Annual Events

March

St. Patrick’s Day S.D. Ireland Truck Parade | Tuesday, March 17 at approximately 3pm
Each year in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the S.D. Ireland family parades 15+ of their iconic cement trucks down the Marketplace in an exciting, family-friendly celebration that marks the start of spring! This event is best enjoyed with a green beer at a Marketplace pub afterward. This event takes place on St. Patrick’s Day each year. Come early to save your spot!

Maple Madness | Saturday, March 21st 11am-4pm
An annual celebration of Vermont sugaring in the heart of downtown Burlington.  Find syrup samples, live music, a photo booth, evaporator demonstrations, a bingo board challenge, fire pits, pancakes, axe throwing, live wood sculpting, and more. Bring your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone you want to share this sweet experience with. 

April

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day 
Every year, Ben & Jerry's celebrates Free Cone Day at Scoop Shops around the globe, sharing the love with FREE cups and cones of your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavors. There's no catch and no fine print, just a free scoop! This year, the celebration will be on April 14th.

May

COTS Walk | Sunday, May 3rd. Starts in Battery Park, walk time begins at 2pm
Founded in 1988, the COTS Walk is one of our oldest and most important peer-to-peer fundraisers. Every year walkers of all ages from businesses, schools, religious organizations, and neighborhoods come together from all over the region to participate. The Walk begins and ends in Battery Park with music from Jenni & the Jazz Junketeers, as well as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and fun activities.

Vermont City Marathon | Sunday, May 24th at 7:15am
Make a reservation to watch from a Marketplace restaurant or sign up to run in the marathon! The Vermont City Marathon is an annual marathon that runs down the Marketplace and was first held on May 28, 1989. The race is generally held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.

June

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival | June 3rd - June 7th. 
Burlington has a thriving music scene all year round, but every June the city welcomes the beloved Jazz Fest. Music resonates from every corner of Downtown Burlington — from the region’s premier performing arts facility, the Flynn Center, to the Church Street Marketplace stages, to Waterfront and City Hall Parks, to neighborhood clubs and restaurants. For 43 years, the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival has turned downtown Burlington into a city-wide stage. In 2026, the festival returns June 3–7 with its most ambitious program yet, curated by MacArthur Fellow, pianist, and interdisciplinary artist Jason Moran.

Juneteenth | Saturday, June 20th. 
This city-wide event is presented by REIB for all to celebrate Black liberation in the U.S., featuring musical performances, art installations, food vendors, educational programming, speakers, and so much more. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Freedom: Yesterday’s Legacy, Today’s Promise, Tomorrow’s Hope.” This theme honors the history of emancipation, reflects on the ongoing struggle for equality, and inspires future generations to continue the fight for justice and inclusion. In that spirit, these awards recognize individuals, organizations, and businesses whose work helps expand freedom, opportunity, and belonging in our community.

July

July 3rd Festivities
Presented by Parks and Rec, every July 3rd Burlington welcomes thousands of locals and tourists alike to celebrate Independence Day with a bang! Enjoy the largest fireworks display in Vermont at Waterfront Park alongside music, activities, and food vendors. This event is on July 3rd each year.

Party on the Bricks 
Each week, the party pops up on a different block of the Marketplace, spotlighting one of our amazing Marketplace restaurants and featuring a band or performer. Think patio dining, dancing in the street, cold drinks, good friends, and warm summer nights—all right here in the heart of Burlington.

August

Festival of Fools | July 31st to August 2nd
Presented by BCA, this is a festival of street theater devoted to community engagement through the celebration of circus arts, music, and comedy for family audiences. The festival features the best international street performers from around the globe. Audiences of all ages will feast their eyes on some of the zaniest comic performers as the Marketplace becomes an epicenter for laughter and spirited entertainment. BCA has made the difficult decision to pause the Festival of Fools in 2025, with plans to bring it back in 2026, while continuing to host a vibrant lineup of summer events.

Sidewalk Sale | August 5th to August 9th
Black Friday, move aside! One of the Marketplace’s oldest traditions, the Sidewalk Sale welcomes guests from all around to score the best deals of the year. Stores spill out onto the bricks for 4 days of sales up to 80% off. Refuel at Marketplace restaurants and cafes to keep going all weekend long. This event is the second week of August each year.

September

Pride Parade
The annual Pride Parade is hosted by Pride Center VT, celebrating and supporting Vermont's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community of all ages, as well as educating and serving as a bridge to create alliances with each other and with the greater community as a whole. The Pride Parade is a beloved institution here in Vermont and throughout the world. It began as an anniversary celebration of the Stonewall Riots but has evolved to encompass the many LGBTQ heroes, struggles, and victories since. The parade begins at the south end of Church Street and ends at Battery Park, where the Pride festival is held.

October

Construction Fest | Sunday, October 4th
Step into a world of construction for a morning of discovery and fun. Families can watch imaginations soar as kids discover new ways to play, create, and celebrate the people and machines that shape our city. Construction Fest is a free event offering a variety of different hands-on activities for kids of all ages!?

Howl'ween Dog Costume Contest | Saturday, October 31st
Dress your pooch in their silliest, spookiest, and cutest Halloween wear, and show them off on the Marketplace to win our pet prizes! Bring your furry friend or just enjoy the show and help us crown our winners. For more details, please click here.

Halloween Bike Ride 
"Shared streets, not scared streets." Join Parks and Rec. for an annual costumed bike ride through the streets of Burlington, Vermont. Hundreds of riders take to the streets for a rolling Halloween costume party! The police-escorted parade begins at City Hall Park on the Sunday closest to Halloween each year.

November

Tree Lighting & Santa Parade | Friday, November 27th
Join us as we officially and joyfully begin the holiday season on the Marketplace! We kick off with a production of a classic holiday play; carolers will be on the Marketplace before the presentation singing holiday favorites. The show culminates with the illumination of 100,000 lights on the Marketplace, including the 30+ foot tree. 

This event takes place at 5pm on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year, with the official lighting time at 6pm sharp!

December

Holidays on the Marketplace
The Marketplace feels like a scene from your favorite Hallmark movie during the holidays! All month long, the street is full of holiday cheer with street-wide decorations including the 30+ foot Christmas tree, kids train, a menorah, visits with Santa, and holiday sales.

Holidays on the Marketplace