As summer starts to segue into fall, arts-and-entertainment events in Vermont begin making the transition from outdoors to indoors. That comes with a few more complications as the delta variant of COVID-19 persists, even in a state with the highest vaccination rate against the virus in the country.
That means it might be best to check your intended venue’s latest COVID policy – mask requirements, proof of vaccination, that sort of thing – before heading out. Tours by performing acts are also in a continual state of flux right now, so don’t be surprised if that show you have your heart set on doesn’t happen. Some events might also offer options to stream performances at home, so be on the lookout for those choices as well.
Many shows, though, are happening in-person. If you’re ready to go have fun and do it safely, these events might just be your thing:
Through Sept. 5, the Weston Playhouse production of the Johnny Cash musical “Ring of Fire” concludes under the tent at Walker Farm, Weston. $50-$74. www.westonplayhouse.org
Through Sept. 5, Vermont Stage wraps up its presentation of the Audrey Cefaly play “Maytag Virgin,” Blue Heron Pond, Williston. $40. www.vermontstage.org
Through Sept. 19, “The Skies Have It,” a show of oil paintings by Milton artist Jane S. Morgan, continues its run that began Aug. 19, Emile A Gruppe Gallery, Jericho. Free. www.emilegruppegallery.com
7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1-Thursday, Sept. 2, the Opera Company of Middlebury’s filmed production of “Candide” will be screened at the Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $25-$50. www.townhalltheater.org
5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, the “Main Street Live” event featuring the Vermont Jazz Trio performing outdoors in Stowe with guest musicians showcases on its final day saxophone player Bill Pierce, a one-time band mate of Art Blakey in the Jazz Messengers. Free. www.gostowe.com
6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, Dana and Susan Robinson perform in concert, Cabot village common. Free. www.cabotarts.org
7 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2-Saturday, Sept. 4, comedian Kyle Kinane performs at the grand reopening of the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $40. (7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 is sold out.) www.vermontcomedyclub.com
8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2-Friday, Sept. 3, the soulful improvisational band Neighbor has scheduled a camping/concert combo at the Brewster River Campground and Martell’s at The Red Fox, Jeffersonville. $25-$100. www.neighbortunes.com
8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, Pride Ball ’21 features Emoji Nightmare and Nikki Champagne, DJ Craig Mitchell and Fab the Duo, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $15-$25. www.highergroundmusic.com
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 5, the Mad River Valley Craft Fair takes place Labor Day weekend with music, food, drinks and more than 75 artists, Kenyon’s Field, Waitsfield. $5 donation benefits the Valley Players. www.madrivercraftfair.com
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5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, Pete Bernhard of the band The Devil Makes Three joins Cabot musician Katie Trautz at Harry’s Hardware and The Den, Cabot. Admission is “pay what you can,” with artists playing for tips. www.harryshardwarevt.com
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, the Irish-American band Gypsy Reel performs at the reopening of Brandon Music. $25. www.brandon-music.net
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, also reopening, the Ripton Community Coffee House presents a concert by Patty Casey and the Wicked Fine Players, Ripton Community House. $10-$20. www.rcch.org
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, indie-rock star St. Vincent performs a sold-out show with Ali Macofsky in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. www.highergroundmusic.com
12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, the Pride Vermont Parade & Festival begins at the south end of Church Street and ends at the festival site in Battery Park, Burlington. Free. www.pridecentervt.org
1-11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, the New World Festival presented by the Chandler Center for the Arts returns with performances by acts including Le Vent du Nord, the Seamus Egan Project, Cantrip and Triton, 71 N. Main St, Randolph. $14-$49; free for ages 11 and under. www.newworldfestival.com
8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, touring musician Ryley Walker – a recent transplant to Vermont – joins Paper Castles at The Monkey House, Winooski. $15. www.monkeyhousevt.com
8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, Celtic-rockers Enter the Haggis return to the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15-$17. www.highergroundmusic.com
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, “An Evening with The Bengsons” presents the theatrical New York/Vermont indie-folk duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $28. www.townhalltheater.org
5-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, 11 am.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, the annual South End Art Hop takes over Pine Street and environs in Burlington, with the full schedule to be announced. Free. www.seaba.com
Sept. 10-Oct. 10, the show “20/20 Hindsight – Seeing the Past Anew with Contemporary Art” opens at Art at the Kent, Calais (opening reception 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11). www.kentscorner.org
5 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, Scrag Mountain Music performs new pieces by Vermont/New York-based composer Eve Beglarian and Scrag Mountain co-artistic director Evan Premo, 82 Park St. Ext., Brandon. The program is repeated at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, New Shelter, Hubbard Park, Montpelier. Free; pre-registration recommended. www.scragmountainmusic.org
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, international recording artist and Manchester resident Maxine Linehan performs “What Would Petula Do? A Tribute to Petula Clark,” Arkell Pavilion, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester. $40-$50. www.svac.org
Sept. 15-Oct. 30, the annual stone-sculpture exhibit “Rock Solid XXI” returns to Studio Place Arts, Barre. (Also on display those dates: “Moves” by Austin Furtak-Cole; “Crafted Narratives” by Rob Millard-Mendez; and “In the Current” by Gail Skudera, which concludes Oct. 16). Free. www.studioplacearts.com
8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, the gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello – featuring former Burlington musician Eugene Hutz – returns to the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $33-$35. www.highergroundmusic.com
5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 – another musician who’s a Vermont native, Celia Woodsmith, brings her Americana band Della Mae (with opener Pete Bernhard) to Billsville House Concerts, Manchester Center. $30 suggested ticket price. www.billsvillehouseconcerts.com
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, Ice Dance International, which includes four-time world champion figure skater Kurt Browning, caps its week-long residency with an evening of new works presented with support from the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Arena. $10-$75. www.sprucepeakarts.org
8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, Atlanta singer-songwriter Faye Webster joins Danger Incorporated for a show in the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, COVID-19 has been around long enough for pandemic-spurred pivots to be in the second-annual phase; that’s the case with the “As You Like It” Shakespeare on the State House Steps staged reading presented by Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier. Free; donations accepted. www.lostnationtheater.org
8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, the a cappella group Straight No Chaser kicks off the return of performances to the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $39.50-$59.50. www.paramountvt.org
4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, the P.M. Sundays concerts presented by Valley Stage return with Boston-area singer-songwriter Alisa Amador, Richmond Congregational Church. $22 suggested ticket price. www.valleystate.net
6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, Philadelphia rockers Dr. Dog have declared their current tour their last tour, and the show they’re playing with Bowerbirds and Hop Along is also the final show this season presented by Higher Ground at the Shelburne Museum. $44-$48. www.highergroundmusic.com
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26, Lyric Theatre and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra present “Moonlight in Vermont: An Outdoor Fancy Show” with standards from the great American songbook at the ECHO Center, Burlington. $35. www.lyrictheatrevt.org
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, writer/humorist David Sedaris tells stories from the stage of the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $49.50. www.paramountvt.org
7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, the Vermont Roots Roadshow features performances by Saints & Liars, Ida Mae Specker & the Terrible Mountain Stringband, the Maple Run Band and Western Terrestrials, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15-$17. www.highergroundmusic.com
Sept. 24-Oct. 10, the Valley Players present the door-slamming farce “Noises Off,” Waitsfield. $12-$16. www.valleyplayers.com
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, the Vermont-based alternative-rap collective 99 Neighbors plays a home-state show with DJ Svpply, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20-$25. www.highergroundmusic.com
8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 28, country-rockers Blackberry Smoke play the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $40-$60. www.paramountvt.org
8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, indie-folk-rockers Big Thief, led by Adrianne Lenker, perform with openers Natural Information Society in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, Canadian folk musician Scott Cook performs in a concert presented by Valley Stage, Richmond Congregational Church. $22. www.valleystage.net
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. Follow Brent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrentHallenbeck.
