Bennington, VT

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Aug

CeremonyFeatured

Bennington Battle Day Celebration

Bennington Battle Monument and downtown Bennington, VT

Vermont's official state holiday commemorating the August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington. The celebration centers on the Bennington Battle Monument and typically includes a parade through downtown Bennington, speeches by dignitaries, wreath-laying ceremonies, live music, and community festivities. Bennington Battle Day has been observed as a Vermont state holiday since the 19th century.

Free (monument admission may apply separately)August 16 is a Vermont state holiday; parade and public events are typically held on or near that date, sometimes shifted to the closest weekend.More info →

May

Guided Tour

Bennington Battle Monument Open Season & Living History Programs

Bennington Battle Monument, 15 Monument Circle, Bennington, VT

The 306-foot Bennington Battle Monument, managed by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, opens for its seasonal schedule each spring through fall. Programming throughout the season includes interpretive talks, exhibits on the 1777 battle, and periodic living history demonstrations with costumed interpreters portraying Continental soldiers and militia of the Saratoga Campaign era. Visitors can ride the elevator to the observation level for panoramic views of the battlefield region.

Small admission fee for monument elevator; grounds freeMonument typically open late April or early May through October 31; specific living history program dates vary — check the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation or contact the monument directly.More info →

Jul

Guided Tour

Old First Church Cemetery History Walk

Old First Church, 1 Monument Avenue, Old Bennington, VT

Guided walking tours of the Old First Church burial ground in Old Bennington, where notable Revolutionary-era figures are interred, including soldiers who fought at the Battle of Bennington. Interpreters discuss the history of the Green Mountain Boys, early Vermont statehood, and the lives of those buried in the cemetery. The Old First Church, built in 1805 on the site of the original 1762 meetinghouse that served as a rallying point during the Revolution, provides additional historical context.

Free or by donationTours are offered during the summer season, typically June through October. Contact Old First Church or the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce for specific dates and times.

Aug

Lecture

Bennington Museum Revolutionary War Exhibitions and Lectures

Bennington Museum, 75 Main Street, Bennington, VT

The Bennington Museum, which holds one of the oldest American flags in existence — the Bennington Flag, associated with the 1777 battle — hosts rotating exhibitions, curator-led gallery talks, and special lectures related to the Revolutionary War and early Vermont history. Programming often intensifies around Bennington Battle Day in August and may include presentations on the Green Mountain Boys, the Saratoga Campaign, and the role of the New Hampshire Grants in the Revolution.

Museum admission fee applies; some lectures may be free or included with admissionLectures and special programs often cluster in late summer around Bennington Battle Day; the museum offers year-round programming. Contact the museum for current schedule.More info →

Aug

Reenactment

Battle of Bennington Reenactment at Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site

Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, Walloomsac, NY (approximately 10 miles from Bennington, VT)

Periodic large-scale reenactment of the August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington held at the actual battlefield site across the state line in Walloomsac, New York. Reenactors portray American militia, Continental troops, Hessian dragoons, Loyalists, and Native allies. The event features tactical battle demonstrations, period encampments, artillery firing, sutler's row, and ranger-led battlefield tours explaining the two phases of the engagement — the defeat of Baum's column and the subsequent rout of Breymann's relief force.

Free or small parking fee; check with siteReenactments have been held on the weekend closest to August 16, but may not occur every year; major milestone anniversaries (e.g., 240th, 250th) typically feature larger events. Contact Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site or New York State Parks to confirm.More info →