Libraries to the Rescue

If you're looking for a free indoor escape, look to your local library! Explore books, get free passes to Vermont destinations, or enjoy one of their many events over break. Here are just a few midweek meet-ups:

• Seed Bombs @ Brownell Library · Sat., Apr. 18, 3–4 pm · Essex
• Youth Drop-in Cardboard Collage @ Richmond Library · Mon., Apr. 20, 1–3 pm · Richmond
• Learn to Code: Ozobots @ Kellogg-Hubbard Library · Tue., Apr. 21, 1–3 pm · Montpelier
• Family Craft: Paint Along with Bob Ross @ Burnham Memorial Library · Wed., Apr. 22, 5:30–6:30 pm · Colchester
• Party with Pete the Cat @ South Burlington Public Library · Thu., Apr. 23, 10:30–11 am · South Burlington

Find your local library for more free fun: https://findandgoseek.net/libr...
And more events at: https://findandgoseek.net/even...

Earth & Space, Dinos & Sharks @ ECHO

Don't miss the weeklong Earth & Space-tacular Festival at ECHO spanning all of break. Take a trip through our solar system to learn about Earth, our Moon, and all the planets in the Milky Way with daily out-of-this-world activities and demonstrations. Celebrate what makes our home planet special with the return of the beloved Mud Fling. Join the mud parade and throw mud balls from the upper deck! See the daily schedule for Mud Fling times.

Plus, check out the Dinosaur Safari exhibit and the new Shark 3-D movie!

Get Creative! Art with the Family

If you're looking for creative fun this month, two great art events are worth checking out. Cardtopia at Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 pm, running through May 17 — a unique, playful experience in a carboard castle! Then on Saturday, April 25, Family Art Saturday at BCA in Burlington is a free drop-in event from 11 am to 1 pm that's perfect for getting the whole family creative together.

Museums and Science Center Fun

Explore one of Vermont's amazing institutions of science and education over break and visit a museum or science center!

• Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (St. Johnsbury) – science & discovery, plus explore the stars
• The Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich) – hands-on learning indoors and out
• Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum (Rutland) – play-based discovery for young kids
• VINS – Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (Quechee) – raptors, a canopy walk, and more

Enjoy a Performance

If you're in the mood for live performance this month, two very different but equally compelling theatre events are happening across Vermont. First, Lost Nation Theatre in Montpelier is staging Thornton Wilder's beloved classic Our Town, running April 16 through 26 with multiple showtimes — a timeless production that's always moving to experience on stage. Then on Tuesday, April 21, head to Glover for Spring Sing at the iconic Bread & Puppet Theatre, an evening of music from 6:30 to 8 pm that's open to all ages.

Active Indoor Play

From indoor playgrounds and climbing gyms to museums, art studios, bowling, and arcade fun—there are so many kid-approved indoor play options across Vermont. Find a full list: https://findandgoseek.net/indo....

Here are a few recommendations:

ACTIVE + HIGH-ENERGY PLAY: Perfect for kids who need to move.

• Monkey Do (Williston) – climbing + big energy
• Eat and Be Hoopy (South Burlington) – creative movement & play
• The Archives Bar (Burlington, family hours!) – vintage arcade fun
• Spare Time (Colchester) – bowling + arcade
• Smugglers' Notch FunZone 2.0 (Jeffersonville) – indoor family fun
• The Pumphouse Indoor Waterpark (Jay) – splash break!
• MetroRock (Essex Junction) – indoor climbing

Maple Festivals

April 18 is your last chance to catch the Maple Open House at Palmer's Sugarhouse in Shelburne, open 9 am to 4 pm with live music and all the maple favorites.

Celebrate St. Johnsbury's history as the "Maple Center of the World" with the Kingdom Maple Festival on April 18, with a full day of events. The festival will showcase local maple history and producers, along with delicious treats and fun activities for the whole family. Don't miss the pancake breakfast!

The Vermont Maple Festival will kick off at Noon on April 24 and runs through the weekend with sweet treats from sugar-on-snow to maple donuts, kids activities, face painting, music, a parade with floats and carnival rides all weekend long.

Enjoy the Temps des Sucres Weekend at Jay Peak Resort, April 18-19, and take a horse-draw carriage ride to taste sugar-on-snow and other maple treats.

Illuminate Vermont

Illuminate Vermont is a free artisan street festival set in the heart of South Burlington’s growing downtown. Support local artists, artisans, and food producers. Attractions include a setting of winter lights on Market Street, unique handmade products, local artisan food, hot beverages, food trucks, live music, and other performances. Kids will enjoy music by Linda Bassick, the fiery performance from Cirque De Fuego, and more!

Annual Owl Festival @ VINS

Join VINS in Quechee for a day of all things owl at the annual Owl Festival! Meet live owls that range from Vermont’s forests to habitats all over the world and discover their life stories. Join in a craft inspired by owls, and play games to test your own owl skills. Learn all about the amazing world of owls and how you can help the ones in your backyard.

Vermont Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Expo

Discover a world of imagination at the 7th Annual Vermont Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Expo, April 25 and 26. The Champlain Valley Exposition will be overtaken by space knights, superheroes, wizards, monsters, time travelers, and fairies.

This family-friendly event will delight all ages with cosplayers, comic creators, game designers, and more. Meet the stars of TV’s Babylon 5 and Ghost Hunters, as well as Tron and the Night of the Living Dead movies. 

Annual Kids Fest @ the YMCA

Head down the Burlington YCMA for the third Annual Kids Fest: Celebrating Health + Safety, a family party that combines New American Safety Day and YMCA Healthy Kids Day. You will find tons of fun for kids, health and safety info for parents/caregivers, crafts, face painting, games, and a bounce house. Pick up free bicycle helmets and t-shirts while supplies last. See Champ, Monty the Moose, and Rally Cat and get down to music with DJ Melo Grant.

Earth Day Celebration & Open House @ The Nature Museum

Join the annual Earth Day Celebration & Open House at The Nature Museum on April 18! There will be day-long opportunities for nature-themed exploration, play, and creativity for everyone to enjoy.  Enjoy animal encounters and the chance to view the daytime skies through a solar telescope with the Southern Vermont Astronomy Group (conditions dependent). All day activities include seed ball making, scavenger hunts, and nature-inspired craft making.

Spectacular Nature Day @ The Intervale

Join Burlington Wildways at the Intervale for a nature-filled day of exploration, community, and environmental stewardship! Get ready to kick off the week of events celebrating the beauty and importance of our wild places, and participate in hands-on activities for all ages. Whether you're planting a fern, learning from local organizations, or discovering the wonders of foraged food, there’s something for everyone. Parents and kids can enjoy exciting outdoor activities, while music fills the air from our open-mic. 

More Nature-Exploring Events 

Find details on our calendar.

• Earth Day Care Day @ Grandmother Cherry Sanctuary · Sat., Apr. 18, 10 am–5 pm · Plainfield
• Wildlife Educational Fair · Sun., Apr. 19, 1–4 pm · Vergennes
• From Trash to Treasure @ South Burlington Public Library · Mon., Apr. 20, 2–3 pm · South Burlington
• Explore Spring! @ Birds of Vermont Museum · Wed., Apr. 22, 1:30–3 pm · Huntington
• Whimsical Wednesdays: Playdough Earth Models @ Brownell Library · Wed., Apr. 22, 3:30–5 pm · Essex
• Forest Storytime @ VINS · Thu., Apr. 23, 10:30–11 am · Quechee
• Baby Farm Animal Celebration @ Billings Farm & Museum · Apr. 25–26, 10 am–4 pm · Woodstock
• Bread-Making and Maple: A Seasonal Event for Young Families @ Audubon Vermont · Sat., Apr. 25, 10 am–12 pm · Huntington
• Volunteer Day: Invasive Plant Removal @ Audubon Vermont · Sat., Apr. 25, 10 am–12 pm · Huntington

Find School Vacation Week Camps

Looking for childcare for the vacation week? Some locations still have open spaces. Explore these camps and more:

• Fairfax April Break Day Camp 
• Theater Camp @ ONE Arts Center · Burlington
• April Break Circus Camp @ NECCA · Brattleboro
• Spring Break Mask Making Camp @ ONE Arts Studio · Middlesex
• April Alive Vacation Camp with Crow's Path @ Rock Point · Burlington
• April Break D&D Maker Camp @ Generator Makerspace · Burlington
• Spring French, Art, Flower Power Camp @ Wingspan Studio · Burlington
• Cedar Circle Farm April Break Camp · East Thetford
• 2026 Cabin Fever School Break Camps · Sunderland
• Vacation Camps @ the Fairbanks Museum · St. Johnsbury
• Merry Theatre April Break Camp: "Monsters!" · Burlington

Check for April break camp detail on our calendar.