Craft Shows & Artisan Fairs in Vermont

Vermont's craft show tradition is woven into the identity of the state itself. The Putney Craft Tour has been running since the late 1970s — over 46 years of Thanksgiving weekend visits to working studios where glassblowers, potters, jewelers, weavers, and woodworkers open their doors. The Vermont Crafts Council coordinates Open Studio Weekend twice a year, with 250+ participating artisans across 15+ mapped tour loops. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival has drawn fine artists and artisans to Topnotch Field for more than 20 years. For a state of just 648,000 people, Vermont carries one of the most concentrated craft cultures in New England.

What to Expect at Vermont Craft Shows

Vermont craft events range from nationally juried fine art festivals with 200+ exhibitors to intimate village green fairs with 50 vendors selling handmade goods under the trees. The scale varies, but the handmade standard is consistent — Vermont audiences and organizers tend to hold a firm line on authentic artisan work.

The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival at Topnotch Field is one of the state's flagship events: 150+ juried fine artists and artisans over three days in early October (2026 dates: October 9-11), timed to peak fall foliage. Live music, food vendors, and craft demonstrations round out the experience. In Manchester, the Fall Art and Craft Festival at Hildene Meadows brings 200+ juried artisans to one of southern Vermont's most scenic settings (September 30-October 2, 2026). The Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo in Essex Junction — running 40+ years — fills the Champlain Valley Exposition with 150+ booths every October, indoors with free parking.

At the village level, the Chester Festival on the Green (37th+ year) draws 70+ artisans with a strict 100% handmade policy and free admission. The Weston Craft Show at the Weston Playhouse on Route 100 is in its 28th year (October 7-9, 2026). The Bennington Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival fills downtown Main Street with 120+ craft and food vendors each May, drawing 10,000+ attendees. These are community-rooted events where local and regional artisans show work directly to buyers who value the connection.

Woodworking, pottery, fiber arts, jewelry, and glassblowing are the crafts most closely associated with Vermont shows. The state's sheep farming heritage has produced a strong fiber arts community — wool, felting, hand-spinning, and weaving are well-represented at most events. Maple-related products appear at nearly every show, bridging the line between craft and specialty food.

Open Studio Events & Craft Tours

Vermont's open studio tradition sets it apart from most states. The Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend runs twice annually — Memorial Day Weekend in spring and the first weekend in October — with 250+ participating artisans organized into 15+ self-guided tour loops across the state. Visitors drive from studio to studio, meeting artists in their working spaces, watching demonstrations, and buying directly from the maker.

The Putney Craft Tour is America's oldest continuous open studio craft tour, now in its 46th+ year. Over Thanksgiving weekend, 24-25 working studios in and around Putney open to the public for three days. The artisans include glassblowers, potters, jewelers, weavers, and woodworkers — all producing work year-round in rural studios. Brattleboro-West Arts coordinates a related open studio network with 19 artisans at 13 locations in the greater Brattleboro area.

Country Fairs & Field Days in Vermont

Vermont's agricultural fair tradition uses its own vocabulary. Many communities hold "field days" rather than "county fairs" — the term reflects the state's farming roots. The Champlain Valley Fair at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction is Vermont's largest fair, held in late August through early September and drawing 300,000+ visitors annually. Livestock competitions, 4-H exhibits, rides, entertainment, and craft and vendor sections share the grounds.

County and regional fairs throughout the state include handmade and home arts components, often with quilting, baking, and fiber arts competitions tied to agricultural heritage. The Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival — New England's longest-running hot air balloon festival, established in 1979 — is held Father's Day Weekend in June at Quechee Green Park in Hartford with 50+ craft artisans and vendors (2026 dates: June 19-21).

Popular Cities for Craft Events in Vermont

Burlington

Burlington is Vermont's largest city and its most active year-round craft market. The Church Street Marketplace — a four-block pedestrian mall downtown — anchors seasonal craft events, pop-up vendors, and holiday programming. The Good Trade Makers Market brings nearly 100 independent makers from across the country to Burlington each December. The Celebrate Craft Festival features 100 artists alongside Vermont wines, spirits, and specialty foods. The Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo in nearby Essex Junction (8 miles) is a 40+-year tradition with 150+ booths each October.

Stowe

Stowe's craft calendar peaks during fall foliage season. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival at Topnotch Field is the anchor — 150+ juried fine artists and artisans over three days in early October. Resort tourism creates a premium buyer audience, and the village itself has galleries and artisan shops that operate year-round. Vermont Crafts Council member studios in Lamoille County participate in Open Studio Weekend.

Woodstock

Woodstock sits at the center of the Upper Valley craft corridor. The Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair — reaching its 50th edition milestone — draws 100+ vendors featuring Vermont crafts, specialty food, and food trucks ($5 admission). Six miles east in Quechee (Hartford), the Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival brings 50+ artisans to the Green Park each June. The nearby Chester Festival on the Green and Weston Craft Show extend the corridor south.

Manchester

Manchester is southern Vermont's premier craft show destination. The Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival at Hildene Meadows draws 200+ juried artisans each fall. The Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival at Riley Rink Events Field typically brings 125+ artisans for Father's Day Weekend in September — though the 2025 edition was not held due to a 2024 tent collapse, with organizers working toward a return. The Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) hosts its own Fall Craft Market with juried applications from established and emerging artisans.

Bennington

Bennington anchors southwest Vermont's craft calendar. The Bennington Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival — now in its 38th+ year — fills downtown Main Street with 120+ craft and food vendors each May, drawing 10,000+ attendees with free admission. As the gateway city for New York state craft travelers, Bennington connects the Vermont and Berkshires craft corridors.

Brattleboro

Brattleboro has the strongest independent artisan studio culture in Vermont. The Cotton Mill houses 60+ small businesses and artists' studios — painters, glassblowers, ceramic artists — and holds an annual holiday sale. Brattleboro-West Arts coordinates open studio tours with 19 artisans at 13 locations. The Putney Craft Tour (12 miles north) is the region's signature event. Cherry Street Artisans adds to the downtown artisan presence.

Seasonal Guide to Vermont Craft Shows

• Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, Topnotch Field (early October, 150+ juried artisans)
• Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival, Hildene Meadows (late September, 200+ juried artisans)
• Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair (October, 100+ vendors)
• Chester Festival on the Green (October, 70+ artisans, 100% handmade)
• Weston Craft Show, Weston Playhouse (October, 28th year)
• Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo, Essex Junction (October, 150+ booths)
• Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend (first weekend of October)

Types of Events You'll Find

• Juried fine art and craft festivals — Stowe Foliage Arts Festival (Topnotch Field), Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival (Hildene Meadows), Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival (Riley Rink)
• Open studio weekends and craft tours — Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend (250+ artisans, twice annually), Putney Craft Tour (Thanksgiving weekend, 46+ years)
• Large indoor craft expos — Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo (Essex Junction, 150+ booths, 40+ years)
• Village green fairs — Chester Festival on the Green (100% handmade, free), Weston Craft Show, Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair
• Downtown street festivals — Bennington Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival (120+ vendors, Main Street)
• Holiday makers markets — Good Trade Makers Market (Burlington, ~100 makers), Cotton Mill Holiday Sale (Brattleboro)
• Combined craft and attraction festivals — Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival (Father's Day Weekend)
• Country fairs with craft exhibits — Champlain Valley Fair (Essex Junction, 300,000+ annually)
• Arts center craft markets — SVAC Fall Craft Market (Manchester)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to find craft shows in Vermont?

Fall is the peak season, particularly late September through mid-October when foliage tourism overlaps with the craft show calendar. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival, Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair, Chester Festival on the Green, Weston Craft Show, and Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend all run within a few weeks of each other. For holiday shopping, the Putney Craft Tour over Thanksgiving weekend and the Good Trade Makers Market in Burlington in December are the standout events.

What is Vermont Open Studio Weekend?

The Vermont Crafts Council coordinates Open Studio Weekend twice a year — Memorial Day Weekend in spring and the first weekend in October. Over 250 participating artisans open their working studios across 15+ mapped, self-guided tour loops statewide. Visitors drive from studio to studio, watch demonstrations, and buy directly from the makers. It is one of the most comprehensive open studio programs in the country.

Are there country fairs with craft vendors in Vermont?

Yes. The Champlain Valley Fair at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction is Vermont's largest fair, with craft and vendor sections alongside livestock, rides, and entertainment. Many Vermont communities hold "field days" — the local term for agricultural fairs — with handmade and home arts components. The Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival combines 50+ craft artisans with New England's longest-running balloon festival.

How do I find craft shows near me in Vermont?

CraftShow Events lets you search by city, region, or statewide across Vermont to browse upcoming craft shows, artisan fairs, open studio events, and country fairs with dates and venue details. The search filters by location and date to help you find what is happening near Burlington, Stowe, Woodstock, Manchester, Bennington, Brattleboro, or anywhere else in the state.

What crafts are most popular at Vermont shows?

Woodworking, pottery, and fiber arts define Vermont's craft identity. The state's sheep farming heritage supports a strong community of weavers, felters, and hand-spinners. Glassblowing is prominent in the Putney and Brattleboro corridor. Jewelry — silver, stone, and mixed metals — appears at nearly every show. Maple-related products bridge craft and specialty food at events statewide. Photography and printmaking round out the fine art categories at juried shows.

Are Vermont craft shows free to attend?

Many are. The Chester Festival on the Green, Bennington Mayfest, and Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend are all free. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival and Putney Craft Tour are free to attend. The Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo charges $10 adult admission. The Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair charges $5. Holiday markets vary — some are free and some charge a small entry fee.

Discover Events in Vermont

CraftShow Events covers craft shows, handmade markets, artisan fairs, open studio events, and country fairs across Vermont. Use the statewide search to browse the full calendar — from Church Street in Burlington to Topnotch Field in Stowe to Hildene Meadows in Manchester — and filter by city, date, and event type to find what is coming up near you.