| VOLUME 30 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | August 13, 2026 |
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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ART YOU CREATE
SWANTON--The Swanton Free Public Library has two groups today.
The Swanton Arts Council hosts a Perler Bead Popup in the Maker Space today at 11 a.m. All supplies are provided. Email the Swanton Library to register or for more info.
The Embroidery Club meets today at 6 p.m. Bring a project or start something new. Materials are available. Call 802.868.7656 or email to register or for more info.
HIGHGATE--Coffee and Crafts meets at the Highgate Library and Community Center on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Materials and a hot coffee, tea, or cocoa are provided by HLCC. The program runs every Tuesday morning and is free adult library patrons. Email or call the Library (802.868.3970) to register and for more info.
ENOSBURG--Sip, Stitch, & Share meets at the Enosburgh Public Library every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Have a warm drink, learn a new craft (or work on honing an existing one), and chat. Any craft is welcome. Click here for more info.
ART ON THE WALLS
ENOSBURG--Cold Hollow Sculpture Park presents Tuning, Timing, Resonance as a "one-of-a-kind day of music, sound, and sculpture" with composer Phil Acimovic on Saturday at 1 and 4 p.m. Their first-ever commissioned, site-specific musical performance is performed live by Mr. Acimovic and a quartet of musicians. There will be a small reception to meet the artists after the 4 p.m. performance.
There will also be two Sound Experiments workshops to explore alternative tunings, rhythm, and resonance before each performance. Registration is required. Find them on Facebook to register and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on printmaker and painter Kristina Bolduc. 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 Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--The Island Arts Gallery artist of the month is glass and stained glass sculptor Patrick Graziano as the August artist at the Community Bank. He works and holds classes at his studio in Colchester. The Gallery at the Community Bank is open during normal banking hours: Monday - Thursday 9 - 4 and Friday 9 - 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council Artist of the Week is Nicole Gadouas whose artistic expression was fueled by the curious energy of children. The SAC has established an artistic presence in Swanton and works to develop the artistic community.
ART FOR SALE
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild 2026 Art Supply Sale fundraiser joins the Milton town-wide yard sale on Saturday at 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. There will be brushes and canvases, pencils and sketchbooks, pompoms and pipe cleaners, scrapbooking materials, clay sculpting tools, pastels beads, fabric and yarn, and more. All proceeds of the Art Supply Sale go directly to supporting MAG's mission of making art accessible for all. Call 802.999.0516 or email for more info.
FESTIVALS AND SHOWS
MANCHESTER--The Green Mountain Bluegrass Festival brings live bluegrass and roots music with Watchhouse, I'm With Her, Railroad Earth, Green Mountain All Stars and many, many more to Manchester Center this afternoon through Sunday 8/13-16. Gates open at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sundy making me wonder where they found musicians who got up that early? Click here for tickets, directions, parking, and more info.
FILM
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library 17th annual Film Noir Festival continues with a double feature on Thursday at 6 p.m. and reprised at the Friday matinee at 1 p.m. My Name Is Julia Ross with Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, and George Macready follows a young woman in a new job who is gaslighted by those around her. In The Threat with Michael O'Shea, Virginia Grey, and Charles McGraw, a brutal killer escapes and kidnaps the detective, D.A., and a witness. The free presentation includes the show, the popcorn, cocoa, and tea. This showing is an after-hours event. Please arrive before the doors close at 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
GATHERINGS
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.
HUMANITIES
FRANKLIN--VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region will host an Advance Directive Workshop at the Haston Library this morning at 10 a.m. The event will focus on the Vermont Ethics Network's Advance Directive Short Form. Participants may upload the form to the Vermont Advance Directive Registry for review and acceptance. Click here to review the form.
Space is limited so advanced registration is required. RSVP (802.369.9440) or email to register.
NORTH HERO--Island Arts presents Maeve Kim to spend some time with bird song, bird calls, bird chirps, and a whole lot of other sounds to discover How and Why Birds Make Noise at the Island Arts Center on Friday at 2 p.m. Admission is $10. Click here to register and for more info.
SWANTON--The Swanton Academy features a special partnership with the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge for an interactive Wetlands & Wildlife in the Refuge Workshop at the Refuge on Saturday at 10 a.m. - 12 noon. The workshop is an opportunity to learn how the Refuge wetlands support birds, mammals, and amphibians, and how to create wildlife-friendly habitat in a backyard. Swanton Academy will also include a youth portrait class, book bedazzling, a youth chess meetup, pasta making, and grave stone rubbing.
This is the third of several weekends dedicated to community knowledge sharing and will lead up to The Museum on Main Street at the library in September and October. Click here to register and for more info.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
JEFFERSONVILLE--George Van Hook leads Painting en Plein Air as a two day workshop starting at Bryan Memorial Gallery on Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The workshop will stress allaprima painting and use a loose and fast approach to capture the landscape in the first try. There will be live demos and individual attention. Participants should bring plein air equipment, supports, and media--oil, pastel, watercolor, or acrylic. The cost is $395. Gallery members should use promo code "BMGMember" to receive a member discount. Click here to register and for more info.
JEFFERSONVILLE--60 Main Arts (SMArts) hosts Community Drawing Night with a live model on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The cost of $10 per person or less includes a "split model fee."
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.
NORTH HERO--Lucie Faulkner leads Part 2 of the Clay Ornaments Workshop at the Island Arts Center on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Participants will use "Air-Hardening Modeling Clay" to make holiday ornaments. The workshop is free but registration is requested. All materials including paint to decorate the pieces will be supplied. Click here to register and for more info.
ON STAGE LIVE
Thursday, August 13
ST ALBANS TOWN--The weekly St. Albans Bay Farmer's Market and Concert Series continues with Blues for Breakfast today from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. They have live music every Thursday evening into September. "The rain date will always fall on the following Friday." Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Quadra plays the Music in the Vineyard series at Snow Farm Vineyard this evening at 6:30 p.m. The summer music series continues with well known musicians, wine, and food every Thursday. Click here for more info.
Thursday-Saturday, August 13-15
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a weekend of music with James Shelly tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, VachSean at 5 p.m., and then Bad Horsey returns for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with Mitch & Devon at 5 p.m., and Tim Brick and the Enablers at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bootleggers Lounge at Smuggs presents Eric Bushey solo this evening at 9 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Thursday-Wednesday, August 6-12
MORRISVILLE--Moog's Place has long weekends, Thursday through Wednesday, of music in October. Michael Perry leads Open Mic Night tonight. Abby Sherman and the Way North light the night afire on Friday. Dead Sessions Lite take over Saturday. The sound system takes the day off on Sunday. Seth Yacovone plays a solo acoustic set on Monday. And Jim Charonko is there for Wednesday night live.
Friday, August 14
ST. ALBANS--St. Paul's United Methodist Church presents Lumos Live for a Beatles Candlelight Experience on Friday at 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Two seatings are available for a concert in the unique candlelight setting featuring the songs of the Beatles performed by a string trio. The first seating is at 6:30 p.m. The second seating will be at 8:30. Lumos Live provides classical musicians and ensembles for live events and concerts. Admission is $25-70. Click here for tickets and find them on for more info.
MILTON--The Friday Night Live Music and Buffet at Arrowhead Golf Course presents Carol Ann Jones and Will Patton on the deck on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The spareribs buffet starts around 7 p.m. Both run until 9 p.m. The buffet costs $15 per person ($7 for each child). You don't have to be a member; the public is welcome. Be sure to come early, usually around 6, to get a good seat. Call 802.893.0234 for reservations and click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--14th Star presents indie Vermont musician Evan David Warner for a night of rock, funk, blues, and soul in the Taproom on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. The series continues with Rockin' Ron Gagnon in the Pub this week. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's presents Side Hustle live on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--Barbie N Bones return to the Old Post on Friday at 8 p.m. on the outdoor stage if the weather agrees. Find them on Facebook for more info
Friday-Sunday, August 14-16
NORTH HERO--Bravo Zulu Lakeside Bar has live music on Fridays and Sundays, all summer long. Indie-folk acoustic singer-songwriter Kiel Love performs on Friday at 6 p.m. and She Was Right plays on Sunday at 3 p.m. The "the newest hidden gem of the Lake Champlain Islands" is at Shore Acres where you can boat in or drive in. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The jerborned Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Friday and Saturday nights in August. Sleeveless Tease featuring Narah Sparks plays Friday and Jerborn is 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 August. JSB plays on Friday as Jeff Salisbury, Skip Truman, Steven Hirsch and Bob Butterfield deliver an evening of blues. The Smokey Newfield Project performs live on Saturday night. Music starts at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Two Heroes Brewery has music most weeks. The Dale and Darcy Band take the stage on Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Summer Soundwave Series has J.J. Booth to play alt. country, folk pop and maybe some acid rock at 3 and Al's Pals return with funk, rock, and blues at 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host veteran bluesman Arthur James on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Dan Parks live on Saturday night 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.
Saturday, August 15
ST. ALBANS--Northwest Farmers Market fills Taylor Park with live music, handmade crafts, locally grown food, prepared foods, free kids activities on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. A girl and her guitar, Laura Fedele-Rasco plays this Saturday. The market and the music continue every Saturday through October. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ENOSBURG--Cold Hollow Sculpture Park presents Tuning, Timing, Resonance with composer Phil Acimovic on Saturday at 1 and 4 p.m. There will be a small reception to meet the artists after the 4 p.m. performance. There will also be two Sound Experiments workshops to explore alternative tunings, rhythm, and resonance before each performance. Registration is required. Find them on Facebook to register and for more info.
STOWE--The Von Trapp Family Lodge has a double header on Saturday. The Bierhall Summer Music Series takes music to the Biergarten on Saturday night with Amerikana Blue at 4:30 p.m. The Jazz Saturdays Series presents the Steve Blair Trio on the Patio or in the Sunroom on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. Click here for more info.
FRANKLIN--The Dick Wright Pub presents Vachsean Live at the Pub on Saturday at 6 p.m. Forget the camp chair. The acoustic project of the Rough Suspects want you on your feet and dancing. Admission is by suggested donation of $10. Click here for more info.
ALBURGH--The Alburgh Oasis Outdoor Music Venue presents with the Nobby Reed Project on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. BYOB. Admission is $10 at the door or $15 for limited, reserved, premium table seating. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NORTH HERO--Haiduck & Heckendorn sing and play the Great American Songbook in the Homer Knight barn at the Island Arts Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. The informal, cabaret-style evening features a jazz quartet of Neal Haiduck, clarinet; David Heckendorn, piano; Bruno John, bass; and Jeff Kane, drums; plus special guest John Lehmann-Haupt, classical guitar. Admission is $25 online or $30 at the door. Reserve a table for seating at $15 for a 2-top, $25 for a 4-top, and BYOB. Click here for tickets and 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) or find them on Facebook for more info.
Sunday, August 16
ST. ALBANS--The City of St. Albans hosts a City Wide Block Party in Taylor Park on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. There will be music, free food, games, a bounce house, face painting, activities for all ages, and more. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook for more info.
HIGHGATE--St. John's Church hosts organists Kay Benedict, Karl Fandrich, and Erik Kenyon to play the 1837 Henry Erban organ in an Organ Recital on Sunday at 3 p.m. There will be an Evensong service using traditional Rite I language at 3:00 with the recital beginning at 3:30.
The 19th century brick St. John's Church was built by Joel Whitney of Enosburg and includes the three-stop organ built by Henry Erben in 1836. The organ has an 8' Stopped Diapason, a 4' Principal, and an 8' Trumpet and requires an assistant to hand pump the bellows. It is the oldest unaltered pipe organ in Vermont in its original location. The building itself is conventional classic with gothic pointed windows. The historical church is now used for weddings, Evensong services, and concerts in the summer.
Admission is free, but donations for the restorations are appreciated.
MILTON--Maquam Barn & Winery hosts Troy Millette & the Fire Below on Sunday at 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. The Barn has weekly live music, food trucks, and specialty tastings from May through October.
NORTH HERO--Island Arts helps the Vermont Jazz Ensemble celebrate 50 years of of music across Vermont with a special outdoor concert at the Island Arts Center (the Homer Knight Barn) on Sunday at 4 p.m. If it snows or the weather turns yucky, the concert will move inside the barn. Tony Petricola selected the program for Vermont's premier big-band swing ensemble, with highlights from VJE's catalog. Picnicing on the lawn starts at 3:30. The CBD food truck will be on site. Admission is $25 online and at local outlets or $30 at the door. Click here for tickets and more info.
Monday, August 17
ENOSBURG--The Enosburg Business & Community Association is taking advantage of better weather. The monthly Summer Sounds in Lincoln Park series concludes with Jerborn & Justin on the special rain date, this Monday, at 5:30 p.m. Echa perfomance has live music, food, and community. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NORTH HERO--The Soulo Davis Duo (D Davis and Django Soulo) plays Americana, roots, bluegrass, jazz, and soul on the Pier Bar at the North Hero House on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Tuesday, August 18
MILTON--Fresh from the field and live from the stage, music concludes at the Milton Outdoor Performance Center at Bombardier Park with Before This Time on Tuesday at 5 - 8 p.m. Tuesday evenings have food, lawn games, and the Milton Farmers Market. Find them on Facebook for more info.
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.
ENOSBURG--Free Summer Concerts in the Park with the Enosburg Town Band on the Lincoln Park Bandstand wrap up the season on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The evening also includes arts and crafts activities thanks to the Enosburg Public Library, popcorn and drinks to support the Enosburg Business Association, and ice cream sundaes to support the Franklin County Cat Crusaders. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Wednesday, August 19
MORRISVILLE--Summer means music at Oxbow Park with Morrisville Live. This week, the series concludes with the Lesley Grant Band to play on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Click here for more info.
NORTH HERO--She Was Right play well-known covers at the Pier Bar at the North Hero House on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--No struggles when the Summer Concert Series continues with the Stragglers in Taylor Park on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Concerts are free for all every Wednesday evening through August 27. 14th Star Brewing Company and eats from Black Radish will be on hand for food and drink. If the weather turns squishy, the concerts will move to 14th Star. 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.
ST. ALBANS--The monthly Blues Jam continues at Twiggs, hosted by Vermont's leading blues man, Nobby Reed and the House Band, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Blues Jam blows out the speakers at Twiggs on the second Wednesday of each month. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Virtual music and events continue this week.
Local writer DonnaRae Menard continues the weekly read with Episode 6 from her St. Albans mystery novel, Snuffling Up Bones, on NW Access TV and on YouTube . It is the first book in The Pig and I Mysteries series with Doris Flynn and her 450-pound pet pig, Buttercup.
NW Access TV was there when the Sean Jarvis Band played Summer Sounds in Highgate on August 20, 2023. It's on YouTube.
FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
BOOK CLUBS--Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries in St. Albans will read Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone on August 20. The Highgate Library and Community Center Book Club will read Beneath the Fountain, the St. Albans novel by local writer DonnaRae Menard, on September 3.
ENOSBURG--The Enosburgh Public Library Reading & Discussion Group takes up the group's favorite books on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page has plenty going on this week.
Saturday is Bookstore Romance Day. There will be swag, hugs, and more Find them on Facebook for more info.
The True Crime Book Club will meet to discuss The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser on "TBD" which may be Wednesday at 6 p.m. It's still a mystery. Two men dressed as police officers tied up the guards and stole Five Degas, three Rembrandts including Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Vermeer's The Concert, works by Manet, and others in the largest art theft in history. No arrests have been made. Find them on Facebook for more info.
SWANTON--Two Swanton Free Public Library book clubs meet this week.
The monthly SPL Book Club meets to discuss The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong on Monday at 5 p.m. The Oprah's Book Club novel follows a 19-year-old in East Gladness, Connecticut, planning to end his own life. Click here for more info.
The Pocket Book Club takes up A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Ms. Woolf's long essay states that a woman needs money and a private room to write well. She developed it from talks she gave at Cambridge University in 1928. 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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Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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