Family Adventures
A list of local Family Friendly Events, Activities, & Places to Visit
All About the Arts Kids’ Classes
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
Fridays, 12-1pm, Free.
Must pre-register by Wednesday each week. Students will have fun creating and doing activities with art, music, literature, and more! Adult must accompany children under age 4.
Story Time
Manchester Community Library, Manchester, VT
Tuesdays, 10:30am.
We’ll be exploring the practice of gratitude during the month of November. At Story Time we will read about what it means to be grateful and how gratitude can be a part of our everyday lives.
Story Time
Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT
Wednesdays, 10am.
Led by Lisa Welp. Each week includes a story, movement activity, and songs.
Call or email Angela (angela.dorsetvillagelibrary@gmail.com) for questions about story time or kids club.
Story Time
Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, VT
Thursdays, 10:30am.
Join us in person in our Manchester, VT store for story time with the fabulous Kathy Penge. She’ll share some recent favorite picture books with your little ones.
If you have questions about this or any other Northshire event, please e-mail us at events@northshire.com.
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.
Kids Club
Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT
Third Thursday of each month, 3:30pm. Free.
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.
Memorial Day Community Parade
Rec Park to Schools, Arlington, VT
Monday, May 29, 11am.
Organized by Arlington Lions & Post 69 Family.
Clothing Swap
Northshire Day School, Manchester, VT
Wednesday, May 31, Noon-5pm.
Join us in the Corral Play Area!
Please drop off gently used children’s items labeled by size: clothing, winter gear, footwear, costumes, and more!
Items will be collected in the upstairs conference room on May 30 and 31 only. Please, no toy donations!
You do not need to drop off items in order to take new items.
Garden Work Day
Northshire Day School, Manchester, VT
Saturday, June 3, 10am-noon.
Join the NDS Farm to School Committee for some light gardening. We will have jobs for all abilities – and a nourishing snack! Please bring your garden tools and plan to work with your family.
Basket Raffle
Northshire Day School, Manchester, VT
Saturday, June 10, 9am-noon. Drawing begins promptly at noon, but you do not need to be present to win.
The NDS Family Committee invites you to our Basket Raffle! This event is open to the community.
$10 entry fee includes one sheet of tickets and a door prize ticket. $5 for additional sheets of tickets.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door. 50/50 Raffle Tickets will also be for sale.
Manchester StreetFest
Historic Main St, Manchester, VT
Friday, June 23, 6-9pm.
Friday, July 21, 6-9pm.
Party starts at 6PM on historic Main Street, from the button roundabout near The Northshire Bookstore, north to Thai Basil. Lots of local food and merchandise vendors, and local not-for-profit organizations. Tons of fun for everyone, young and young at heart. Main Street will be closed to thru traffic from 4:30 PM until about 10:00 PM. Detours in effect. Please, due to the large crowds, NO DOGS.
NDS Family Playdate
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Manchester, VT
Friday, June 16 19, 3pm.
Let’s play together!
Summer Jam Family Day
Lower Willow Park, Bennington, VT
Saturday, June 24, 11am-3pm, rain or shine.
Sunrise Family Resource Center and the Vermont Arts Exchange cordially invite you to participate in our second annual “Summer Jam” Family Day, a FREE event, open to all families in Bennington County.
There will be live music, food trucks, the VAE Art Bus, raffles, and more! We hope you will be able to join us for a fun family day. We look forward to a great community event!
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
