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 run over Thanksgiving weekend since 1978 — the 48th tour is November 27–29, 2026 — with visits to working studios where painters, jewelers, potters, and other makers open their doors. The Vermont Crafts Council coordinates Open Studio Weekend on Memorial Day weekend and the first weekend of October, with self-guided tour loops to studios of its more than 250 artist members. The Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, in its 42nd year in 2026, draws juried fine artists and craftspeople to Stowe at peak foliage. For a state of just 648,000 people, Vermont carries one of the most concentrated craft cultures in New England.
Upcoming events in Vermont
Live listings with their sources. Always confirm details with the organizer.
What to Expect at Vermont Craft Shows
Vermont craft events range from juried fine art festivals with 150+ 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, held at the Stowe Events Field in 2026, is one of the state's flagship events: 150+ fine artists and craftspeople over three days in October (October 9–11, 2026), timed to peak fall foliage. Live music, food vendors, and craft demonstrations round out the experience. In Manchester, the Southern Vermont Arts Center hosts a Fall Craft Market (October 3–4 in 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 draws 100+ vendors with free entry (September 19–20 in 2026). The Weston Craft Show at the Weston Playhouse was not held in 2024 because of flood repairs to the Playhouse; check its current status. The Bennington Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival fills downtown Main Street with 130+ vendors on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. 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 members' studios organized into about 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, started in 1978, describes itself as a prototype for open studios around the country. Over Thanksgiving weekend, working studios in and around Putney open to the public for three days (November 27–29, 2026, 10am to 5pm). Brattleboro-West Arts coordinates a related open studio network 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 billed as Vermont's largest annual event, held in late August through early September (August 28–September 6 in 2026). 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 Balloon Festival — a Father's Day weekend tradition for more than 45 years (the 46th was June 19–21, 2026) — is held on the Village Green in Quechee, part of the town of Hartford, with balloon launches, live music, and food vendors.
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 Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo in nearby Essex Junction (about 6 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 is the anchor — 150+ fine artists and craftspeople over three days in October (October 9–11, 2026, at the Stowe Events Field). 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 draws 100+ vendors featuring Vermont crafts, specialty food, and food trucks ($10 adult admission). Six miles east in Quechee (Hartford), the Quechee Balloon Festival fills the Village Green each Father's Day weekend. 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 (Hildene Meadows) and the Southern Vermont Art & Craft Festival (Riley Rink Events Field) had no confirmed 2026 dates; check with organizers before planning a visit. 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 fills downtown Main Street with 130+ vendors on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, 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 small businesses and artists' studios — painters, glassblowers, ceramic artists — and holds an annual holiday sale. Brattleboro-West Arts coordinates open studio tours in the greater Brattleboro area. The Putney Craft Tour (about 8 miles north) is the region's signature event. Cherry Street Artisans adds to the downtown artisan presence.
Seasonal Guide to Vermont Craft Shows
Spring (May-June) opens with the Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend over Memorial Day Weekend, with studios open statewide. The Bennington Mayfest fills downtown Main Street with 130+ vendors in May. Maple Madness on Burlington's Church Street Marketplace aligns with Vermont Maple Open House Weekend. The Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival runs Father's Day Weekend in June. Summer (July-August) brings the Champlain Valley Fair to Essex Junction in late August, along with outdoor pop-up markets along Burlington's Church Street and waterfront corridors. The Burlington Farmers Market is in full swing with handmade vendor items alongside produce. Summer is a steady period rather than peak season for structured craft shows. Fall (September-October) is the richest season, driven by foliage tourism:- Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, Stowe Events Field (October 9–11 in 2026, 150+ artists)
- SVAC Fall Craft Market, Manchester (October 3–4 in 2026)
- Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair (October, 100+ vendors)
- Chester Festival (mid-September, 100+ vendors, free entry)
- Weston Craft Show, Weston Playhouse (not held in 2024; check status)
- 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 (Stowe Events Field in 2026)
- Open studio weekends and craft tours — Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend (Memorial Day weekend and first weekend of October), Putney Craft Tour (Thanksgiving weekend, since 1978)
- Large indoor craft expos — Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo (Essex Junction, 150+ booths, 40+ years)
- Village green fairs — Chester Festival (free entry), Weston Craft Show, Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair
- Downtown street festivals — Bennington Mayfest Arts & Crafts Festival (130+ 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, late August into early September)
- 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 Chester Festival (mid-September), Vermont Crafts Council Open Studio Weekend and SVAC Fall Craft Market (early October), and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival and Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair (mid-October) 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. Member artists open their working studios along about 15 self-guided tour loops statewide; the council has more than 250 artist members. Visitors drive from studio to studio, watch demonstrations, and buy directly from the makers.
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 Balloon Festival adds balloon launches, live music, and food vendors on Father's Day weekend.
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 and Bennington Mayfest are free. The Champlain Valley Craft Show & Antique Expo sells tickets valid all three days. The Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair charges $10 for adults (children 12 and under free). 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 Stowe to Manchester — and filter by city, date, and event type to find what is coming up near you.