Vermont Public Community Calendar

Join us at the Flynn for an exclusive evening with award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns.

Ken Burns has been making documentary films for almost fifty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Ken has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; The War; The National Parks:  America’s Best Idea; Prohibition; The Roosevelts:  An Intimate History; The Vietnam War; Country Music; The U.S. and the Holocaust; The American Buffalo; Leonardo da Vinci; and, most recently, The American Revolution.

Future film projects include Emancipation to Exodus, and LBJ & the Great Society, among others.

Ken’s films have been honored with dozens of major awards, including seventeen Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and two Oscar nominations. In September of 2008, at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Ken was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In November of 2022, Ken was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

With Moderator, Jane Lindholm
Host and Executive Producer, But Why? and special projects for Vermont Public

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.

Jane joined Vermont Public in 2007 to expand Vermont Edition from a weekly pilot into the flagship daily newsmagazine it is today. She has been recognized with regional and national accolades, including several Murrow, PRNDI and GRACIE awards. In 2016 she started the nationally recognized But Why, which takes questions from kids all over the world and finds interesting people to answer them.

All P1 Tickets come with a special merch bundle including a limited edition show poster and a Vermont Public tote bag.

Join us for a weekend of painting, creativity, and connection—outdoors in beautiful Middlebury, Vermont! The 2nd annual Sparrow Plein Air Festival is a three-day painting and sketching event that transforms Middlebury into a vibrant, open-air studio and is open to artists of all ages, levels, and mediums. Whether you’re a seasoned plein air painter or picking up a brush for the first time, you’re invited to capture the world around you in real time alongside a welcoming creative community. Visitors are invited to explore the town, watch artists at work in real time throughout downtown streets, riverbanks, gardens, and historic sites, and enjoy family-friendly demonstrations and community programming all weekend long.

Dates: June 12–14, 2026
Location: Middlebury, VT
Admission: Free and open to the public (artist participation passes available for purchase and families with young artists are encouraged to join)

Website and Tickets For Artist Participants of All Ages: https://www.sparrowartsupply.com/plein-air-festival

Contact: info@sparrowartsupply.com

What to expect:
-Daily plein air painting throughout Middlebury, with opportunities to watch artists work in real time
-Live artist demonstrations and hands-on workshops with visiting painters
-Community events including a Creemee Social and Cookie Hour—fun for families and young artists alike
-Wet Paint Exhibit & Sale, featuring festival-created artwork on view and available for purchase through July 4 weekend
-Flexible, choose-your-own-adventure experience for artists, with a curated map of scenic painting locations, local tips, and amenities
-Artist perks including welcome packets (water, snacks, and local goodies), optional participation in the Wet Paint Sale, and access to giveaways and exclusive local discounts

Artist Participant Pricing:
1-Day Pass: $45
2-Day Pass: $65
Artists aged 17 and under may register for $10 a day with adult registration, with junior supply bundles available for purchase at check in. All participants under the age of 18 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times during the festival.

We are hosting a free program for kids kindergarten - 5th grade! The Vermont Institute of Natural Science is visiting with live animals to teach us about our feathered and scaly friends.

How did Snake lose her legs? Why does Owl only fly at night? How did Turtle fly south for the winter? Meet these animals and hear their stories while we learn about the adaptations they have that help them survive. We’ll explore a few different tales that people tell to help them understand the world of wildlife around them.

McIndoes Academy Community Center on June 20, 2:00pm

Dust off'yer boots, brush off your hat, and let's gitty-up for a hoedown! Ashley Jane's Hootenanny proudly plays the classics from the golden age of country and western music...plus a hearty helping of trucker tunes and even a bit of rockabilly. Hootin' and hollerin" are encouraged! Please join us for a lively evening of music and dance. The fun begins on Saturday, June 20th from 6 to 8pm. Entrance is FREE.....Donations for future programs are greatly appreciated

Food will be available!