| VOLUME 30 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | January 1, 2026 |
ArtBits always features a calendar of the goings on of Franklin County artists. Check out these events around Franklin County. Each issue includes the entire text of our weekly newspaper column. STUFF YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
Franklin County's arts and music gatherings bring new opportunities, gossip, "show-and-tell" and occasional workshops. There are also booked and acoustic Open Mic Nights that feature music, readings, and more from the best new artists in Vermont.
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ART ON THE WALLS
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on decorative ornament maker Maureen Genzlinger. The art and fine craft cooperative features paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, sculpture, lamps, pottery, folk art boxes, scarves, hats and more by 38 Franklin County and surrounding area artists. It is owned and operated by the artists and sponsors. The gallery on South Main Street is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
JEFFERSONVILLE--Bryan Memorial Gallery hosts the End of season Gallery-Palooza, a celebration of their members at artists closing a successful 2025 season, on Sunday at 2 - 4 p.m. The gathering is free and open to members only.
The GEMS show features plein air artist Fiona Cooper Fenwick in the Middle Room Gallery through Sunday and on Facebook .
The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville is open Wednesday-Sunday 11 - 4 and the Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 - 4, and Friday and Saturday, 11 - 5. Appointments are available. Call ahead (802.644.5100) to schedule or Click here for more info.
ART FOR SALE
ST. ALBANS--14th Star hosts the Sunday Makers Market in the Taproom on Sunday at 12 noon - 3 p.m. Shop pop-up booths from local crafters/makers with new vendors every Sunday. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ART YOU CREATE
MORRISVILLE--River Arts hosts the Creative Circle Cafe on Sunday at 10 a.m. The monthly gathering encourages a relaxed, exploratory making rooted in collage and other, gentle experimentation in drawing, mark-making, writing, stitching, mixed media, and more. Each session begins with a creative prompt to spark ideas. The cost is free by suggested donation of $10-15. Click here to enroll and for more info.
MILTON--The Milton Artists' Guild hosts Yarn & Yak with Kelli Shepherd on Wednesday at 5 - 7 p.m. The free, drop-in workshop is for projects to knit, crochet, or craft with fiber. All skill levels are welcome. No registration is required. Find them on Facebook for more info.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
NVAA AT RIVER ARTS (February 14)--NVAA members will exhibit two-dimensional works at River Arts in Morrisville beginning February 21. This is a non-juried exhibit, open to all members. Click here for more info.
DANCE
ALBURG--Between the Lines Line Dancing offers Beginner Line Dancing at the American Legion Landon Post #60 on Fridays at 6 p.m. Bring clean, dry shoes to change into and dance in. Admission is by $5 donation per class, which is donated to the Alburgh Volunteer Fire Department. Find them on Facebook for more info.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
MILTON--Social Sundays continue at the Milton Artists' Guild Art Center with free weekly art classes for families at MAG on Sunday at 1 p.m. Each week offers a different project. Stay for 30 minutes or the whole two hours. Click here for more info.
MORRISVILLE--River Arts begins Drawing with Tone: Advanced Graphite Techniques with Mary Reilly on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The four-week course will explore the art of super-realistic drawings using graphite pencils. The focus will include layering, burnishing, and blending techniques using highlights, shadows, and midtones to create depth. Tuition is $120. Click here to register and for more info.
IN THE SAC
SWANTON--The Swanton Arts Council will hold a Board Meeting and Updates in person at the Swanton Free Public Library on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Find the SAC on Facebook for the agenda and more info.
ON STAGE LIVE
Thursday, January 1
SOUTH HERO--Will Austin plays the Winter Wine Down Music series at Snow Farm Vineyard this evening at 6:30 p.m. The summer music series continues with well known musicians, wine, and food every Thursday. Click here for more info.
Friday, January 2
SHELDON--The Abbey Friday Night Music Series often has live performances on Friday about 6:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Friday-Sunday, January 2-4
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host Dave Miller on Friday and George Murtie returns live on Saturday night. Music starts about 6:30 p.m. Call 802.524.1405 or find them on Facebook for more info. Click here to book a reservation or to visit the art on the walls.
Saturday, January 3
FRANKLIN--The Dick Wright Pub presents Jukebox Jake Live at the Pub for an evening of 50s and 60s songs from Buddy Holly, the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan on Saturday at 6 p.m. His debut album, The Road Less Traveled, can be found on all streaming platforms. Admission is by suggested donation of $10. Click here for more info.
Sunday, January 4
BURLINGTON--Foam Brewers presents Dale and Darcy on Sunday at 1 p.m. The small, independent craft brewery has live music most days. Click here for more info.
Tuesday, January 6
SOUTH HERO--Doug's Open Mic Night comes to Two Heroes Brewery on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Sign up in-person only from 5 - 5:30. Open Mic happens every other Tuesday. Click here for more info.
Wednesday, January 7
XX ENOSBURG--Sage Machia hosts Country Karaoke Nights at the Rail Trail Pub on Wednesday at 7 pm. The boot scootin' boogie happens every Wednesday. Find them on Facebook for more info.
FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
HIGHGATE--The Highgate Library and Community Center continues the Muffin Monday Senior Social Hour on Monday at 10 a.m. The program is a community connect to brainstorm opportunities for senior support. Each week will also include coffee and tea, as well as fresh pastries. The program will run every Monday morning and is free for anyone 55 and older. Registration is mandatory as space is limited. Call the Library (802.868.3970) to register and for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The Eloquent Page True Crime Book Club meets to discuss In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The knifepoint kidnapping of 12-year old Polly Klaas from her bedroom in Petaluma, CA is one of the most famous true-crime stories of our generation. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--The St. Albans Free Library wants input abut a new writer's group. They will host a Writer's Group Exploratory Meeting on Wednesday at 6pm. Meet with fellow writers to discuss what makes a group successful. The group meets after hours. Please arrive before the doors close at 6 p.m. Click here for more info.
LOOKING FORWARD
Here's where I get to write up the arts and books and dance and music and theatrical hopes and guesses for 2026. This year's "looking forward columns" are spread over two weeks. This week, we have info about upcoming Arts Council and Opera House events. We will cover the Franklin County Festivals and our Town Bands plus Other Major Presenter plans next week.
Happy New Year!
ARTS COUNCILS 2026
ALL ARTS COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
The All Arts Council's three primary goals haven't changed: continuing our popular programs, continuing our support of artists and other presenters, and continuing our partnerships. The AAC may also host several one-time shows. Email the All Arts Council if you would like to suggest or host a show.
ALL ARTS COUNCIL WISH LIST
Every Franklin County presenter needs volunteers and money. From All Arts to Young Tradition-Vermont, please remember that volunteers and a permanent base make up the "back room" that each of these groups needs to continue the programming you enjoy.
If you want to write this column, plan an event, or do anything else in the arts, Email the All Arts Council . The AAC also needs volunteers to provide the marketing and technical help, have resources, and to host meetings and exhibits, and concerts and workshops for artists, other groups, and local presenters.
If you have an advertising budget to spend or space to lend for the year, Email the All Arts Council . If you want to run an arts program, Email the All Arts Council faster.
BURLINGTON CITY ARTS
Burlington is outside of our normal catchment area but several Franklin County artists are BCA members and their programming is of interest to us.
BCA will offer public art, exhibitions, events, classes, home studio, and artist resources throughout the year plus festivals and performance series including gallery talks, an Architecture + Design Film Series, Family Art, the BTV Winter Market, Summer in the City, Festival of Fools, and Highlight, the New Year's Eve Celebration. Click here for more info IN THE ISLANDS
Island Arts has brought arts activities to Grand Isle County for over 30 years. This year, they should again have concerts, theater performances, community dances, and craft fairs for children and adults including classes, Paint and Sip events, and more for all ages from May through September. Click here or Find them on Facebook for more info.
SWANTON ARTS COUNCIL
The Swanton Arts Council will offer more programs in 2026. At the Board Meeting Wednesday, they will install the 2026 Board Members and discuss the emerging Artist Award and Youth Art Show, Free Art Programming, the Festival of Trees, Artist Showcase, Swanton Town and Village plans and more. Click here for more info.
ARTS CENTERS, GALLERIES, AND GUILDS 2026
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
The A.I.R. has an in-person gallery and online celebrations of more than 40 area artists. They "can't wait to show us what their artists are working on for 2026." The gallery on South Main Street is open Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
BRYAN MEMORIAL GALLERY
The Bryan Gallery is eager to start new exhibits, events, and workshops for its 41st year in 2026. The main Gallery in Jeffersonville is open this winter on Wednesday through Sunday, 11-4. The Stowe Gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 11-4, and Friday and Saturday 11-5. Appointments are also available. Call (802.644.5100) to schedule an appointment or Click here for more info.
MILTON ARTIST'S GUILD
MAG has an online shop, in-person gallery, and online workshops for every artist with Social Sundays for the whole family every week. The MAG online shopis open 24/7 and the gallery itself is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
NORTHERN VERMONT ARTISTS ASSOCIATION
Jonathan Brigham is NVAA president. The NVAA board will vote in officers and board members and to discuss the 2026 calendar this month. Members will exhibit at River Arts beginning next month. They may host the June Juried show at Visions of Vermont Gallery in Jeffersonville and the Fall show at Village Frame Shoppe. Click here or Find them on Facebook for more info.
RIVER ARTS
The Morrisville Art Center offers "Arts for Everyone" with exhibits in the Folley Hall and Copley Studio Galleries as well as off-campus plus an ambitious schedule of programs including figure drawing, sewing and felting, soft sculptures, upcycled journals and mixed media, wheel classes, kiln, and much more. There will be monthly Sip N' Slurry or Paint and Sip evenings plus Meditate & Create evenings and look for a fresh collaboration between Morrisville Alliance for Culture and Commerce and River Arts for more Music on Main this summer. Art100 takes place in February. Click here for more info.
ON STAGE 2026
THE OPERA HOUSE
The Opera House at Enosburg Falls offers a mix of major productions, touring, and community events from vocalists in concert, musicals, and theatricals, to talent shows and art shows. Productions are volunteer-based with small honorariums granted based on the proceeds of the show. The 300 seat historic center of the performing arts serves 14 local communities and more. Their new season begins with a Blues Jam on January 29.
The House wants to know what you want to see in 2026 and needs volunteers. Email to volunteer or get involved and click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
Good News!There are so many events around the region that we miss some of them.Be sure to check these calendars for what's happening near you ... |
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Music!Links to the Summer Music series in Franklin County |
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Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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