Many folks do not think of Vermont as a spring destination, but it is actually a great time of year to visit Brattleboro.  Brattleboro kicks off the Spring season right with Gallery Walk, Sidewalk Sales, Farmers Market, Live Music, Live Entertainment and don’t forget all of the beautiful flowers in bloom! Check out our list of great events below and come stay with us at Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast this spring!

Brattleboro Sidewalk Sale will be held in downtown Brattleboro on May 1st, 2nd, & 3rd 2009, organized by Build a Better Brattleboro.  Downtown Brattleboro is home to many outdoor events, join local businesses as they kick off the spring season right with deals and discounts.

Gallery Walk, on Friday night will follow the sidewalk sale.   All of the Galleries, many restaurants and shops will open up to display a variety of art work, sculptures and paintings.

River Garden Event also in downtown Brattleboro, on Saturday, May 2nd,  from 10am – 4pm will host a pottery exhibit and sale complete with food and live entertainment by Brattleboro Music Center’s Music School  join them for there Performathon.  Music School students perform recitals all day to raise money for the student scholarship fund. Public invited free.

Brattleboro Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 2nd from 9am – 2pm.  Enjoy local grown flowers, herbs, produce and locally made Vermont products along with live entertainment.

Brattleboro Museum and Art Center presents Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina at 2 pm on Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm. Located in downtown Brattleboro at 10 Vernon St, tickets are $6. Join the BMAC as they celebrate Audrey Hepburn’s 80th birthday with a screening of the 1954 film Sabrina starring Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden. Following the film , photographer and author Juliet Cuming of Dummerston, Vt., will sign copies of her new book, Charmed by Audrey: Life on the set of Sabrina, which features photographs by Cuming’s father-in-law, famed fashion and celebrity photographer Mark Shaw.

The Race for a Reason is an annual fundraiser hosted by the SIT Graduate Institute Chapter of Net Impact. This event will begin at 10am, on Saturday, May 2nd, with the customary 5/10k run/walk, and continue the festivities with games, food, live music, and entertainment. There will be also be a silent auction with a selection of wonderful items generously donated by Brattleboro businesses. Net proceeds will benefit our ‘Reason’, Morningside Shelter, which is the only homeless shelter in southern Vermont. Join them in celebrating spring and give your support to a fantastic local cause!  For more details contact Sara LeHoullier (919)257-0057

For continued updates on what is going on around Brattleboro, follow us on twitter or sign up for email alerts on our blog, innbrattleboro.com.

The Chesterfield Gorge in Chesterfield, New Hampshire is the perfect location to take an easy hike with beautiful views.  This stroll through the woods along the Chesterfield Gorge is serene.  Surrounded by the beauty of nature and the sound of rolling water this is a relaxing way to spend an hour.  This is one of mine and Tim’s favorite spots to have a picnic.  We usually start at the Vermont Country Deli to get some sandwiches and snacks to pack in our picnic basket.  The other option instead of running around to get lunch, take advantage of the Take a Hike Package which includes a picnic backpack (that you get to keep)  filled with lunch and a bottle of wine or beer.  Enjoy the Chesterfield Gorge, I know we did!

It is that time of year once again, that’s right, the Strolling of the Heifers here in Brattleboro. You may be thinking why or who would possibly want to see a bunch of cows walk down Main Street? It is pretty clear by last year’s photos as to who would attend such an event, everyone! So here are my top 3 reasons this is the biggest event in Brattleboro, and a must attend.

#3 Cows are cute!

Who can resist the cute face of a cow. Not only will you see their cute faces you will see them all dressed up for the event. We are not just talking about live cows either. We are talking about paper machete cows on floats, stuffed cows on the side of the road, cow aprons, cow T-shirts, balloon cows, people dressed up like cows and finally cow scarecrows (with a political message of course…this is Brattleboro, VT after all).

#2 Not just cows?

That is correct this parade is not all about cows it is about a community joining together to celebrate and do what we love to do here in Brattleboro… that is to parade down Main Street. According to local historians the town of Brattleboro has been parading down Main Street since the 1800’s. You will find more than just cows parading down Main Street, you will also see the kind of parade you may remember as a child. That’s right this parade has marching bands, unicyclists, stilt walkers, clubs, local businesses, men and women driving historic tractors and little cars. That’s not all…don’t forget about the circus. The local circus school will be in the parade and performing afterward.

#1 Free Ice Cream and Cheese!

After the parade we stroll just a few blocks to the Brattleboro Retreat where tent after tent is set up. Each tent is serving locally made dairy products including milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. The best part is it is all free…that’s right free!

Clear your schedule on June 5th and 6th (2009), book a room at Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast and join the festivities. This is sure to be worth the trip!

Its sugaring time again in Vermont. For those who don’t know, that the time of year when the maple sap runs from the trees into buckets all over the state, waiting to be collected and “cooked” into delicious maple syrup. The smell (as I am sure you can imagine) is amazing. Several sugar houses offer tours and demonstrations in our area. We took a ride up to Harlow’s Sugar House, which is just up the road from us, to check out the operation.

At Harlow’s, they offer a wide selection of local products, other than syrups. They also will let you watch the cooking process. Demonstrations of both the traditional methods of syrup production and more advanced methods will be available as well as samples and all things maple! There is more information about the activities scheduled at www.vermontmaple.org. Copies of the “2009 Vermont Ski & Maple Map” can also be picked up at any Vermont Welcome Center (Rest Areas).

If you are planing a trip to Forty Putney Road and would like to see some sugaring, here are some local spots to check out:

Harlow’s is located at 563 Bellows Falls Rd. (Rt. 5), in Putney. The phone number is (802) 387-5852. For more information, visit www.harlowssugarhouse.com.

The Clark Farm is at 4224 Bonnyvale Rd., in Guilford. The phone number is (802) 254-2569.

The Corse Farm is at 1089 Corse Rd., in Whitingham. The phone number is (802) 368-2322.

Harlow’s Sugarhouse is at Sweet Maple Alpacas is at 154 River Rd., in Westminster. The phone number is (802) 376-9846. For more information, visit www.sweetmaplealpacas.com.

Robb Family Farm is at 827 Ames Hill Rd., in Brattleboro. The phone number is (802) 258-9087. For more information, visit www.robbfamilyfarm.com.