By Ahmad Yassir, Vermont Country Magazine.
Just ten minutes from downtown Bennington and a short drive from Hoosick Falls, New York, the village of North Bennington feels like a place held carefully in time. Its iconic historic fountain, the quiet curve of Lake Paran, the sound of water spilling over the falls, and a walkable village center form the backdrop, but it’s the people who give this place its enduring life.
Each winter, that spirit gathers in one joyful afternoon: North Bennington WinterFest.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 12–4 PM, the village will once again welcome visitors for a free, community-wide celebration. With free entry and parking available throughout North Bennington, WinterFest invites families, friends, and curious travelers to experience the village as locals do: warm, creative, collaborative, and full of surprises.
Produced by the North Bennington Roundtable, supported by local businesses and partners, and serving as an important fundraiser for the North Bennington Fire Department, WinterFest is more than an event. It’s an annual expression of what makes this village special.
A Festival That Changes with Its Community
What’s remarkable about North Bennington WinterFest is how much it manages to say in just four hours. Each year, community members come together to offer free, themed winter programming, and no two festivals are ever the same.
As the village grows and evolves, so does WinterFest. New businesses like Bennington Bagel Company and Pangaea Café bring fresh energy and ideas, while beloved traditions, like wintertime barbecue at Kevin’s Sports Pub, continue year after year. Schools, art organizations, bookstores, and libraries shape the programming too.
From craft fairs and hands-on artmaking to storytelling, special sales, live music, and family activities, WinterFest becomes a moving map of the village itself. And at its heart is the simplest pleasure of all: being surrounded by the North Bennington community.
WinterFest Through the Years
Looking back at WinterFest’s history is like paging through a family photo album, each year marked by a moment that captures the spirit of the day.
2014 – Charlotte White of Shaftsbury dances with her mother, Tammy White, during the WinterFest costume parade, a reminder that joy, creativity, and play are central to the celebration.
2015 – Nick Disorda of Pangaea Lounge transforms frozen blocks into an icy tribute to the Bennington Monument.
2016 – The Norshaft Lions Club brings neighbors together over steaming bowls of chili during the beloved chili cook-off.
2018 – At the Village School of North Bennington, Taylor Lampton plays a bean bag toss game, highlighting family-friendly winter fun.
2019 – Visitors escape the cold inside St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, sampling chili and enjoying conversation and comfort.
2024 – A crowd gathers at the Maurice Kahn Gallery at Left Bank, browsing crafts and handmade goods.
2025 – The John G. McCullough Free Library hosts a give-what-you-will fabric printing workshop, alongside a penguin bookmark craft in the Youth Room, while live music at Pangaea Café warms the afternoon.
Winter on Lake Paran – Across the years, one image remains constant: people walking and skating across the frozen surface, with the village rising around them.
WinterFest 2026: A New Chapter – This year, WinterFest brings even more ways to enjoy the season:
Winter Wonderland Activities
Trail mix making, hot chocolate, lantern crafting, a bonfire, Chili Fest, and more set the scene for a classic New England winter experience.
Craft Activities and Craft Shows
Get creative at the McCullough Library, Southshire School, Head Start, and Vermont Arts Exchange, with fun winter crafts for all ages.
Live Entertainment
Groove to live music at Pangaea Café, where the rhythm will melt away the winter chill.
Local Food and Craft Vendors
Savor the flavors of North Bennington, from the NorShaft Lions Chili Fest at the Village School to winter treats at Pangaea and Powers Market, moon-scones at Huluppu, and authentic Middle Eastern cuisine at the gas station.
Wellness
The Left Bank offers chair massages and paraffin dips for a little winter self-care.
After-Party at Lake Paran
When WinterFest wraps at 4 PM, the celebration continues lakeside, with warm drinks, fire pits, music, and the chance to gather with friends and neighbors as the winter evening settles in.
Events will be held across The McCullough Library, Village School, Powers Market, Pangaea, Vermont Arts Exchange, Left Bank, Southshire School, Head Start, Lake Paran, Park McCullough Historic Mansion, and Huluppu, offering something for everyone in this family-friendly celebration.
