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$5 adults, $1 ages 6-15, under 6 free
12-2PM
Wildflower expert Amy Olmsted leads her popular walk to discover the delicate flowers of spring. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Be prepared to walk on the trails; it might be wet. Meet in front of the Museum. Restroom availability at start of hike. Co-sponsored by Mount Independence Coalition.
$5 adults, $1 ages 6-15, under 6 free
12PM-4PM
Revolutionary War expert Mike Barbieri, Mount Independence Coalition president Stephen Zeoli, and site administrator Elsa Gilbertson lead a pre-season guided walk on and off the trails to explore this Revolutionary War site. The focus is looking at defensive features not visible in the summer when all the leaves are out—great opportunity to explore. Meet at museum for orientation. Wear sturdy boots, be prepared for off-trail walking, some areas might be a little rough walking, and dress for the weather. Some areas might be wet. Co-sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition.
Free Event
1-4PM
Work with the Homestead’s Master Gardeners to prepare the Victorian gardens for the 2024 season. This is the first of several projects designed to nurture the colorful annual beds in the pleasure ground and expand the kitchen garden—Morrill’s laboratory for experimenting with plant hardiness that contains a variety of roses, perennials, berry bushes, and herbs.
Come join us and become a part of Vermont’s history as we care for the historic landscape of this very influential American. You can earn all of your Master Gardener outreach hours with us.
For more information, call the Friends of the Morrill Homestead at 802-649-2940
$5 adults, free children under 15
8AM-11AM
Sue Wetmore, our bird expert, introduces you to the birds of spring and spring migration as you walk along the Mount Independence trails. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. No pets please. Meet in front of the Museum. (Restrooms available before the hike).
Join us at the State Historic Sites as we reopen for the 2024 season! Sites reopening include: Bennington Battle Monument, President Calvin Coolidge, President Chester Arthur, Chimney Point, Hubbardton Battlefield, Senator Justin S. Morrill, and Mount Independence. For details on hours and admissions at each site, please select the "Hours of Operation" tab.
Free event, admission required to enter museum
12PM flag raising
The Hubbardton Battlefield will be open on Monday, May 27, 2024, in honor of Memorial Day. At noon the battlefield flags will be raised to full-mast and tribute paid at the battle monument to the soldiers of Hubbardton.
Free Event
2-4PM
At 2:30 join No Strings Marionette Co. for “Wasabi… A Dragon’s Tale”
You will be delighted as the spunky Princess Aja, with a little help from her wise fairy friends, outwits Wasabi, a fire-breathing dragon to save the day.
Exquisitely crafted marionettes perform amidst sumptuous story-book scenery. A transforming sprite, a fashionable knight, and a seven foot dragon partake in this newfangled fable, where both your imagination and the stage have no boundaries.
For more information, contact the Friends of the Morrill Homestead at 802-649-2940
June 12-October 16
10AM-5PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site’s resident farmer will be on hand each Wednesday to demonstrate historic farming tools and techniques. Visitors may witness such activities as sheep shearing, rye harvesting, blacksmithing, or cider pressing, and if lucky, will have an opportunity to meet Fred’s special farmyard animals.
10AM to 2PM
Free Event- Admission required for entry inside the Monument.
Join the Bennington Battle Monument State Historic Site staff for a time to learn the history of some or our famous flags and information on proper care and protocol!
10 AM to 5PM
All State Historic Sites- Free Admission
Come fly a Kite at the State Historic Sites for Vermont Days! Bring your own kite, or kites available for purchase at State Historic Sites with gift shops. Free admission at all State Historic Sites June 15 & 16.
$60 includes materials and a 13'x13' tapestry
10AM-4PM
This needle felting class with Neysa Russo of The Felting Studio will focus on creating a small tapestry with ‘Vermont Wildlife’ as the theme. Needle felting is a simple technique that uses barbed needles to decorate a wool surface with design. There will be an abundance of designs to choose from or create your own from scratch. Along the way, you will build your needling skills, gain design experience and experiment with color. While we needle, we can talk about inspiration, composition, color choices, needle varieties, fiber, felting history, and more. You will also gain insight into the basic principles of wet felting. Beginners are Welcome!
To register email director@morrillhomestead.org
Saturdays June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21
$5, children under 12 free.
11AM leaving from the Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site
Historical tours of Strafford’s village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.
For more information please contact: director@morrillhomestead.org
Free Event
1PM-2PM
Dr. Friederike Baer, author of Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War, will give a talk about the subject of her book. A large force of German soldiers accompanied General Burgoyne for the invasion of the Lake Champlain region in 1777. After the American retreat, these "Hessian" soldiers occupied the Mount, contributing to the archaeological record. Dr. Baer will look at the war from the perspective of the German soldiers, who left a rich written record of their experiences. J. Robert Maguire lecture, sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition.
10 AM to 5PM
All State Historic Sites- Free Admission
Come fly a Kite at the State Historic Sites for Vermont Days! Bring your own kite, or kites available for purchase at State Historic Sites with gift shops. Free admission at all State Historic Sites June 15 & 16.
10AM-5PM
Free Event
The perfect present for a history loving father, father figure, or anyone else! Meet at the Monument to get instructions to take the historic drive to the site of the Battle of Bennington.
Included with admission
1PM-4PM
Jim Rowe, historian for the Crown Point Road Association, leads a vigorous guided hike on the Hubbardton section of the 1776-77 military road to Mount Independence. Meet at the Hubbardton Battlefield visitor center. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Then consider going on the August 17 auto tour of the first length of the road, starting at Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell at 10:00 am.
Free Event
2 PM
An appreciative and encouraging audience is sought for the first concert of the Grace Coolidge Musicale series. This recital will showcase the blossoming talents of piano students from across Vermont and New Hampshire and honors the nurturing spirit of First Lady Grace Coolidge. Admission to the concert is free and a light reception will follow. Funding for this performance is provided by the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation.
Free event
For ages 1-6 and their families and friends
10:30AM-12PM
Hooray for summer outdoor play! Four Winds Nature Institute will bring seasonally-appropriate loose parts, science tools, a mud kitchen, and more to help nurture a sense of wonder, place, and well-being.
Bring a lunch and stay after to enjoy a picnic in the gardens!
For questions, please email: director@morrillhomestead.org
Regenerative Agriculture for the Home Gardener: Sustainability Practices You Can Implement In Your Own Garden
$10 per person
1-3PM
Join us to understand carbon sequestration, learn how to improve soil health, and increase habitat for biodiversity and a more livable future. Karen Ganey is a permaculture designer and educator who founded Permaculture Solutions, an ecological landscape design company, where she designs gardens and programs for schools, hospitals and municipalities. She also works with the Regeneration Corps where she manages native tree nurseries for agroforestry and land justice projects and teaches climate solutions, anti-racism, regenerative agriculture through the lens of a Just Transition.
To preregister please contact: director@morrillhomestead.org
June 12-October 16
10AM-5PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site’s resident farmer will be on hand each Wednesday to demonstrate historic farming tools and techniques. Visitors may witness such activities as sheep shearing, rye harvesting, blacksmithing, or cider pressing, and if lucky, will have an opportunity to meet Fred’s special farmyard animals.
10AM to 5PM
Free Event
Embrace the Revolutionary Spirit at the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence a the Bennington Battle Monument, built to commemorate the Revolutionary War battle that changed the course of American history! The Declaration will be read by Citizen Faye (Mike Chapman), there will be games for children, and more!
The historic village of Plymouth Notch celebrates the 152st birthday of President Calvin Coolidge and the 248th birthday of the United States. The Coolidge site will open for the day at 10:00 a.m. and the celebration will kick off in the historic Union Christian Church with an interview of author Diana Carlin and Jenny Coolidge Harville, great-granddaughter of Calvin and Grace Coolidge. Carlin is the author of Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s history-making women and will speak about the legacy of First Lady Grace Coolidge.
Following the presentation, a processional will take place at 12:00 p.m. led by the Vermont National Guard. The procession will depart from the village green and walk 0.4 miles to the cemetery for the laying of a wreath at the President’s grave. Free cake will be served in the village immediately following the ceremony.
Throughout the day the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation will be hosting the Coolidge Cup, a national speech and debate competition. Members of the public are highly encouraged to listen in as young orators from across the country make their voices heard. For additional information please visit https://coolidgefoundation.org/debate/coolidge-cup/.
Free Event
5-7PM
The Morrill Homestead’s annual Gallery in the Garden art show and online auction is a highlight of the Upper Valley art season. The 2024 edition features works created in an array of styles by fine artists from the Strafford community, the Upper Valley, and beyond. Fourteen artists present their unique perspectives on the theme “After the Flood” in ways that are moving, playful, profound, and inspiring.
5 p.m. – Reception for the art show opening in the Carriage Barn. Jennifer Brown and Celia Riesman are the featured artists and inspiration for “After the Flood.”
“Minis for Morrill” paintings on view in the Education Center —magnificent 4″x4″ mini paintings by artists of regional and national reputation to be auctioned online.
“After the Flood” also includes works by Gerry Bergstein, Gail Boyajian, Matt Brown, Dierdre Dennis, Jean Gerber, Tanya Libby, Jo Levasseur, Jeanne McMahan, Michael Moore, Andy Newman, Mary Louise Pierson, and Sherry SaintGermaine.
Bidding opens 7PM July 5 to 7PM July 12
-Link for 2024 Auction coming in June (please contact director@morrillhomestead.org)
See the paintings in person at the Gallery in the Garden event!
The 2024 mini auction includes works by these artists, and many more: Henry, Isaacs, Gerry Bergstein, Gail Boyajian, Jennifer Brown, Matt Brown, Dierdre Dennis, Jean Gerber, Tanya Libby, Jo Levasseur, Jeanne McMahan, Michael Moore, Andy Newman, Mary Louise Pierson, Celia Riesman, and Sherry SaintGermaine.
July 6, 10AM-5PM
July 7, 7:30AM-5PM
Admission for each individual day: $8 adults, $1 children ages 6-14, children under 6 free.
This living history weekend encampment honors the 247th anniversary of the July 7, 1777, Revolutionary War battle fought here. Scores of reenactors portray the American, British, and German soldiers. Tactical military and other special demonstrations, camp life activities, guided tours, and talks. Saturday special follow-along tactical. Sunday morning at 8:00 am is main interpretation of the battle, taking place exactly 247 years to the day of the actual battle. Opportunities for all ages. Food stand and sutler’s shopping row both days. Call (802) 273-2282 for details. Presented by the reenactors, the historic site, and many Hubbardton organizations.
July 6, 10AM-5PM
July 7, 7:30AM-5PM
Admission for each individual day: $8 adults, $1 children ages 6-14, children under 6 free.
This living history weekend encampment honors the 247th anniversary of the July 7, 1777, Revolutionary War battle fought here. Scores of reenactors portray the American, British, and German soldiers. Tactical military and other special demonstrations, camp life activities, guided tours, and talks. Saturday special follow-along tactical. Sunday morning at 8:00 am is main interpretation of the battle, taking place exactly 247 years to the day of the actual battle. Opportunities for all ages. Food stand and sutler’s shopping row both days. Call (802) 273-2282 for details. Presented by the reenactors, the historic site, and many Hubbardton organizations.
Bidding opens 7PM July 5 to 7PM July 12
-Link for 2024 Auction coming in June (please contact director@morrillhomestead.org)
See the paintings in person at the Gallery in the Garden event!
The 2024 mini auction includes works by these artists, and many more: Henry, Isaacs, Gerry Bergstein, Gail Boyajian, Jennifer Brown, Matt Brown, Dierdre Dennis, Jean Gerber, Tanya Libby, Jo Levasseur, Jeanne McMahan, Michael Moore, Andy Newman, Mary Louise Pierson, Celia Riesman, and Sherry SaintGermaine.
$5, 10AM-12PM
Please join David Paganelli, Orange County Forester, for an informal tree walk around the grounds of the Homestead. We will walk the grounds and discuss original plantings that remain and changes that have taken place since Justin Morrill’s time, both intentional and unplanned. All are welcome.
For more information, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
Free Event, 4PM
Vermont’s remarkable Civil War battlefield record is well documented, but little is known of how Vermont women sustained the home front. With nearly 35,000 of the state’s able-bodied men at war, the monumental tasks of keeping more than 30,000 farms in operation became very much a female enterprise. And women took the place of men in factories and worked after hours making items needed by the soldiers. A Vermont woman edited anti-slavery newspapers, and others spoke against slavery. Also, Vermont women served as nurses in the state’s military hospitals and in the war zone, and taught newly-freed slaves in the South. And at least one Vermont woman appears to have secretly enlisted and fought in a Vermont regiment.
This story is told in their words, from letters and diaries that describe life during the Civil War in the Green Mountain State. A seventh-generation Vermonter, Howard Coffin is the author of four books on the Civil War.
For more information, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
Free Event
7 PM
Enjoy golden hour on the scenic grounds of the Calvin Coolidge State Historic site in idyllic Plymouth Notch. Harold Lloyd’s 1923 action-packed silent film, Safety Last will be screened in the historic Wilder Barn. Bring a lawn chair and come early to picnic on the grounds or purchase concessions in the Cilley General Store. This event will be held rain or shine and admission to this afterhours event is free.
Saturdays June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21
$5, children under 12 free.
11AM leaving from the Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site
Historical tours of Strafford’s village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.
For more information please contact: director@morrillhomestead.org
Free event
2:00 PM
Jennie O’Brien and Abigail Charbeneau will perform popular 1920s music for mezzo soprano and piano. Jennie shares many of the same passions as Mrs. Grace Coolidge for whom the musicale concerts are named. Mrs. Coolidge was an educator at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA and had a strong appreciation for music. Similarly, Jennie shares her own passion for music as a teacher of voice, theatre arts, vocal ensembles, and independent living skills at Perkins School for the Blind. Admission to the concert is free and a light reception will follow. Funding for this performance is provided by the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation.
Included with museum admission
July 25- July 31
10AM-5PM
The Orwell Free Library is hosting a “trail tale,” featuring the book Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus. Book pages with its colorful illustrations will be posted around the accessible Baldwin Trail for all to enjoy.
Event included with museum admission: $6 for adults, children under 15 free
12PM-4PM
Green Mountain Timekeepers Society members are in residence on the Chimney Point porch to keep time and talk with you about the history of your clocks and watches and how they can be repaired. Bring your old clocks and watches or photographs and learn more about your timepieces. Clock repair demonstrations throughout the afternoon.
Included with museum admission
July 25- July 31
10AM-5PM
The Orwell Free Library is hosting a “trail tale,” featuring the book Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus. Book pages with its colorful illustrations will be posted around the accessible Baldwin Trail for all to enjoy.
2:47 PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is celebrating President Coolidge’s favorite soda – Moxie! It’s “wickedly good” and “distinctly different.” The site, in collaboration with the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, will reenact President Coolidge’s oath at 2:47 p.m. on the porch of the Coolidge homestead where Col. John Coolidge administered the unexpected oath to his son on August 3, 1923 at 2:47 a.m. Following the reenactment, visitors are invited to enjoy Moxie floats. Wear your Moxie apparel or pick up something new from East Coast Printers who will be on site to show off all the latest in Moxie gifts.
Included with museum admission
1PM-4PM
On this guided tour, walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War soldiers. Mount Independence Coalition president Stephen Zeoli is your guide. He will tell you about some events leading up to the Revolution, as you look at traces reflecting the importance of Mount Independence in 1776 and 1777. Wear walking shoes and dress for the weather. Co-sponsored by Mount Independence Coalition.
Included with museum admission
1PM-4PM
On this guided tour, walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War soldiers. Mount Independence Coalition president Stephen Zeoli is your guide. He will tell you about some events leading up to the Revolution, as you look at traces reflecting the importance of Mount Independence in 1776 and 1777. Wear walking shoes and dress for the weather. Co-sponsored by Mount Independence Coalition.
Ages 8-14
Mon-Fri, August 5-9, 9AM-12PM
$150 per child (financial assistance available)
Learning photography is a great way for young people to explore outdoors and appreciate nature. World Story Exchange teacher Scott McClure Miller has taught photography to children in 11 countries for the past decade. Join Scott this summer on the lovely grounds of the Morrill Homestead. Each day will be a fun mixture of practicing photography skills and learning to apply artistic principals through the camera, all while exploring the Homestead and the Strafford village. The week will culminate with a photo exhibit of campers’ work in the Strafford Post Office. Cameras kits are provided.
To register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
June 12-October 16
10AM-5PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site’s resident farmer will be on hand each Wednesday to demonstrate historic farming tools and techniques. Visitors may witness such activities as sheep shearing, rye harvesting, blacksmithing, or cider pressing, and if lucky, will have an opportunity to meet Fred’s special farmyard animals.
$45, For Adults and Teens
12PM-4PM
In the workshop, “Making Morrill’s Pink” we will take inspiration from the iconic pink shades of the Morrill Homestead, using natural dyes and watercolor paints. With natural materials like madder, loquat leaves, amaranth, cutch, and sumac, we will dye fabrics various shades of pink together. While the dye baths do their magic, we will turn to our water color paper and continue to study the color pink as well as its complement and analogous colors.
Pre-mordanted cotton bandanas will be provided for the dye portion of the class, but students are welcome to bring small natural fiber items or a skein of undyed yarn to experiment with. A materials list will be provided for the watercolor portion.
Katie is a natural dyer who works with plants foraged from the hills of Northern California and around the Upper Valley, where she grew up. She is passionate about using natural dyes to extend the life of clothes & fabrics that might otherwise be retired or thrown away. Jennifer teaches painting with watercolors at the Morrill Homestead and AVA gallery.
To register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
11:00 AM
The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation in partnership with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the District Court of Vermont will host a naturalization ceremony at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic site. New citizens to the United States will take an Oath of Allegiance before a federal judge, receive a certificate of naturalization, and immediately have the opportunity to register to vote and attain a passport. Members of the public are welcome to witness this joyful and moving ceremony.
Friday, August 16th- Free Admission at All State Historic Sites
DAR Marker Dedication
10AM-2PM
To commemorate Bennington Battle Day, the Bennington Monument State Historic Site and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be dedicating a Revolutionary War Patriots marker at the site.
Saturday August 17th-
Bennington Battle Day 5K
Celebrating it's 20th year is the Bennington Battle Day 5k!
Registration for the race:
www.benningtonbattlemonument.com sponsored by the Friends of the Bennington Battle Monument
Shirt pick up at 7:30 AM
Race and Kids Fun Run Start at 8:30 AM
Moodus Drum & Fife Concert
Free Performance starts at 12:00 noon until 2:30 on the lawn in front of the Monument.
Saturday August 17th - Sunday August 18th
Reenactor Encampment
10AM-5PM
Reenactors will be on site with cannons, rifle muster and educational programs.
Sunday August 18th
History in Style
2PM
This free program on 19th century style will take place in the OFC Barn on Monument Circle.
Celebrate Bennington Battle Day with Free Admission at all State Historic Sites in regular open hours!
Friday, August 16th- Free Admission at All State Historic Sites
DAR Marker Dedication
10AM-2PM
To commemorate Bennington Battle Day, the Bennington Monument State Historic Site and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be dedicating a Revolutionary War Patriots marker at the site.
Saturday August 17th-
Bennington Battle Day 5K
Celebrating it's 20th year is the Bennington Battle Day 5k!
Registration for the race:
www.benningtonbattlemonument.com sponsored by the Friends of the Bennington Battle Monument
Shirt pick up at 7:30 AM
Race and Kids Fun Run Start at 8:30 AM
Moodus Drum & Fife Concert
Free Performance starts at 12:00 noon until 2:30 on the lawn in front of the Monument.
Saturday August 17th - Sunday August 18th
Reenactor Encampment
10AM-5PM
Reenactors will be on site with cannons, rifle muster and educational programs.
Sunday August 18th
History in Style
2PM
This free program on 19th century style will take place in the OFC Barn on Monument Circle.
$45, all materials included
9AM-12PM
Come make block prints inspired by the gardens and architecture of the Morrill Homestead. We’ll start off with a brief tour of the grounds, and then we’ll meet in the education center to work on making art from what we discover. In this class you will learn basic design, carving, and printing techniques in a relaxed, supportive, and playful atmosphere. You will come away with a completed print, suitable for framing, embellishing and/or mailing as a card.
To register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
In August 1924 Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone visited President Coolidge in Plymouth Notch as part of a leisurely car trip throughout New England. The meeting was highly publicized because the president was campaigning for the 1924 election and the automotive entrepreneurs were touting the superiority of their products. Amateur actors will reenact the meeting using the quotes recorded by 1920s journalists who witnessed and documented the occasion.
Included with museum admission
10AM-1PM
On this 13th annual driving tour, Jim Rowe, historian of the Crown Point Road Association, is your leader to look at the first stretch of the 1776 Mount Independence-Hubbardton Military Road. Meet at the Mount Independence State Historic Site with your own vehicle for orientation. The tour will end up at the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site. Co-sponsored by Crown Point Road Association.
Saturdays June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21
$5, children under 12 free.
11AM leaving from the Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site
Historical tours of Strafford’s village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.
For more information please contact: director@morrillhomestead.org
$55 All materials included
9AM-5PM
Come learn the art of basketry with Dona Nazarenko of Country Spirit Baskets. The Traditional Bread and Biscuit Basket has many uses for storage and organizing or can be a valuable catch-all for every table. Option of adding colors if you would like.
To register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
Friday, August 16th- Free Admission at All State Historic Sites
DAR Marker Dedication
10AM-2PM
To commemorate Bennington Battle Day, the Bennington Monument State Historic Site and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be dedicating a Revolutionary War Patriots marker at the site.
Saturday August 17th-
Bennington Battle Day 5K
Celebrating it's 20th year is the Bennington Battle Day 5k!
Registration for the race:
www.benningtonbattlemonument.com sponsored by the Friends of the Bennington Battle Monument
Shirt pick up at 7:30 AM
Race and Kids Fun Run Start at 8:30 AM
Moodus Drum & Fife Concert
Free Performance starts at 12:00 noon until 2:30 on the lawn in front of the Monument.
Saturday August 17th - Sunday August 18th
Reenactor Encampment
10AM-5PM
Reenactors will be on site with cannons, rifle muster and educational programs.
Sunday August 18th
History in Style
2PM
This free program on 19th century style will take place in the OFC Barn on Monument Circle.
Included with museum admission.
1PM-3PM
Mushroom expert Meg Madden leads a walk to look for and learn about mushrooms on Mount Independence. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Limited spaces; call 802-948-2000 well ahead of time to reserve your spot. Included in regular museum admission. Sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition.
Free Event
7:00 PM
Pack a picnic! Summer is at its peak in the historic village of Plymouth Notch. Harold Lloyd’s 1925 silent comedy film, The Freshman will be screened in the historic Wilder Barn at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. Come early to explore the grounds, picnic, and purchase concessions in the Cilley General Store. Folding Chairs will be available, but visitors are encouraged to bring a comfortable lawn chair. This event will be held rain or shine and admission is free.
August 31, 10AM-4PM
September 1, 10AM-3PM
Daily admission: $9 adults, $1 ages 6-14, under 6 free
Reenactors honor the 1776-1777 history of Mount Independence during this living history weekend. Saturday’s popular interactive Baldwin Trail Walkabout, 10:30 to 1:30, features experts at trail stations bringing the site’s history to life. Military tacticals, annual reading of Declaration of Independence, and camp life and skill demonstrations. Snacks and lunch, while it lasts. Call (802) 948-2000 for details.
Free Event
August 31 – September 1
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Stars from Vermont and internationally known musicians team up for the 19th annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Fest. This lively two-day, outdoor festival will feature the music of Hayley Reardon, Jay Psaros, Sister Speak, Rick Redington & Tuff Luv, Todd Thibaud, and Mikahely. Bring a lawn chair and picnic and enjoy the pure country air of historic Plymouth Notch. This event is free, and donations are appreciated. Non-perishable food donations will be collected in support of the Vermont Food Bank.
Free Event
August 31 – September 1
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Stars from Vermont and internationally known musicians team up for the 19th annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Fest. This lively two-day, outdoor festival will feature the music of Hayley Reardon, Jay Psaros, Sister Speak, Rick Redington & Tuff Luv, Todd Thibaud, and Mikahely. Bring a lawn chair and picnic and enjoy the pure country air of historic Plymouth Notch. This event is free, and donations are appreciated. Non-perishable food donations will be collected in support of the Vermont Food Bank.
August 31, 10AM-4PM
September 1, 10AM-3PM
Daily admission: $9 adults, $1 ages 6-14, under 6 free
Reenactors honor the 1776-1777 history of Mount Independence during this living history weekend. Saturday’s popular interactive Baldwin Trail Walkabout, 10:30 to 1:30, features experts at trail stations bringing the site’s history to life. Military tacticals, annual reading of Declaration of Independence, and camp life and skill demonstrations. Snacks and lunch, while it lasts. Call (802) 948-2000 for details.
June 12-October 16
10AM-5PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site’s resident farmer will be on hand each Wednesday to demonstrate historic farming tools and techniques. Visitors may witness such activities as sheep shearing, rye harvesting, blacksmithing, or cider pressing, and if lucky, will have an opportunity to meet Fred’s special farmyard animals.
Free Event
10AM
Archeologists from UVM’s Consulting Archaeology Program will share what they found and learned from their dig on the grounds of the Homestead. This excavation yielded some surprising results!
To pre-register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
$5, 10AM-12PM
Come join local naturalist Micki Colbeck for a fairly easy walk around the Homestead. We’ll look at mosses, ferns, lichens, and flowers that have all been hiding in plain sight. Bring a magnifying loop if you have one, but it’s not necessary. Kids are welcome, but please leave dogs behind.
To register, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
Included with museum admission
12-2PM
Take a guided hike on the (Cambrian) beach with geologist Helen Mango. Mango, your leader, is an expert on the geology of Mount Independence and southern Lake Champlain. College leads this hike to explore Mount Independence, from the oldest rocks in the Potsdam Formation to the newer rocks of the Great Meadows Formation. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and dress for weather. Co-sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition.
Free Admission
10AM-5PM
The site is open without charge on Patriot Day for those who wish to contemplate or to honor past heroes.
$9- Includes museum admission at Chimney Point and Crown Point State Historic Sites
1PM-3PM
Learn the history of what surrounds you as you walk across the Lake Champlain Bridge. Chimney Point State Historic Site administrator Elsa Gilbertson and Crown Point, NY, State Historic Site manager Sam Huntington lead this guided round trip walk. Meet at Chimney Point. Rain or shine, dress for the weather. Bring a picnic to enjoy before, if you like. Fee includes admission to both museums to visit before or after the walk. Light refreshments afterwards. Vermont Archaeology Month event.
Free Event
2:00 PM
University of Vermont Professor David Feurzeig will perform compositions for solo piano. David’s performance in Plymouth is part of his “Play Every Town” state-wide tour to promote climate-conscious travel and give back to communities. David will visit all 251 towns in Vermont by driving his electric vehicle which is charged using a solar panel at his home. He’s on a carbon-free mission to demonstrate that finding fun activities doesn’t require extensive journeys or plane travel. David will be performing on Grace Coolidge’s White House piano in the Museum and Education Center and Admission is free. A light reception will follow the performance.
$70 includes workshop and materials fee
12PM-5PM
Atlatl experts Bob and Cheryll Berg of Thunderbird Atlatl teach traditional and modern techniques of atlatl and dart construction, flint knapping, hafting stone points, and cordage making. Enjoy atlatl lore and coaching on the use of your new atlatl. Pre-registration required--call 802-759-2412. Fee includes instruction and materials. Vermont Archaeology Month event.
Competitors $12, pre-registration required. $14 day of competition
Visitors: $6.00 adults, free for children under 15
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Participate in or watch this annual atlatl championship testing skills in accuracy and distance. The sport of using the atlatl to throw darts is based on the ancient hunting technique. Newcomers to experts welcome. Flint-knapping and other demonstrations and lessons throughout the day. Pre-registration for competitors required. Call (802) 759-2412 to register. Vermont Archaeology Month event.
Food and snacks available for purchase, while they last.
Saturdays June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21
$5, children under 12 free.
11AM leaving from the Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site
Historical tours of Strafford’s village which remains much the same as in Morrill’s time. Tours include Morrill’s birthplace, his father’s blacksmith shop, two libraries, the Strafford Town House, and the mausoleum where Morrill is buried.
For more information please contact: director@morrillhomestead.org
$5 adults, children under 12 FREE - please pay when you arrive
1-4PM
AWARD WINNER! “Top Ten Fall Events” —Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Bring the whole family to a harvest festival at the Homestead. Listen to live toe-tapping fiddle and accordion music. Meet farm animals—the kind that Justin Morrill would have had on his small 19th-century farm. Make your own cider in an antique press, taste heirloom apples, fine artisan cheeses, Vermont ice cream, and homemade apple pie. Play period games, and hike the lookout trail. Also includes wagon rides, gardens, basket-making demo, exhibits, an icehouse, and a historic Gothic Revival home.
For more information, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
June 12-October 16
10AM-5PM
The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site’s resident farmer will be on hand each Wednesday to demonstrate historic farming tools and techniques. Visitors may witness such activities as sheep shearing, rye harvesting, blacksmithing, or cider pressing, and if lucky, will have an opportunity to meet Fred’s special farmyard animals.
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sure to be a family favorite, the Fall Festival in Plymouth Notch will feature many popular fall activities. Enjoy a hayride with Farmer Fred, taste multiple varieties of Vermont-grown heritage apples, and watch cider pressing. Fall foliage in Plymouth traditionally reaches its peak in early October. With luck, the maples growing across the 360-degree hills surrounding Plymouth will be at their brightest. The Plymouth Fire Department will be cooking up BBQ chicken dinners for sale on site. Please support our local community.
Free event
1-2PM
Most Vermonters might be surprised that among the 30 men killed at the Battle of Bennington was a black man, Sipp Ives, a member of Seth Warner’s Continental regiment of Green Mountain Boys. And Ives was not the only patriot of African descent who played a role in the fighting and its aftermath. In this illustrated talk, teacher and author Phil Holland explores military records and early town histories to present a more diverse picture of Vermont’s iconic battle and its Green Mountain Boys than typically depicted. Holland will also reflect on historical memory and how it is preserved and constructed. A Vermont Humanities Council event hosted by Mount Independence Coalition.
Free event, 1-3PM
Assist our Master Gardeners with the annual autumn “putting the garden to bed” day at the Justin Morrill State Historic Site in Strafford, Vermont. Tasks include cutting back perennials and pulling annuals, raking, mulching, weeding, bringing old plants to the compost area—generally cleaning up the kitchen garden and ornamental garden beds and preparing them for the winter and the next growing season. (Master Gardeners can earn outreach hours with us.) All Welcome. No experience needed.
For more information, contact director@morrillhomestead.org
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Winter is ready to fall upon the quiet village of Plymouth Notch. Before the snows deepen, join the residents of the village as they celebrate the holiday season. The Coolidge birthplace will be festooned with fresh greenery as it would have been during Christmastime in Calvin Coolidge’s childhood. The greenery continues throughout the village where wreaths don the doors of the homes. Throughout the day pianist Steve Morse will perform everybody’s favorite holiday tunes on Grace Coolidge’s piano in the Museum and Education Center. At 1:00 p.m. a tree lighting ceremony will call into remembrance the moment President Coolidge threw the switch on the very first lit National tree in 1923. Immediately following, the warmth of the village’s Union Christian Church will welcome visitors for a time of caroling as Steve plays the pump organ.