Vermont fall festival expands with new Maker’s Space of live art shows, Maple syrup boiling station, street performances, and more.This year, the Chester Festival on the Green is celebrating its 50th anniversary with even more fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Held on Chester’s historic Common, this year’s festival is expanding its Vermont Culture Corner with a new Maker’s Space of artists performing live demonstrations. Festival-goers are invited to watch and learn about everything from glass blowing and ceramics, to chainsaw carving and maple syrup boiling. They will also be treated to live music, street performances, historical tours, games, sheep herding, and other animal encounters. This two-day event will be held September 21 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm and September 22, from 9:00 am-4:00 pm, rain or shine. Admission is free. Current information is available here. The 2024 vendor application period is now closed. To honor the festival’s 50th anniversary, an online vendor profile series called Meet the Makers spotlights the lifeblood of this long-standing event. Meet the Makers will be published throughout the summer at www.chesterfestival.org/blog. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Vermont, the Chester Festival on the Green was established in 1974 by a small group of artists looking to celebrate harvest season and sell their wares. For one weekend, every September, they gathered on the Town Common (known colloquially as “the Green”), where locals and leaf peepers converged at shops and restaurants. Later, various local groups, including the Chester Rotary Club, formalized planning and fundraising initiatives that helped solidify the Chester Festival as a hallmark celebration of Vermont culture. By the mid-2000s, festival grounds stretched far beyond the Green and hosted thousands of people annually. In 2020, planning and operations were absorbed by the Chester Community Events Committee, a non-profit group of volunteers, who manage everything from marketing, planning, and outreach, to set-up, cleanup, and safety. Historical information about the Chester Festival will be on display at a 50th anniversary booth and inside the Chester Historical Society, which is open to the public during event hours. CALL FOR FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER AMBASSADORS The Chester Festival on the Green is a non-profit event sustained by volunteers. Ambassadors provide critical support, by managing information booths, assisting vendors, directing parking, and more. Those in need of community service hours are encouraged to apply. Media Contact: Cara Philbin | [email protected] FESTIVAL DONATIONS MAY BE MAILED TO: Chester Community Events Committee
PO Box 1177 Chester, VT 05143 |
