Vermont Holiday Festival, Killington, December 9 – 12, 2010
Enter into a world of magical holiday fun! Take in the smell of fresh balsam and create special memories with family and friends. Events include the Festival of Trees, with over 100 themed trees decorated by local businesses on display for viewing, horsedrawn sleigh rides, and Santa’s Workshop, a satellite workshop of the North Pole, where children can help Santa build toys. Fees vary by event. www.killingtonchamber.com/HolidayFestival.php, 800-337-1928.
Woodstock Wassail Weekend 
Woodstock, December 10 – 12, 2010, events from 10 am – 7:30 pm each day, horse parade at 2 pm on December 11, 2010
Wassail Weekend in Woodstock celebrates the twinkling holidays in the quintessential New England Village. A festive holid ay weekend with a spectacular horse parade and caroling around the village green, holiday house tour, musical events, yule log, luminarias at twilight on the green, Santa’s visit to the winter wonderland. Shop, dine, stay – find gifts for everyone in our unique shops or relax in a cozy inn and dine on fine cuisine. Experience the magic of the holidays in Woodstock, Vermont! Many events are free. www.woodstockvt.com, 888-496-6378.
Stowe Winter Carnival
Stowe, January 17 – 29, 2011, hours vary for events
Stowe Winter Carnival is a fun-filled, zany winter festival of entertaining events, such as snowvolleyball, snowgolf, ski races, kids carnival, ice carving, a village night family block party and live music throughout the last two weeks of January. What better way to celebrate winter, than to come to picturesque Stowe during the 37th Stowe Winter Carnival! At the Stowe Winter Carnival, there is a winter event for everyone to enjoy! Free for all spectators. www.stowewintercarnival.com, 802-253-7321.
2011 TD Bank Craftsbury Marathon
Craftsbury Common, January 29, 2011, 9 am – 3 pm
The TD Bank Craftsbury Marathon is the premier cross-country ski event of the East: a twenty-five kilometer loop course classic technique event traversing Vermont’s spectacular Northeast Kingdom. The marathon features 25 and 50-kilometer races. www.craftsbury.com, 802-586-7767.
Vermont Flower Show
Essex Junction, March 4 – 6, 2011, Fri. 10 am – 8 pm, Sat. 10 am – 6 pm, Sun. 10 am – 4 pm
Vermont’s premier flower show offers three days of Spring the first weekend in March. Visitors see a grand central display filled with flowering plants, bulbs, water features and stonework. The 2011 theme is “Sweet Dreams” with a focus on relaxing the mind, body, and spirit as well as stirring up wistful memories, and engaging the fantasies of one’s dream. The show includes three days of seminars and educational workshops, and a professional floral competition and amateur floral competition through the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont. “Cooking from the Garden” demonstrations will be held all three days. Kids will find a special room all their own devoted to hands-on activities and entertaining scheduled performers. Vermont Certified Horticulturists are on hand all three days to answer any gardening or landscaping questions. Adults $15, seniors (60+) $12, students (13-17) $6, kids (3-12) $3. www.greenworksvermont.org, 888-518-6484.
9th Annual Mardi Gras
Jay, March 7 – 13, 2011
Come celebrate our 9th Annual Mardi Gras Week! A week filled with authentic New Orleans food, music, events for kids and adults, ice skating at the new rink, and great spring skiing and riding. New Orleans chef Marc Uddo will be back in town, and beads will be flying. Laissez les bons temps rouler! www.jaypeakresort.com, 800-451-4449.
Middlebury Winter Carnival & Chili Contest
Middlebury, March 12, 2011, 2 – 4 pm
The Better Middlebury Partnership presents the 3rd Annual Middlebury Winter Carnival & Chili Contest. Last year, 43 vendors served 76 different kinds of chili – and this year we expect that number to grow! Amateurs and professionals are encouraged to enter – the public votes! Join us on downtown Middlebury’s beautiful Main Street for chili, live music, dog sled demonstrations and more. This quintessential Vermont festival is fun for the whole family! Free admission, unlimited chili samples: $1 kids, $2 adults. www.bettermiddleburypartnership.org, 802-388-4126.
U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships
Stratton Mountain, March 14 – 20, 2011
The U.S. Open is the longest running snowboard event on the planet, attracting the world’s best athletes and Vermont’s finest riders. The event’s open format allows qualifiers the chance to compete against Shaun White, Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark on the same 22-foot pipe. Free admission. www.stratton.com, www.ttrworldtour.com, 800-STRATTON.
Green Mountain Film Festival 
Montpelier, March 18 – 27, 2011
One of the best film festivals in the region, the growing popularity of the Green Mountain Film Festival derives from the quality of the programming, the caliber of the guests, and the loyalty of an audience that knows it will be educated, entertained and informed. Feature films, documentaries and short films from around the world are presented in a relaxed and informal atmosphere at numerous venues throughout this vibrant Vermont community. Basic admission $8.50, discounts available, some events are free. www.greenmountainfilmfestival.org, 802-262-3423.
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Each year, a panel of independent judges chooses Vermont’s best activities, selected for their diversity and wide appeal. This year’s winners display a wide-range of family-friendly activities and represent many different parts of the state.
In order to qualify as a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Event, events must appeal to out-of-state visitors as well as Vermonters; appeal to a diverse audience, including children and families; and due to the additional attention a Top Ten garners, the event must be able to accommodate an influx of visitors up to twice the normal count.
