| VOLUME 29 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | December , 2025 |
ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
Franklin County's arts and music gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. There are also booked and acoustic Open Mic Nights that feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.
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SWANTON--The No Strings Marionette Company presents Scrooge: A Christmas Carol at the Swanton Free Public Library on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The 18 large-scale, handcrafted marionettes will celebrate the season with Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge. Co-founders Dan Baginski and Barbara Paulson have performed at hundreds of schools, libraries, festivals, and community events, dazzling tens of thousands of children and adults with marionette magic with the puppeteers in full view of the audience. Admission is free, thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Click here for more info. THEATER
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on hardwood sculptor Toby Fulwiler. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 38 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street is open every day until Christmas, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info. ART ON THE WALLS
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library & Community Center hosts Kara Babcock with Kara's Twisted Stitches for a "Night Out to Shop" today at 5:30 - 7 p.m. There will be mocktails and light appetizers. Call the library (802.868.3970) or email for more info. ART FOR SALE
FAIRFIELD--Hearthside Handcrafts meet at Bent Northrop Memorial Library on Saturday at 10 a.m. Fiber arts and crafting enthusiasts connect to share skills and create memories on the second Saturday of each month. Click here for more info. ART YOU CREATE
ST. ALBANS--BFA hosts a Winter Dance Performance with the beginning, intermediate, and advanced dance classes in the BFA Performing Arts Center this evening at 6 p.m. DANCE
ONLINE--The Federation of State Humanities Councils "Humanities =" podcast features the Vermont Humanities Words in the Woods program and includes a conversation with Vermont Poet Laureate Bianca Stone and Programs Officer Jacob Pelletier. Click here to listen. HUMANITIES
MORRISVILLE--River Arts continues the Mindful Tree Art series with Jen Volansky to lead a Rooted in Stillness workshop inspired by bare trees and the quiet mood of November this evening at 5:30 p.m. "A tree that feels personal or meaningful to you. It might reflect a memory, a mood, or simply be something you enjoy making" to find the magic in the natural world. Tuition is $30. Click here to enroll and for more info. WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
MILTON--Social Sundays continue at the Milton Artists' Guild Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each week offers a different project. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info.
ONLINE--Northwest Access TV presents Alex Foltz for Episode 4 of Foltz Studio, the live series of outdoor oil painting lessons. This episode finds him painting a portrait of a tree at Hard'ack and on YouTube. The Highgate native who now lives in the state of Georgia teaches viewers the art of plein-air oil painting across different landscapes in Vermont. The show appears weekly on YouTube channel and to Franklin County Comcast subscribers on channel 1079 on Mondays at 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 18 ON STAGE LIVE
SOUTH HERO--Carol Ann Jones hosts the Annual Holiday Show at the Blue Paddle Bistro this evening at 5:30 p.m. There will be Christmas carols and more for a holiday dining experience. Click here for more info.
HIGHGATE--The annual MVU Winter/Alumni Concert features the MVU Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Mastersingers, plus alumni in the Trahan Theater next Thursday, December 18. Admission is free.
NORTH HERO--The North Hero House Fall Music Series concludes this week as Cooie Sings Christmas Carols in a sing-a-long live this evening at 6 p.m. "Great music, some singalongs and just a whole lot of fun." Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's hosts a Blues &Burger and Ugly Sweater Night this evening at 5 - 9 p.m. "The night should not disappoint." Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday, December 19
FAIRFAX--The Fairfax-Fletcher-Westford Community Band performs a benefit Christmas Concert at the United Church of Fairfax on Friday at 7 p.m. The program includes traditional Christmas music and a pie raffle. Admission is by free-will donation at the door. Donations will go to the church building fund to help keep the historic church maintained and available to the community.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. The series continues with Nathan Michaud's Christmas Sweater Party this week. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--The Old Post presents the Phil Abair Band with Keeghan Nolan for a Christmas concert "before flying south for the winter" on Friday at 8 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info
Friday-Sunday, December 19-21
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Friday and Saturday nights in December. The Friction Band plays Friday and the Smokey Newfield Project comes down the chimney live on Saturday. Music starts about 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
JERICHO--The Jericho Cafe and Tavern fills the weekend with Live Music in December. The Lloyd Tyler Band plays Friday. The Blue Rock Boys perform live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
COLCHESTER--The Spanked Puppy has music all weekend. Dan Parks plays the live and free Friday Night Live Music at 6 p.m. followed by the Ugly Sweater Holiday Party with Santa and Live Music on Saturday at 4 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Two Heroes Brewery has music most weeks. Jaded Ravins take the stage on Friday and Good Gravy plays bluegrass live on Saturday. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host Will Austin on Friday and Kippincoe featuring Kip de Moll live on Saturday night. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.
Saturday, December 20
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's presents Dan Parks live on Saturday at 5 p.m. "Come early for dinner and drinks and stay for the music." Find them on Facebook for more info.
FRANKLIN--The Dick Wright Pub presents Richard Durazo Live at the Pub for an evening of folk, blues, gospel, and reggae on Saturday at 6 p.m. Admission is by suggested donation of $10. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The First Congregational Church hosts an Open Mic and Coffeehouse on Saturday at 7 p.m. Perform, sing along, or listen, to music, spoken word, story telling, and skits. There will be refreshments and a pot-luck dinner and snacks. Call Greg Beeman (802.324.0308) for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Higher Ground hosts the 13th annual Home for the Holidays Concert with Wheatus, Troy Millette & the Fire Below, Jerborn, and Blake Matteson on Saturday at 7 p.m. Doors at 6:30. The evening benefits Special Olympics VT and Northwestern Counseling & Support Services. Click here for tickets and more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Mirage returns to On Tap for late night music on Saturday starting at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Sunday, December 21
SOUTH HERO--Snow Farm Vineyard continues a series of Sunday Jazz Piano afternoons with Lesley Becker on Sunday at 3 p.m. Gentle jazz melodies drift through the tasting room. Click here for more info
ST. ALBANS--The Vermont Choral Union with aoprano Ken Torrie, counterteno Shane Hanson, tenor Phlippe Gagne, and bass William Kraushaar partner with Ensemble L'Harmonie des saisons again for Handel's Messiah at Holy Angels Church on Sunday at 4 p.m. Montreal's two-time Juno Award-winning baroque ensemble plays period clarinets, bassoons, trombones, trumpets, tympani and strings to bring the sacred work alive as it was conceived by Handel and heard in the 18th century. Admission is $40-80. Click here for tickets and more info,4
Monday, December 22
ST. ALBANS--Jason Corbiere will join Nobby Reed at Twiggs for a special holiday jam on Monday at 6 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.
Tuesday, December 16
SOUTH HERO--Doug's Open Mic Night comes to Two Heroes Brewery on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Sign up in-person only from 5 - 5:30. Open Mic happens every other Tuesday. Click here for more info.
Wednesday, December 24
ENOSBURG--Sage Machia hosts Country Karaoke Nights at the Rail Trail Pub on Wednesday at 7 pm. The boot scootin' boogie happens every Wednesday. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SWANTON--Located in the historic Champlain Theater building, the Green Mountain Bistro has live music every Wednesday night from 6 - 8 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
FAIRFIELD--The Bent Northrop Memorial Library will be closed from Wednesday at 1 p.m. through Thursday, January 1 (the whole week between Christmas and New Years' Day). FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
FAIRFIELD--Franklin County Photogs hosts a virtual Zoom group at Bent Northrop Memorial Library on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The group meets monthly to share and learn about photography. Join the Zoom Meeting with passcode: 311344 or click here for more info.
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library and Community Center continues the Muffin Monday Senior Social Hour on Monday at 10 a.m. The program is a community connect to brainstorm opportunities for senior support. Each week will also include coffee and tea, as well as fresh pastries. The program will run every Monday morning and is free for anyone 55 and older. Registration is mandatory as space is limited. Call the Library (802.868.3970) to register and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library hosts Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries to discuss Anna O by Matthew Blake this morning at 10:30 a.m. The bestselling psychological thriller about the "Sleeping Beauty," a young woman who murders two people in her sleep and then falls into a coma. The group reads a variety of mystery genres and meets the third Thursday of each month in the Martha Dalton Meeting Room. Click here for more info.
Good News!There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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