Bennington
Around Bennington
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Vermont · 37k people
Bennington
Locals say The Shires · “Monument City”, “Shire Town”
Where covered bridges cross into the mountains.
Deep forest greenMaple orangeCovered bridge red
Welcome to the Shires! Whether you're here for the maple syrup, the mountain air, or the quiet charm of our towns, you'll find a community that knows how to enjoy the outdoors and each other. Pull up a chair at a diner, ask about the local trails, and settle in.
Clubs for Bennington
No clubs for Bennington yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Bennington. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Bennington. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Bennington Battle Monument 306-foot obelisk marking the Revolutionary War battle
- Hildene Lincoln family summer home with gardens and trails
- Southern Vermont Arts Center Galleries, sculpture gardens, and performances in Manchester
- Park-McCullough House Victorian mansion in North Bennington
- Merck Forest & Farmland Center Working farm and forest with miles of trails
- Mount Equinox Highest peak in the Taconic Range with a scenic auto road
- Outdoors Hike the Long Trail
- Outdoors Drive to the top of Mount Equinox
- With kids Visit the Bennington Museum
- With kids Explore Merck Forest
- Evenings Live music at the Southern Vermont Arts Center
- Evenings Night skiing at Bromley Mountain
- Locals love Sugarhouses
- Locals love General stores
Through the year
- Bennington Battle Day August Parade and reenactments marking the Revolutionary War battle
- Manchester Music Festival July Classical chamber music performances
- Bennington County Fair August Agricultural exhibits, rides, and local food
Bennington has four distinct seasons: snowy winters, muddy springs, mild summers, and spectacular falls. The best time to be out is late summer through early fall. Best: Fall and summer are ideal for being outdoors, with crisp air and colorful foliage or warm lake breezes.
Talk like a local
- “creemee”
- Soft-serve ice cream, a Vermont staple
- “sugarhouse”
- Building where maple syrup is boiled
- “The Shires”
- Local nickname for the Bennington area
- “leaf peeper”
- Tourist who comes to see fall foliage
Getaways
- Albany, NY State capital with museums and dining
- Pittsfield, MA Berkshire cultural hub with Tanglewood
- Brattleboro, VT Artsy river town with galleries and breweries
- Greenfield, MA Pioneer Valley gateway with farmers market
Local flavour
Rooting for Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics
Eat and drink
- Vermont maple syrup Produced locally, a staple of the region
- Vermont cheddar cheese Known for its sharp, artisanal quality
- Creemee (soft-serve ice cream) A Vermont summer classic
- Apple cider donuts A fall favorite at local orchards and farm stands
Where people go
- Covered bridges Historic wooden bridges scattered across the area
- Sugarhouses Where maple syrup is boiled down each spring
- General stores Quaint, community gathering spots
- Diners Classic small-town eateries like the Blue Benn Diner
- Bennington Battle Monument A towering stone obelisk commemorating a Revolutionary War battle
- Mountain hiking trails Access to the Green Mountains and Long Trail
- Ski resorts Nearby slopes for winter sports
Heritage and traditions
The Shires are proud of their revolutionary history, their artistic legacy (Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses), and their quintessential Vermont small-town character.
This time of year in Bennington
- Fall foliage Autumn October brings brilliant colors and leaf peepers.
- Southern Vermont Arts Center Fall Gala October Fundraising gala with fine art, dinner, and live music.
Say it like a local: “Wicked good” — Very good
Festivals
- Bennington Battle Day August State holiday on August 16 commemorating the 1777 battle, with parades and reenactments.
- Manchester Music Festival July-August Summer chamber music and classical concerts in Manchester.
- Bennington County Fair August Traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Southern Vermont Arts Center Fall Gala October Fundraising gala with fine art, dinner, and live music.
- Bennington Garlic and Herb Festival September Downtown celebration with garlic-themed foods, cooking demos, and local vendors.
- Hildene's Maple Sugaring March Demonstrations of traditional maple syrup making at the Lincoln family estate in Manchester.
Landmarks with a story
- Old First Church and Cemetery Colonial meetinghouse and burial site of poet Robert Frost.
- Bennington Museum Houses the Bennington Flag and the world's largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings.
- Bennington College Campus Progressive college with notable architecture and a storied arts scene.
- North Bennington Depot Restored Victorian-era train station, now a community hub.
- Arlington Village Historic District Norman Rockwell's home for 14 years, with many buildings he depicted in his paintings.
- Park-McCullough House Victorian mansion with period furnishings and grounds.
Food traditions
- Sugar on snow Boiled maple syrup poured over snow to make taffy, a springtime treat at sugarhouses.
- Vermont common crackers A dense, dry cracker often served with soup or cheese, a New England staple.
- Apple pie with cheddar cheese A classic pairing, often served at harvest dinners and local restaurants.
- Corn chowder A creamy soup made with fresh corn, a summer favorite at farm stands and diners.
Music and arts
- Oldcastle Theatre Company Professional theatre in Bennington offering year-round productions.
- Bennington Potters Handcrafted stoneware pottery, a local craft tradition since 1948.
- Bennington College arts scene Progressive and experimental, with influential alumni in visual and performing arts.
- Manchester Music Festival Summer classical concerts in intimate venues.
A little history
- 1777 Battle of Bennington
- 1889 Bennington Battle Monument completed
- 1932 Bennington College founded, a pioneer in progressive education
- 1939-1953 Norman Rockwell lived in Arlington, producing many iconic paintings
- 1948 Shirley Jackson published 'The Lottery' while living in North Bennington
- Game day Skiing at Bromley Mountain
- Game day Hiking the Long Trail
- Outdoors Snowshoeing in the Green Mountains
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Prospect Mountain
- With kids Climb the Bennington Battle Monument
- With kids Go sledding at a local hill
Locals speak with a soft New England accent, using 'ayuh' for yes and 'wicked' for very. They often drop the 'r' in words like 'car' and 'park', and say 'supper' for dinner.
Only here
- The Bennington Battle Monument is the tallest structure in Vermont.
- Robert Frost's grave is in the Old First Church cemetery.
- The Bennington Flag, a revolutionary war flag, is on display at the Bennington Museum.
- The region is known as 'The Shires'.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for cold winters and 'mud season' in spring.
- Drive carefully on dirt roads, especially in mud season.
- Try a maple creemee from a local stand.
- Visit the Bennington Battle Monument for great views.
- Learn to say 'ayuh' and 'wicked' to fit in.
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Nearby
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Bennington, VT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.