There are a lot of reasons to celebrate the outdoors this weekend, beyond the spectacular weather forecast. Vermont Days are this week. That means free day-use entry at all the state parks, state historical sites, and the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. And if that's not enough to get you outside, Saturday is National Get Outdoors Day. It's also Flag Day. And don't forget Father's Day on Sunday! Here are eight more reasons to get outside this weekend:
- There are over 50 Vermont State Parks where you can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, picnicking, fishing and more for free this weekend.
- In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, the U.S. Forest Service is waiving all day fees at the Green Mountain National Forest as well as waiving overnight camping fees at Chittenden Campground and Moosalamoo Campground.
- For Flag Day, on Saturday, Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site is holding a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner.
- Saturday is also Free Fishing Day in Vermont, so you don’t need a fishing license to go fishing in any of the state’s open waterways.
- Saturday is the Grand Isle Fishing Festival at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station in Grand Isle, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It’s a free event designed for young anglers. The festival offers basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to catch big trout in a pond next to the hatchery.
- Feel like going for a run? The Killington Half Marathon and 5K is on Sunday.
- For Father’s Day, on Sunday, you can take Dad to a free concert by the Green Mountain Brass Band at Waterbury Center State Park. The concert runs from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The band will offer up traditional and contemporary music, classics, show tunes, pop, jazz, rock and, of course, marches.
- Also on Sunday, there will be an open house at the Justin Smith Morrill Homestead. Visitors will be able to tour the house, stroll the trails and visit the gardens in bloom. There will also be free refreshments and a musical performance at 3:00 p.m.
