Winter in the City

Winter in Burlington, Vermont

Winter in the City is Burlington’s season-long celebration of the music, arts, culture, and community moments that light up Burlington from November through March. With more than 100 extraordinary events, Burlington sparkles all season long. With holiday happenings, unique art experiences, unforgettable festivals,
family-friendly fun, and so much more, Winter in the City kindles joy in the heart of Burlington.

It’s also the perfect time to stay connected with the places and people that make Burlington shine. Get out for a coffee run, wander through an art gallery, explore a new neighborhood, linger over dinner with friends, and keep supporting the local businesses that bring warmth to every chilly day. So bundle up, grab a hot drink, and let’s stroll, shop, and celebrate all winter long.

Check out some bright points of the season and then scroll through all of our "Winter in the City" events below.

Holidays on the Marketplace

November 27 - December 31, 2026

From the Santa Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony to Santa Visits and all your favorite traditions, the magic you love is here to stay. This year, beloved experiences like the Postcard Club, the Snowflake Hunt, the Santa Parade, the North Pole Express Mailbox, and the Kids Train continue, bringing extra joy to the season. Explore the full schedule below to find every event, performance, and cozy moment happening downtown.

Browse all holiday events

BTV Winter Market

Two weekends, two great locations

We’re excited to bring back the BTV Winter Market for its 7th season, for two jam-packed weekends at two great locations. Featuring local artists and makers, the Winter Market will be filled with unique gifts, seasonal flavors, and a lively holiday atmosphere that makes every moment count. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Saturday, November 28
11am–5pm at BCA Studios, 405 Pine Street

Friday, December 11, 4-8pm
Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street

Saturday, December 12, 11am-5pm
Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street

Explore the vendor lineup

Burlington Illuminated

Downtown and the Waterfront

Burlington Illuminated transforms the city with twinkling light installations, artist-created video projections, illuminated public artworks, and special pop-up activations throughout the season. Pick up a map of all the Burlington brightness at the BCA Center and participating local businesses.

All Season Long

Spend $50, Get Rewarded!

Monday, November 23-Sunday, December 20

This holiday season, Burlington shoppers, diners, and explorers have another reason to support local! Spend $50 or more at any Burlington-based business and redeem your receipt at participating businesses for a special discount, deal, or perk.

Check out all the rewards

Winter Ice Skating

November 27 - March 15, 8am-8pm | 13 College Street

Enjoy skating on the waterfront on the Northfield Savings Bank Community Ice Rink at Main Street Landing, with skate rentals available at the Skinny Pancake. Come out for special DJ-fueled Friday skate sessions popping up all season long! It's the ice indoors at the Paquette Ice Arena in Leddy Park, where you can rent skates, ice time, take a lesson, and enjoy public skating hours. Or discover Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront’s outdoor rinks and wild ice-skating area.

Explore all skating areas

Celebrate Burlington with a Winter Event

Scroll through the complete list of holiday markets, winter activities, business deals & special events, and so much more. Want to submit an event to our "Celebrate Burlington" calendar? Click the +Add button below and complete the steps. Just be sure to add the tag "Celebrate Burlington" before submitting.

Burlington City Arts
For more than 40 years, Burlington City Arts (BCA) has been a place where creativity thrives, and community comes together. From world-class exhibitions to public art, festivals, classes, and camps, BCA’s programs are rooted in a deep commitment to making the arts accessible, meaningful, and reflective of our city.

Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront
Burlington, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) cares for the City’s parks, natural spaces, facilities, and beaches. BPRW connects the community to opportunities for environmental conservation, indoor and outdoor recreation for all ages, and special events, while striving for equity and accessibility in Burlington’s public spaces.

Church Street Marketplace
The Church Street Marketplace is Burlington’s iconic four-block pedestrian marketplace and the heart of downtown, where locals and visitors gather year-round to shop, dine, and experience the city. With major events and steady daily foot traffic, it drives visibility, connection, and economic activity at the center of it all.

Fletcher Free Library
The Fletcher Free Library’s mission is to inform, enrich, and nurture a community of lifelong learners, as an essential partner in Burlington’s economic, social, and cultural growth.

Love Burlington
Love Burlington is the citywide marketing and storytelling platform dedicated to Burlington’s small business community. Through campaigns, digital content, and community-driven initiatives, Love Burlington connects residents and visitors with local businesses across every neighborhood, making it easy

Winter in the City Media Sponsors: Seven Days, WCAX, and Vermont Public

Burlington City Arts’ Winter in the City programming is made possible by presenting sponsors, Neagley & Chase Construction Company, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Burlington Telecom, with community support from Burlington Electric Department, Vermont Gas Systems, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and AARP Vermont. Burlington Illuminated has support from Northfield Savings Bank.

Burlington City Arts and Love Burlington's BTV Winter Market has support from media sponsor Burlington Area News Group.

Church Street Marketplace’s Holidays on the Marketplace has support from media sponsors, Burlington Area Newspaper Group, Seven Days, and Vermont Public. Festive Fridays and Maple Madness are presented by Northfield Savings Bank. Family Friendly programming has support from Community Bank and media sponsor Find & Go Seek.

Whether you're headed to the waterfront or wandering Church Street, Burlington has plenty of parking options to get you there - street parking, the Main & Winooski lot, the Marketplace Garage, and don't forget the Downtown Garage, where your first two hours are FREE (entrances on Cherry, College, and Battery streets). All meter and city garage parking is free on Sundays! Pay at kiosks with a credit card or coins, or download the ParkMobile app ahead of time to pay and extend your stay right from your phone.

Looking for more information and the parking map to see all options? Click here.