VERGENNES — Oh, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the shopping. You will see your friends and neighbors moving among the stalls of three-score vendors on the Vergennes City Green this coming Saturday, hear the sounds of musical acts performing on the bandstand amidst the buzzing of the crowd, and whiff the aroma of roasting chicken from the grills staffed by the local Lions.
It will all be happening at the 38th annual Vergennes Day — Saturday, Aug. 24.
 Vergennes Day actually kicks off the evening before, on Friday, Aug. 23, with a street dance on the City Green featuring the music of “The Hitmen” from 7 to 10 p.m. The weekend’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 available at VergennesDay.com.
Activities on Saturday, Aug. 24, take place between 7 a.m. and 3 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.
Perhaps you’d like to work up an appetite first. If so, you can take part in the Little City Road Races, which start and finish at the Vergennes Union 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. 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.
After breakfast or after you see the runners trot past, stroll up to the green, where, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. more than 65 crafters’ and vendors’ booths will offer fine handcrafts, locally made products, food and more. There will be free horse and wagon rides with pick up at the corner of School and Green streets.
The bandstand in 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 noon: Pete Sutherland & Oliver Scanlon
• 1:30 p.m.: LC Jazz
Always a favorite, the Vergennes Lions Club will be selling their barbecue chicken: a half chicken costs $12, a quarter chicken goes for $8.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., kids can enjoy games and the ever-popular bubble pit at the Vergennes Fire Department. From 10 a.m. until they’re gone, KidsSafe Collaborative will be giving away bike helmets and doing free fittings at Bixby Library. At 1 p.m., Bixby Library will hold its “Booked for Bikes” drawing at the bandstand, which is sponsored by the library and Vergennes Rotary Club. Entries are accepted until this Wednesday, Aug. 21. Lastly, at 3 p.m., the Vergennes Rotary presents the beloved Rubber Duckie Race below the falls in Otter Creek — tickets are available at the Rotary’s booth on the green.
Also, several downtown merchants will be offering sales and specials, including Linda’s Apparel, The Waypost and Vermont Pure CBD.
For more information call 802-388-7951 or email [email protected].