Vermont Symphony Orchestra Concert at Hildene MeadowsBy Jennifer Hazard
Photography by Hubert Schriebl
Grab a chair, corral the fam and hang out listening to music on the lawn
Summer in Vermont brings back memories for me, but none more so than my family’s July 4th tradition of picnicking at the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Pops concert in Hildene Meadows. At first, my two sisters and I weren’t much interested in the music. We were more excited about the fireworks and the promise of hot fudge sundaes to come after the event.
My father especially loved the finale—the constant boom and crash of color. “Listen girls,” he’d say, “once they start playing the ‘Overture of 1812,’ we’re in for a treat!” His enthusiasm was infectious. We’d watch for the violinists’ bows to sweep over their instruments in crazed precision and scream with delight as the fireworks started to fill the night sky. “This is so cool!”I said to my Dad, realizing that the music added to the excitement.
Twenty-five years later, I look forward to sharing this experience with my own children. The VSO Pops concert is still going strong, and now there’s a whole host of outdoor concerts to enjoy along with it. Fans young and old can experience Salsa, Big Band, Pop, Rock and more great live music all summer long. And in many cases, the ticket prices are a steal—some are even free.
The first lawn series to kick off the summer season is the Littlest Music Festival in Dorset. The event, held at Barrows House Inn Sunday afternoons beginning in June, supports the Manchester Food Pantry. While the festival is free and open to the public, concertgoers are encouraged to make a donation. Now in it’s 18th year, innkeeper Linda McGinnis says the festival has grown into something the community looks forward to each summer. Audiences have grown as high as 550-plus people and while parking can be a challenge, McGinnis makes room for everyone who comes armed with a lawn chair or blanket......
