VERMONT

This two-day celebration of snow sports, mountain life, live music, and an eco-village, will feature concert performances by Barenaked Ladies and The Pete Kilpatrick Band on Saturday, March 24, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Guster on Sunday, March 25. The Eco Village offers organic food sampling, and ski and snowboard equipment demos with Ramp, Nordica and Burton Snowboards. For more information, visit www.festevol.com. Information: www.okemo.com/

The sweet maple aroma inside Vermont sugarhouses, and steam rising from the cupolas outside, are signs that sugaring season is underway! This event welcomes visitors at sugarhouses statewide. Activities will vary, but you can count on (weather permitting) seeing maple syrup made and sampling syrup and other maple products. Some sugarhouses offer tours and some have special activities for children. See website for locations throughout the state. Information: www.vermontmaple.org

Combining the world’s best musicians with the world’s best snow conditions, the 2012 SnowMont Music Festival offers multiple stages with live music by Snoop Dog, Kaskade, The Flaming Lips, Big Boi, Diplo, Borgore, Railroad Earth and More. Information: killington.com

Pancake breakfast, crafters, silent auction, maple cotton candy, sugar on snow, maple delectables, signature Cabot cheese sandwiches. Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: www.CabotChronicle.Org

Throughout the day there will be many maple-themed activities to enjoy. The Lunenburg Primary School on Bobbin Mill Road will serve as the hub for the Festival. Demonstrations of tree tapping will take place on the Town Common and many local sugarhouses will welcome visitors. Other activities include pancake breakfast beginning at 8 a.m.; displays highlighting local sugar makers; free samples of maple goodies; tree-tapping demonstrations; raffle of maple-themed quilt; scavenger hunt; self-guided tours of local sugarhouses; maple flavored pie baking contest; antique sugaring equipment; spaghetti supper. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Information: http://www.topofthecommon.org/7.html

A full weekend of Mardi Gras entertainment for all centered upon the Mardi Gras Parade on Main Street on Saturday at 3 p.m. Other events include:
Friday: Higher Ground will kick off the weekend's festivities with a feature performance from roots reggae band Midnite.
Saturday: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performers entertain along Church Street from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The King & Queen of Mardi Gras Costume Contest on the top block of Church Street at 1:15 p.m.
FunkWagon performs on the top block of Church Street from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The Primate Fiasco takes over the streets with a performance on Church St. near City Hall from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
At 3 p.m., The Grand Parade begins to wind its way down Main to Battery Street. Line up early to get your prime viewing spot so you can see the regalia and catch the beads, moon pies, and Lake Champlain chocolates as they fly from the floats! Before the parade, Sambatucada warms up the crowd with its unique Afro-Brazillian beats in front of City Hall. The Mardi Gras Parade Post-Party begins as soon as the last float has been filed away. Mosey on back to Church Street and catch a 90-minute solo set from Zach Deputy on the top block.
Information: www.magichat.net/mardigras/home

The sweet maple aroma inside Vermont sugarhouses, and steam rising from the cupolas outside, are signs that sugaring season is underway! This event welcomes visitors at sugarhouses statewide. Activities will vary, but you can count on (weather permitting) seeing maple syrup made and sampling syrup and other maple products. Some sugarhouses offer tours and some have special activities for children. See website for locations throughout the state. Information: www.vermontmaple.org

Jay Peak brings the wild verve of the Big Easy up to northern Vermont with a week’s worth of on and off-hill debauchery. Information: www.jaypeakresort.com.

Three days of maple treats, learning and fun at the end of maple time in Vermont. There is something for everyone, include exhibit hall, sugarhouse tours, Main Street entertainment stage, crafts, specialty foods, youth talent, antiques and fiddlers shows, carnival, pancake breakfasts, sap run race, cooking demonstration, contests, buffet dinner, historical museum, and more. Many events are free. Named a Vermont Chamber of Commerce To Ten event five years in a row. Information: www.vtmaplefestival.org or www.vermontmaplefestival.org

Variety of indoor and outdoor events throughout Brattleboro, including torchlighting at Wells Fountain, a scavenger hunt at Gibson Aiken Center; an outdoor fun day at Living Memorial Park with snowmobile rides, skating, skiing and much more; tug-o-war competition and dog sled demonstrations; sugar-on-snow at Living Memorial Park; petting farm; sleigh and hay rides at Fairwinds Farm; Comedy Night at the Latchis Theatre; pancake breakfast at the Elk’s Home; Brattleboro Figure Skating Club Ice Show; Country Western Jamboree at the American Legion; skateboarding competition at Brattleboro Boys & Girls Club
Information: www.brattleborowintercarnival.org/BWC/Welcome.html

Bud Light Mardi Gras Celebration featuring our skiing jesters, lift line giveaways, beads, après parties at Cuzzins and a huge Bud Light Concert at the Snow Barn. Information: visit www.mountsnow.com/events.

The sweet maple aroma inside Vermont sugarhouses, and steam rising from the cupolas outside, are signs that sugaring season is underway! This event welcomes visitors at sugarhouses statewide. Activities will vary, but you can count on (weather permitting) seeing maple syrup made and sampling syrup and other maple products. Some sugarhouses offer tours and some have special activities for children. See website for locations throughout the state. Information: www.vermontmaple.org

Mount Snow’s annual spring celebration has grown to epic proportions! Thousands of folks come out every year to witness other guests dressed in costumes to skim on a pond, slide on cardboard and enjoy some great live reggae music in and around the base area. Live reggae performances kick off Friday night at the Snow Barn, continue all day Saturday and Sunday on Cuzzins Deck and reach a fever pitch on Saturday night with the headliner performance back at the Snow Barn. The Sink or Skim pond skim competition is on Saturday and Duct Tape Derby V is on Sunday. Information: www.mountsnow.com/events.

Saturday features live Reggae from the Equalities and a pond skimming contest. The Trampoline Things will be on hand from Vermont’s Summer Adventure to liven up both days, and don’t miss the Fourth Annual Duct Tape Derby on Sunday. Information: www.bromley.com. Information: www.bromley.com/

Seven Whitingham sugar makers open their doors for residents, visitors, and guests. Learn about the art and science of maple syrup and sugar making. Time: Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: www.whitinghammaplefest.com

The Maple Festival celebrates an important aspect of Whitingham’s economic and cultural heritage. Eight of the town's 18 Whitingham sugar makers have graciously opened the doors of their sugar houses and given their time so that residents, visitors, and guests, alike will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the art and science of maple syrup and sugar making and the historical importance of sugaring to the region. Events includes pancake breakfasts, ham dinners, sugar house tours, horse-drawn sleigh rides (if there's snow) and an farts & crafts fair. See website for participations sugar houses and schedule.
Information: http://whitingham-maplefest.us/