Natural haven, cultural enclaves in the Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom may be short on people, but it's long on natural beauty and things to do in the summer time. Your outdoorsy types will enjoy biking on Kingdom Trails or perhaps admiring the view after hiking up the ski trails at Burke and Jay. If you're competitively inclined, there are a number of swim races in lakes across the area as well as the Single, Double and Triple Bypass events at Jay Peak.
The Kingdom is a lot more than just sporting events. The Bread and Puppet Theater has a number of performances, as does Circus Smirkus. Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury has a variety of events and the Vermont Children's Theater will perform in Lyndonville. Island Pond has music every Friday night and there is a music series at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Newport as well as music by the Craftsbury Chamber Players. Don't forget the annual Burklyn Arts Summer Crafts Fair in Lyndonville.
History buffs will love Heritage Craft Week in Brownington, but just about everyone will enjoy the Lyndonville Stars and Stripes Festival. There are also Fourth of July Celebrations in Island Pond, Newport, Burke and Greensboro and county fairs in Orleans and Caledonia Counties. Jay Peak will hold a Jeezum Crow Festival while Perennial Pleasures in East Hardwick will celebrate Phlox.
Attractions
• The Art House: Fine art gallery and community gathering place, Craftsbury Common, www.vermontarthouse.com
• Concerts on the Green: Free Sunday evening concerts from 7 to 9 p.m., Danville Green or Danville United Methodist Church in case of rain, www.danvillevtchamber.org
• Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium: A natural history museum with collections of detailed wildlife dioramas, photographs, family programs, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury, $8/adults, $6/senior citizens and children 5-17, 748-237, www.fairbanksmuseum.org
• Haskell Free Library and Opera House: Possibly the only cultural institution to sit astride an international border, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Caswell Avenue, Derby Line (and Church Street in Quebec), 873-3022, www.haskellopera.com
• MAC Center for the Arts: Gallery, shop, classes and exhibits, Main Street, Newport, 334-1966, memphremagogartscollaborative.com
• Old Firehouse Gallery: Local artwork, Mill Street, Hardwick, www.graceart.org
• Old Stonehouse Museum: Historical artifacts, Stone House Road, Brownington, www.oldstonehousemuseum.org
• Stephen Huneck Gallery, Dog Chapel and Dog Mountain: 150 acres of hiking trails and ponds, a chapel where dog lovers remember departed canine companions, and a store and gallery filled with the dog-themed works of the late Stephen Huneck, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Parks Road, St. Johnsbury, free admission, 800-449-2580, www.dogmt.com
• St. Johnsbury Athenaeum: Public library and art gallery with a primary focus on American and European painters of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Hudson River School luminaries, Main Street, $8/adults, free/children and St. Johnsbury residents, 748-8291
Recreation
• Bald Hill Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Westmore, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Brownington Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Browinington, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Craftsbury Outdoor Center: Running, sculling, summer biathlon, Lost Nation Road, Craftsbury, www.craftsbury.com
• Crystal Lake: Swimming, boating and fishing, Barton, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Daniels Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Glover, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Eden Dog Sledding: Sled rides with a team of Alaskan Huskies, Square Road, Eden Mills, 635-9070, www.edendogsledding.com
• Jay Peak: Golf and tram rides, 327-2215, www.jaypeakresort.com
• Job's Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Westmore, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Joe's Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Danville, joespond.com
• Kingdom Trails: Mountain biking on trails at Darling Hill and Dashney Farm, East Burke, 626-0737
• Lake Eligo: Swimming, boating and fishing, Greensboro, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Lake Parker: Swimming, boating and fishing, Glover, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Lake Willougby: Swimming, boating and fishing, Westmore, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• May Pond: Swimming, boating and fishing, Barton, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
• Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor: Hiking and rock climbing on fractured granite overlooking Lake Willougby, centerofthekingdom.com
• Prouty Beach: Swimming, boating and fishing, Newport, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., newportrecreation.org
• Shadow Lake: Swimming, boating and fishing, Glover, www.vtfishandwildlife.com
Events
• June 15-29: Bread and Puppet Performances, Title TBA, 3 p.m., Paper Maché Cathedral/Dirt Floor Theater, Heights Road, Glover, www.breadandpuppet.org
• June 19: A Small Family Business, drama, 7 p.m., $24/adults, $22/members. $16/students, Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury, www.catamountarts.org
• June 21: Stars and Stripes 2014, 10 a.m. parade, 6 to 9 p.m. dance, www.lyndonvermont.com
• June 20 – Aug. 29: Friday Night Live, music and vendors, 6 to 10 p.m., Pavilion Park, Island Pond, www.islandpondchamber.org
• June 20-22: NEMBA Mountain Bike Festival, multiple events, Kingdom Trails, www.nemba.org
• June 22: Kingdom Fairytale Family Cruise, aboard the Northern Star on Lake Memphremagog, 3 and 4:30 p.m., Gateway Center, Newport, 334-6345
• Now Playing Newport, music series, 4 p.m., St. Mark's Episcopal Church, www.discovernewportvt.com
June 22: ANIMA – 10 woman vocal ensemble
July 20: Social Band – shape note singing, Appalachian and European music
Aug. 16: Eileen Kennedy with Mark Violette – jazz vocalist
• June 25: The Boy in Striped Pajamas, book to film series, 7 p.m., Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick, 472-5948
• June 26-28: Magic Tree House, Vermont Children's Theater, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, www.vermontchildrenstheater.com
• June 28: Straber & Chasnoff, 8 p.m., The Music Box, Hardwick, $10/general admission, $8/students and seniors, www.themusicboxvt.org
• June 28: Newport Sprint Triathlon, details TBA, newportrecreation@gmail.com
• June 29: Circus Smirkus, 1 and 6 p.m. performances, Circus Road, Greensboro, www.smirkus.org
• July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26: Shape Note Singing, no experience necessary,7:30 p.m., Paper Maché Cathedral/Dirt Floor Theater, 753 Heights Road, Glover, www.breadandpuppet.org
• July 2-3: Circus Smirkus, 1 and 6 p.m. performances, Leonard Field, St. Johnsbury, www.smirkus.org
• July 3: JJ Grey & Mofro, front porch soul and down-home storytelling, 8 p.m., Jay Peak, $35/general admission, $75/VIP, www.augustwestfest.com
• July 4, Aug. 1, Sept. 5: First Friday Free Family Movie Night, 7 p.m., Derby Line Village Hall, proceeds to Derby Line Events Committee, children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult, no outside food or drink, 873-3420
• July 4: Newport Independence Day Celebration, 4:30 p.m., live music, bed races, food and fireworks, Gardner Park, Newport. www.NewportRecreation.org
• July 4-6: Fourth of July Celebration, 11 a.m. parade, fireworks at dusk on July 5, www.islandpondchamber.org
• July 4: Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks and music, Burke, www.skiburke.com
• July 5: XIP Double Bypass, outdoor endurance challenge, Burke, www.skiburke.com
• July 5: Funky Fourth of July, parade at 10 a.m., chicken barbecue at 11 a.m., fireworks at 9 p.m., Greensboro, www.greensborovt.org
• July 5: Annual Burklyn Arts Summer Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bandstand Park, Lyndonville, www.burklynarts.org
• July 5: Harry Corrow Freedom Run, 5K, details TBA, newportrecreation@gmail.com
• July 7-13: Heritage Craft Week, instruction in old crafts including stone wall building, rug hooking, tin punching, stenciling on slate and beginning bladesmithing, Old Stone House Museum, Brownington, www.oldstonehousemuseum.org
• July 10-12: Beauty and the Beast, Vermont Children's Theater, Lyndonville, 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, www.vermontchildrenstheater.com
• July 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22: Bread and Puppet Performance, Title TBA, 7:30 p.m., Paper Maché Cathedral/Dirt Floor Theater, Heights Road, Glover, www.breadandpuppet.org
• July 11-13: Aquafest, three days of events including the Kingdom Kayak, a pet and swimmers parade and street dance on July 11, Kingdom Swim, Waterfront Festival, Chowder Festival and VT 105 challenge on July 12, and a Yacht Regatta on July 13, Newport, kingdomaquafest.com
• July 13, 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24: Nothing is Not Ready Circus Pageant, outdoor performance, 2 p.m., Heights Road, Glover, www.breadandpuppet.org
• July 13, Kenji Bunch and Friends, bluegrass, 7 p.m., Craftsbury Common, www.craftsburychamberplayers.org
• July 17: NOFAvore Social, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Joe's Brook Farm, St. Johnsbury, nofavt.org
• July 15: The Cavatina Duo, 8 p.m., Greensboro, 2014.summermusicfromgreensboro.net
• July 17, 24, 31, Aug. 7, 14, 21, Craftsbury Chamber Players Concert, 8 p.m., Hardwick Town House, Hardwick, www.craftsburychamberplayers.org
• July 17, 24, Craftsbury Chamber Players Free Mini Concert, 2 p.m., Hardwick Town House, Hardwick, www.craftsburychamberplayers.org
• July 17-19, 25-26: West Side Story, 7 p.m. with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on July 16, Vermont Children's Theater, Lyndonville, www.vermontchildrenstheater.com
• July 18, Aug. 2: Drive-in Movie at the Beach, 8 p.m., Prouty Beach, Newport. www.NewportRecreation.org
• July 22: Dmitry Kouzov, 8 p.m., Greensboro, 2014.summermusicfromgreensboro.net
• July 25-27, Aug. 1-3: Oliver!, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Haskell Opera House, Derby Line, $15/adults, $13/seniors and students, www.haskellopera.com
• July 25-26: Jeezum Crow Festival, Stateside Amphitheater, Jay Peak, www.jaypeak.com
• July 27-Aug. 10: Phlox Fest, Perennial Pleasures Nursery and Tea Garden, Brick House Road, East Hardwick, www.perennialpleasures.net
• July 29: Lewis Franco and the Missing Cats, 8 p.m., Greensboro, 2014.summermusicfromgreensboro.net
• July 31, Aug. 7: Craftsbury Chamber Players Free Mini Concert, 2 p.m., East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church, Craftsbury, www.craftsburychamberplayers.org
• Aug. 2: Seymour Swim, 3.5 and 1.7 mile swims as individual events or as part of the Kingdom Triathlon, Seymour Lake, Morgan, www.kingdomswim.org
• Aug. 2: Summer Dog Party on Dog Mountain, times TBA, Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, www.dogmt.com
• Aug. 2: Bike 'N Brew, Burke Mountain, www.skiburke.com
• Aug. 3: Treasure Island Family Cruise, aboard the Northern Star on Lake Memphremagog. 3 and 4:30 p.m., Gateway Center, Newport. www.NewportRecreation.org
• Aug. 3: Poulenc Trio, 8 p.m., Greensboro, 2014.summermusicfromgreensboro.net
• Aug. 8-9: Skateboard Rail & Jam, live music, rail jam & competitions, demos, disc golf tournament and more, Gardner Park, Newport. 334-6345
• Aug. 8-9: Danville Fair, amusements, acoustic music, children's games and slide show on Aug. 8; 5K run, ATV event, parade music, horse pull, children's games, petting zoo, barbecue cook-off,, music and fireworks on Aug. 9, Danville School and the Green, www.danvillevtchamber.org
• Aug. 9: August West and Town of Jay Festival, music, food and free ice cream, noon to 6 p.m., Cedarwood Resort, Jay, www.augustwestfest.com
• Aug. 9: Derby Line Community Day and Village Wide Yard Sale, music, entertainment, face painting, horse drawn wagon rides, fireworks, Baxter Park, Derby Line, 873-3420
• Aug. 9: Disc Golf Tournament, 10 a.m., $5, newportrecreation@gmail.com
• Aug. 9-17: Swim the Kingdom Week, events at Crystal Lake, Island Pond, Green River Reservoir, Lake Seymour, Lake Massawippi, Lake Memphremagog, Lake Willoughby and Caspian Lake, www.kingdomswim.org
• Aug. 10: Old Stone House Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Old Stone House Museum, Brownington, www.oldstonehousemuseum.org
• Aug. 12: St. Petersburg String Quartet, 8 p.m., Greensboro, 2014.summermusicfromgreensboro.net
• Aug. 13-17: Orleans County Fair, Roaring Brook Road, Barton, www.orleanscountyfair.net
• Aug. 14, 21, Craftsbury Chamber Players Free Mini Concert, 2 p.m., Greensboro United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, Greensboro, www.craftsburychamberplayers.org
• Aug. 15: LobsterFest, seafood and live music on Lake Memphremagog. Gateway Center, Newport. 334-6345
• Aug. 15-16: Circus Smirkus, 6 p.m. on Aug 15, 1 and 6 p.m. on Aug. 16, Circus Road, Greensboro, www.smirkus.org
• Aug. 15-16: Peacham Acoustic Festival, Details TBA, www.catamountarts.org
• Aug. 20-24: Caledonia County Fair, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Lyndonville, www.vtfair.com
• Aug. 30-31: Jay Peak Trail Running Family Festival, races of various lengths, Jay Peak, www.jaypeaktrailrun.com
• Sept. 6: In Search of Memphre IV, 25-mile swim of Lake Memphremagog, www.kingdomswim.org
• Sept. 6: XIP Triple Bypass, outdoor endurance challenge one step up from the double bypass, Burke, www.skiburke.com
• Sept. 7, 14, 21: Bread and Puppet Performance, Title TBA, 3 p.m., Paper Maché Cathedral/Dirt Floor Theater, 753 Heights Road, Glover, www.breadandpuppet.org
• Sept. 12-14, 19-20: SUDS: The Rocking' 60's Musical Soap Opera, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $15/adults, $13/seniors and students, Haskell Opera House, Derby Line, www.haskellopera.com
• Sept. 20: Newport Fall Foliage Festival.