Spring technically arrives this weekend, but Vermont’s going to mark the occasion its own way — with maple syrup, snowboards, live music, and a few things that don’t fit neatly into any category. Here’s what’s worth getting off the couch for.
Friday, March 20
Rosanne Cash | Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury | 7pm Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and daughter of Johnny Cash brings her touring show to Fuller Hall at St. Johnsbury Academy. She’s one of the genuinely great ones — smart lyrics, lived-in voice, the real deal. If you’re in the Northeast Kingdom, this is the show of the season. Tickets at catamountarts.org.
Disney In Concert: Around the World | Paramount Theatre, Rutland | 7pm The Vermont Symphony Orchestra plays the Disney catalog live — a reliable crowd-pleaser for families. Same show hits the Flynn in Burlington Saturday night if you miss it. Paramount Theatre | vso.org
Live, Laugh, Club | Foam Brewers, Burlington Waterfront | 7pm | Free Electronic night featuring Kate Kush, MEGH, Skipipop, and DJ Burger. Free admission, Burlington waterfront, craft beer. Hard to argue with that. foambrewers.com
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Fish Fry Fridays | 1824 House, Waitsfield | 5–8pm A Mad River Valley Friday tradition: crispy battered cod, coleslaw, fries, house tartar. Simple, good, local. 1824house.com
HOMESICK Kicks Off | Stratton Mountain Three-day snowboarding festival celebrating the East Coast roots of the sport. Friday night opens with the Zebulon Rail Jam — men’s and women’s pro competition designed and hosted by a Stratton Mountain School alum. If you care about snowboarding history, this whole weekend is worth the drive south. stratton.com
Zero Celsius | Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield | 1–5pm Art exhibition exploring winter through sculpture, installation, and sound. Opens Friday and runs through the weekend. Free to visit. madrivervalley.com
Saturday, March 21
Vermont Maple Open House Weekend | Statewide | Free This is the big one. Over 90 sugarhouses across the state throw open their doors Saturday and Sunday for tours, tastings, pancake breakfasts, maple donuts, boiling demos, live music, and craft cocktails. It’s free, it’s everywhere, and it’s one of the most genuinely Vermont things you can do. Use the interactive map at vermontmaple.org to plan your route — sugarhouses are filterable by county, services, and what they’re offering.
3rd Annual Maple Beer & Chili Invitational | Lawson’s Finest Taproom, Warren | Noon–3pm Speaking of maple — Lawson’s throws their annual celebration of the season with breweries bringing their best maple-inspired beers and a chili throwdown. Then stick around because Vermont’s best 90s cover band, Lazer Dad, takes the taproom stage from 4–6:30pm. That’s a full afternoon right there. lawsonsfinest.com
Rosanne Cash | Spruce Peak Arts, Stowe | 7pm Second night, different venue. If you missed her in St. J, here’s your chance. sprucepeak.com
Disney In Concert | Flynn Center, Burlington | 6pm VSO’s second night of Disney classics — better venue, Burlington energy. flynnvt.org
Josh Panda | Foam Brewers, Burlington Waterfront | 8pm | Free Vermont’s own Josh Panda has a four-octave range and a style that moves between rock, soul, and blues without breaking a sweat. Free show on the waterfront. foambrewers.com
Sugarbush Pride Weekend | Sugarbush Resort, Warren | All weekend The 4th annual Pride Weekend at Sugarbush — skiing, drag, dancing, and a full après scene. Friday has live music in Stark’s Pub (2:30–5pm), Saturday afternoon brings the Lawson’s Pride Takeover at Castlerock Pub (3–6pm) with free swag, and Saturday night goes late with Gay for Disco at Castlerock (7–10pm). sugarbush.com
10th Annual Side Surfers Banked Slalom | Mt. Ellen, Waitsfield | 9am–4pm A timed snowboard race through a handcrafted banked slalom course — grassroots, fun, and celebrating a decade of running. Worth watching even if you’re not competing. madrivervalley.com
Comedy Illusionist Ben Pratt | Big Picture Theater, Waitsfield | 6–8pm Magic, comedy, sleight of hand. The Big Picture is one of the great small venues in Vermont — a good excuse to spend the evening in the Mad River Valley. bigpicturetheater.info
Simone Dinnerstein | Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph | Evening Pianist celebrated for her “originality, integrity, and deeply personal musical voice.” If classical music is your thing, Chandler consistently brings in artists well above its weight class. chandler-arts.org
Maple Celebration at Inklings | Stowe | 11am–Noon Reading of What the Maple Tree Gives followed by a visit from West Hill Sugar Orchard and maple-inspired crafts for kids. A sweet little Saturday morning for the small ones.
Sunday, March 22
Vermont Maple Open House Weekend Continues | Statewide | Free Day two of the sugarhouse tour. If you didn’t make it Saturday, Sunday’s your second shot. Plan your route at vermontmaple.org.
HOMESICK: OG Downhill | Stratton Mountain | 8:30am–5pm The festival’s closing event is the OG Downhill — a nod to snowboarding’s earliest and most elemental form. Full day on the mountain wrapping up a weekend that’s been equal parts competition and culture. stratton.com
David Karl Roberts | Foam Brewers, Burlington Waterfront | 1pm | Free Sunday afternoon folk, Americana, and blues on the waterfront. A mellow, good way to close out the weekend. foambrewers.com
Sugar and Shmooze | Living Tree Alliance, Mad River Valley | 2–4:30pm Spring equinox celebration with tree tapping, bread baking over a fire, and general community mingling. Exactly the kind of thing Vermont does well.
The Art of Dining | Barnard Town Hall | 2pm Tina Howe’s play runs weekends through the month at Barnard Town Hall — a charming, only-in-Vermont venue for live theater.
Brattleboro Bal Folk Community Dance | Guilford | Evening French and European traditional dances with live music and instruction. Open to all skill levels, welcoming crowd, Brattleboro area. One of those things that sounds odd until you go and then you go every time.
Whatever you’re into this weekend, Vermont’s got it covered — and that maple syrup isn’t going to taste itself. Get out there.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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