5 Best Things to Do in Vermont in June 2026

From city-wide jazz takeovers along Lake Champlain to colorful balloon launches over historic gorges, here are the absolute best things to do in Vermont this June.

1. Catch World-Class Notes and Vibrant Urban Energy

June kicks off with Vermont's premier musical and urban cultural traditions, turning historic brick marketplaces and waterfront parks into massive outdoor stages.

• Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (June 3–7): For over 40 years, this massive event has transformed downtown Burlington into a city-wide musical celebration. Curated by MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran, the 2026 lineup spans the historic Flynn Main Stage, open-air parks, and late-night jam sessions. Expect world-class headliners, dozens of completely free waterfront performances by legends like Mavis Staples and Tank & The Bangas, and vibrant high school bands filling the street corners.
• Burlington Wine & Food Festival (June 27): Taking over the beautiful HULA Lakeside venue right on Lake Champlain, this highly anticipated early-summer gathering showcases fine international wines and premium, Vermont-made craft spirits. Sip your way through the afternoon while sampling curated local pairings, including artisanal cave-aged cheeses, charcuterie, and gourmet chocolates.
• The Not Quite Independence Day Parade (June 27): Hosted by the local Rotary Club in the beautiful mountain town of Waterbury, this signature summer celebration is affectionately known as NQID. The town fills with a quirky, high-energy community parade, live outdoor concerts, and a spectacular fireworks show over the hills to kick off the upcoming summer season.

2. Witness Spectacular Balloon Ascensions and Quirky Fairs

Vermont pairs its beautiful June weather with unique, old-school community gatherings that highlight local heritage, craft makers, and farm culture.

• The Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Craft & Music Festival (June 19–21): Standing proud as New England's longest-running hot air balloon festival, this stunning weekend event takes over the valley surrounding the dramatic Quechee Gorge. Visitors can browse dozens of regional artisan booths and listen to live roots music while more than 20 colorful hot air balloons launch into the crisp mountain skies.
• The 10th Annual Vermont Renaissance Faire (June 27–28): Held at the expansive Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, this family-friendly weekend transports visitors back to a mythical, medieval realm. The festival grounds come alive with jousting tournaments, wandering minstrels, traditional encampments, local mead and cider producers, and a bustling artisan market.
• The 59th Vermont Dairy Festival (June 4–7): Located in Enosburg Falls, this classic, deep-rooted Vermont tradition celebrates the State famous dairy heritage. Grab the family to enjoy colorful street parades, carnival rides, livestock exhibits, and plenty of fresh dairy treats.

3. Feast on Iconic Maple Treats and Peak Flower Blooms

From a legendary, velvety summer dessert to sweeping historic gardens, Vermont's early-summer flavor and scenery are completely unmatched.

• Indulge in Peak Maple Creemee Season: June marks the true launch of summer roadside stand season, and no trip to Vermont is complete without a maple creemee—the State incredibly rich, smooth, maple-infused take on soft-serve ice cream. For an authentic treat, order a large twist topped with local maple sugar crumble from a historic spot like Billings Farm or a local shack in Woodstock.
• The Celebration of Peonies at Hildene (Through mid-June): Visit the historic Lincoln Family Home in Manchester to witness one of the most stunning floral displays in New England. The sprawling, formal European-style gardens are filled with thousands of breathtaking, fragrant peony blooms, many of which originate from the original plants tended by Abraham Lincoln's descendants.
• Eshqua Bog Natural Area (Woodstock): For a fascinating, slower-paced nature walk, take a stroll along the wooden boardwalk pathways of this protected botanical wonderland. Mid-to-late June brings the spectacular, rare annual bloom of the native Showy Lady's Slippers orchids, nestled among prehistoric ferns and cold-climate holdover plants.

4. Explore Majestic Rail Trails and Otherworldly Lakes

Before the late-summer humidity hits the valleys, June provides the ultimate climate for low-impact cycling and pristine open-water paddling.

• The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: Grab a hybrid bicycle and explore sections of this beautifully packed gravel trail, which stretches across the northern spine of the state. The path winds seamlessly past historic covered bridges, tumbling rivers, independent farm stands, and small-town craft cideries, making it a perfect early-summer day trip.
• Lake Willoughby Kayaking (Westmore): Surrounded by the dramatic, sheer rock cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor, this breathtaking, glacier-carved lake in the Northeast Kingdom looks remarkably like a Scandinavian fjord. June offers pristine, crystal-clear waters for open-water kayaking, paddleboarding, and peaceful shoreline picnicking.
• The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: Explore Vermont's only national park, located in Woodstock. June offers perfect morning weather to hike the 600 acres of curated carriage roads lined by 400-year-old hemlocks, winding up to the Pogue—a peaceful, mountain-top pond hidden deep in the forest.

5. Bring Your Pup to the Ultimate Dog Party

Vermont is famously one of the most pet-friendly destinations in the country, and June features a legendary celebration dedicated entirely to our four-legged friends.

• Dog Mountain Founders Celebration (June 20): Head up to the beautiful, rolling hills of St. Johnsbury to visit Dog Mountain, a unique 150-acre sanctuary created by legendary artists Stephen and Gwen Huneck. The mid-June festival features live outdoor string bands, local food trucks, a massive doggie scavenger hunt, and lighthearted contests, bringing together hundreds of dogs to run completely off-leash. While there, step inside the iconic Dog Chapel, whose walls are covered in thousands of moving, handwritten notes left by animal lovers from around the world.

Whether you are listening to world-class jazz along the Burlington waterfront, watching a fleet of hot air balloons drift over the Quechee Valley, or digging into a fresh maple creemee next to a historic covered bridge, June 2026 is an absolute peak month to experience the magic of Vermont.