Winter Placemaking Events Around Vermont

Six Vermont communities and organizations received grant funds from AARP Vermont to initiate or enhance winter placemaking demonstration projects. The projects focus on addressing social isolation and fostering community connections in towns and villages across Vermont. Visit these communities to check out how they are using their placemaking funds:

Vermont River Conservancy – Winter Community Art Event in Barre for All Ages
Date: Saturday. February 17th
Time: 12-3 p.m.
Location: Rotary Park Barre, VT (45 Parkside Terrace, Barre)
Link to register and for more details: https://vermontriverconservancy.org/news/barre-art-for-our-rivers

Windham Meeting House
Monthly cooking classes and community meals throughout the Winter of 2024. Residents of all ages are invited to join neighbors and friends to learn cooking tips and share the food they make with their community. At each event a chef or baking expert will be featured, and all food and cooking tools/utensils will be supplied. https://www.winterstable.com/

• Saturday January 20, 11:00 – 1:30 PM National Cheese Lovers’ Day Vermont Cheese Expert
• Tuesday February 13, 11:00 – 2:00 PM Bring Your Sweetheart to Lunch Surprise Chef
• Tuesday March 19, 11:00 – 2:00 PM Hello to Spring! Goodbye to Winter June Lupiani, Co-founder Grafton Market

Roxbury Crafters
Weekly crafting classes are offered to seniors living in the community, each week a local craft is taught by skilled crafters. A wide variety of classes are being taught by expert crafters throughout the winter. Registration is free and open to 50+: https://roxburyvtdotcom.wixsite.com/roxbury-vermont

Barre Area Senior Center 
This exciting project brings art and winter gardening together with the installation of a permanent indoor community mural along with indoor raised garden beds for winter plantings. Celebration and community meal on February 13th from 11:30-12:30 at the Barre Senior Center.

Cathedral Square Corporation 
Burlington – Free Community Music Nights:
Cathedral Square & AARP VT present bi-weekly community events through April. For 8 Friday nights this Winter we invite you to join us in the Garden Room at Thayer House to enjoy coffee and cake and the talents of 8 of Vermont’s terrific local musicians, every other Friday from 5-7 pm.
- Jan. 26th
- Feb. 9th
- Feb. 23rd
- March 8th
- March 22nd
- April 5th
- April 19th
Where: Thayer House Garden Room, 1197 North Ave., Burlington
For Information, or RSVP: 802-859-8864; Zook@cathedralsquare.org

4th Annual Winterlude Festival in the Burlington’s Old East End
Winterlude is a winter celebration that offers outdoor activities for young, old and in between. Activities include: snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, nature walks, music, fire pit, hot beverages and refreshments. The event is held in Schmanska Park (85 Grove Street, Burlington, Vermont) where the Barn and park are illuminated with decorative lighting and lanterns.
Friday, February 2nd, 2024: 5 pm to 7pm
Enjoy the decorative lighting, hand-crafted vellum lanterns, special ice-luminaires, music and singing while sipping a hot beverage around our warming area fire pit
Saturday, February 3rd, 2024: 11 am to 3 pm
Take advantage of free loaner equipment for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding. Hot beverages, chili and treats will be available at the fire pit in the warming area and local musicians: Sambatucata! and The Brass Balagan will keep the beat going.
For more info:
Please visit The Old East End Neighborhood Coalition at oldeastendbtv.com. If you’d like to volunteer to assist with Winterlude planning and activities, please send us a message or call/text 802-373-4790.
Old East End 4th Annual Winterlude Festival is sponsored in conjunction with AARP VT, Burlington Parks Recreation and Waterfront, UVM Office of Student and Community Relations and the Old East End Neighborhood Coalition. If necessary, weather-related back-up dates will be February 9 and February 10.