Spring in Vermont: 14 Fun Events in April and May in 2026
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As the snow begins to melt and Vermont thaws out from a long, snowy winter, our thoughts quickly turn to spring.
To farmers’ markets bursting with fresh veggies and colorful bouquets. To vibrant green forests and cocktails on outdoor patios. And to friendly neighbors, smiling toward the spring sunshine.
We celebrate spring in Vermont with a full calendar of special events, highlighting everything from maple syrup and fly fishing to farm animals and beer.
Ready to shake off those winter blues and celebrate spring in Vermont? Check out these fantastic events and festivals in April and May.
Things to Do in Vermont in April: 2025 Events and Festivals
Poem City in Montpelier, Vermont
Throughout the whole month of April
Celebrate National Poetry Month in April with a visit to Poem City, AKA Montpelier.
Poem City celebrates Vermont poetry with a walkable anthology of poems and a full schedule of readings, workshops, and discussions throughout April.
Presented by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, this month-long event is an ideal way to immerse yourself in Vermont’s literary landscape while honoring outstanding Vermont poets.
We could all use more poetry in our lives!
Kingdom Maple Festival 2025 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
April 18, 2026
Celebrate St. Johnsbury’s history as the “Maple Center of the World” on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with the Kingdom Maple Festival — a town-wide festival that draws more than 7,000 people annually.
This year’s sweetest festival will showcase local maple history and producers, delicious treats, and fun activities, including a pancake breakfast, a festive street fair, and a variety of maple products.
Local restaurants will also be offering maple-themed menus all over town. There’s no such thing as too much maple during the Kingdom Maple Festival!
Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans
April 24-26, 2026
This year marks 59 years for the annual Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans, and the festival grows more robust and well-known each year.
Featuring sugarhouse tours, live entertainment, a photo contest, a sappy art contest, and a fiddler’s variety show, you’ll want to set aside the whole weekend for this one!
Saint Albans features a vibrant downtown with a nice selection of shops and restaurants, making it an ideal destination for a spring getaway!
Baby Farm Animal Celebration at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont
April 25 & 26, 2026
Spring in Vermont means it’s time for the cutest event of the year — Baby Farm Animal Celebration at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock.
Come out to welcome this year’s new babies, including chicks, ducklings, turkeys, woolly lambs, soft bunnies, boisterous goat kids, and the cutest Jersey calves.
Learn about how animals are cared for at the farm, take a wagon ride through the fields, and plant heirloom seeds before grabbing some Billings Farm cheeses and a bite from one of the on-site food vendors’ trucks.
If you’re a sucker for farm critters, this is the best way to celebrate spring in Vermont!
Vintage Market Days of Vermont in Rutland
April 24-26, 2026
Vintage Market Days of Vermont is an indoor/outdoor market showcasing vintage-inspired original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, consumable yummies, and seasonal plantings.
This annual event celebrates spring in Vermont, upcycling, and repurposing at the Vermont State Fairgrounds.
Part flea market, part community gathering, welcome spring with three days of one-of-a-kind creations, vintage finds, and delicious food.
Read Next: The Best Things to Do in Bennington, Vermont
Vermont in May: 2026 Events and Festivals
Green Up Vermont Day, May 2, 2026: Throughout the State
Green Up Day is one of the most special days in Vermont. It’s an opportunity to gather with members of the community to clean up roadsides, rivers, and trails in preparation for spring in Vermont.
In 2025, Vermont’s Green Up Day volunteers cleaned up 427+ tons of trash.
Vermont’s 55th Green Up Day happens on May 2, 2026, and while cleaning up trash may not sound like the best way to celebrate spring, you may be surprised by how festive the atmosphere is throughout the state.
This year’s theme is the Kentucky Derby. What does that mean? Your favorite breweries will be providing live music, hobby horse racing, and of course, great food and drink. Follow the Green Up Day website for more.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Green Up Day, and it’s a great way to give back to your community, preserve our beautiful landscapes, and protect wildlife.
Southern Vermont HomeBrew Festival in Bennington, Vermont
May 2, 2026
For nearly a decade, the Southern Vermont HomeBrew Festivals in Bennington have showcased talented home brewers in the Northeast with two incredible events.
The spring edition takes place on May 2, 2026, from 12-4 pm, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate spring in Vermont — with food trucks, vendors, live music, and, of course, the finest home-brewed beverages in the Northeast!
This year’s festival features 30+ of the region’s best homebrews, unlimited beverage sampling, and delicious food from local food trucks.
Not only will you have the chance to try a huge variety of home-brewed beverages (beer, cider, wine, and mead), but you’ll also have a chance to vote for your favorites.
Founded in 2015, the Southern Vermont HomeBrew Festival celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of homebrewers from across the Northeast.
The outdoor event brings together talented brewers from Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and beyond to share small-batch brews rarely available to the public.
This event is child- and dog-friendly and will take place rain or shine.
5th Annual Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival in Arlington, Vermont
April 30 – May 2, 2026
The Battenkill River has long been considered one of the best fly-fishing rivers in the East. It’s got an abundance of trout but also beautiful surroundings that make this area such a fun destination for anglers.
Recently named a Vermont Signature Event, the Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival is a homecoming for anyone who finds peace in the rhythm of the river and the stroke of a brush.
Festival highlights include the 2026 Bamboo Derby hosted by the American Museum of Fly Fishing; Mountains, Valleys, and Rivers, an art exhibit celebrating the intersection of fly fishing culture and scenic wonder, hosted in the stunning, century-old Watkins House; exclusive brews from Lawson’s Finest Liquids; fly-tying demonstrations; and workshops.
The Battenkill Fly Fishing & Arts Festival is dedicated to celebrating the beauty and ecological importance of the Battenkill River while supporting crucial conservation efforts. Proceeds from this fun weekend event will go to protecting and enhancing the Battenkill River.
5th Annual Kingman Fest in St. Albans, Vermont
May 9, 2026
Part block party, part rock concert, Kingman Fest in St. Albans is a high-energy festival designed to get people outside to celebrate spring in Vermont.
Located on Kingman Street in downtown St. Albans, this is a great event to kick off the festival season, catch up with locals, and listen to great music.
Kingman Fest gets underway at 5 pm, and it’s entirely free for all ages. Festivities will include live music with Jesse Agan & Morgan Myles, fabulous food and drink vendors, activities for kids, and the Kingman Street Business Showcase.
All proceeds from this exciting street fair will benefit St. Albans For The Future.
VT Corporate Cup Challenge & State Agency Race, Presented by Union Mutual, Montpelier, Vermont
May 14, 2026
One of Vermont’s longest-running fitness traditions returns this spring. The 43rd Annual Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge & State Agency 5K Race will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, inviting runners and walkers from across the state to gather in Montpelier for an evening of friendly competition and community spirit.
The 5K race begins and ends in front of the Vermont State House on State Street, offering participants a scenic route through Vermont’s capital city. The event starts at 6 pm and typically wraps up by 7:30 pm.
Originally created to encourage workplace wellness, the Corporate Cup Challenge brings together businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations from across Vermont.
Many participants compete in teams of three within their employer divisions, while others join as individual runners or walkers. For those who can’t make it to Montpelier, a virtual race option allows participants to complete the 5K anywhere between May 14 and May 31.
More than just a race, the event supports the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, helping fund statewide programs that promote healthy lifestyles.
Registration is now open at www.vcccsar.org. Entry fees start at $40 per person, with optional race T-shirts available for an additional fee.
MayFest 2026 in Bennington, Vermont
May 23, 2026
Every Memorial Day Weekend, downtown Bennington closes Main Street to traffic and opens it to a wide variety of arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and musicians to celebrate the end of May and the beginning of the summer season.
Welcome to Mayfest, where Main Street comes alive with more than 130 hand-selected vendors offering handmade jewelry, pottery, clothing, woodwork, specialty foods, and unique one-of-a-kind gifts.
Beyond browsing and shopping, the festival features multiple live music stages, a dedicated Kids’ Zone, and plenty of delicious festival treats.
M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, Vermont
May 24, 2026
The annual M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon has welcomed runners to Burlington since 1989. Produced by RunVermont, this beautiful road race attracts athletes from New England and beyond.
The race starts in Waterfront Park, overlooking Lake Champlain, and travels through Burlington’s roads, residential streets, and along the Burlington Greenway, finally ending up back at the Burlington Waterfront for a post-race celebration.
Anyone familiar with Burlington would assume this is a grueling course — it’s actually flat to rolling and one of the fastest marathon courses in the USA.
Vermont City Marathon also offers a Marathon Relay, the first marathon in the USA to do so. The relay offers leg distances from 5k to half marathon.
Visit RunVermont for 2026 race details.
Family Sheep and Wool Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont
May 30, 2026
Come meet the sheep at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock and learn what it takes to turn all that fluffy wool into sweaters, blankets, and more!
Try your hand at cleaning fleeces and aligning fibers at interactive stations. Make a woolen bracelet to take home. Watch dyeing, drop spindle, and wheel demonstrations as well as live weaving on a loom. Discover fiber arts such as felting and knitting, and sit in on story time for younger visitors.
Adding to the excitement, the timeless art of sheep herding will come alive with Morse Brook Farm’s Shepherdess Liz Shaw and her skilled border collies. Learn how working dogs support life on the farm and watch them expertly guide the flock in live herding demonstrations.
Before you head home, stop by the Museum Gift Shop for Vermont-made keepsakes and adorable sheep stuffed toys to take home!
As mud season in Vermont gives way to blue skies, mild temperatures, and new life, it’s time to celebrate spring in Vermont. These fantastic events in April and May are dedicated to Vermont’s most time-honored traditions, historic downtowns, and wonderful people.
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