Vermont Public Community Calendar

Marching Toward the Greater Good: A Fifty-Year Film Roadmap

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

(Bellows Falls VT) In these perilous times, the work of filmmakers Charles Light and Daniel Keller is more pertinent than ever. A series featuring their documentaries that exemplify the famous Margaret Mead quote about changing the world will be screened at the historic, 100-year-old Bellows Falls Opera House on Thursday nights during the month of September – 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th. The titles include Far Out: life on & after the commune and Waves in the Woods on September 4th; Lovejoy’s Nuclear War and Save the Planet on September 11th; The Last Resort and Early Warnings on September 18th; and Vietnam: The Secret Agent and Vietnam Experience on September 25th.

To date, Far Out has been screened across the country and abroad to rave reviews, receiving a total of fourteen film festival awards from 2024-2025. It is an 85-minute documentary that tells the story of two rural New England communal farms–Packer Corners in Guilford, Vermont and the Montague Farm in Massachusetts and the group of writers, activists and artists who came together to birth the modern-day example of how grassroots activism can become a national movement.

For the last twenty-five years, Bellows Falls has demonstrated the will of community activism as the village reinvented itself from a downtrodden mill town to a vibrant arts district. The Opera House is the only theatre nationwide to reflect upon this body of work from the 60s and 70s that captures the lessons of activism, beginning with back-to-the-land organic farming communes to the No Nukes movement and protests against the Vietnam War.

Each film will be followed by a Q&A with members of the original groups. Viewing time on each night does not exceed 90 minutes, and doors will close at 9:30 p.m. after the Q&A. Far Out will kick off the series, and the Q&A panel will consist of filmmaker Charles Light, poet and commune resident Verandah Porche and musician and composer Patty Carpenter.

Purchase individual & series tickets at https://www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com/special-event-moviestochange25. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the film at 7:00 p.m. The Opera House is located at 7 The Square in downtown Bellows Falls and is handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be available. Presented by special arrangement with Bellows Falls Films and Rockingham Entertainment Development. Underwritten by Friends of the Bellows Falls Rotary. www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com

https://www.greenmountainpostfilms.com/far-out-life-on-after-the-commune
https://www.greenmountainpostfilms.com/about-6
If you have questions or would like more information, or if you are press and would like a full press kit with photos, please go to our website, www.gmpfilms.com and/or contact Charles Light at (413) 348-9005 or clight@gmpfilms.com

Set in the Badlands of South Dakota, East of Wall is an authentic portrait of female resilience in the “New West,” inspired and played by the women and girls who live it. Tabatha, a young, rebellious rancher, who rescues and resells horses, must make hard decisions to deal with her fractured family, financial uncertainty of losing her ranch and unresolved grief, all while providing refuge and the skills of the horse trade to a group of wayward neighborhood teens.

“A stunning feature debut that captures the beauty and pain of the modern American West in intimate detail,” said Harrison Richlin in IndieWire. “Tabatha Zimiga may be playing herself, but she’s also giving an incredibly delicate, nuanced performance that harkens to the work of the 1970s American cinema icons like Gena Rowlands, Ellen Burstyn and Karen Black.”

Beecroft talked to NPR’s Scott Simon about the genesis of the project: “I was driving around the U.S.—this would have been maybe five and a half years ago at this point—and we were just trying to find stories, faces we haven’t really seen for maybe a short film… We were lost, and we landed in a tiny town in South Dakota called Oelrichs and a woman there said, if you want a really amazing story, head east of Wall and find a woman named Tabatha. And that’s what I did. And I found Tabatha and her amazing group of teenagers who live out there with her. And I lived with them for three years in order for me to learn everything I could about them before I even started filming this movie.”

Brimming with authenticity, Beecroft’s auspicious docufiction debut immerses us in the triumphs and trials of the Zimiga family while showcasing the beauty of the Badlands and the people who call it home. Featuring star-making performances by Tabatha and daughter Porshia Zimiga (already a TikTok star and rodeo queen), as well as awe-inspiring cinematography by Austin Shelton, East of Wall is a revelatory exploration of women who refuse to back down.

Upright Steeple Society is pleased to welcome Canadian Folk Music Award winners Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira to York Street Meeting House, in Lyndon, on Thursday, September 4, at 7:00, in partnership with Catamount Arts.

A dynamic North American fiddle and cello duo, Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira fuse traditional and contemporary music styles to create a powerfully uplifting and soulful sound. Their latest album, “All It Brings,” was awarded 2024 Traditional Album of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music awards and has been called “dazzling” by FolkWorld and “simply exquisite” by Folk London.

Joining forces in Glasgow in 2018, Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira were already well-established soloists when together they found a kindred musical spirit. With Jocelyn on fiddle and Ellen on cello, they promise an evening of high-energy tunes and soulful songs with nuanced strings interplay, vocal harmonies, lively step-dancing, and French Canadian foot percussion.

On stage, their instruments weave a rhythmic, textured sound with rousing fiddle, haunting cello, gorgeous vocal arrangements and spectacular step-dancing, bringing life and fire to original tunes as well as high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia.

The duo has been featured in live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and performed at festivals including Celtic Connections (UK), Vancouver Folk Music Festival (CAN), Summerfolk Music Festival (CAN), Sutton Traditional Fiddle Festival (CAN), Celtic Colours International Festival (CAN), and New World Festival (USA).

For advance tickets to see Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira at York Street Meeting House, September 4th, at 7:00, or to learn more about this and other live music programming brought to you by Catamount Arts, visit www.catamountarts.org or call 802-748-2600.

The Upright Steeple Society is a Vermont nonprofit corporation with a mission to salvage, repair, renovate and restore the York Street Meeting House (formerly the First Congregational Church of Lyndon) and maintain it as a nonsectarian meeting house available for community functions in the Town of Lyndon, Vermont. Eight years, countless volunteer hours, and $400k later, the York Street Meeting House opened to the public. It’s since been used a live music venue, a public meeting facility, and a source of pride once again for its greater community.

Vermont's Orleans County Fair celebrates 158 years this year! We hope you'll join us for vendors, rides, HUNTLEY and more!

Ed Morgan is better known simply as “The Music Man.” For over 10 years he has delighted kids and grownups alike with his interactive blend of original & traditional children’s songs. Singing and dancing for kids ages 1-99! Join the Children’s Library for a fun & festive sing-along with the Music Man.
For more information, contact Becky Hatfield, Youth Services Librarian - bhatfield@stjathenaeum.org or 802-745-1391. This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.

Gerald K. Stoner Sculpture at Switchback Brewing – South End Art Hop 2025
Experience the bold, hand-forged steel sculptures of Gerald K Stoner at Switchback Brewing’s restaurant and taproom during the South End Art Hop.
Sip fresh craft beer, enjoy delicious food, and take in art that shapes space with organic movement and industrial strength.
📅 Dates: September 5th-7th
📍 Location: Switchback Brewing Co. – Restaurant & Taproom, 160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT
Come for the art, stay for the bites and brews.

The South End Arts + Business Association (SEABA) presents Art Hop, a family friendly, free-to-attend arts festival September 5-7. This annual celebration of all that the South End Arts District has to offer returns with open studios, diverse art exhibits and kid-friendly activities.
Art Hop is an amazing opportunity for the community to come together as we all explore the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of Burlington’s arts district. Art Hop is co-created by hundreds of community members hosting and showing work across the 1.5 miles festival. Highlights include:

-The 110+ open studios and small businesses
-Artists in the Juried and SEABA-curated shows
-Designers and models in the STRUT! Fashion show (get your tickets now!)
-Vendors at the Saturday Artist Market
-Participants in Kids Hop, a mini festival for kids to explore art activities and services

You can explore these free events and more Friday, September 5, 5 p.m.-10pm, Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, September 7, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Plus, it doesn’t stop there! SEABA Curated Sites host art exhibitions for 1–3 months after the opening weekend, both at South End sites and online! Visit our website for more details, maps, and ways to volunteer!

The South End Arts + Business Association—known more commonly as SEABA—is a small non-profit arts organization with a mission to promote the interdependence between art and business to enhance the vibrant, creative and diverse community of the South End Arts District.
Facilitating Art Hop is one way we can introduce you to new artists and businesses that you will love to support! Come explore Labor Day weekend and return year-round to enjoy Burlington’s Arts District.

The South End Arts + Business Association
outreach@seaba.com
seaba.com
@seaba

Tickets for STRUT!, Art Hop's fashion show, are available now! Tickets are $20-$30 in advance.

Celebrate back-to-school season with The Flynn Center’s 4th annual Playing Fields Project! Gather with friends and family for an unforgettable night featuring France’s Compagnie OFF’s Les Girafes — a monumental street show that transforms school fields into vibrant stages with a herd of towering red giraffes, music and stunning special effects. Inspired by clowns, vaudeville acts and circus arts, this spectacular show kicks off the school year with fun and delight! Learn more at https://www.flynnvt.org/Community/playing-fields.

Free admission. Works of Fuchs, Schubert and Anderson performed by bassist Nick Browne and pianist Annemieke McLane.

In honor of Spike Lee’s latest effort, Highest 2 Lowest, we present the source material for that film: Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece High & Low, as well as Lee’s most iconic film, Do the Right Thing.

One of Kurosawa’s greatest modern-dress tales, High and Low (the literal translation of the Japanese title is “Heaven and Hell,” but why quibble?), focuses on shoe company exec Toshirō Mifune (utterly magnificent, as usual), who is in the midst of a high-stakes corporate takeover when he gets word that his son has been kidnapped, and a ransom is expected. But all is not as it seems…

Adapted from an Ed McBain 87th Precinct novel—the only Kurosawa film to directly come from an American source, unless you count the uncredited Dashiell Hammett at the heart of Yojimbo—Kurosawa gives us the ultimate kidnap movie, replete with numerous classic set pieces (the money drop on the bullet train! The drug pass in the dance hall!).

The first half of the film is confined to Mifune’s office, packed with distraught family, cynical advisers, and super-cool detective Tatsuya Nakadai. Moral and ethical arguments rage until the second half, which descends to street level, as Mifune plays cat-and-mouse with the kidnapper. The New York Times calls it “One of the best detective thrillers ever filmed” and they’re not wrong. It’s also one of Kurosawa’s greatest films and, given that he’s The Best, that’s saying a lot.

Celebrate 20 years of riding and impact this September! Ride in the 20th Annual Kelly Brush Ride, powered by Union Mutual, in Middlebury, VT, on Saturday, September 6, to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lives!

Cycle your way through the stunning Vermont countryside on any of the road routes (10, 20, 50, 100-mile), or the 30-mile gravel route. After the ride, join the celebration with BBQ, brews, live music, epic prizes and good vibes. Whether it's your 1st ride or your 20th, we can't wait to ride with you and make this year the best one yet.

Can't make it to Vermont? Join the 4th Annual Kelly Brush Ride in Mill Valley, CA on October 25, or ride from anywhere, anytime as a Remote rider through October 25.

Learn more and register

Online registration closes 9/3, but day-of registration will be available onsite starting at 7 am on 9/6/2025.

The Green Mountain Audubon Society returns to beautiful Cold Hollow Sculpture Park to observe birds before many depart our region for warmer climes. Participants will explore the trails in search of different species while also having the opportunity to appreciate the spectacular work of world-renowned artist David Stromeyer.

For more information about the park, see https://www.coldhollowsculpturepark.com.

Vermont's Orleans County Fair celebrates 158 years this year! We hope you'll join us for vendors, rides, HUNTLEY and more!

Nature journaling is a quiet and reflective practice to enhance our curiosity and connect with nature around us. Join Laura Beltran, Certified Nature Journaling Educator through Wild Wonder Foundation, for a hands-on exploration into the world of nature journaling. Whether you love to sketch, enjoy writing, or someone who just appreciates being outside, this workshop invites you to connect with nature in a meaningful way. No experience needed: just bring a pencil, a journal, a portable chair, and your sense of wonder. This activity will meet at REclaimED, 169 Main Street, Poultney and then explore the outdoors surrounding. To register, email natureinvestigations@gmail.com

This is a Story Listening Workshop for adult LGBTQIA+ Vermonters with cancer experiences who have a story they would like to share and an interest in listening to the stories of others. Family caregivers of LGBTQIA+ Vermonters with cancer experiences are also welcome to attend. The workshop will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Vermont. To register for the workshop, use the QR code on the flyer to reach the registration form or use the link: https://qualtrics.uvm.edu/jfe/form/SV_3t5jK1SW04cAEAe. Participants will be compensated for participating in an optional research study. Meals and snacks will be provided. Once participants register for the workshop, a team member will reach out to them via phone to confirm their attendance and share the exact location. Please email qtcancer@uvm.edu with any questions.

Workshop participants will learn supportive approaches for facilitating meaningful, connectional conversations. Participants will explore techniques to create an open, invitational space for dialogue, including self-preparation, methods for opening and closing communication, and navigating challenging situations, such as intense disclosures. This workshop is ideal for people 18 years of age and older who want to build community through sharing their stories and listening to others. Opportunities for participating in research include filling out surveys and audio recording stories.

The South End Arts + Business Association (SEABA) presents Art Hop, a family friendly, free-to-attend arts festival September 5-7. This annual celebration of all that the South End Arts District has to offer returns with open studios, diverse art exhibits and kid-friendly activities.
Art Hop is an amazing opportunity for the community to come together as we all explore the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of Burlington’s arts district. Art Hop is co-created by hundreds of community members hosting and showing work across the 1.5 miles festival. Highlights include:

-The 110+ open studios and small businesses
-Artists in the Juried and SEABA-curated shows
-Designers and models in the STRUT! Fashion show (get your tickets now!)
-Vendors at the Saturday Artist Market
-Participants in Kids Hop, a mini festival for kids to explore art activities and services

You can explore these free events and more Friday, September 5, 5 p.m.-10pm, Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, September 7, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Plus, it doesn’t stop there! SEABA Curated Sites host art exhibitions for 1–3 months after the opening weekend, both at South End sites and online! Visit our website for more details, maps, and ways to volunteer!

The South End Arts + Business Association—known more commonly as SEABA—is a small non-profit arts organization with a mission to promote the interdependence between art and business to enhance the vibrant, creative and diverse community of the South End Arts District.
Facilitating Art Hop is one way we can introduce you to new artists and businesses that you will love to support! Come explore Labor Day weekend and return year-round to enjoy Burlington’s Arts District.

The South End Arts + Business Association
outreach@seaba.com
seaba.com
@seaba

Family friendly fair with live music, food, craft vendors, a flower show, activities for kids and more.

Jam For The Parks is back & better than ever! Join us on September 6, 2025 to celebrate our 2nd annual Jam for the Parks event in collaboration with Vermont Parks Forever, benefiting Vermont State Parks! A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to Vermont Parks Forever, benefiting their mission of preserving and advocating for Vermont’s 55 state parks.

This year’s event will occur at Waterbury Center State Park, located on the beautiful Waterbury Reservoir. Secure your ticket now to experience this one-of-a-kind, locally-grown music festival in central VT. Let’s jam!

Music Lineup:
Ryan Montbleau Band, Zach Nugent’s Dead Set, Jahriffe, The Moondogs, Nick Bredice, Rock & Roll Playhouse

Waterbury Center State Park will be festival-ready with multiple bars stocked with your favorite local craft beverages (alcoholic and NA options), multiple food truck vendors, family-friendly activities, and more! Kids 12 & Under FREE

See complete event details

Gerald K. Stoner Sculpture at Switchback Brewing – South End Art Hop 2025
Experience the bold, hand-forged steel sculptures of Gerald K Stoner at Switchback Brewing’s restaurant and taproom during the South End Art Hop.
Sip fresh craft beer, enjoy delicious food, and take in art that shapes space with organic movement and industrial strength.
📅 Dates: September 5th-7th
📍 Location: Switchback Brewing Co. – Restaurant & Taproom, 160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT
Come for the art, stay for the bites and brews.

Do you live off the grid? Do you have experience setting up your own off-grid systems? Do you need advice from someone who does?
Come check out the Off-Grid Roundtable! It is held the first Saturday of every month in the upstairs gallery at the St Johnsbury Athenaeum at 1p.m. Current off-gridders, people who are thinking about off-grid living or homesteading, or people who are just interested in learning more are welcome.
This event is free, ADA accessible, and open to the public.
For more information, contact Nelly Detra at ndetra@stjathenaeum.org.

The link to this event on our website is here