MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Summer Festival on-the-Green celebrates its 47th season this year. Look for the festivities under the big white tent on the Village Green next to St. Stephen’s Church from July 12 to 18. During nearly five decades as a top attraction on Vermont’s arts calendar, the festival has showcased an impressive list of talent—artists with long résumés and up-and-comers; quiet solo acts and lively bands—while remaining accessible to all and never charging an admission fee!

For its thirteenth year, the festival has partnered with students from Lisa Rader’s Design & Illustration Program at the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center to create a t-shirt design. We invite the community to cast their votes for this year’s design from among “Musical Trio,” “Nature’s Music,” or “Overgrown Guitar.” Voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. To cast your vote, type this URL into your web browser: bit.ly/vote2026festivaltshirt

Mojo Birds, a tightknit Colorado-based band with a rootsy soulful sound, some Afro-Peruvian spice and a celebratory groove, opens this year’s festival on Sunday, July 12. The fantastic lineup booked by our program committee also features Ted Perry & the Big Easy Revival, Ernest James Zydeco, Mélisande, Faux Paws, Damn Tall Buildings, The Mammals, Slap Dragon, and Brett Hughes & the Honky-Tonk Crowd. A street dance with the Vermont Jazz Ensemble closes the festival on Saturday night with Scarlet Annie swinging to the tunes of Tin Pan Alley during band breaks. The popular “brown bag” noontime series returns Monday through Friday with magician Tom Verner, No Strings Marionette Company, Taiko Drummers of Vermont, “Robinson Crusoe & Zoé Liberté: A Musical for Kids” and Circus Minimus’ “Circus in a Suitcase.” We’ve added a new feature this year on Tuesday afternoon: Addison County Live at Town Hall Theater, featuring quality music from talented regional performers.

For further information about this year’s festival or to learn about donations and volunteering, visit the festival’s website: festivalonthegreen.org.