.com, 802 254-3530
Cherry Street Artisans are back for their annual holiday sale, café and celebration in early December (check website for dates). Ten artisans are coming together to create this event in a lovely Victorian home on Cherry Street in. The kitchen will become the café, serving delectable homemade food, and an invitation to sing, bring instruments or listen on Saturday evening starting at 5p will add to the atmosphere of this friendly marketplace. Cherry Street is off Maple Street near Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and parking is available on the street.
Readsboro Glassworks Holiday Open Studio and Sale
Two weekends: Dec 14-15, Dec 21-22, 10a-5p both days, 6954 Main Street (lower level), 802 423-7706 maryangusglass.com
Vermont glass artists Mary Angus and K. William LeQuier will open their Readsboro glass studio to the public for their annual Holiday Open Studio and Sale. Studio visitors will find a unique collection of handblown glass bud vases, perfume bottles in translucent jewel tones, and colorful handmade glass candy cane ornaments. The studio is open additional hours, by appointment, throughout the holiday season.
