Summer is when Manchester social calendars really start to fill up. Between the mountains and Main Street, the calendar runs on outdoor concerts, professional theater, festival weekends, and downtown gatherings, and most of it is put on by the member businesses and cultural institutions that give this town its character. Whether you are planning a weekend trip or just looking for something to do on a Wednesday night, here is what is still ahead this season.

Live Music

The biggest weekend on the July calendar is here. The Dead of Summer Music Festival brings more than 20 bands and musical acts to two stages at Riley Rink and Hunter Park from July 9 through 12. Day passes and weekend tickets are available, and campers can stay on-site for the full run. If you want a full weekend of live music without leaving town, this is it.

A month later, the Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival returns for its run from August 13 to 16. The festival has come back to Manchester every summer since 2018, and the lineup mixes bluegrass, folk, roots, and Americana from established names and up-and-coming artists. It is a four-day weekend and a highlight of the summer.

Taconic Music is marking its 10th summer in Manchester, and two concerts remain on the July schedule. Vibrant Masterpieces plays Saturday, July 11, followed by the Young Artists Concert II on Monday, July 13, with a program of Schumann, Debussy, Shostakovich, and Mendelssohn. Both are worth the trip for anyone who follows classical performance.

Manchester Music Festival is just getting underway with its 52nd season at the Arkell Pavilion, running through September 6. This year the festival adds Inside the Music, a series that puts Artistic Director Philip Setzer and guest artists in conversation with composer and music scholar Perry Goldstein ahead of each Thursday evening program. The talks dig into the stories behind the music, how the artists prepare, and what to listen for once the performance begins.

For a free night out, Concerts on the Green sets up at the Factory Point Town Green in downtown Manchester. Bring a blanket, spread out with family and friends, and catch local acts through the summer. Still to come: Katherine Winston on July 15, The Don’t Leave Band on July 29, Muddy Hollow on August 5, and Andris Berry on August 12.

Southern Vermont Theater

Dorset Theatre Festival is in its 49th season, and its reputation continues to draw actors from stage, television, and film to work with first-rate directors on award-winning sets. Three productions remain this summer: THE UNDERSTUDY from July 10 to 18, ADVICE from July 31 to August 15, and LOBBY HERO from August 21 to September 5. The festival also holds its annual Dance Party Ball fundraiser on Saturday, July 25, with a DJ, an open bar, food from Church Street Hospitality, and a night of auction prizes and experiences.

Weston Theater is celebrating its 90th anniversary. For nine decades it has been a place where strangers become neighbors and stories keep the conversation going long after the curtain falls. Season 90 has two mainstage productions left: RENT from July 22 to August 16, and PRIMARY TRUST from August 26 to September 6. It is also worth checking the theater’s Special Events Calendar, a series of one-night-only performances featuring some of the theater world’s most celebrated artists.

Beyond the Stage

The Vermont Summer Festival is Vermont’s premier equestrian event, running through August 9 at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, about ten minutes north of Manchester. The six-week, USEF-rated horse show has divisions for every level of rider, from the Short Stirrup Classic to the weekly Grand Prix. This year’s festival adds an enhanced VIP experience, weekly exhibitor parties, and more food options. Spectators are welcome, with competition Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A Summer Night at Hildene opens the 412-acre Lincoln family estate for an intimate, after-hours evening of history, agriculture, and refined food and drink. Two dates remain this summer: Thursday, July 23, and Thursday, August 20. It is a rare chance to walk the grounds in the evening light, well after the daytime crowds have gone.

And downtown has the Manchester StreetFest, the event that turns the town’s historic Main Street into a pedestrian-only block party. Two more land on Friday evenings this summer, both from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.: August 7 with music from Ask Wanda, and September 4 with Wild Mountain Kesh. Expect food, live music, and a downtown that fills up with neighbors and visitors. Grab a few friends, and maybe make some new ones.

Plan Your Summer in Manchester

For a small mountain town, Manchester packs a lot into a summer: world-class music, professional theater, top-level equestrian sport, and downtown nights that bring the whole community out. Whatever pulls you in, there is something on the calendar meant for you. Check dates, grab tickets early for the ones that sell out, and plan your visit to Manchester for a day, a weekend, or the whole season.

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