Local Events
From lively dinners and seasonal celebrations at our Inns to concerts, festivals, and cultural happenings throughout Southern Vermont, there’s always something going on. Explore our curated calendar of events to discover what’s happening during your stay, whether it's a wine tasting, trivia night, live music, or a local farmers market. Join us at the Inns of Dorset or venture out to experience all the charm the region has to offer.
After School Activities at the Dorset Library
NEW! After-School Activities | From 3:30PM to 4:30PM
Kids can drop-in on Thursdays after school to do a different activity each week at the library. We’ll have games, science experiments, arts and crafts, LEGOs and more. For ages 10+. No registration required.
April 2nd – Puzzle Challenge
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
Easter Brunch at Barrows House
Celebrate Easter Brunch at Barrows House with a menu that feels festive, seasonal, and just a little indulgent. From bright spring flavors to beautifully prepared brunch favorites, it’s the kind of gathering made for lingering over great food, a cocktail or two, and time well spent with family and friends in the warm, welcoming setting of Barrows House.
Easter Brunch at The Dorset Inn
Join us for Easter Brunch, which has become a cherished tradition for many of our guests. Chef Jon brings his signature care to a menu that moves between the comforting and the unexpected — brunch classics alongside dishes that surprise. All of it served in the warm, unhurried atmosphere that has made The Dorset Inn a gathering place since 1796.
Spring Retreat: Yoga and Wellness at the 1880 House
Join yoga instructor and wellness coach Lina C. Hanson for a weekend retreat designed to slow you down and open you up. Set at the intimate 1880 House in the heart of Dorset Village, this April getaway weaves together yoga practice, guided meditation, and wellness conversation in one of Vermont's most beautiful corners.
Clue: On Stage (Friday)
On a dark and stormy night, a group of mysterious guests gathers at Boddy Manor for a strange dinner party that quickly turns deadly. Based on the cult classic film and beloved board game, CLUE is a fast-paced comedy filled with secrets, suspects, and twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Clue: On Stage (Saturday)
On a dark and stormy night, a group of mysterious guests gathers at Boddy Manor for a strange dinner party that quickly turns deadly. Based on the cult classic film and beloved board game, CLUE is a fast-paced comedy filled with secrets, suspects, and twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
Northshire Book Festival
Join us May 1–3, 2026 at the Manchester Northshire Bookstore for a lively weekend of author talks, readings, signings, and celebration.
Day passes or three-day tickets available. Events take place at the bookstore and at First Baptist Church across the street.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
After School Activities at the Dorset Library
NEW! After-School Activities | From 3:30PM to 4:30PM
Kids can drop-in on Thursdays after school to do a different activity each week at the library. We’ll have games, science experiments, arts and crafts, LEGOs and more. For ages 10+. No registration required.
March 26- Yo-Yo Tricks
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
CurATE Artists At The Table: Michelle Samour
Artists at the Table is a new dinner series at curATE café at the Southern Vermont Arts Center that brings the gallery into the dining room. Guests share an intimate meal while connecting with artists currently on view and hearing the stories behind their work.
For this evening, Head Chef Julie Heins presents a seasonal menu inspired by Paper Transformed, an exhibition curated by Michelle Samour that explores the creative possibilities of colored paper pulp in contemporary art.
Saint Patty’s Day Buffet: The Dorset Inn
Join us for a festive Saint Patrick’s Day buffet filled with hearty favorites and traditional dishes. Enjoy live music from The Lilting Banshees throughout the evening, with traditional Irish tunes setting the tone.
Gather with friends, raise a glass, and celebrate the holiday in warm, spirited company. Sláinte! 🍀
The Gin Game: A Staged Reading (Sunday)
This 1978 Pulitzer Prize–winning drama uses a game of gin rummy as a metaphor for life. When two nursing home residents begin playing cards together, their friendly games gradually reveal personal histories, deep frustrations, and the quiet battles that shape their lives.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
The Gin Game: A Staged Reading (Friday)
This 1978 Pulitzer Prize–winning drama uses a game of gin rummy as a metaphor for life. When two nursing home residents begin playing cards together, their friendly games gradually reveal personal histories, deep frustrations, and the quiet battles that shape their lives.
Dorset Farmers Market: Indoors at JK Adams
We’re a year-round, producer-only market—everything you see is made by the vendors at our stands. Ask questions, build connections, and enjoy locally made products, with pre-order and pickup options available.
Swan Lake Performed by the Grand Kyiv Ballet of the Ukraine
Performed by the Kyiv Ballet of the Ukraine, Swan Lake is a classic ballet that weaves love, magic, and tragedy across four acts. It tells the story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a swan princess cursed by a sorcerer to spend her days as a swan and her nights as a human. As the two fall in love, the sorcerer complicates their romance by introducing his daughter, Odile, leading to confusion and challenges. Through heartbreak, forgiveness, and perseverance, Siegfried and Odette’s love triumphs, bringing the story to a joyful and enduring conclusion.
Barrows House Trivia
Join us for a lively evening of Trivia at Barrows House! Smart questions, great drinks, and friendly competition. Topics span from pop culture, history, music, and more, with prizes and bragging rights on the line.
Trivia starts at 6:30 PM.
Call to make a reservation! 802-867-4455
Southwestern Night with Chef Jon
Chef Jon’s Southwestern Night returns Wednesday, March 4 at The Restaurant at The Dorset Inn. A warm, unhurried menu of ceviche, Hatch chile pozole, tamales, red snapper tacos, and tres leches, plus specialty cocktails. Reservations recommended.
'On Paper' Exhibit at SVAC
‘On Paper’ features work by Elfriede Abbe, Barbara Ackerman, Tom Fels, Annie Ireland, Crystalle Lacouture, and Carolyn Shattuck, all part of SVAC’s Artist Member community. Through printmaking, drawing, cyanotype, collage, and mixed media, they explore paper as a creative surface. Interactive stations at Yester House invite visitors to engage with the materials and process firsthand.
Vertical Challenge Race at Bromley
Vertical Challenge Race
Sunday, March 1 | 10:00am–3:30pm
Free, fun races for all ages and abilities, ski and snowboard. Enjoy free product samples and great tunes while we soak up the sun. Registration is free but a valid lift ticket or season pass is required. Registration begins at 7:30AM, Races begin at 10AM
Artists at the Table
Artists at the Table is an intimate dinner series at curATE café at Yester House at SVAC, where guests share a seasonal meal inspired by current exhibitions at the Southern Vermont Arts Center.
This evening celebrates Tom Fels. Chef Julie Heins’ menu draws from On Paper, exploring flavor, color, and texture in conversation with the work. Featured artists and SVAC Curator Danny Volk will join guests at the table for a lively, informal discussion throughout the evening.
Valentine’s At Barrows House
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an evening that feels warm, indulgent, and effortlessly romantic. Barrows House offers the perfect setting to slow down, linger over dinner, and enjoy a thoughtfully crafted dining experience in an intimate, welcoming atmosphere.
Valentine’s Day at The Dorset Inn
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at The Dorset Inn with a special dinner featuring elegant dishes, curated wines, and festive cocktails in a timeless setting.
Artist at The Table
Artists at the Table is a new dinner series at curATE café at Yester House, bringing the gallery into the dining room for an evening of conversation, creativity, and thoughtfully prepared food. Each dinner invites artists currently on view at the Southern Vermont Arts Center to connect with guests over a shared meal inspired by the work on display.
Chamber Music and Dinner at The Dorset Inn
Join us at The Dorset Inn Wednesday, January 28 for an evening of live chamber music with the Rhodora String Quartet, followed by a three course dinner. Concert begins at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. A portion of proceeds supports Manchester Music Festival.
'Paper Transformed' Exhibit at SVAC
Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum
Paper Transformed, curated by Michelle Samour, features artists working in colored paper pulp, using pouring, casting, layering, and surface techniques to expand paper into sculptural and painterly forms.
Closing Reception: March 29, 3–5 p.m.
Artist talks at 4 p.m.
New Year’s Eve at The Dorset Inn & Barrows House
Ring in the New Year in style with a celebratory evening at either The Dorset Inn or Barrows House. Enjoy a special holiday menu, festive cocktails, and the warmth of good company as you toast to 2026 in the charm of Dorset Village.
Make it a night to remember—book your stay and dinner early for a truly special celebration.
Christmas at The Dorset Inn & Barrows House
Celebrate the magic of Christmas in Dorset with inspired holiday menus and cozy ambiance at The Dorset Inn and Barrows House.
Santa Express Evening Train(21+)
Santa Express Evening Train (21+)
Enjoy a festive 2-hour holiday train ride for adults 21 and up, featuring seasonal cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and cozy Christmas ambiance. After the ride, return to The Inns of Dorset to unwind fireside and continue your Vermont holiday escape.
Santa Brunch & Carriage Rides at The Dorset Inn
Enjoy a festive Santa Brunch at The Dorset Inn with live holiday music, carriage rides through Dorset Village, and a visit from Santa.
Shires’ Holiday Inn Tours
Step inside beautifully decorated inns across the Shires for a festive holiday tour that supports local food programs. Tours run December 6 and December 13.
Santa Party at Barrows House
A family favorite—join us for the Santa Party at Barrows House with private Santa visits, cocoa, crafts, and holiday treats.
Kids Ski Free Week at Stratton Mountain 12/6-12/12
Stratton Kids Ski Free Week 12/6-12/12
Hit the slopes at Stratton while kids 17 & under ski free — then unwind just minutes away at The Inns of Dorset, your cozy winter retreat in the heart of Vermont. Enjoy crackling fires, charming village surroundings, and relaxed comfort after a full day on the mountain. Make your family ski getaway feel effortless, scenic, and truly memorable.
Repeal Night
Come to The Dorset Inn Tavern Friday, December 5 to celebrate the anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. We’ll have live music, specialty cocktails, and vintage pizzazz. Come as you are, or dress with 30s flair and raise a glass with us!
Santa Weekend - Welcome Reception for Houseguests
Kick off Santa Weekend with a festive welcome reception for overnight guests at Barrows House.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Dorset Playhouse
Enjoy a heartwarming holiday classic—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer live at The Dorset Playhouse throughout Santa Weekend.