Readings, panel discussions, and special events will showcase 34 emerging and established authors including former U.S. Poet Laureate Maxine Kumin, two-time National Book finalist Marilyn Nelson, Newbery award winning author Katherine Paterson, best-selling fiction authors Sue Miller and Allegra Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon S Wood, and non-fiction authors Nick Flynn, Bruce Feiler and Jeffrey Zaslow. See website for schedule and fees. Information: 802-365-7673 or visit www.brattleboroliteraryfestival.org.

Burlington Book Festival
Various locations around town
Burlington, VT
Phone: 802-658-3328

September 24-26, 2010

Experience three days of readings, signings, panels, film screenings, musical performances, workshops, lectures, demos and more. All this plus original theatre and special events featuring literary luminaries from around the world - and just around the corner. Guests include poet Galway Kinnell, New Yorker Magazine cartoonist Harry Bliss, Vermont fiction writer Howard Frank Mosher, and former U.S. diplomat Peter Galbraith. Times and fees vary; see website for details. Information: 802-658-3328 or visit www.burlingtonbookfestival.com.

Celebration of the Vine Harvest Festival
Boyden Valley Winery, Vermont Route 104
Cambridge, VT
Phone: 802-644-8151

September 18 - 19, 2010

The Harvest Festival includes a variety of events, from wine tasting to live music, with activities that will appeal to all ages, like a grape stomping contest, vendors, grape picking from the vine, clowns, face-painting, hayrides, a corn maze, and more. Time: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days. Cost: adults, $10; children 12 and under, free. Information: 802-644-8151 or visit www.boydenvalley.com.

Colors of the Kingdom Festival
1302 Main Street
St. Johnsbury, VT

September 18, 2010

Bringing together the best of two long-running, annual festivals - St. Johnsbury's Fall Festival and Fairbanks Museum's Festival - to create one exciting, eventful, town-wide extravaganza. Celebrate St. Johnsbury and its cultural and natural history with exhibits, tours, demonstrations, music and parade. Find treasures of today as you browse through the farmers market, craft vendors and food court. Time: NA. Cost: NA. Information: 802-748-3678 or visit www.nekchamber.com.

Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival
Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton and St. Johnsbury, VT
Phone: 800-639-6379

September 26 - October 2, 2010

This week-long includes local history, entertainment, photo ops, church suppers, crafts and tours in Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton and St. Johnsbury. Each has special historic and cultural background and the local volunteer hosts are pleasant and informative. Plenty of places to stay only a few miles to each town. Information: 802-748-2372 or visit www.nekchamber.com.

Stowe Oktoberfest
Jackson Ice Arena, Park Street
Stowe, VT
Phone: 802-253-4788

September 24-26, 2010

Stowe's Jackson Ice Arena will be transformed into a Bavarian village for this annual celebration of harvests and fall foliage. From oompah bands to authentic German foods to freshly brewed Vermont beers to pumpkin and face painting, there's something for every "villager," young and old. Time: Friday, 7 - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cost: adults, $7; youth ages 9 - 20, $5; under 9, free. Information: 802-253-4788 or visit www.stoweoktoberfest.com.

Vermont Small Farms Food Fest
Shelburne Orchards, 216 Orchard Road
Shelburne, VT
Phone: 802-985-2753

September 13, 2010

See Map

This traditional celebration is jam-packed with taste-testing foods from local farms and food producers, a wonderful lineup of Vermont musicians, delightful tractor hayrides, a cool Tractor Petting Zoo, the a-mazing haybale maze, great facepainting, ropemaking, neat apple prints, and lots of info available about interesting area organizations. Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: www.shelburneorchards.com