ILSLEY LIBRARIAN TRICIA Allen reads stories and gives away books each Thursday through the summer outside the Memorial Sports Center in Middlebury.
Everything is back this summer — and then some!
Here’s what we’re excited about:
PUBLIC POOLS ARE OPEN
Middlebury’s town pool is open for the season; purchase a pool pass and find hours here.
The Vergennes town pool is open for the summer; find hours here.
After being closed for two consecutive summers due to the pandemic, the Button Bay State Park pool — with waterslide! — is open again.
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS (PLUS STORYTIME!)
Anyone 18 and under can eat free breakfast and lunch every weekday outside Memorial Sports Center in Middlebury. It’s a fun, picnic atmosphere that is always bustling in the summertime. On Thursdays, starting June 23, Ilsley Librarian Tricia Allen dons a festive costume and rides her “book bike” to the event, where she gives away free books and entertains with an outdoor storytime. Lunch starts at noon; story time starts at 12:15 p.m.
Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol will provide grab-and-go snacks for children during regular library hours all summer long.
StreetGreens, the free food truck run by Breadloaf Mountain Zen Community, will be parked outside Ilsley Library for some summer events.
There are more free meal sites all around the state; want to find the closest free meal pickup site near you? Text “FOOD” to 304-304.
SUMMER READING
Sign up for kids’ summer reading programs at Ilsley, Lawrence Memorial, Platt and Bixby libraries, for fun and prizes!
FIND WALDO LOCAL
Waldo is hidden in 17 different Middlebury businesses for the month of July. Pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Middlebury!” stamp card at Vermont Book Shop, then start looking for the classic book character around downtown. For each Waldo you spot, you can get your card stamped or signed by the participating shop, for a chance to win a grand prize at a big celebration on July 31.
ONGOING SUMMER PROGRAMS
Bring your sewing projects or start a new one at Ilsley’s new Stitch In Time family sewing group on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
Catch live music and food every Monday evening on the Bristol Green.
Bring your preschooler to the Ilsley garden for art-making on Tuesday mornings.
Bixby Library is hosting special story times at Rokeby Museum throughout the summer.
Dungeons and Dragons for middle schoolers is going strong at Ilsley on Wednesday afternoons.
Find the Midd Summer Market downtown every Thursday afternoon/evening.
Stay up after dark for family Movies in the Park on the Bristol Town Green some Thursday nights through the summer.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS
June 21: Go Skate Day, Bristol Skate Park, 4-7 p.m.
June 26: Foodaroo, Middlebury Marble Works, 4-8 p.m.
July 4: The Great Bristol Outhouse Race (followed by the Fourth of July parade), 9 a.m.
July 10: ‘But Why?’ Live @ Town Hall Theater, 11 a.m.
July 10-16: Festival on the Green, downtown Middlebury, shows at noon, 7 and 8:30 p.m.
July 17: Farm to Ballet, Champlain Orchards, 4:30 p.m.
July 23: Children’s Concert for Vermont Children’s Museum, Woodchuck Cider, 10 a.m.
August 6: Vermont Day at UVM Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge, 10 a.m.
August 6: Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra, Lincoln Peak Vineyard, 6 p.m.
August 9-13: Addison County Fair & Field Days
August 14: Rokeby Pie & Ice Cream Social, Ferrisburgh, 1 p.m.
August 18: Bread & Puppet Theater, Middlebury College Snow Bowl, 5:45 p.m.
August 27: Vergennes Day
VERMONT STATE PARKS
Get your season pass to all of the state parks, and participate in the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge to win a free pass for next year.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE SUMMER OUTINGS, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Ride the Charlotte ferry across Lake Champlain to the charming town of Essex, N.Y. for ice cream and a hang on the waterfront playground.
Hike Snake Mountain, then hit up Goodies for creemees.
Order something to eat at The Red Mill at Basin Harbor, then take it outside to eat while the kids play on the playground and watch small airplanes take off and land on the grass.
Pick wild blueberries on the Robert Frost Trail in Ripton, or up at the gorgeous Green Mountain Blueberry Management Area in Goshen.
Bike the Colchester Causeway, and take the Local Motion Bike Ferry to the Champlain Islands.
Hike the shortest but most rewarding hike ever to Lake Pleiad; bring your life jackets so you can take the canoe that’s been parked there for years out onto the lake.
Follow up your Mount Philo hike with a visit to Vermont Cookie Love for creemee perfection.
Don’t skip the nature center along the trail to the Button Bay State Park point.
Bring a picnic dinner to Branbury State Park.