2018 Guide to the Chester Fall Festival

©2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Now in its 44th year, the Chester Fall Festival is weekend filled with toe-tapping music, great arts and crafts, good food and friends. And it’s set in the gorgeous Vermont town of Chester. There is no wonder that the Vermont Chamber of Commerce named it one of the state’s Top 10 Fall Events in 2017.

Quilted Jardin

This year, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16, and a whopping 70 vendors will fill the Green, the Academy Building lawn and land in front of the Brookside Cemetery.

Vendors will be offering everything from maple cotton candy to handmade jewelry, hand-turned wooden bowls, fine art, hand-felted goods, homemade soups, hand-blown glass and more.

It’s a great start to the gift-giving season. See the full list of vendors below. The business names of those with websites or Facebook pages are clickable. It’s a great way to learn more about them.

The Fall Festival is sponsored by the Chester Rotary and proceeds from vendor fees and its soup sales go to support local educational and community initiatives. For the past, four years, The Chester Telegraph has teamed up with the Rotary to present this guide. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the advertising on this page will be donated to the Rotary. Please frequent these and all of our advertisers.

Wander on Words calligraphy.

As always, admission to the Fall Festival is free.

Click the following links to take down you to:
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES AND MORE
DIRECTIONS and PRINTABLE MAP
PARKING and SHUTTLE BUS
COMPLETE VENDOR LIST

There is a lot to do and see so plan your Chester visit now. For more information about the Fall Festival click here and check out the Fall Festival’s Facebook page. For answers to questions not answered in the above links, call Nancy Rugg at 802-875-2444.

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MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

Live entertainment will be filling the air at the Fall Festival, with music to suit just about everyone’s taste.

Multi-instrumentalist Owen Nied

Saturday, Sept. 15

• 11 a.m.-noon: Owen Nied, of Chester, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Will Danforth, of Grafton, playing good time American roots music on guitar, frailin’ banjo and wailin’ blues harp.
• 2:30 to to 3:30 p.m.: Matt Meserve, of Springfield, piano and vocals of the music you love.

Blues guitarist Chris Kleeman

Sunday, Sept. 16

• 11 a.m. to noon: Ida Mae & John Specker of Andover perform their home-grown fiddle and banjo music.
• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Root 7 of Burlington is an a capella group with lively vocals in all genres and for all audiences.
• 2 to 3 p.m.: Chris Kleeman of Chester, a virtuoso blues guitarist and performer.
  

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CHILDREN’S EVENTS & MORE

There is plenty to do in an around the Green on this wonderful weekend.

• Check out the Children’s Tent, run by Emily Burkland of the Community Art Garden, as she leads kids in the creative process.
• Spinning and knitting with Six Loose Ladies, at the store, 287 Main St.
• Country Treasures quilt shop, 12 The Common, has extended its Sunday hours to 10 to 4 p.m.
• Whiting Library Book Sale, in front of the library, 117 Main St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds of gently used books.
• Saturday ‘Leafpeeper’ Pancake Breakfast, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St. 8 to 11 a.m. $6 per person.
• Book signings at Phoenix Books Misty Valley, 58 the Common
  10 to 4 p.m. Saturday — Megan Price, author of five volumes of the hilarious Vermont Wild: Adventures of Fish & Game Wardens. *Price has just granted Emmy-nominated Hollywood producer/director Geoffrey Sharp the exclusive right to bring the stories to millions of TV viewers.
  noon to 2 p.m. Sunday — Erin Rounds, author of Charlotte’s Bones: the Beluga Whale in a Farmer’s Field, the mesmerizing, science-based telling of how a whale ended up in Vermont.
• Saturday Afternoon Beer Garden at the Fullerton Inn, 40 the Common. (cost of food and drink)
• Chester Town Government Booth: Learn about the myriad projects around town and implementation of the Village Center Master Plan. Near the Information Booth next to the Academy Building. Saturday only.
• Fund-raisers: In and around the Green during the festival, you’ll also find booths set up as fundraisers for the various school and community events.

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DIRECTIONS

To enlarge or print the map, click on it.

The beautiful Victorian town of Chester, Vt., sits along Routes 103 and 11 in Southern Vermont. You’ll find beautiful homes, charming shops and friendly people at every turn.

CAKE Jewelry

From I-91, take Exit 6 and travel 12 miles west along Route 103. Keep going straight into downtown Chester. You can’t miss the Green. (Do not turn right onto Route 103 at Maple Street.)

From the west, take Route 11 in Manchester, traveling east. You’ll pass Bromley Ski Resort and the town of Londonderry, then head straight into Chester and the Green. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Manchester to Chester.

From the north, take Route 103 South into Chester. You’ll drive through the historic Stone Village and curve past Town Hall on your left and the historic Chester Depot Train Station on your right. Be sure to slow down. When you come to the fork in the road, bear right and head into downtown Chester.

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PARKING & SHUTTLE

Designated parking will be at the NewsBank parking lot behind NewsBank off of Cobleigh Street. Look for the parking signs at Main and Cobleigh streets. (See map.)

Two Wooden Spoons granola

There will be a handicap drop off at the eastern side of the Green.

The Current Shuttle Bus returns this year with a longer route that will run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on both days.

It will loop from the NewsBank Parking Lot, stop at the westside of the Green before heading east to stop and turn around at the former Jiffy Mart site at Depot Street. Riders can get on or off the bus at anytime during its loop.

At 1 p.m. on both days, the Shuttle Bus also will pick up riders at the Chester Train Station and return them to the station between 3:30 and 4 p.m. There is no charge for this service.

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2018 Fall Festival Vendors

VENDOR & WEBSITE	OWNER	CATEGORY & EXAMPLES
Park Slope Homeless Women's Shelter	Sydelle Gansl	Community organization
Chester-Andover Family Center	Nena Nanfeldt	Community organization
Chester Conservation Committee	Nena Nanfeldt	Community organization
Children's Tent	Emily Burkland	Children's Activities
Renewed Life in Jesus	Laurie O'Connor	Food: Baked goods
Sew Happy Quilting	Andrea Scott	Fiber: Potholders & tablerunners,
Sew Whimsey	Amy Desabrais	Fiber: Bags, quilts & tablerunners
Mill Brook Naturals	Kathy Johnston	Personal Care
Sew Many Stitches	Kayla Denny	Fiber
Maple Leaf Designs	Lucinda Moses	Jewelry
Icy Palmer Candle Co,	Melissa Klick	Candles made of soy
Dellamano Glassware	Catherine Trettler	Glass: Handpainted glasswear
Jo Ann Clifford	Jo Ann Clifford	Wood: Reimagined birdhouses
Knit Wit Betty	Betty Rounds	Fiber: Knitted items
Mullberry Tree	Joan Pelkey	Artisan Food: Dried herb dips & pottery
The Quilted Jardin	Martha Beauchamp	Fiber: Quilted landscapes & animals
Stone Creek Workshops	Kathy Stone	Furnishings: Custom cabinets, furniture & pottery
Elaine Snow	Elaine Snow	Fiber: Gift bags & children's jean aprons
Mimi's Mittens	Jean Olanyk	Fiber: Fleece-lined mittens
Parker Posie Jewelry Designs	Shannon Parker	Jewelry: Silver & 14K gold with natural gemstones
Mason House Pottery	Christopher Wuttke	Pottery: Functional stoneware pottery
Chase Woodworking	Gary Chase	Wood: Unique cutting boards
Bonnie's Bundles Dolls	Bonnie Watters	Collectibles: One-of-a-kind dolls
Vermont Simple Beauty	Sheri Abild	Personal Care: Handmade natural spa products
Vermont Sundae Sauce Co.	Bobbie Denny	Artisan Food: Dessert sauces
Beartown Woodworks	Randy Pratico	Wood: Cutting boards & bird houses
Ann Katz	Ann Katz	Fiber: Hand-knit shawls, hats & accessories.
Some Flowers	Fran Lamb	Glass: Vintage glass & garden art
Wander on Words	Colleen Wilcox	Calligraphy: Cards, prints, apparel hand-lettered art
Lisa Madison	Lisa Madison	Fiber: Fleece
Barbara Southwood	Barbara Southwood	Fiber: Quilts, pillows & bibs for children
Artisan Gifts and Photography by Victoria and Bruce Dennis	Victoria & Bruce Dennis	Fiber: Fabric chalkboards, ribbon barrettes, photography
Ann K. Herrick	Ann Herrick	Fiber: Aprons, dog scarves & dish towels
Shannons Beaded Jewelry & Gemstone Creations	Shannon Gould	Jewelry
How Charming	Dina Pallazola	Jewelry: Beaded & wire work, wire names
Thompson Goat Farm	Connie Thompson	Artisan Food & Personal Care: Soaps & canned goods
Hawks Meadow Farm and Winter View Farm	Penni Thomas	Artisan Food: Jams, jellies, pickles, maple syrup, dried herbs
The VT Mad Hatter	Nancy McKeegan	Fiber: Custom fleece lined wool hats
Edward Thomas Photography	Edward Thomas	Fine Art: Photography
Earth Creations	Tristan Wandzy	Jewelry
Ellen Howard Handmade	Ellen Howard	Fiber: Scarves, shirts & bags
Dan & Lynn Brooks	Dan & Lynn Brooks	Jewelry and Fiber
Two Wooden Spoons	Mary Roux	Artisan Food: Granola
Coyote Moon	Aristides Nogueron	Jewelry: Silver
Cute Critters	Gigi Pelletier	Pet Goods: Hand-made dog accessories
Route 4 Glass Blowing Studio	Lada Bohac	Glass: Handblown glass
Bracken Glen Cottage	Melody Reed	Jewelry
CAKE Jewelry	Meike Williams	Jewelry: Hand-forged Argentium Sterling
Beadz, Bagz, & Baublez	Sandi Monteith	Fiber: Bags, totes, accessories
M&M Carriage House	Michele Ohayon	Fine Art & Pet Goods
Pumpkin Hill Farm Woodworks & Antiques	Barry Corriveau	Wood: Primitive wood crafts
Fight Scurvy, Drink Lemonade	Cynthia Prairie	Food: Fresh-squeezed lemonade and limeade
Papa John's Sugar Shack	Mark & Amy Turco	Artisan Food: Maple products, cotton candy
Mo's Fudge Factor	Michelle Olanyk	Artisan Food: Fudge and fudge apples
Mountain Hen	Deb Clingenpeel	Fiber
VT Gourmet Candy Dish	Sandra & Bruce Hunt	Artisan Food: Jellies and sauces
Grandpa Jim's	Jim Smith	Artisan Food: Hot sauce, salsa, bbq sauce
Squeels on Wheels	Cindy Dilworth	Food: BBQ
Shauna's Bags & More	Paul Nickerson	Fiber: Aprons, bags, finger puppets
The Lazy Cow	Ashley Sigi	Food: Ice cream
Joanna Alix Watercolors	Joanna Alix	Fine Art: Nature & animals in watercolor
Grace & Miss Mouse Soaps	Judy Lidie	Personal Care: Handcrafted soaps
Chester Rotary's Soup Trailer	Rotary Club of Chester	Food: Soups & beverages
That's Different Chocolates	Mark Shaw	Artisan Food: Chocolates
Gaffron-Hargrove Art	JoAnn Gaffron-Hargroe	Fine Art: Reverse painting on framed glass and windows
Vermont Paddle Company	Cliff DesMarais	Wood: hand carved canoe paddles, spoons, and cutting boards
My Stained Glass Store	Janice Hubbard	Glass: Stained glass suncatchers, night lights and glass jewelry
Mt. Ascutney Farm	Dolores Mellish	Fiber: Wool and knitted items
A Greater Grater	Kathleen Gowdy	Pottery: Hand-thrown graters and dishes
Unique Turning	Joe Langton	Wood: Bowls, bottle stoppers and other unique wood objects