Vermont in August: 16 Fabulous Fairs and Festivals to Celebrate Late Summer (2026)
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Vermont in August means expansive fields of goldenrod, too much zucchini, and long sunburned days frolicking in mountain lakes.
Vermonters hold tight to August, lest those long summer days slip through our fingers before we’ve eaten enough corn-on-the-cob or danced at enough concerts in the park.
There’s nothing like an August afternoon spent exploring Vermont’s small towns and villages, discovering hidden swimming holes, and checking out the last of the summer festivals.
Need some end-of-summer inspiration? Celebrate August in Vermont by putting these fabulous events on your calendar.
Vermont Events: July 31 – August 9, 2026
Festival of Fools in Burlington, Vermont, July 31- August 1, 2026: Burlington City Arts brings the 18th annual Festival of Fools to downtown Burlington on July 31 and August 1, 2026. It’s free, all-ages, and takes over Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park with street performers, jugglers, and musicians for two full days.
Crowd favorite Cate Great returns with her mix of balance artistry and comedy, and juggler Jacob D’Eustachio makes his Burlington debut after touring five continents.
The evenings belong to the Fools Twilight Series in City Hall Park. On night one, The Big Takeover plays from 7:30 to 9, with Jamaican-born singer Nee Nee Rushie leading the seven-piece band through reggae, ska, and soul.
The other night brings folk-rock trio The Wolff Sisters as headliners at 7:30, with Milton Busker and the Grim Work opening at 6. Busker, a 20-year fixture of the Burlington scene, calls his Americana sound “suit-folk.”
Two days, no tickets, plenty to see.
Vermont Blueberry Festival, Wilmington and Dover, Vermont, July 31-August 9, 2026: Celebrate late summer’s most iconic fruit for 10 full days in Vermont’s Deerfield Valley.
The expansive Vermont Blueberry Festival celebrates the agricultural roots of the Deerfield Valley — with live music performances, blueberry-themed menus at local restaurants, special sales throughout the region, pick-your-own blueberries at Boyd Farm, a craft fair, a blueberry parade, a blueberry block party, and more!
Royalton Old Home Days, South Royalton, Vermont, July 30- August 1, 2026: Old Home Days was established in 1899 in New Hampshire to draw people who had left their hometowns for various reasons back home. After the World Wars, it was also a way to honor those who served.
The tradition lives on in Royalton, where Old Home Days have celebrated community since 1901. Come out and enjoy the fun with food trucks, a movie screening, live music, and the most delicious strawberry shortcake!
Foodaroo 11, Middlebury, Vermont, August 2, 2026: Foodaroo is turning 11, and you’re invited to the party!
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, from 4 to 8 pm, this beloved Middlebury event returns with an unforgettable evening of food, music, and community spirit. Hosted by Middlebury UndergrounD (MUD), Foodaroo brings together Vermont’s top culinary talent, from food trucks to farm-to-table eateries, alongside live music, dancers, and street performers.
Admission is just $5 (cash), and kids 12 and under get in free. Proceeds support The Giving Fridge, a local initiative providing pay-as-you-can meals and boosting Vermont’s food economy. Mark your calendar, this 10th anniversary celebration is not to be missed!
Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival, Randolph, Vermont, August 3-15, 2026: The Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival is back this August, running from the 3rd through the 15th, with a gala to kick things off on Sunday, August 2.
Week one features strings and piano works by Brahms, Glière, and Polish composer Władysław Żeleński. There’s a Saturday night concert at the Chandler, followed by a repeat performance at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodstock on Sunday afternoon, August 9.
The second week brings back familiar faces from past seasons for a program of strings, winds, and piano. That concert is dedicated to Walter Parker, the longtime Vermont Public host and a good friend of the festival, who handpicked the sextet on the program. Expect music by Spohr, Robert Kahn, Shostakovich, and Ernst von Dohnányi.
If you need a reason to go, last season’s Nico Muhly choral works, played by the festival strings, were picked up by Performance Today and broadcast nationally. Plan to come, and bring a friend who hasn’t yet heard the acoustics at the Chandler Center for the Arts.
77th Addison County Fair & Field Days, Vergennes, Vermont, August 4 – August 8, 2026: August is fair season, and the 2026 Addison County Fair & Field Days promise to be another fantastic culmination of summer and an iconic celebration of Vermont’s farmers, homemakers, artisans, and food producers.
Dozens of exhibits will be on display to honor farming and Vermont’s incredible rural heritage. These will include a horse and pony show (of course), sugarmaking exhibits, ox-pulling demonstrations, a demolition derby, and a children’s barnyard.
Come out and applaud the 4-Hers, frolic at the Midway, and enjoy a fantastic evening at the fair!
22nd Annual August West Festival, Jay, Vermont, August 8, 2026: Dead Heads, it’s time to make your way up to northern Vermont to celebrate togetherness, music, good food, and a whole lotta dancing.
This free, kid—and dog-friendly event features live music from Seth Yacovone’s Dead Sessions Lite, Rick Redington, and Tuff Luv. There will also be tie-dye activities and a variety of food and craft vendors to enjoy.
Vermont Events: August 10-16, 2026
Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival, Manchester, Vermont, August 13-16, 2026 Four days of world-class bluegrass music in one of Vermont’s most beautiful outdoor settings, the Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival for 2026 features a stellar lineup that includes Watchhouse, I’m with Her, Railroad Earth, and dozens more bands for your listening pleasure.
This is a family-friendly event, and onsite camping is available.
Bennington Battle Day Celebration in Bennington, Vermont, August 13-16, 2026: One of Bennington’s most exciting weekends! Head to southern Vermont for a few days of fun, including the annual Food Truck Festival, Hemmings Cruise In, re-enactor encampment, programs, and a Battle Day parade. Various locations in Bennington, Vermont, and at the Bennington Battlefield in Hoosick Falls, New York.
Vermont Events: August 18-23, 2026
Vermont State Fair, Rutland, Vermont, August 18-22, 2026: The first Vermont State Fair took place in 1846, making it one of the oldest state fairs in the United States.
Put on by the Rutland Agricultural Society, the Vermont State Fair features a traditional midway with rides for kids and adults, local food trucks and vendors, live entertainment, and agricultural shows and demonstrations. This year’s Vermont State Fair includes iconic favorites like the DNA Motorsports Demolition Derby and Pond Hill Pro Rodeo.
An annual visit to the fair seems to be the last hurrah of summer, where kids can soak up the sunshine, kick up dust as they run from ride to ride, and fall into bed smelling like a barnyard.
44th Annual Vergennes Day in Vergennes, Vermont, August 22, 2026: Vergennes Day begins with a pancake breakfast at the Fire Department and then heads right into a full day of festivities, which include the Little City Road Race, live music, food and craft vendors, activities for kids, and the Lions Club’s famous chicken barbecue. Come out to Vermont’s smallest city for a full day of fun and entertainment.
5th Annual Best of Vermont Summer Festival, Ludlow, Vermont, August 22-23, 2026: This spectacular two-day event features more than 60 vendors selling everything from fine art to local wine and spirits, as well as live music (five bands!), agricultural demonstrations, antique tractors, and fun activities for kids.
Vermont Events: August 24-31, 2026
Caledonia County Fair in Lyndonville, Vermont, August 26-30, 2026: The Caledonia County Fair runs August 26 through 30, 2026, in Lyndonville, and this year marks its 180th. It’s an agricultural fair at heart, with animal shows and judging, ox and horse pulling, a maple sugar house, and exhibits in Floral Hall.
There’s plenty beyond the barns, too. Expect live music, truck pulls, a demolition derby, and the Grand Cavalcade, along with a midway run by Dreamland Amusements.
If you plan ahead, advance tickets are $20 through August 20 at 4 pm and cover unlimited rides, shows, entertainment, and parking. After that cutoff, you can buy gate admission online or at the fair.
Vermont in August is about celebrating the remnants of summer with fantastic outdoor events. These incredible festivals and fairs are ideal for making the most of those hot August days and nights.
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