| VOLUME 30 | * * All Arts News On the Web * * | January 15, 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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ARTS CENTER
MONTGOMERY--The Montgomery Center for the Arts will hold an MCA Community Art Circle on Sunday at 3 - 6 p.m. Bring a dish, questions and suggestions. The open house will include refreshments, music and the first MCA board meeting of the new year. This will be a listening, planning, and brainstorming meeting to hear from the community to make 2026 special in the MCA. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
ART ON THE WALLS
ST. ALBANS--The Artist In Residence collection spotlight is on watercolorist, mixed media artist, and teacher Dorothy Goulet. 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.
STOWE--Bryan Memorial Gallery features a walk through the forest with Mathew Pardue. They are in the gallery in Stowe and on Facebook. The gallery has exhibits of the landscape painters of New England. The main showcase in Jeffersonville closed for Winter break; 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.
MILTON--The Milton Artists Guild hosts an opening reception for the Mini Masterpieces Silent Auction on Saturday at 3 p.m. The auction includes miniature artworks by the MAG community members. Bidding will start Saturday and end the following Saturday. The MAG art center and gallery showcases the work of over 145+ artist members in Milton Square behind the Milton Post Office. They are open Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday. Click here or find them on Facebook 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
ST. ALBANS--14th Star Brewing Company hosts a Pet Portraits Paint n Sip with Linda Oakes Carvalho this evening at 6:30 p.m. Register for the class, email a clear image of your pet, and show up. All supplies are included. Food and beverages are available from 14th Star and Black Radish. The cost is $50. Click here or find them on Facebook for more info.
FRANKLIN--Stephania Fregeau of Earth Glaze & Fire leads a class in Sgraffito Carving at the Dick Wright Pub on Sunday. There will be two sessions at 1 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each participant will choose two snowflakes, and etch a design in them. The cost is $35 and includes all tools and materials. Click here for more info.
HIGHGATE--Coffee and Crafts meets at the Highgate Library and Community Center on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Materials and a hot coffee, tea, or cocoa are provided by HLCC. The program runs every Tuesday morning and is free adult library patrons. Email or call the Library (802.868.3970) to register 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.
CALL FOR SINGERS
ST. ALBANS ALL MALE A CAPELLA GROUP--Group practice continues at the Masonic Lodge this evening at 6:30 p.m. No experience necessary. They will provide learning tracks for the songs and will work with the group every week to help teach parts and work on our choral sound. All are welcome. Email Jim Walsh for more info.
CALL FOR THESPIANS
CHICAGO AUDITIONS--The Opera House at Enosburg Falls will hold auditions for all parts today at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. with callbacks (if needed) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Everyone will be asked to show a dance move or two, so please wear clothes and shoes you can move in. Rehearsals will be every Sunday afternoon plus two or three additional week nights. The show will be staged in April. Click here to pre-register and for more info.
HUMANITIES
ST. ALBANS--The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Spring 2026 Registration is open. Pre-registration is required. Walk-in registration will no longer be accepted. The weekly series will offer eight lectures, mostly on Thursdays. A St. Albans series membership is $40 individual/$70 couple for all eight events, or $10 per program if purchased individually. Call 802.656.8407 or email for registration questions. Click here for more info.
FRANKLIN--Cultural historian Jill Mudgett examines the Hills of Home: Mountains and Identity in Vermont History for the Haston Library and Vermont Humanities program in Franklin Town Hall on Saturday at 11 a.m. She will consider the importance of the (Green) mountain topography, where the pride in Vermont's landscape come from, and why our shared identity is rooted in the land. Call Josh Worman (802.285.6505) or click here for more info.
ONLINE and HINESBURG--Vermont Humanities presents New York Times best-selling writer Michael Tougias to discuss Extreme Survival: Lessons from Those Who Triumphed Against All Odds on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Mr. Tougias interviewed over 100 survivors and researched the historical figures who achieved the near-impossible. Alex Koncewicz Email at Carpenter-Carse Library for the Zoom link or Click here for more info.
ONLINE-- Clemmons Family Farm has released a free special edition of the Windows to a Multicultural World K-12 curriculum in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The lesson packages will be available online for free use through January 23. Click here for more info.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
MORRISVILLE--Jen Volansky leads the River Arts Mindful Art workshop, Free-Form Mandalas: Color, Symbol, and Self-Expression, today at 5:30 p.m. The decorative mandala art form is over 2,000 years old. The mandala is a geometric group of symbols. Mandalas are often used to focus attention as a spiritual guidance tool and as an aid to meditation. The class will begin with a short grounding practice, then move into a gentle visualization to spark ideas and inspiration. The cost of $30 includes all materials. Click here to register and for more info.
MILTON--Two workshops at the Milton Artists' Guild this week.
Social Sundays continue at the 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.
Cindi LaFayette leads Acrylic Pour Painting -- Vase and Canvas at the Art Center on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Participants will learn to blend acrylic colors for bold palettes or soft, muted tones and also work on a secondary "drip canvas" to capture paint pours and splatters. The cost is $35 for members or $40 for non-members. Click here to register and for more info.
ONLINE--Northwest Access TV presents Alex Foltz with the season finale of Foltz Studio, the live series of outdoor oil painting lessons. This episode finds him at a waterfall in Montgomery and on YouTube. The Highgate native who now lives in the state of Georgia teaches viewers the art of plein-air oil painting across different landscapes in Vermont. The appears weekly on YouTube channel and to Franklin County Comcast subscribers on channel 1079 on Mondays at 5 p.m.
ON STAGE LIVE
Thursday, January 15
NORTH HERO--The North Hero House hosts Live Music on Thursdays. This week, the series continues with George Murtie live this evening at 6 p.m. "Great music, some singalongs and just a whole lot of fun." Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH HERO--Dan Parks 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.
Thursday-Saturday, January 15-18
ESSEX JUNCTION--On Tap starts a jerborned weekend of music and shenanigans with Devon McGarry live and unplugged tonight at 6 p.m. two shows Friday night, WD-40 at 5 p.m., and then Nighthawk returns for late night music starting at 9 p.m., plus two more shows live on Saturday night with James Shelly at 5 p.m., and the Jerband at 9 p.m. Call 802.878.3309 or email for more info. Click here to reserve a table.
Friday, January 16
SOUTH HERO--The Blue Paddle Bistro hosts house favorite Stewart Foster for James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Lyle Lovett, and more on Friday at 5 - 7 p.m. Click here for more info.
COLCHESTER--Justice 3 "kicks off 2026" in the live and free Friday Night Live Music at the Spanked Puppy on Friday at 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
FRANKLIN--The Dick Wright Pub presents Laura Fedele-Rasco Live at the Pub with all your favorite songs on Friday at 6 p.m. Admission is by suggested donation of $10. Click here for more info.
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.
ESSEX JUNCTION--Sparky's presents Sleeveless Tease live on Friday at 8 p.m. "Come early for dinner and drinks and stay for the music." Find them on Facebook for more info.
SOUTH BURLINGTON--McMaple returns to the Old Post on Friday at 8 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info
Friday-Sunday, January 16-18
ST. ALBANS--The Taphouse at Mill River has shows on Friday and Saturday nights in January. Bill Valliere of the Smokey Newfield Project plays Friday and Hard Scrabble goes live on Saturday. Music starts about 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ST. ALBANS--Twiggs often has shows on Friday and Saturday nights. This week they host John Geno from IncaHoots on Friday and TBA 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.
ST. ALBANS--The Depot has a double header this weekend.
It's Karaoke Knight hosted by Lady Livy on Friday night at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Heavy Pour plays country rock live on Saturday night at 9 p.m. The $10 cover goes directly to the band. Find them on Facebook for more info
Wednesday, January 21
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.
SWANTON--Located in the historic Champlain Theater building, the Green Mountain Bistro has live music every Wednesday night from 6 - 8 p.m. Laura Fedele-Rasco returns to play live this Wednesday at 6. Find them on Facebook for more info.
ALMOST LIVE ON STAGE
Virtual music and events continue this week.
Local writer DonnaRae Menard continues the weekly read with Episode 8 from her St. Albans mystery novel, Beneath The Fountain, on NW Access TV and on YouTube.
Summer Sounds favorite Mark Shelton celebrated Elvis' 91st birthday on Facebook with Part I and Part II on Friday. Follow him on Facebook for a link to this week's offerings.
FRANKLIN COUNTY BOOKSHELF
Most libraries will be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
ENOSBURG--The Enosburgh Public Library Reading & Discussion Group takes up The Woman Behind the New Deal by Kirstin Downey on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Frances Perkins (not Eleanor Roosevelt) was FDR's Secretary of Labor, the first woman to serve as a cabinet secretary, and one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Find them on Facebook for more info.
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 St. Albans Free Library hosts two book groups this week.
Mornings, Muffins, and Mysteries discusses Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney this morning at 10:30 a.m. The psychological thriller tells the story of a writer whose wife mysteriously disappears. The group reads a variety of mystery genres and meets the third Thursday of each month in the Martha Dalton Meeting Room. Click here .
The Banned Books Group ("read them if you dare") meets for In the House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The famous magical realism novel by the Chilean writer chronicles four generations of a powerful, tumultuous family in an "unnamed" South American country. It has faced challenges and bans for to its violence, graphic sexual content, and offensive language. The Book Group meets after hours at the library. Please arrive before the doors close at 6 p.m. Click here 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
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Highgate Springs, VT 05460
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