winter
South end art Hop
Courtesy of David Schmidt
More than 500 visual artists crawl out of the woodwork for open studios, funky exhibits, live music and a fashion show of locally made threads. Friday, September 7 — Sunday, September 9, Pine Street corridor, Burlington. 859-9222, seaba.com/art-hop
Burlington Penguin Plunge the wind may be howling and your nose hairs frozen, but come the first Saturday in February, you’ll invariably encounter Vermonters going for an icy dunk in the shallow waters of lake Champlain. Are they crazy? Maybe a little, but it’s for a good cause: each stalwart swimmer has raised money for Special olympics Vermont. take the plunge — or at least show up for the spectacle. it includes a Plumage Parade and costume contest, and falls on the same weekend as the Burlington Winter Festival. Saturday, February 2, Waterfront Park, Burlington. 863-5222, penguinplunge.org
Mud SeaSon
winter is a drag Ball
Kiss cabin fever goodbye at this campy benefit for the Vermont People With AidS Coalition. last year’s theme was “Cowgirls and gayliens.” no telling what shenanigans this year will bring, but we bet it’ll involve fishnets and false eyelashes. Mid-February, Higher ground, South Burlington. 652-0777, highergroundmusic.com
Courtesy of Magic Hat
Queen City Craft Bazaar
MAgiC HAt MArdi grAS Big easy come, Big easy go ... but Burlington’s annual Fat tuesday fête is a Party gras to remember, and the cure-all for the late winter blahs. thousands of revelers line downtown avenues for this spicy n’awlins-style street bash with a Queen City community vibe; the fun benefits HoPe Works, an organization working to end sexual violence. Come in costume to catch beads, moon pies and lake Champlain Chocolates — no flashing necessary. then let the good times roll as a parade of themed floats wheels through town. wg late February or early March, downtown Burlington. magichat.net/mardigras
recycled-skateboard jewelry and creative duds are among the items offered by dozens of local crafters, artists and designers at this biannual indie fair. november and May, dates tBA, union Station, Burlington. 233-6252, queencitycraft.com
Photo Credits: 1. Courtesy of SEaBA 2. file: Matthew Thorsen 3. file: Matthew Thorsen
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