As we gather this holiday season in The Shires of Vermont, we want to provide additional information for those that are inclined to take part in Christmas services throughout the region.

It’s that time of year again to fall in love with Vermont! We love fall and we love when other people can see our humble and majestic state in its best season! Book your trip, take out your new iPhone and capture the great shots around The Shires of Vermont in Southwestern Vermont. Not too far from New York, Massachusetts or New Hampshire, this is a great long weekend destination to make your friends and family drool over your Instagram feed!

Home of the famed Revolutionary War heroes, the Green Mountain Boys, it doesn’t take long to see that there is an explorer’s heart in most citizens of The Shires. Looking for a little adventure yourself, want to get your explorer on?  Check out some of these top spots for the explorer-at-heart!

We thought it would be good provide a list of top 2019 festivals and events this summer in the Shires of Vermont. Here is the 2019 line up for festivals and events in The Shires of Vermont

Downtown Bennington, Vermont is transformed this weekend into a bustling street festival as it hosts the 34th annual Mayfest. The event, which takes place this Saturday (May 25th, 2019), is put on every year by the Better Bennington Corporation, in partnership with over 100 local artists and craftspeople, local nonprofits, downtown businesses, and street food vendors.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it?  The “Fifth” season in Vermont?  This “informal” term describes the period in late winter/early spring when dirt paths such as roads and hiking trails become muddy from melting snow and rain. It’s usually between March and Memorial Day in May that we see mud season. It can be fun though!  It’s a time when Vermont starts to thaw out, the sap begins to run, and buds begin to spring.

Can you believe it!  We just hit the first day of spring this past week!  Okay, so its still snowing in Vermont. However, now is the best time to book your next trip to The Shires of Vermont, a picturesque New England region nestled in the Southwesternmost corner of Vermont.

Robert Frost, famed Shires’ poet once wrote, “All thoughts, all passions, all delights, Whatever stirs this mortal frame, Are all but ministers of Love, And feed his sacred flame.”  The Shires of Vermont, located in Southwestern Vermont, provide that whimsical notion!  Take a break from the hustle and bustle to show your lover just how much you care for them.  In The Shires there’s plenty to do either with others or if you need some alone time.

Prospect has 144 acres of land and over 30K of well-groomed cross country ski trails. It serves as the home of the Williams College ski team, Mount Anthony High School ski team, and the Bill Koch Youth Ski League. In addition, the Berkshire League from western Massachusetts often uses the venue for races.

Like the website says, “Set your wanderlust free, with over 550 exhibitors representing more than 170 destinations. Travel smarter, with globe-trottting tips from a huge variety of experts. Watch unforgettable cultural performances, savor tastes from the world's most delicious destinations. And make yourself comfortable, anywhere you roam.” The NYTimes Travel Show is an unforgettable experience which sees over 50,000 people over three days every year. In the world of travel and tourism, this is the Super Bowl! So if you’re reading this and either a). You’re going to the NYTimes Travel Show or b).  You’re just interested in visiting Vermont this year…

Winter has come!

Pack up, suit up and join us in The Shires to hit the slope! Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend is going to be epic with Winter Storm Harper predicted to drop 2-3 feet! Thanks to Winter Storms Dylan and Ethan, close to two feet of snow has already fallen between Christmas and New Year’s and allowed for Vermont’s ski and snowboard resorts to operate close to 100% of their terrain. 

Snow squall, frost heaves, sub-zero temperatures - they can be the bane of winter in Vermont! Leave it to the hamlet community of North Bennington, Vermont to create something fun for the month of January! Enter: Winterfest! Beat the Winter Blues with the always fun North Bennington Winterfest!

Nor’east Trail Runs, which hosts running events throughout Southern Vermont that provide opportunities for “any runner, any distance” to connect to both the state’s natural environment and their own athletic potential, has announced its 2019 lineup of races.

Just because the champagne has gone flat and the ball has dropped, doesn’t mean the party has to stop especially in The Shires of Vermont.  We want you to enjoy and celebrate the New Year long on into January. Here are 5 things you should do if your in The Shires for this New Year!

estled within the “lovely, dark, and deep” forests of the Green Mountains, the Shires boast an unparalleled landscape abundant in adventure, tranquility, and connection.

Here in the Shires of Vermont we take our traditions and freedoms seriously.  We also know how to celebrate, focusing on the things that matter the most (family, friends, and community).

BENNINGTON, VT—May 16, 2018—Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is proud to announce the schedule of activities for Centennial Community Day, a celebration of its 100th anniversary, presented by Mack Molding, Jerome Construction, and The Bank of Bennington. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, June 10, 2018, on the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Campus at 100 Hospital Drive in Bennington, VT.

The Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, serving the Shires of Vermont region, is one of three communities selected by the Department of Tourism and Marketing to pilot a new initiative entitled, Stay to Stay Weekends.