CHESTER, Vt. – Back for its 52nd year, the Chester Festival is presented by Chester Community Events Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a positive image of the Chester community and supporting its local agriculture and artistic roots. For the first time, this two-day family event will be held in one convenient location at Gateway Field, 637 Vermont Route 103 North in Chester, Vt., on Sept. 19 and 20.
The event brings the community together to discover and support local talent, featuring a vibrant marketplace of handmade artisan goods, live music, and family entertainment. Attendees can enjoy interactive demonstrations, face painting, and wagon rides, while supporting community nonprofits that will be cooking up delicious food, hosting raffles, and selling merchandise to fund their missions.
The committee wishes to thank our many donors and volunteers. Without your dedicated support this event would not be what it is today.
The Chester Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Gateway Field, next to American Legion Post 67, 637 Vermont Route 103 North, Chester, Vt. Entrance to the festival is free, and parking is on site with volunteers directing traffic.
Proceeds from this annual event directly support local causes and community needs, and are also put right back into making this great event what it is today.To learn more or donate, please visit www.chesterfestival.org.
The festival will feature live music from a variety of local performers. The music schedule is as follows.
Saturday, Sept. 19: 9-10 a.m., Paul Ippolito; 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., The Speckers; 1-3 p.m., Jermiah Allen Band; and 3:30-5 p.m., Tuff Luv. A veterans benefits and enrollment event will also be held throughout the day at American Legion Post 67, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20: 9-10 a.m., JohnnyO; 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Rust & Ruin; and 1-4 p.m., SammyB. Opening weekend with Green Mountain Softball League at Mackenzie Field will also be held throughout the day, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Opal Raven Cirque and Crossover Cloggers will also showcase their talents.
Both days will feature fun family events, such as hay wagon rides, face painting with Rachael, face painting with Evie, glitter freckles with Nichole, tinsel fairy hair with Emily, balloon fun with Linda, and chair massages with Amanda.
The festival will also feature live artist demonstrations, such as basket making with Susan Langley, knife making with Keith Barthelmes, wool roving with Liz Willis, wooden sword assembly with Joe Chabot, lathe turning with Ned Mortensen, watercolor painting with Joanna Alix, and interactive art creation with Community Art Garden, and so much more.