The 8th Annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend promises to be bigger and better than ever!

It’s a weekend filled with great events to entertain and educate the whole family, starting Friday night, June 5th and continuing through Sunday June 7th, 2009.

This is an important event that pays tribute to Vermont’s agricultural heritage in a whole new way. There will be the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade on Saturday June 6th at 10 a.m. sharp on Brattleboro’s historic Main Street, followed by the Dairy Festival and Green Expo.

There will be artists, musicians, food and dancing for everybody! To get more information about this event or to have a complete schedule and all the details, visit the official website.

On May 23rd, 2009 the Bonnie and Clyde Train will go from Bellows Falls to Fox Chair Mtn.Farm. This is an absolutely marvelous experience for families to experience a fascinating journey next to one of the most U.S famous couples.

Bonnie and Clyde crew will go aboard the train for a great train robbery reenactment, so, be aware of your purses and jewelery.

This event is held in conjunction with the Memorial Day Bellows Falls Sidewalk Sale.

Adults:$24
Children: (3-12yrs):$16
Children 2 and under free on lap

To purchase tickets online or to get more information visit Bonnie and Clyde website or call 800-707-3530.

On May 23rd and 24th, the 17th Annual Vermont Craft Council Open Studio will be held Statewide. This is an amazing event in which everybody has an unique opportunity to visit Vermont’s talented artists studios.

Not only do the artists open their studios to let people see their work in practice, but they also sell their arts and crafts. They show people how they work and create there art in fun exhibitions and shows.

Visitors use the Vermont Studio Tour Map to target and direct themselves to the studios of their choosing. However, the 2009 Tour Map hasn’t been finalized yet, but will be ready before the event.

To get more information about this event or to get the Tour Map, visit the Vermont Crafts Council

The National Train Day on May 9th, 2009, is a family event that combines the reading of a true story and a picturesque train ride from Bellows Falls to the Chester Depot.

“A Lucky Dog” is a book based on the true story of a dog named Owney, the U.S Rail Mail Mascot who traveled throughout the United States on a mail car.

Every children will receive as a souvenir an authentic dog tag, like the one Owney wore in his travelings. The author of the book, will be on site to read the story and autograph his book.

Adults: $22
Children 3-12: $16
Children 2 and under free.

Tickets can be purchased online or call 800-707-3530

On May 3rd, the Billings Farm & Museum will host its annual Plowing Match where the region’s farms will compete in the farm fields.

Billings Farms is a working dairy farm and a living museum of Vermont’s rural heritage where kids have a diversity of outdoors activities.

This year’s Plowing Match will start at 9:00am with special activities such as horse-drawn wagon riders, ox programs and rope making demonstrations.

The competition will begin at 10:30am where competitors will be judged by their technical skills.

There’ll be snacks and lunch sell by the Teago Volunteer Fire Department, which proceeds to benefit the fire department.

For more information on this event, visit www.billingsfarm.org

The Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society and TransCanada will host the 10th Annual Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival, a day of fun in the outdoors.

The Wildlife Festival on the Connecticut River will be held on May 3rd at 7:30am.

There’ll be a variety of activities starting with a Morning Bird Walk led by Don Clark followed by a live wolf ATKA from the Wolf Conservation Center and live hawks and owls from VINS and the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum.

Other major activities will be focused on walks through the rivers, bird watching, and the creation of custom designed of t-shirts for little kids.

For More Information, Contact: Alma Beals 722-3355 madalma13@yahoo.com

On April 25th, come to celebrate Spring with a fun theme excursion to “Mud-Season meets Polynesia”. Take a classic 1920′s Silver Fleet from Bellows Falls at 3:30pm to Ludlow,VT and enjoy a day in the Polynesia.

Listen to the “Exotica” by Boston-based band Watiki while enjoying traditional gourmet appetizers from Polynesia exclusively elaborated by Harvest Moon catering.

This event it’s only for adults and it’s $65 per person. An unique and fun experience to enjoy!

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit the Green Mountain Railroad Website.

This coming Saturday, April 11th, the Dick Forman Jazz Group will perform at Middlebury College at 8pm and admission is free.

The Dick Forman Jazz Group plays a variety of rhythms such as ballads, blues and bebop. The group features some of New England’s finest and skilled musicians making this event an extraordinary performance.

Forman is an affiliate artist of the Department of Music and he directs the College’s Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble. The event is sponsored by the Department of Music.

To get more information about the concert, visit the official website of the Department of Music at Middlebury College.

Boccelli’s On The Canal is located right across the street from the Green Mountain Railroad station in Bellows Falls and offers a lot more than delicious pastries and coffee-based drinks.

They have store inside offering Italian specialties, gourmet fare, organic and international items and antiques and collectibles. They also host occasional auctions and several music events on a regular basis. Upcoming will be performances by:

• March 7: Trei Arcusi
• March 13: Seth Glier
• March 19: Stan Ridgway Trio
• … and more,

Get more information at their website.

It’s maple syrup season in Souther Vermont and Two Old Saps Sugar Works is keeping busy.

The Two Old Saps Sugar Works was established in 199 and is dedicated to providing the finest Vermont Maple Syrup to customers all over the country. The specialize in one of the highest grades of syrup and one of the tastiest, too.

The farm is located just outside of Lincoln, Vermont. You can visit the sugar shanty to pick up your syrup or email orders. Visit the Two Old Saps Sugar Works website here.