Labor Day Fun in the Mad River Valley

The Sugarbush Ski Resort and the Mad River Valley are breathtaking in the late summer. Labor Day Weekend is a fantastic time to visit and take part in many activities. There is something for everyone to enjoy in the heart of the Green Mountains located in Central Vermont. The Valley is about twenty miles from Interstate 89. For a more scenic drive, take Route 100 from the South, also accessible from Interstate 89 as well as Interstate 91. If traveling from the north, Route 2 will take you to Route 100.

An event happening over the Labor Day Weekend in the Mad River Valley that bicycle enthusiasts will enjoy is the Green Mountain Stage Race. This year will be the tenth annual race, which starts on Friday September 3 and ends on Sunday September 5. The race covers some challenging terrain, although the route is beautiful. For more information about this race, and to register to participate, you can visit: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=10555.

Another event happening in the Mad River Valley over Labor Day Weekend is the giant craft fair hosted by the Valley Player's Theater. In attendance will be 100 juried artists with awesome crafts to display under a tent in the field at Kenyon's Feed Shop. Kenyon's is on Route 100 in Waitsfield and one would pass it heading into the Valley. You can shop from a variety of handmade items from all over the state and beyond while admiring the views and feeling the aura of many great artists joined together with wares that include clothing, furniture, baskets, jewelry, and pottery. Everything is handmade and while shopping you can listen to live Jazz, enjoy free activities for the kids, buy lunch at a food court and win door prizes. The Craft Fair is scheduled from 10:00 am until 5;00 pm and costs $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors and kids 12 and under are free. There is also free parking at the venue. The address for the Craft Fair is 3337 Main Street, Kenyon's Field, Route 100, Waitsfield, Vermont. This Craft Fair is well worth the trip.

On Sunday September 5^th while the craft fair is going on, the Valley Rotary will host a rubber duck race in the river that runs behind the field. Thousands of rubber ducks will be released to race until the finish. People buy tickets for $5.00 apiece or 6 for $25.00. There is a monetary reward for win, place and show on those rubber ducks. The money raised is to help people in need.

At the Lareau Farm on Route 100 in Waitsfield there is an art exhibit in the Big Red Barn. This site is also the home of Flatbread. Ann Lynch will be featured over Labor Day and her watercolor paintings depict Vermont scenery as well as portraits of friends and family. This exhibit is worth seeing. American Flatbread is a restaurant that you may want to plan to have dinner at. The flatbread pizzas are exquisite and made with all natural and local ingredients in a wood fired oven. A stop at the Lareau Farm is definitely with the time.

If you are looking for more guidance in terms of the wonderful fun to have in the Valley on Labor Day Weekend, stop by the Art Festival Hub at 5123 Main Street in Waitsfield, Vermont. The fine folks who are manning this shop can tell you what art shows, music venues, or restaurant deals are going on that weekend. You can also purchase tickets at this stop for anything that might catch your fancy. One fun event for everyone is a stop at All Things Bright and Beautiful.

At All Things Bright and Beautiful, Gaelic McTigue has been creating hand-painted wooden ornaments for forty years. She is especially adept at making ornaments of dogs and cats that she cuts herself and then hand paints. If you bring a picture of a treasured pet, she can craft the ornament while you wait. What a great piece of Vermont to bring home to your Christmas Tree! The studio is open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and is right in Waitsfield Village just a couple of houses off Route 100. The road the shop is on is called Bridge Street and while on that street there are a myriad of other shops to visit all in one block. There is a tea shop, and an artisans gallery with Vermont made treasures, a second hand store called Cheap Thrills which really has the best cheap thrills in both vintage and current clothing and also a bakery that has outdoor seating for a snack and some tea or coffee while you await your hand made Christmas ornament.

The Mad River Valley Glass Gallery at 4237 Main Street in Waitsfield, Vermont has demonstrations that are free to all. Artists David and Melanie Leppla work magic while gathering 2000 degree molten glass and transforming that into a piece of art. Some of this couple's creations are in the American Craft Museum and the Smithsonian Museums. They do demonstrations of their craft Mondays through Fridays. If you have never seen glass blown, this is a definite must see. It takes a great deal of skill to craft the things that we all take for granted. Labor Day Weekend in the Mad River Valley affords the opportunity to view this ancient craft up close.

In Warren Village, just a couple of miles south on route 100 from Waitsfield is the Parade Gallery. Open from 10:00 - 5:30 daily, the shop exhibits work by artists such as Woody Jackson who uses watercolors as a medium, Alistair McCallum's black and white photography of Vermont landscapes, and Peter A. Miller's oil paintings. The village of Warren also has a country store with a great selection of wine, unique clothing, awesome sandwiches, and quirky toys. There is also an antique toy shop in Warren Village which has the biggest display of antique toys I have seen outside of the Smithsonian. There is great fun to be found in Warren Village and treasures as well.

Another great place to visit during a Labor Day Weekend in the Mad River Valley is the Saturday Farmers Market in Waitsfield. Again, right on Route 100 so easy to find, the market sells fresh produce, flowers, honey, wool, eggs, meat, cheese and other farm products. You can find fresh baked bread, Vermont crafts, and if it is time for lunch, there is prepared food. There is always a band playing at the market and lots of room to spread out and relax and enjoy and afternoon. Things to pack up early - around 2:00 - so this would be a great place to visit in the late morning before packing off to Warren Village for a great view of antiques from farm equipment to toys.

A craft fair, a bike race, art to view and glassblowing to learn about are all things that happen in the Valley over the Labor Day Weekend. There is also golfing, mountain biking, chair lift rides, and zip line rides at Sugarbush Ski Area. For more information on those adventures go to www.Sugarbush.com for times, prices and information on lodging, dining and the Sports Club which has a climbing wall for all to enjoy as well as tennis courts and two swimming pools.

If you are looking for a great place to spend Labor Day Weekend in New England, the Mad River Valley and the Sugarbush Ski Resort is the place to be. Food, art, sports, adventure, shopping and great demonstrations by local artists make this a go to destination.