Vergennes Day kicks off its 36th year this Friday, Aug. 25, with the monthly Vergennes Arts Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. and a street dance on the City Green featuring the music of “The Hitmen” from 7 to 10 p.m. The kick-off street dance is sponsored by the Masons’ Dorchester Lodge 1 F&AM.
Saturday’s activities, hosted and sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, City of Vergennes and area businesses, is a celebration of city and community to be enjoyed by all ages. Full details of the event and a schedule of activities are on Page 31 and available online at VergennesDay.com.
Activities on Saturday, Aug. 26, take place between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and culminate at dusk with a lighting of the Otter Creek Falls.
The day begins with a pancake breakfast at the Vergennes Fire Station from 7 to 10:30 a.m.
This year’s Little City Road Races feature new routes, distances, start times and start/finish location. A kids’ fun run has been added, as well as a 15K (9.3 miles) distance. All races start and finish at the Vergennes Elementary School, 43 School St. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; runners in the 15K depart at 8:30; the fun run (on school grounds) starts at 8:35 a.m. and the 5K and 10K distances start at 9 a.m. Even though the routes are slightly different, spectators can cheer on several hundred runners and walkers as they race through the streets of Vergennes. More information and online registration is available at RunVermont.org.
The bandstand on City Green will be occupied throughout the day by several musical groups:
•  10 a.m.: Vergennes City Band
•  11:15 a.m.: Mark LaVoie
•  12 p.m.: Simply Acoustic
•  1:30 p.m.: LC Jazz
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. City Green is also the site of more than 60 crafters’ and vendors’ booths offering fine handcrafts, locally made products, food and more. There will be horse and wagon rides and face painting for kids. Always a favorite, the Vergennes Lions Club will be selling barbequed chicken starting at noon.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. kids can enjoy games and the ever-popular bubble pit at the Vergennes Fire Department.
At 1:15 p.m. Bixby Library will hold its “Building Better Readers” drawing at the bandstand, which has been sponsored by the library and Vergennes Rotary Club. Entries are accepted until Aug. 21. Lastly, at 3:30 p.m. the Vergennes Rotary presents the beloved Rubber Duckie Race — tickets are available at the Rotary’s booth on the green.
Also, many downtown merchants will be offering sales and specials.
For more information call 802-388-7951 or email [email protected].