Penguin Community Calendar

Winter Lights at Maple Street Park – Maple Street Park & Pool, Essex Junction, VT – 5:00-8:00pm – Take a walk through Maple Street Park and enjoy the lights accompanied by festive music. Scan a QR code for a scavenger hunt list on your way into the park to see if you can you find all the hidden ornaments in the trees.

Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum – Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT – 4:00-8:00pm – Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum is a brilliant and beautiful display of colorful light installations with musical moments throughout the Museum’s campus.

Fit and Strong Moms Workout & Playgroup – Jericho Community Center, Jericho, VT – 9:00-10:00am – Fit and Strong Moms is a total-body workout with strength, cardio, and core training led by ACE-certified personal trainer Sarah Roberts. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome! No need to get childcare… children are welcome and view this as a play group! Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and sandbags are used so the workouts can be adjusted for any level of fitness, and so children can safely play alongside their mothers without fear of injury. Contact: fitandstrongmoms@gmail.com with questions.

Craftytown at South Burlington Public Library – South Burlington Public Library, South Burlington, VT – 3:00-4:00pm – Join us for an afternoon of arts and craft fun in the Katie O’Brien Activity Room! All are welcome, and no pre-registration is necessary. FREE! Projects are geared to kids ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. A reminder that only kids in grades 5 and up can come to the library without a grown-up. Kids in grades 4 and younger need to come with an adult. Bring a friend! From painting to print-making and from collage to sculpture; we’ll explore different projects and mediums. A finished project can be taken home after every session.

Crochet and Knitting Club – Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, VT – 3:30-4:30pm – Join this weekly after-school club for those 7 and up interested in learning fiber arts! All skill levels are welcome, including complete beginners. Materials provided.

Crafternoon for Kids – Winooski Memorial Library, Winooski, VT – 3:30-4:30pm – Join the Winooski Library every Wednesday for a fun afternoon of craft activities for kids. Free; No registration required. Recommended ages 5+. Youth 9 and under must be with an adult.

Make-and-Take for Families – ABC Academy, Milton, VT – 5:30-7:30pm –  Come connect with other families while creating helpful visuals and tools to support home routines and rules, emotional regulation, supports to increase positive behaviors, and successful community outings. All materials are provided! Staff will on hand to: offer guidance, share ideas, support you in completing useful tools to take home and use immediately.

Fit and Strong Moms Workout & Playgroup – Jericho Community Center, Jericho, VT – 9:00-10:00am – Fit and Strong Moms is a total-body workout with strength, cardio, and core training led by ACE-certified personal trainer Sarah Roberts. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome! No need to get childcare… children are welcome and view this as a play group! Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and sandbags are used so the workouts can be adjusted for any level of fitness, and so children can safely play alongside their mothers without fear of injury. Contact: fitandstrongmoms@gmail.com with questions.

Traditional Christmas in Stowe – Main Street, Stowe, VT – 9:00am-8:00pm – Visit downtown Stowe the weekend of December 5-7th 2025 for our Traditional Christmas in Stowe event! From Friday nights’ Children’s Lantern Parade to Santa’s arrival on Main Street at noon Saturday to our new Winter Christmas Market Saturday evening there is something for everyone!

Take ‘n’ Make Crafts – Essex Free Library, Essex, VT – 9:00am-5:00pm – Grab’n’Go craft kits are available every Friday at Essex Free Library.

Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures – 57 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT – 12:00-8:00pm – Visit Brattleboro this holiday season and discover 60 store windows brimming with magical miniature scenes, darling doll houses, tiny terrariums, and steaming model trains. Shop the pop-up artisan holiday market, attend puppet shows and tea parties, and enjoy tiny treats from one-of-a-kind restaurants. Visit exhibitions of miniature art across town, including a restored Victorian doll house filled with the original work of more than 100 artisans – in miniature.

The Holly Jolly Jamboree – St. Albans Bay Park, St. Albans, VT – 4:30-5:30pm – We are excited to kick off the holiday season with one of our favorite events! We will spend extra time decorating the Bay Park to make sure it is up to Santa’s standards. Join us for holiday crafts in the heated Stonehouse, the lighting of the tree, and FREE hot chocolate. Bring donations of non-perishables or gifts for entrees to 50/50 raffle of donated items. Benefits Operation Happiness.

Spark the Park Kickoff Event – 1000 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT – 6:00-8:00pm – Join us Friday, December 5th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Veterans Memorial Park for our kick-off night of Spark the Park presented by NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. Make a s’more at the fire pit or enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate while you stroll through the lights. The first 100 in attendance will get an exclusive Spark the Park 2025 beanie! This free event is open to South Burlington and surrounding community residents! No registration necessary.

Newport’s Hometown Holidays – Newport, VT – 1:00-5:30pm – Mark your calendars and get ready for a magical day in Downtown Newport! Join Newport Downtown Development, VT’s North Country Chamber of Commerce, and Newport Parks & Recreation on Saturday, December 6th, for our annual Hometown Holidays celebration. We have a full schedule of festive activities perfect for the whole family, culminating in the spectacular Light Up the Night Parade!

Winter Festival Fundraiser – Bristol Recreation Department, Bristol, VT – 4:00-7:30pm – Join the Bristol Elementary Class of 2032 for a free, fun, and festive community evening at Holley Hall on Saturday, December 6th! Doors open at 4:00 PM for entertainment starting at 4:30 PM with Magic Man (and Comedian), Tom Joyce, followed by live music from Remember Baker (5:45 PM). Don’t miss the Silent Auction, Winter-Themed Photo Booth, and shopping with Farmhouse Chocolates, all moderated and staffed by Senator Rocket and the hardworking 6th grade class. A full pasta bar, featuring local favorites like Mamadoro Sauce and Down Hill Bakery bread, and others, will be available for a small fee (to go or dine in). Come and go as you please!

The 16^th Annual River of Light Lanter Parade – Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT – 5:00-7:00pm – This exciting and popular community event will be held this year on Saturday, December 6th in downtown Waterbury, Vermont. The theme for the parade this year is “wheels and wings”. We hope you will join in the celebration by either making a lantern and marching, or cheering us on from the sidelines! As always, MakerSphere is offering free lantern-making workshops for all ages. The parade begins at 5:00 pm with marchers leaving from Brookside Primary School on Stowe Street, proceeding right onto N. Main Street, and then concluding at Dascomb Rowe Field. The night finishes with hot cocao and live entertainment.

Champlain Islands Christmas Parade – South Hero, VT – 5:30-6:30pm – Join family, friends and neighbors for the annual Islands Christmas Parade. The parade kicks of at 6 p.m. sharp, heading north from Community Lane to South St. The parade will head west down South St. to Folsom School.

Sunday Morning Fam Jams – Guild Hall @ The Soda Plant, Burlington, VT – 9:30-11:00am – The Guild Hall is officially open for families to enjoy Sunday morning from 9:30am – 11am. From 9:30 – 10:00, father, musician and early childhood educator Alex Baron facilitates a weekly fam jam for all family members. We’ll have some instruments on hand for you and your littles to enjoy! Following the musical portion of the morning, families are invited to spend the next hour enjoying a casual playgroup in the space. Families had been hanging around afterwards anyways, so we figured we’d just make it official! Additionally, our good friends at Haymaker Buns downstairs will be offering $5 kids’ meals with any adult meal purchased to all playgroup attendees!

Williston Community Tree Lighting – Central School Drive, Williston, VT – 4:30-5:30pm – Join them as they light the tree, sing carols, and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa. Special music by the Children’s Choir at Williston Federated Church. The SD Ireland holiday truck plans to bring som eextra light and cheer. Please bring a donation of new hats, mittens, gloves, or socks for the Williston Community Food Shelf.

Fit and Strong Moms Workout & Playgroup – Jericho Community Center, Jericho, VT – 9:00-10:00am – Fit and Strong Moms is a total-body workout with strength, cardio, and core training led by ACE-certified personal trainer Sarah Roberts. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome! No need to get childcare… children are welcome and view this as a play group! Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and sandbags are used so the workouts can be adjusted for any level of fitness, and so children can safely play alongside their mothers without fear of injury. Contact: fitandstrongmoms@gmail.com with questions.

Craftytown at South Burlington Public Library – South Burlington Public Library, South Burlington, VT – 3:00-4:00pm – Join us for an afternoon of arts and craft fun in the Katie O’Brien Activity Room! All are welcome, and no pre-registration is necessary. FREE! Projects are geared to kids ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. A reminder that only kids in grades 5 and up can come to the library without a grown-up. Kids in grades 4 and younger need to come with an adult. Bring a friend! From painting to print-making and from collage to sculpture; we’ll explore different projects and mediums. A finished project can be taken home after every session.

Crochet and Knitting Club – Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, VT – 3:30-4:30pm – Join this weekly after-school club for those 7 and up interested in learning fiber arts! All skill levels are welcome, including complete beginners. Materials provided.

Crafternoon for Kids – Winooski Memorial Library, Winooski, VT – 3:30-4:30pm – Join the Winooski Library every Wednesday for a fun afternoon of craft activities for kids. Free; No registration required. Recommended ages 5+. Youth 9 and under must be with an adult.

Fit and Strong Moms Workout & Playgroup – Jericho Community Center, Jericho, VT – 9:00-10:00am – Fit and Strong Moms is a total-body workout with strength, cardio, and core training led by ACE-certified personal trainer Sarah Roberts. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome! No need to get childcare… children are welcome and view this as a play group! Bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and sandbags are used so the workouts can be adjusted for any level of fitness, and so children can safely play alongside their mothers without fear of injury. Contact: fitandstrongmoms@gmail.com with questions.

Take ‘n’ Make Crafts – Essex Free Library, Essex, VT – 9:00am-5:00pm – Grab’n’Go craft kits are available every Friday at Essex Free Library.

BTV Winter Market – Contois Auditorium, City Hall, Burlington, VT – 4:00-8:00pm – Love Burlington and BCA are joining forces for a sixth season to present the BTV Winter Market! In the past, you may have joined us outside during the holiday season for winter cheer — but this year, we’re switching things up. We’re moving indoors for a cozier vibe and condensing all the fun into two jam-packed weekends in two great locations. Featuring 30 local artists and makers, the Winter Market will be filled with unique gifts and a lively holiday atmosphere that makes every moment count.

Essex Junction Train Hop – Five Corners, Essex Junction, VT – 5:30-8:00pm – Essex Junction Train Hop is an annual event created to celebrate local businesses and create a social opportunity for our community in a unique way. Event goers are given a train map that lists all the participating businesses and are encouraged to get their map “stamped” at each location around the Five Corners and at Maple Street Park.

BTV Winter Market – Contois Auditorium, City Hall, Burlington, VT – 4:00-8:00pm – Love Burlington and BCA are joining forces for a sixth season to present the BTV Winter Market! In the past, you may have joined us outside during the holiday season for winter cheer — but this year, we’re switching things up. We’re moving indoors for a cozier vibe and condensing all the fun into two jam-packed weekends in two great locations. Featuring 30 local artists and makers, the Winter Market will be filled with unique gifts and a lively holiday atmosphere that makes every moment count.

Sunday Morning Fam Jams – Guild Hall @ The Soda Plant, Burlington, VT – 9:30-11:00am – The Guild Hall is officially open for families to enjoy Sunday morning from 9:30am – 11am. From 9:30 – 10:00, father, musician and early childhood educator Alex Baron facilitates a weekly fam jam for all family members. We’ll have some instruments on hand for you and your littles to enjoy! Following the musical portion of the morning, families are invited to spend the next hour enjoying a casual playgroup in the space. Families had been hanging around afterwards anyways, so we figured we’d just make it official! Additionally, our good friends at Haymaker Buns downstairs will be offering $5 kids’ meals with any adult meal purchased to all playgroup attendees!