Annual Events

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival   Vermont has celebrated amazing live music since the first annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. In 1983 the Festival gave Vermont's flourishing jazz community the recognition it deserved – a celebration combining incredible local talent with jazz legends from every corner of the globe.Throughout the event the city comes alive. Music resonates from every corner of Downtown Burlington — from the region’s premier performing arts facility, the Flynn Center, to the Church Street Marketplace stages, to Waterfront and City Hall Parks, to neighborhood clubs and restaurants. This 10-day event has become a tradition, a chance for the community to revel in jazz’s spectrum of different forms and an opportunity for fans to learn from and meet the world-renowned artists who have inspired them for years.

Sidewalk Sale: One of Burlington’s great traditions, the Downtown and Church Street Marketplace Annual Sidewalk Sale. Starting as early as 8 a.m., merchants display their wares both in front of and inside their stores. Great bargains abound and friends, neighbors and visitors to our region fill the Marketplace from dawn to dusk. Some merchants extend their sales through the weekend.

Festival of Fools: A curated festival of street theater devoted to community engagement through the celebration of circus arts, music and comedy for family audiences. The festival features the best international street performers from around the globe. Audiences of all ages will feast their eyes on some of the zaniest comic performers as downtown Burlington becomes an epicenter for laughter and spirited entertainment.

Marketfest: Come one, come all to the Church Street Marketplace’s annual Marketfest, sponsored by Stowe Mountain Resort. The Marketplace transforms into a lively and colorful street festival, offering some of the area’s greatest entertainment, arts, and crafts. Shoppers will enjoy our fortune cookie sale with discounts between 10% and 40%, and receive a free Stowe Points Card from Stowe Mountain Resort with all purchases of $25 or more at any participating businesses (limit of 8 per person).Weekend entertainment includes Acoustic Jazz, Big Band, Gypsy Swing and much more. More information about the Stowe Promotion and Marketfest will be posted online closer to the event

Halloween Parade & Trick or Treating Dress up in your favorite costume for Trick-or-Treating at participating Marketplace, Burlington Town Center, and downtown restaurants and stores from 10:30 until noon. Then at noon enjoy a street parade, many different craft activities and special goodies. Children of all ages are encouraged to dress up and join in. Roaming scary creatures and much, much more! The festivities last until about 4 p.m. every year. Trick-or-Treating takes place from 10:30 until 12:00! Get a goody bag from the gorilla in front of Burlington Town Center, or from any of the participating businesses.

Church Street Santa Parade and Lighting Ceremony (November 25): Santa makes a quick trip to the Marketplace during his busy season to kick off the annual Holiday Parade on the Church Street Marketplace the day after Thanksgiving. The parade starts at 12 noon on City Hall Block and ends on the Mall Block. Lots of festive seasonal entertainment will follow the parade! All children and those who are young-at-heart are welcome.

At 5:30p.m. we officially and joyfully begin the holiday season with a classic rendition of the stage production, “Twas the Night Before Christmas." Beautifully costumed and professionally presented, this humorous and delightful performance brightens the eyes of children and gladdens the hearts of young and old alike.

Carolers will sing on the Marketplace prior to the show and all are invited to sing along. The performance culminates with the illumination of 250,000 LCD lights on Church Street, a cherished tradition. Official lighting time is 6:02 p.m. SHARP! Our 50-foot holiday tree is lit with thousands of colored LCD lights in shades of red, gold, tangerine, blue and green. It shines the full length of the Marketplace, a beacon to all lovers of the holiday season.

First Night (December 31): First Night Burlington brings the entire community together for 12 hours of responsible celebration with over 1,000 fantastic artists and activities at 25 sites! First Night is celebrating the New Year as a substance-free, accessible festival of the arts. Visit First Night Burlington for information about ringing in the new year in 2011.