1000 Ways to Enjoy Vermont and New Hampshire

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Annual Ski Challenge

2012-02-29T21:11:00.001-05:00

Sign up for a fun family day on the slopes plus a night of apres-ski fun at the Killington Grand Hotel in support of a great cause - Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the organization that has been at the forefront of sports and recreation for those with disabilities in New England.

Their mission: 'Empowering individuals with disabilities through year-round, statewide sports and recreation.'

Your mission: Help raise the funds to support Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports' and the Pico Ski Education Foundation's combined efforts to build a flagship, four-season headquarters for their athletes, programs, participants, volunteers, and events, the PEAK Lodge.

This year's theme? It's all about the 80's folks. In celebration of Vermont Adaptive's 25th anniversary, think reunions, Flock of Seagulls, day-glo jackets and one piece suits. Dress up for the event and come have some fun.

Date: March 12th, Time: All day, Location: Pico Mountain. Adults: $80 registration + minimum $100 donation; Junior/Child: $60 + fundraising recommended. Special IBEX beanie to all who register. Register now at vermontadaptive.org.

Unable to attend? Please consider a donation to this essential organization that through an extensive volunteer network provides outdoor opportunities to youths and adults with disabilities and promotes self-confidence and independence by participation in adaptive sports programs and activities. Online donation form here.

Magic of Stowe Fondue Snowshoe Tour

2012-02-29T09:44:00.000-05:00

Join Umiak Outfitters for a fun and adventure filled nighttime snowshoe tour in beautiful Stowe, Vermont. Their certified guides will take you on an easy walk through tree lined and snow covered trails where you will get a chance to learn about our great state. Your group will emerge from the forest at one of Stowe’s top resorts for an already prepared, delicious Vermont award winning Cabot Cheese and Lake Champlain Chocolate fondue dinner. This is a family friendly tour loved by adults and kids alike.

Thursdays and Saturdays, 5:30pm to 9pm through March 24th. $69/person.

Umiak Outdoor Outfitters, 849 S Main Street in Stowe, 802-253-2317. Online details here.

Reading Reverie

2012-02-27T20:52:00.001-05:00

A beautiful house in a heavenly setting, stylish interiors and a cook's ideal kitchen. 10 acres of open lawns, rolling pastures and gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Gordon Hayward. 311 Grasshopper Lane. Your Vermont dream realized.

Details and additional photos here. For more information or to schedule your viewing contact Rick Higgerson.

Dartmouth Theater Department presents Hairspray!

2012-02-18T17:50:00.000-05:00

For a little family fun during school vacation week check out the Dartmouth Theater Department's presentation of Hairspray. The show has consistently delighted audiences, sweeping them away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out - and change is in the air! Lovable heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair? Find out! Shows all this week, visit the HOP website for tickets.

Hannes Schneider Meister Cup

2012-02-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

Get out the vintage skiwear. Saturday, March 3rd Cranmore Mountain will be hosting the annual Hannes Schneider Meister Cup. If you can ski around a few gates on intermediate terrain, you are qualified to participate in this unique race honoring the founding father of ski instruction, Austrian Hannes Schneider (at left executing his famous jump turn.)

While you are having a blast on the hill your participation will be helping to fund the collection and conservation of our skiing heritage exhibited at the New England Ski Museum located at the foot of Cannon Mountain in Franconia, NH. This important museum offers an archive of skiing history with colorful exhibits, an extensive library, and growing collections of ski-related artifacts.

Registration closes March 1, 2011 so get online and visit the New England Ski Museum website or call the Ski Museum at (800) 639-4181. Download the event brochure here.

A few details:
Dual GS Race Format on Lower Intermediate Terrain
Age Classes from 13 & under to 90 plus
Individuals $75; Five-Member teams $375
Prizes for Best Vintage Skiwear

Need lodging? Check out our favorite spot, The Eastern Slope Inn, home to the incomparable Flatbread Pizza Company which serves up the most delicious organic pizza cooked in a primitive wood-fired oven.

Wild Winter Fun for the Family

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of the season's most fun happenings - the Winter Wild series - is up and running. This uphill/downhill race (the finish at the bottom) is a family-friendly event open to all ages and abilities. Don't let the word 'race' intimidate you! Join the fun in climbing to the peak of one of the region's beautiful ski areas.

There are categories for Alpine skiers, Telemarkers, Nordic skiers, and snowshoers and runners, with divisions by age. Like getting first tracks? Events take place at ski areas where you get to hit slopes before they open to the public.

The next race takes place February 4th at Ragged Mountain in Danbury, NH. Subsequent dates and locations are Feb 18th at Pats Peak, March 3rd at Mount Sunapee and March 17th at Bretton Woods for the championships.

For more information or to register visit Winter Wild.

Get Your Tickets Now! - Ski AND Rock Out with Guster, Barenaked Ladies & Big Head Todd!

2012-01-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

Yes, people! You got that right, FestEVOL is bringing Guster, Barenaked Ladies and Big Head Todd to town for two weekends of great live music and outdoor fun at Okemo and Mount Sunapee.

March 24th & 25th Okemo hosts a unique experience combining mountain sports, live music, 'green' treats and an 'eco-village.' Barenaked Ladies will perform on Saturday; Sunday features Guster with Big Head Todd & The Monsters. Concerts take place at the Ice House at Jackson Gore, an outdoor venue, so please dress appropriately.

While at Okemo enjoy the Reverb Eco-Village all day in the Jackson Gore courtyard. This interactive village includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco-Village also highlights natural & organic food sampling and ski & snowboard equipment demos with Nordica and Burton Snowboards.

March 31st & April 1st the festivities are at Mount Sunapee featuring the IZSTYLE Winter Tour and Reverb Eco-Village showcasing businesses and products that support a sustainable environment, all natural & organic food sampling, ski & snowboard demos and THE MUSIC. Saturday's highlight is Barenaked Ladies with the Pete Kilpatrick Band and Sunday features Guster with Big Head Todd & The Monsters.

Stage, spectator and refreshment area will all be under a huge performance tent in parking lot #2.

Concert tickets combined with lift ticket are available now at Okemo and Sunapee, concert only tickets will go on sale a few days before the show. Register to be notified at the FestEVOL site here.

FestEVOL Weekend benefits Reverb which brings on-the-ground greening to musicians’ tours while conducting grassroots outreach and engagement with music fans everywhere.

Occom Pond Party!

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday February 11, 2012, 12:00 to 3:00 pm

This family-friendly event at Occom Pond, which is free and open to the public, offers visitors the chance to ice skate, sled on the adjacent golf course, take sleigh rides, and sample maple syrup-covered snow.

The Dartmouth Marching Band—which is often accompanied by the costumed “Dartmouth Moose” - will lead a parade at 1:00 pm. Activities throughout the day, such as speed skating, sliding down an ice castle, mock ice-fishing, and racing couches on the ice, are geared to kids of all ages. (Offerings may vary according to the weather.)

The event is produced by the Hanover Parks and Recreation Department and Dartmouth College. Each year a theme is chosen for the ice sculptures around the pond. This year, “Pig and Wolf,” characters who serve as the town of Hanover’s unofficial mascots, will be featured..

Free parking is available in lots near Dartmouth Medical School. For more information call the Hanover Rec at (603) 643-5315. Do not miss this excellent winter bash!

Montpelier Art Walk

2012-01-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

Stroll through downtown Montpelier, visit with local artists and view their work. 20+ venues featuring fine art, photography, sculptures, posters, handmade ornaments and more!

A fun, family-friendly and free event - February 10, 2012, 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

For more information, please call 802.223.9604 or go to www.montpelieralive.org/artwalk.

The 25th Annual Camel’s Hump Challenge Backcountry Tour - Sunday, February 5th

2012-01-22T08:36:00.000-05:00

The 25th annual Camel’s Hump Challenge will be held in Huntington, Vermont on Sunday, February 5, 2012 (the alternative weather date will be February 12th.)

The Camel’s Hump Challenge is not a race, but a demanding 26 km backcountry ski around Camel’s Hump. After 25 years, the event has gained recognition within the region as a unique fundraiser supporting education and family support programs for the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter.

Experienced backcountry skiers are invited to gather at 7:30 am at the Camel’s Hump Nordic Skiers’ Association center in Huntington.

Visit the website for more information: www.camelshumpchallenge.com.

Story Time and Marshmallow Roast at Dartmouth Outing Club

2012-01-14T20:56:00.000-05:00

Home with the kids on Sunday, staying out of the cold, and getting a case of cabin fever?

Head over to the Dartmouth Outing Club house for storytime and marshmallow roasting by the fireplace in the main room, 11:00am to noon.

Children ages 3 through 8, accompanied by their parents, are invited to attend. Weather permitting, there will be skating, cross-country skiing & sledding.

Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center - Howl at the Moon

2012-01-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

Saturday February 4, 2012 the Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center hosts the 5th Annual Howl at the Moon, a progressive torch-lit dinner on the Hanover Country Club golf course catered by local merchants.

Partake of good eats provided by EBA's, Ramuto's, Lou's, Market Table, The Cupcake Queen, Boloco, Morano Gelato, and more in addition to great live music in the DOC House.

This is a fun event for all and a limited number of tickets will be sold. Tickets are $10 per person, free for ages 5 and under, and can be purchased at the Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center at the DOC House on Occom Pond, by calling 603-643-6534 or emailing dxc@dartmouth.edu.

Dartmouth Film Society Winter 2012 series at the HOP

2012-01-11T08:29:00.000-05:00

The Dartmouth Film Society 's winter lineup takes it cue from Mother Nature showcasing films that mirror the current season.

The series features films exploring "the deadness of the sub-freezing wilderness outside. From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to French noblemen (La Marseillaise), from German rural innocence (White Ribbon) to the future of the entire planet (Melancholia, Take Shelter), the end of days is coming for everything and everyone."

The offerings are a mix of new films (Warhorse, The Descendants), classics (The Last Picture Show) and cult favorites (A Boy and His Dog.) Running through March 7th, visit the Hopkins Center website for tickets.

2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour stops at LOH

2012-01-08T11:17:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, February 1st Lebanon Opera House is host to the 2012 Banff Mountain Film Festival's World Tour's stop in central New Hampshire.

The evening will showcase International film productions on mountain themes ranging from mountaineering to ice and rock climbing to wildlife and environmental issues, as well as mountain sports such as skiing, kayaking, snowboarding, and much more.

These are some of the best of the offerings from the 2011 Banff Mountain Film Festival, the internationally acclaimed film competition that captures the spirit of the mountains with magnificent cinematography. See the award winners that blanket the spectrum of outdoor activities, culture and environment.

A not to be missed film experience for outdoor enthusiasts, tickets can be purchased online at www.lebanonoperahouse.org.

Holiday Humor at Shaker Bridge Theater

2011-12-16T08:09:00.000-05:00

Need a good dose of humor as the holidays loom? Shaker Bridge Theater in Enfield, New Hampshire has the ticket - catch the final performances of the brilliant David Sedaris' Christmas story The Santaland Diaries this weekend. Based on Sedaris' own experience working as a Christmas elf at a Macy's department store, The Santaland Diaries is the riotously funny retelling of a holiday gone bad.

Priceless observations, both outrageous and subtle. Destined to hold a place in the annals of American humor writing.- The New York Times

Covered Bridges Half Marathon

2011-12-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

Next year's Covered Bridges Half Marathon is Sunday, June 3. Registration for this popular and fun event starts Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7 pm EST. Be ready to get online because the race fills up fast - in less than an hour. The point-to-point run takes you through the beautiful Vermont towns of Pomfret, Woodstock and Queeche; monies raised support local charities. Go to http://www.cbhm.com/ for more information and to bookmark the registration link. Don't miss out!

Holiday Shows at the HOP

2011-11-27T20:56:00.000-05:00

Get thee to the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth this holiday season where the lineup includes something for everyone...

Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny

Beginning December 2nd the Mermaid Theater of Nova Scotia is staging a double header for the youngest of theater go-ers. The renowned puppet theater company will be performing childhood favorites Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s The Runaway Bunny featuring original music and the company's imaginative puppets. Recommended for ages pre-K to 2; three showings December 2nd and 3rd. More information on the HOP website.

Dartmouth College Gospel Choir Holiday Show

December 7th and 8th catch the Dartmouth College Gospel Choir performing their soulful and celebratory music in the intimate Rollins Chapel before the acclaimed choir heads off on their Chicago-area tour. Accompanied by a string section and Walt Cunningham on piano, a good time is guaranteed to be had by all. Dates and times and tickets on the HOP website.

The Christmas Revels

This years winter solstice celebration will have the audience travelling back in time to the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The entire family will enjoy the antics of a multi-generational cast that sets out to amuse the visiting Queen as she tours the countryside. Music quartet Punk’s Delight will entertain with an assortment of Renaissance instruments and arrangements. As in every Christmas Revels, audience participation is encouraged! The first of six performances begins December 15th; visit the HOP website for details.

Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography at the Currier Museum of Art

2011-11-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

Drawn from the largest private collection of photographs of rock musicians in the United States, Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography captures the intimate relationship between photographer and musician. Featuring 175 photographs—many rarely seen by the public—this exhibition provides a portal into the musical and cultural history of Rock & Roll, from its development in the 1950s to its influence on the sounds and styles of future generations. Studio portraits and candid outtakes of famous Rock & Roll stars range from Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles to Madonna, Courtney Love and Bob Marley.

At the CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART
150 Ash Street
Manchester, NH 03104

Through January 15, 2012

John Hiatt at Lebanon Opera House

2011-11-06T08:11:00.000-05:00

Make it date night for a good cause. Singer-songwriter-legend John Hiatt will be in the Upper Valley next week at the Lebanon Opera House. Tuesday, November 8th, the show starts at 7:30 pm and benefits The Good Neighbor Health Clinic. Go to www.lebanonoperahouse.org for tickets.

Billings Farm and Museum

2011-11-04T20:09:00.000-04:00

Looking for things to do with the kids while waiting for ski season to begin? Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock has a full roster of activities Saturdays and Sundays through the month of November. In addition to the permanent collection, farm life exhibits and working dairy barn, this weekend's program includes wagon rides, lessons in butter churning and up close visits with chickens and cows. Thanksgiving weekend will feature traditional cooking demonstrations in the farmhouse and hands-on harvest and food preservation activities and programs for every age. Visit www.billingsfarm.org for more information.