Fall Festival 2026

Name: Threads of History: The Printing Press
Start: 2026-11-14T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-11-14T15:00:00-05:00
Location: Manchester Community Library

October 2026
Granger Palooza! Granger House Fieltdtrip Reunion
October 18: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

VSU Castleton- Granger House 30 Seminary Lane, Castleton, VT, United States
More than 600 K-12 students and teachers have visited Granger House on field trips over the last five years. Come join us for an afternoon of learning and fun as those students and teachers return to Granger House with their families for house tours, educational exhibits, fieldwork demonstrations, and lively discussion. Light refreshments and backyard games will be available. Some events are weather permitting. Advance registration encouraged, though not required.
Free
The Lonely Days Are Gone: Community Square Dance Tour
October 18: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Ferrisburgh Union Meeting Hall 3279 US-7, Ferrisburgh, United States
This fall, The Lonely Days Are Gone: Community Square Dance Tour brings free concerts and square dances to historic town halls across Vermont! Inspired by the state's long tradition of contra and square dancing, the tour welcomes neighbors of all ages to connect through live music, participatory dancing, and shared meals.
Free
Drop-in Sewing Studio for Teens
October 22: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Aldrich Public Library 6 Washington St, Barre, VT, United States
Learn how to sew a patch on your clothing, mend and repair your backpacks, gear and winter garb and learn how to sew a straight stitch on a sewing machine. This drop-in workshops is for middle and high school youth who want to understand the basics of hand-stitching and clothing repair. All materials provided.
Free
Merino Wool, Cotton Flannel, Pink Silk: A Hands-on Exploration of the Fibers in Charity & Sylvia
October 23: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Aldrich Public Library 6 Washington St, Barre, VT, United States
More sheep than people? Silkworms in Vermont? Join artist Pamela Wilson for an in-depth exploration of the Vermont fibers that feature in Charity and Sylvia’s work as rural tailors. We’ll explore the textile trends and innovations that feature in the book and Pamela will bring a variety of spinning and weaving tools to explore.
Free
Meet a Sewing Machine & Costume Stitching Clinic!
October 24: 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Aldrich Public Library 6 Washington St, Barre, VT, United States
Join sewing instructor Eliza West to learn how to use a sewing machine! Feel free to bring your own machine, or just watch as Eliza explains the fundamentals of machine sewing. Stick around afterwards for a Halloween costume clinic with Eliza and Pam Wilson. Brainstorm ideas, get advice, or work on a sewing project!
Free
Illustrating Vermont History
October 24: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Ilsley Public Library 75 Main St, Middlebury, VT, United States
The evening will feature with a conversation between comic artists, graphic novelists, and faculty at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Dan Nott, Daryl Seitchik, and Tillie Walden. Their conversation will be moderated by Middlebury Professor of History Rebecca Bennette. This panel will explore how three Vermont artists and creators draw inspiration from one another as they craft unique and compelling stories.
Free
The Lonely Days Are Gone: Community Square Dance Tour
October 24: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chester Town Hall 556 Elm St, Chester, United States
This fall, The Lonely Days Are Gone: Community Square Dance Tour brings free concerts and square dances to historic town halls across Vermont! Inspired by the state's long tradition of contra and square dancing, the tour welcomes neighbors of all ages to connect through live music, participatory dancing, and shared meals.
Free
Threads of History: The Story of the Manchester Journal – 165+ Years of “Local Intelligence”
October 29: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Manchester Community Library 138 Cemetery Ave, Manchester Center, United States
“A country newspaper… should not seek to create and control public opinion, but to furnish the means by which public opinion may find utterance.” With those ambitious words, publisher Charles A. Pierce launched The Manchester Journal in May 1861, just weeks after the outbreak of the Civil War. Over 165 years later, the paper remains a weekly snapshot of life in the Northshire and beyond. Join us for a fascinating journey through the history of this local institution, from its beginnings as a Union war-effort booster to its role as the town’s chronicler of everyday life.
Free
Summerland: Charity and Sylvia Listening Party
October 29: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

The Phoenix 5 Stowe Street, Waterbury, United States
Love, music, art, business…how do they all fit together? How is music created around a unique story? What does a commission look like? Join us for a listening party as we dive into a world premiere from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s opening concert of the 2026-27 season.
Free
November 2026
Threads of History: The Printing Press
November 14: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Manchester Community Library 138 Cemetery Ave, Manchester Center, United States
Participants will hear the reasons why a particular passage from a 1777 letter to the Inhabitants of Vermont was selected to be reprinted for this event. During the session, attendees are invited to read and discuss the entire letter and decide for themselves whether this chosen passage, to be letterpress printed on unique handmade paper, is recognizable, relevant, and relatable to us more than 250 years after it was first written. John Vincent of A Revolutionary Press will also discuss how typesetting and printing in the New Haven, Vermont print shop compare to the methods used during the Revolutionary period in America.
Free

October 2026

November 2026