If you’re having winter visions of mountains draped in snow, sleigh rides with bells tinkling in the frosty air, and hot cider before a crackling fire, where better than Vermont to spend the holidays?
According to Karen Ballard, program manager for the Vermont Tourism Network, the season brings a series of events across the state.
The town of Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend has been a mainstay for the past 27 years, earning a coveted Top Ten Winter Event in Vermont designation. The Wassail Horse Parade showcases 50 horses and riders dressed in holiday attire, and even Santa has been known to make an appearance. The 2019 event takes place Dec. 6–8.
Another top-10 event, Christmas in Weston (Dec. 7, 2019) is a day-long kickoff to the season. There are horse-drawn wagon rides, gallery exhibitions, crafts and food tastings. Daytime activities conclude with a concert and a reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree on the village green.
More carolers and seasonal shoppers will be in Burlington for its Church Street Marketplace Santa Parade and Holiday Tree lighting (Nov. 22, 2019).
If your clients want to see Christmas, New England-style, they will definitely want to be on hand for the illumination of 250,000 lights on Church Street, followed by the lighting of the official tree in shades of red, gold, tangerine, blue and green.
Email Ballard about Vermont’s group tour offerings or visit vermonttourismnetwork.com to learn more.
Top photo: Wassail Weekend in Woodstock
Photo by Vermont Tourism Network
