festivals
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festivals
festival of fools 2022 logo

Festival of Fools

Burlington City Arts has proudly produced the Festival of Fools since 2002. The festival is a curated celebration of street performance devoted to community engagement through the celebration of circus arts, music, and comedy for family audiences. In 2022 we brought all of this to life with the support from our presenting sponsor, Community Bank, N.A; pitch sponsors, Leunig’s Bistro & Café, AARP Vermont, Hendrick’s Gin, Queen City Brewery, and Pet Food Warehouse; supporting sponsors Ben & Jerry's, Eyes of The World, and Rose Computer Technology Services; and media sponsors, Seven Days, NBC 5, and the Point. 

From August 5 to August 7, 2022 the Festival lands on the Church Street Marketplace for 3 days of free, accessible, and hilarious performances. Visit www.vermontfestivaloffools.com for more information.

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highlight lockup

Highlight New Year's Eve Celebration

BCA and Signal Kitchen partnered in 2018 to produce a new New Year’s Eve celebration for the City of Burlington following 35 successful years for First Night. For Highlight 2022, we’re welcoming revelers from far and wide to celebrate with unique, in-person experiences in downtown Burlington and at the Waterfront. We’ll set the stage for the biggest party of the year as we come together to count down the experiences and ideas that make our community a hub of incredible creativity. Artists, food vendors, musicians, and everyone in between helps build an event that HIGHLIGHTS the best of Burlington, live for one glorious night as we cheers to auld lang syne.

Highlight’s events are designed and built by your friends and neighbors. Through the “Bright Ideas Project,” Highlight crowdsources ideas from Vermonters for all kinds of New Year’s Eve happenings. Through an open call for proposals, we grant funds and support to select ideas that come to life at Highlight.

Highlight’s Bright Ideas Project is proudly Powered By VSECU. VSECU is a member-owned cooperative and not-for-profit credit union for everybody who lives or works in Vermont, offering a full range of affordable financial products and services to its member-owners. VSECU is committed to improving the lives of Vermonters by empowering the possibilities for greater social, environmental, and financial prosperity.

Check out Highlight.Community for more information.

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splashpad

Splash Dance

Soak up some summer fun with Splash Dance, BCA’s weekly DJ-fueled dance party in City Hall Park. Kids and parents are invited to suit up and boogie along in the interactive splash pad to some of Vermont’s best DJs. 

2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation 

summer concerts

Summer Concert Series

The BCA Summer Concert Series is an annual celebration of Vermont's incredible roster of local talent. Every Wednesday and Friday throughout the summer, the Summer Concert Series provides a lunchtime concert in City Hall Park, energizing the downtown district with vibrancy while supporting local musicians. 

The 2022 Summer Concert Series was presented by VSECU and MVP Health Care with support from City Market, Onion River Co-op, Dubois & King, and Shrubbly. 2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

 

Since 2012, audiences have enjoyed these intimate, free performances, and musicians love connecting directly with local audiences to expand their fanbases. In 2020, to support musicians during the pandemic, we launched a Summer Concert Video Series, in collaboration with the City’s office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, to produce high-quality videos for each performer. And now audiences can relive the magic of our 2020 and 2021 performances all year round!

 

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A man wearing a navy blue and red shirt with white Japanese characters leads a group of children striking a large drum

Community Spotlight

City Hall Park was created for the community. With that focus in mind, Community Spotlight features a re-occurring lineup of local arts groups every Tuesday evening. In 2022 were proud to support Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theater, Burlington Taiko, Swing Dance Jam, and Soulshine Yoga. Welcoming these groups to the park, supporting them with event production and marketing, and giving them the chance to connect with new audiences is what Community Spotlight is all about. 

2022 Community Spotlight had support from City Market, Onion River Co-op. 2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

Two couples watch and dance at a concert in City Hall Park.

Twilight Series

Catch a concert on the lawn as the sun sets on City Hall Park, every alternating Friday and Saturday. The lineup includes regional luminaries spanning the full spectrum of genres. 

The 2022 Twilight Series was presented by Soundtoys with support from Aqua ViTea. 2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

Quinn Rol and Gina Stevenson look and smile at the camera from the steps of City Hall

Listen Up

Last year, Listen Up brought community connections to City Hall Park as hosts Gina Stevensen and Quinn Rol, interviewed local luminaries in this TED talk style series. This year Gina and Quinn are back with an amazing lineup of Vermont art and music world legends, ready to share the amazing stories behind their creative practices.  Listen Up gives audiences a new way to connect with the talented creatives that power the spectacular Burlington arts scene.

2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

Flicks in the Park text against an image of people in lawn chairs in the park at night.

Flicks in the Park

Catch great flicks under the stars, with family-friendly fare and contemporary classics, every Thursday at dusk. 

2022 Flicks in the Park had support from American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, Monarch & the Milkweed, and Point 2. 2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation.

BTV MKT and surrounded by hand drawn illustrations of birds, trees, picnic baskets, umbrellas, benches, dogs, and graphic shapes

BTV Market

Expanding on our beloved Artist Market, this outdoor market experience in the heart of downtown Burlington, is new for 2022. Presented by Burlington City Arts and Love Burlington, the BTV Market runs every Saturday from June 4-October 1 in City Hall Park. Come cross paths with an eclectic collection of local artists and makers. Live music, games, and kids activities make for festive fun while you stroll amongst vendors and neighbors. With wares, artwork, and food representing all of Burlington's many communities, this new market brings the best of BTV together all summer long!

2022 City Hall Park programming was underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation. The 2022 BTV Market had support from Burlington Telecom, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Kiss the Cook, with media sponsor, Seven Days.

Burlington Discover Jazz FEstival June 3-12 2022

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

The 2022 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival—produced by the Flynn in association with Burlington City Arts, and presented by New England Federal Credit Union—took place June 3-12, with events all over Downtown Burlington and beyond. The Flynn was thrilled to welcome Michael Mwenso, leader of the captivating band Mwenso & The Shakes and co-founder of Electric Root, and his creative partner Jono Gasparro as the curators for the festival. Collaborating with the Flynn and many community partners, Michael and Jono have created an exciting lineup with a clear thematic vision.