The Main Events Stuff you don’t want to miss

By Carolyn Fox

Your days are just packed. One week into college, you’ll no doubt have a calendar full of classes, study groups and school breaks. But someone’s got to make sure you get your fried-dough fix at Vermont’s biggest fair and jump into the freezing-cold lake in February. We’ve rounded up a few must-see, must-do events below. Get ’em on your schedule, stat, and keep up with the latest off-campus happenings by checking Seven Days every week in print or online at sevendaysvt.com.

Fall

Champlain ValleY Fair

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Saturday, august 25, through monday, September 3, Champlain Valley exposition, essex Junction. 878-5545, champlainvalleyfair.org

courtesy of the Champlain Valley Fair

Summer, like all good things, must come to an end. But at least it goes out with a bang at this 10-day festival in nearby essex Junction, which doubles as a college student’s perfect introduction to Vermont. You’ll find a mix of cotton-candy fun and carny curiosities at the state’s largest fair, from the massive Ferris wheel to giant pumpkins to high-wire acrobatics. Stick around for nightly concerts on the grandstand, too; this year’s big-name performers include Demi lovato and Train. need we mention that the people-watching can’t be beat?