Family Adventures
A list of local Family Friendly Events, Activities, & Places to Visit
Kids’ Classes
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
Saturdays, 10-11am. Ages 6-12. 4 weeks for $60 or $20 per class.
RSVP by phone 802-775-0356.
Fresh Air Story Time
Manchester Community Library, Manchester, VT
Tuesdays, 10:30am.
Preschoolers and their families are invited to join us outside, when weather permits, or just inside the spacious Hunter Room doors (where we’ll keep the doors open for ventilation) for stories, rhymes and activities–including our beloved parachute– celebrating different spring-appropriate themes.
Story Time
Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT
Wednesdays, 3pm.
Storytime and activities in the backyard if the weather is nice, inside downstairs if it’s not! Angela will read stories, help you with a craft and provide some light snacks. Call or email Angela (angela.dorsetvillagelibrary@gmail.com) for questions about story time or kids club.
Museum ABCs
Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT
Third Thursday of each month, 1:30-2:30pm. Free.
This free monthly program is designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. The program is produced in collaboration with the Bennington Free Library and is generously sponsored by the Bank of Bennington whose fundamental and consistent support has made this program possible for the past twelve years. For the past three years, funds from the Stewart’s Holiday Match also have helped to make Museum ABCs possible.
Each Museum ABCs program focuses on a different theme and includes visits to the Museum galleries, stories carefully selected to support early literacy, and art and craft projects designed to encourage engagement between children and adults.
Manchester Music Festival
Arkell Pavillion, SVAC, Manchester, VT
July 7-September 15.
Manchester Music Festival’s 48th season will kick off on July 7, 2022, and features an impressive lineup of outstanding musicians and exciting performances.
Making Meals & Memories: Under the Sea
226 Union Street, Bennington, VT
Tuesday, August 30, 4-6pm. Free, but registration is required.
You’re invited to spend an evening with Sunrise, Making Meals & Memories! Cook and enjoy a healthy dinner together. Engage with your child(ren) in fun activities and crafts. Bring home an activity bag: books, games, and healthy snacks.
This program is made possible with grant funding from the VT Children’s Trust Fund. You do not need to be a member of Sunrise’s other programs to participate!
Registration is required, please RSVP to our Parent Child Coordinator, Tiffany Racicot: 802-442-0028 or tracicot@sunrisepcc.com.
Kids Club
Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT
Thursday, September 15, 3:30pm.
Angela will have fun activities planned. You can try your hand at our new ping pong table! We will have a small selection of Legos for building and you may bring your Pokemon Cards if you wish.
Kids Club will happen every third Thursday of the month… mark your calendars!
Call or email Angela (angela.dorsetvillagelibrary@gmail.com) for questions about story time or kids club.
NDS Family Playdate
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Manchester, VT
Friday, September 16, 3pm.
Let’s Meet at the park! Open to all NDS Families.
NDS Family Wellness Fair
Northshire Day School, Manchester, VT
Saturday, September 17, 10am-noon.
Join us for this healthy and fun family event!
Activities: Yoga with Dianna Scott, Hullabaloo with Alexandra Langstaff, Art Project with Erin Kaufman from SVAC, Face Painting, Bounce House.
Tables: Early Literacy, Children’s Integrated Services, The Collaborative, Battenkill Valley Health Center, UCS/Head Start
Manchester Community Library, Essential Oils, and Farm to School Snacks.
Community Picnic
ECE Playground, 238 Union Street, Bennington, VT
Friday, September 23, 11:30am-1pm. Free.
If it is raining, the picnic will be moved to 226 Union Street.
Open to all families and community partners! Bring the whole family and enjoy a lunch prepared by Sunrise. There will be guitar playing, music maker crafting, and free books to take home.
The Peru Fair
Main Street, Peru, VT
Saturday, September 24, 9am-4pm.
An Old Fashioned Country Fair! Fabulous Pig Roast, Music and Family Entertainment, Vermont Crafts, Cloggers, Antiques and Art Exhibits, Vermont Artisans Demos, Clowns & Magicians, Pony Rides, Food & Vermont Fare, Baked Goods & Fun for Everyone!
NDS 2022 Run for Fun!
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Manchester, VT
Saturday, October 1, 11am. Free.
Please join us as we run into Fall and get into Halloween spirit. Costumes optional!
Fun Run categories:
Family Stroll (children in strollers with adult)
50 yard dash (2-3yrs)
100 yard dash (4-5yrs)
1 lap (6-8yrs)
Registration and Liability Release Required
Support this event with a $5 donation
Participation is FREE!
Register online: secure.rec1.com/VT/manchester-vt/catalog
Fall Festival
North Meadow Farm, Manchester, VT
Saturday, October 8, 10am-6pm.
We happily invite you to North Meadow Farm’s 2nd annual Fall Festival. In addition to meeting our animals you can enjoy classic carnival style games, a farmers market filled with local creators, Wilcox ice cream, Local food vendors, hay rides, and more!
We still have space for a few vendors please send a message or send us an email if you’re interested.
See you there!
Event parking (except handicap parking) will be in the marked field on North Rd. There will be a shuttle to and from the field to the farm.
Manchester Swimming Pool
Dana L Thompson Park, Manchester, VT
Open 6/19-8/20
White Memorial Park Pool
White Memorial Park, Rutland, VT
Opens 6/12
Northwood Pool
Rutland, VT
Opens 6/19
Stratton Pool
Stratton Mountain, VT
Indoor, call 802-297-4230.
Mitchell Therapy Pool
Rutland, VT
Indoor, view rates online.
Bennington Pool
Bennington Rec Center, Bennington, VT
Indoor, open year-round
Splash Pad
109 North St, Bennington, VT
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Hildene, Manchester, VT
December-March, Thursday-Monday, 10am-4:30pm.
Approximately 12 miles of trails are open to guests, whether on foot, skis (bring your own gear) or snowshoes (available to rent at Hildene). Trails are of varying levels of difficulty. We offer snowshoe rentals for children and adults. Please be aware that we are not a Nordic Center; our trails are natural and ungroomed.
Top Winter Things to Do
Snowshoeing, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, winter hiking, skating, and more!
Mountain Adventure Park
Bromley Mountain, VT
Manchester Rec. Park
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Recreation Park Rd, Manchester, VT
Open until 10pm
Arlington Recreation Park
Route 313, Arlington, VT
Emerald Lake State Park
65 Emerald Lake Lane East Dorset, VT
June 26-2nd Monday in October 10am -Sunset
Hapgood Pond
Hapgood Pond Rd, Peru. VT
Lake Shaftsbury
262 Shaftsbury State Park Rd Shaftsbury, VT
June 26-2nd Monday in October 10am -Sunset
Merk Forest & Farmland Center
3270 Route 315, Rupert, VT
Open year round, Dawn to Dusk
Bennington Rec Center
655 Gage St. Bennington, VT
8am-8pm
The Manchester Community Library
138 Cemetery Ave Manchester Center, VT
Virtual Story Time Tuesdays & Thursday 10:30-11:30am
Winhall Memorial Library
2 Lower Taylor Hill Road, Bondville, VT
Dorset Village Library
On the Green at Church St & RT30, Dorset, VT
Martha Canfield Library
528 East Arlington Rd, Arlington, VT
Manchester Farmers Market
Adams Park, Manchester, VT
Thursdays June 4 -October 8 3-6pm
Dorset Farmers Market
Summer Market : HN Williams General Store2732 Vt. Route 30, Dorset, VT.
Winter Market : JK Adams Kitchen Store 1430 Vt. Rt 30, Dorset, VT
Sundays 10am-2pm
West River Farmer’s Market
Londonderry, VT
Saturdays Memorial Day to Columbus Day 9am-1pm
Wildwood Berry Farm -PYO
2977 Mad Tom Road, East Dorset, VT
Opening July 13, 9am-5pm
North Meadow Farm
726 North Rd, Manchester, VT Open 7 days a week
Offering fresh eggs, cheese, and raw milk. Plus a petting zoo and playground for the kids to visit.
Earth Sky Time
1873-1951 VT-7A Manchester, VT Open Sunday-Friday
Farm Store & Bakery
Wonderfeet
11 Center St, Rutland, VT
Fridays 10am-2pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm, Sundays 12-4
The Montshire Museum of Science
One Montshire Road, Norwich, VT
Wednesdays-Sundays 10am-4pm
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT
10am-5pm Daily
5484 Main St Manchester Center, VT 05255
802.362.1395
Northshire Day School is recognized as a 5 STARS program through the “Step Ahead Recognition System” in Vermont.
Northshire Day School
is a pre-approved Pre-Kindergarten provider through the VT Agency of Education.
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