Good morning, Burlington.

The 15th Annual Champlain Valley Buddy Walk will take place at Burlington's Battery Park on October 5 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM—more than 150 people are expected to join the 1-mile walk that raises funds and awareness for Down syndrome programs, with online registration open until October 2.

The Young Writers Project features a young poet’s manifesto by Oliver Ellis, 14, from Belmont with Burlington teen Molly Quavelin’s artwork 'Sunshine'—a work published as part of the online community that has shared young Vermonters’ writing since 2006.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announced the Solutions Summit will be held on September 18 at Hotel Champlain in Burlington to bring together business, state, and municipal leaders for discussions on boosting workforce growth, housing expansion, and community revitalization — keynote speakers Stephen Moret and Kevin Chu will outline strategies to turn ideas into action.

Vermont schools support counselors as student needs grow—counselors now focus on mental health and academic planning while the Vermont School Counselor Association expands training and advocacy to reduce non-counseling duties.

This statewide effort ensures that counselors have more time to assist students in need.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department data from 2024 shows the bear population is estimated to be between 6,800 and 8,000—well above the goal of up to 5,500 for the fourth year in a row.

Researchers will study female bears with GPS collars in the valleys and mountains for five or six years to see if varied food sources boost reproduction—while urging hunters to report any collared bears and residents to secure pets and trash to avoid conflicts.

U.S. Senator Peter Welch announced that registration is open for the free Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference, which will be held at Vermont State University in Randolph on September 27 + the event is supported by the Vermont Women’s Fund and the Vermont Community Foundation.

Today, crews begin major road construction across Vermont that will affect traffic on state highways including I-89 at Colchester and I-91 in Fairlee—drivers should expect lane closures, lower speed limits, and alternating traffic patterns in work zones.

Connie Beal of United Way’s Working Bridges program says many Vermonters may lose health insurance as the federal law signed on July 4 adds new rules—such as six-month Medicaid recertification and shorter commercial enrollment periods—that could leave some without coverage.

The program will help workers and employers navigate these changes to ensure eligible individuals in our community keep coverage.

Maya Manuela Concert

7-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — Tickets available — Experience soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics from Nashville's indie-pop artist Maya Manuela.

Big Pond Improv Festival

7:00-8:30 PM — Vermont Comedy Club — Check event details for tickets — Enjoy a fun night filled with laughs and improv performances.

Blood Drive

9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington — Free entry — Make a difference by donating blood today at a local venue.

Northeast Street Rod Nationals

12-6 p.m. — Champlain Valley Exposition — $20 adults, $6 children 6-12 — Celebrate the love for street rods with commercial exhibits, arts & crafts, and a fun-filled family atmosphere.

Big Pond Improv Festival

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Vermont Comedy Club — Check for ticket prices — Experience a night of laughs with top-notch improv performances.

Hardware Hacknight with PostHog

5-8 p.m. — VCET - Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies — Food and beverages provided — Dive into hands-on hardware building with DeskHog, an open-source developer toy.

Vermont Dental Conference 2025

Thu, Sep 18th — DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont — Visit Booth #30 — Explore, evolve, and excel in dental practices at this specialized conference.

It's A 2000's Party

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Higher Ground — $20 admission — Flash back to the 90's and 2000's while skating to your favorite tunes with DJ Junior Jay.

Burlington VegFest

12-5 p.m. — Hula — Free entry — Celebrate a fun, fully vegan festival with local vendors and community spirit in beautiful Burlington, Vermont.

Matt Heckler Live Performance

7:30-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — Tickets from $75 — Experience an unforgettable night with Matt Heckler in South Burlington.