Vermont Public Community Calendar

Looking for a supportive space to learn the basics of car care?

Burlington Technical Center is offering the Garage Girls Auto Confidence for Women Series running May 9–June 6, taught in partnership with Rowley Wrench. This hands-on class series is designed to build confidence and practical skills for everyday drivers.

Topics include under-the-hood basics, fluid checks, replacing wipers and filters, emergency roadside skills, oil changes, and how to communicate with a mechanic. Rowley Wrench brings a welcoming, practical approach that helps participants feel comfortable asking questions and learning by doing.

Take one class or join the full series to build skills over time.

$65 per class
$275 for the full 5-class series (save $50)

No prior experience needed. Spots are limited—reach out to register or learn more.

Chandler Center for the Arts is excited to announce this year’s The Next Generation concert. On Saturday evening, May 16, five young classical musicians from high schools and homeschools across Vermont and New Hampshire will showcase their artistry, with some making their debuts on the Chandler stage. The concert begins at 7:00 PM and will also feature an ensemble performance with 16 students from the Upper Valley Music Center. A reception to greet the artists will follow the performance.

In 2007, to kick off Chandler’s centennial celebration, pianist Christopher O’Riley brought his acclaimed NPR Boston program From the Top to the Chandler stage, drawing enthusiastic audiences. Among the eight performing teenagers, only two were from the local area; the others came from Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York. The format proved so appealing that Chandler created its own version, featuring young musicians from the region.

For this concert, the area’s top music teachers have recommended students whose accomplishments deserve special recognition. These performers have been selected through a competitive audition process.

The Coast's graduating seniors grab the reins.

Taylor Ho Bynum, director

Bella Voce is delighted to welcome back the brilliant harpist, Rebecca Kauffman, joining us for this concert which will feature works for women’s voices with harp including Gustav Holst’s Two Eastern Pictures. The stirring music of many women composers such as Elaine Hagenberg, Rosephanye Powell and Anna Lapwood, will also be featured as well as others. Two performances: Saturday, May 16 at 7:30pm in Colchester, VT and Sunday, May 17 at 3pm in South Hero, VT.

WHITE is a thought-provoking comedy by James Ijames being brought to Burlington! The play is being produced by Between the Willows and directed by Delanté Keys. The show will be at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts from 5/6-5/17!

Rejected by the gallery of his dreams, a spurned gay white cis male artist hires a local Black actress to pose as the creator of his paintings. Together, they create the perfect candidate for the "New America" exhibition: the charismatic, unapologetic Balkonaé Townsend.

The Montpelier Contra Dance happens every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday at the Capital City Grange Hall. We dance to live music with contra dance bands and callers from around New England and beyond. Beginners, singles, and all ages are welcome; all dances are taught. We use gender neutral role terms. There's a newcomers lesson at 7:45 pm and dancing 8-11pm. Some months on 3rd Saturdays there is a Waltzing Session 7-7:45. Check the website or Facebook page. Please bring clean soft-soled shoes. More info at www.montpeliercontradance.org. $12 adults, $5 kids/low-income, $20 dance supporters. Cash preferred. Venmo or CC accepted. Questions? 802-225-8921 or cdu.tim@gmail.com.

Listing: Bookstock, the Vermont Festival of Words, will return to Woodstock, VT, on May 15-17, 2026. Please join us on The Green and around the scenic village of Woodstock for our famous book sale of almost-new and charmingly old volumes, including first editions; a poetry festival; hands-on workshops; author readings and presentations; events for children; great food; and many more festivities. To keep up to date, please subscribe for our email updates at our website [https://bookstockvt.org/subscribe/] or email us [info@bookstockvt.org] or follow us on Instagram [@bookstockvt].

Open Palette is a casual open studio session for adult artists of all disciplines. Bring your own projects and enjoy dedicated time to work, create and experiment in a shared creative space. This is a gathering designed to foster community, conversation and connection among artists.

Papercutting is an old folk-art tradition in many cultures. Participants will be guided in the design process to make their own small papercut using simple materials and techniques. The two-hour workshop will allow them to take home their finished work of art. No art background is required. All are welcome.

Champlain Valley Voices proudly presents a landmark musical event: Mass for a New Millennium by Dr. Richard Nance.

Join us on Sunday, May 17 at 3:00 p.m. at Plattsburgh High School for a powerful and moving performance of this contemporary choral masterpiece—presented for the first time ever in New York State.

This special premiere will be made even more memorable by the presence of the composer himself, Dr. Richard Nance, who will travel from Seattle to attend the performance.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience a significant new work in the choral repertoire, brought to life by the voices of your community.

Join Bella Voce for “A Musical Mosaic,” an extraordinary concert celebrating the classic combination of women’s voices and harp. We are thrilled to welcome the brilliant harpist Rebecca Kauffman to the stage for a program that bridges the exotic mysticism of the past with the bold brilliance of the present.
Experience the shimmering textures of Gustav Holst’s Two Eastern Pictures alongside a powerhouse selection of works by today’s most celebrated women composers. From the cinematic eloquence of Elaine Hagenberg and the rhythmic soul of Rosephanye Powell to a soulful Irish Blessing by the sensational Anna Lapwood, this performance is a vibrant testament to the enduring power of the female voice. Two performances: Saturday, May 16 at 7:30pm in Colchester, VT and Sunday, May 17 at 3pm in South Hero, VT.

Renowned vocalist, Theresa Thomason, will be performing at a concert at the Cathedral Church of Saint
Paul at 2 Cherry Street in Burlington, VT on May 17 at 4:00 pm. The concert will present John Rutter’s
Requiem, with chamber orchestra. The second half will feature the music of Paul Halley and Anglican
gems by Edgar Bainton and Gerre Hancock. Theresa Thomason, beloved soloist of the Paul Winter
Consort, will perform in several Halley works including Freedom Trilogy, a joyous and uplifting jazz
transformation of styles and themes.
Theresa’s vocal talent began to emerge as she grew up singing in church. Jazz, pop, and R&B later
followed. Her winning performance at the world-famous Apollo Theatre was a stimulus for her to love the
stage. Theresa has had a succession of sold-out concerts in the U.S. and in over 170 cities in Europe,
where she spent 17 years headlining in a theatrical concert she wrote and produced. She will be leaving a
week after the Burlington concert for another tour in Europe.
Her career has spanned almost three decades of performances and recordings with seven-time Grammy
Award winner Paul Winter, and she remains a featured artist with Winter’s Consort, performing regularly
at the world-renowned annual Winter Solstice Celebrations and at Earth Mass at New York’s Cathedral of
Saint John the Divine. Several of these performances have aired on NBC and PBS. Paul Winter calls
Theresa “the best gospel singer in the country.”

Local favorite and internationally acclaimed artist Maxine Linehan returns for the 5th Annual Benefit Concert for Red Fox Community School. Hailed by The New York Times as "fiercely talented," Maxine brings her signature artistry to an unforgettable night of music and community.

This year's all-star lineup includes Andrew Koss, Geoffrey Gee, Jeremy Walker, Kimerer LaMothe, Kris Montgomery Pederson, Long Trail School, and Red Fox Students — performing hit songs from Brandi Carlile, U2, The Cranberries, Madonna, The Bangles, Elton John, and more.

Pre-concert festivities kick off at 4:30pm with food trucks (Big Pops Sandwich Shop and Sam's Wood Fired Pizza), lawn games, a full bar, and student opening band TURNSTYLE at 5:00pm.

World Premiere Production

WONDER! A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET
by Talene Monaon
directed by Aileen Wen McGroddy
adapted from The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret by Susanna Centlivre (1714)

MAY 13 - 31, 2026

A family vacation on the high seas goes awry when a famous painting is discovered missing and the culprit is suspected to be one of the passengers aboard the Aqua Royale: Paris to Portugal. Loosely adapted from Susanna Centlivre’s 1714 farce of the same name, WONDER! A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET follows a colorful cast including a pair of jealous lovers, an iceberg-phobic captain, a frustrated musical revue performer, a scheming mother-in-law, and an enterprising toilet maid as they try to make it to Lisbon with a boat-load of secrets. Set sail for a side-splitting, laugh-’til-you cry adventure!

“…the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement.” – *Rolling Stone*

Experience an evening with John Gorka, whose rich voice and masterful storytelling have defined contemporary folk music for decades. With 11 acclaimed albums and a career spanning stages across the U.S. and Europe, Gorka delivers timeless songs with warmth, depth, and quiet power.

WHITE is a thought-provoking comedy by James Ijames being brought to Burlington! The play is being produced by Between the Willows and directed by Delanté Keys. The show will be at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts from 5/6-5/17!

Rejected by the gallery of his dreams, a spurned gay white cis male artist hires a local Black actress to pose as the creator of his paintings. Together, they create the perfect candidate for the "New America" exhibition: the charismatic, unapologetic Balkonaé Townsend.

On Monday, May 18 at 6 pm, NEK author Sarah Emery will hold the book launch of her first novel, The Phoenix Queen. A paranormal romance/historical fantasy blend that weaves New England gothic atmosphere with Tudor intrigue, the book combines the witty, modern voice of a reluctant heroine with the dark allure of forbidden history. The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and Fairbanks Museum are featured locations in the novel.

Author Sarah Emery is the Director of Medical Staff Services at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. She lives in Vermont with a stack of history books, a vivid imagination, and the stubborn belief that it’s never too late to chase a dream.

The author will sell and sign books, and a reception will follow her talk. The event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

PALS for Life at UVAC is a FREE 16-week program for individuals affected by breast cancer, running May 5 – August 20. Based on the Physical Activity and Lymphedema (PAL) Study, the program uses research-backed exercise to help reduce the risk of lymphedema while improving strength, health, and quality of life. Participants receive a free UVAC membership during the program, expert-led sessions twice per week, access to land and aquatic fitness classes, and educational seminars on lymphedema and nutrition through Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. A doctor’s referral and PT consultation are required. Learn more at uvacswim.org/fitness/breast-cancer-programs.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, you are invited to join United Counseling Service (UCS) on May 19 from 1:30-3pm (Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT) for an event featuring stories told in-person by Chip and Judy Siler (President and Vice President of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) VT) about supporting family members living with mental health conditions.

Family Voices is an interactive presentation that challenges stereotypes and builds empathy by considering the impact mental health conditions have not just on the individual living with the illness, but also on their loved ones. Trained presenters with lived experience as family members of individuals living with a mental health condition talk openly about their experiences. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions to learn more about how the presenters and their loved ones have coped with the conditions affecting their families and how to live well in spite of them. Please RSVP at ucsvt.org/events.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, Me2 Music Director & Conductor Michael Colburn has assembled a vibrant and varied program showcasing American composers. Audiences will hear familiar favorites like Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and a medley from Kander and Ebb’s “Chicago,” alongside discoveries such as music from Sousa’s operetta “The Glass Blowers,” an arrangement of MacDowell’s “Woodland Sketches,” and Bruce Reiprich’s reflective “When Quiet Comes” for piano and strings.

This FREE performance is hosted by Counseling Service of Addison County as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.