Brattleboro
Around Brattleboro
Photo: Elaine Stottlar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Vermont · 45k people
Brattleboro
“Brat”
Where the river meets the hills, and everyone knows your name.
Vermont GreenConnecticut River BlueAutumn Amber
Welcome to Brattleboro, where the Connecticut River meets the Green Mountains. You'll find a tight-knit community that loves its farmers markets, art walks, and maple everything. Whether you're here for the skiing or the summer festivals, there's always something happening.
Clubs for Brattleboro
No clubs for Brattleboro yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Brattleboro. 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
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Brattleboro. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Latchis Theatre Historic art-deco theater and cinema
- Brattleboro Museum & Art Center Contemporary art museum on the riverfront
- Creamery Covered Bridge Iconic covered bridge over the West River
- Mount Snow Major ski resort in nearby Dover
- Brattleboro Common Central park with a gazebo and open space
- Bellows Falls Historic village with canal and train station
- Outdoors Hike Mount Wantastiquet
- Outdoors Ski at Mount Snow
- With kids Visit the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
- With kids Play at the Brattleboro Common
- Evenings Live music at the Stone Church
- Evenings Craft beer at local breweries
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Art galleries
Through the year
- Strolling of the Heifers June A parade of decorated cows through downtown in June
- Brattleboro Literary Festival October Weekend of author readings and panels in October
- Gallery Walk First Friday monthly First Friday of each month, galleries and shops stay open late
- Brattleboro Winter Carnival February Winter games, ice sculptures, and community fun in February
- Brattleboro Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and food
Brattleboro has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Best time to be out is fall for foliage or summer for outdoor activities. Best: Fall for foliage, summer for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Creemee”
- Soft-serve ice cream, especially maple-flavored
- “Vermonter”
- A person from Vermont
- “Flatlander”
- Someone from out of state, especially from Massachusetts or Connecticut
- “Leaf peeper”
- Tourist who comes to see fall foliage
Getaways
- Keene, NH Colonial downtown, college town energy
- Greenfield, MA Arts scene and the Mohawk Trail
- Bennington, VT Historic sites and the Bennington Monument
- Amherst, MA Colleges, bookstores, and the Emily Dickinson Museum
Local flavour
Rooting for Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins
Eat and drink
- Vermont cheddar cheese A local staple, often from nearby creameries
- pure maple syrup Produced throughout Vermont
- craft beer Brattleboro has a thriving brewery scene
- maple creemee A Vermont soft-serve ice cream treat
Where people go
- covered bridges Historic wooden bridges over the Connecticut River and its tributaries
- ski resorts Mount Snow and other nearby slopes draw winter sports enthusiasts
- art galleries A vibrant arts community, including the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
- farmers markets Local produce and crafts, reflecting the farm-to-table ethos
- the Brattleboro Food Co-op An iconic community-owned grocery store
- the Latchis Theatre A historic Art Deco movie palace and cultural hub
Heritage and traditions
Brattleboro is proud of its fiercely independent, creative spirit, its deep roots in Vermont's rural heritage, and its vibrant arts and food scene.
This time of year in Brattleboro
- Fall foliage October October: the hills explode with color, drawing leaf peepers from all over.
- Brattleboro Area Farmers Market Harvest Festival October An autumn celebration of local produce, crafts, and food.
Say it like a local: “Wicked good” — Very good; excellent
Festivals
- Brattleboro Celtic Festival September A September celebration of Celtic music, dance, and culture at the fairgrounds.
- Roots on the River June A folk and roots music festival held along the river in Bellows Falls.
- Brattleboro Music Center Summer Festival July A series of chamber music concerts held in various venues throughout the summer.
- Winter Solstice Lantern Walk December A community walk on the West River Trail with lanterns to celebrate the longest night.
- Brattleboro Area Farmers Market Harvest Festival October An autumn celebration of local produce, crafts, and food.
- Bellows Falls Art in the Park August A summer arts and crafts fair in the village park.
Landmarks with a story
- Brattleboro Retreat Founded in 1834, one of the oldest psychiatric hospitals in the US, with Gothic Revival architecture on a hill overlooking the town.
- Naulakha Rudyard Kipling's house in Dummerston, a National Historic Landmark where he wrote 'The Jungle Book'.
- Estey Organ Company factory buildings Remnants of the once‑famous organ manufacturer that employed hundreds in the late 19th century.
- Bellows Falls Canal An early 19th‑century canal and lock system that powered the town's industry, with remnants still visible.
- Brooks Memorial Library A historic library building in downtown Brattleboro, a hub of community life since 1909.
- First Baptist Church A prominent 19th‑century church in the historic district, known for its steeple.
Food traditions
- Sugar on snow A spring tradition of pouring hot maple syrup onto snow to make taffy, often served with pickles and doughnuts.
- Localvore eating A movement to eat food grown within 100 miles; Brattleboro is a stronghold of this practice, with many restaurants and farms participating.
- Cider doughnuts A fall favorite at local orchards, often paired with fresh apple cider.
- Maple creemee Vermont's soft‑serve ice cream flavored with maple syrup, a summer staple at roadside stands.
- Vermont cheddar Aged cheddar from local dairies, a staple in many kitchens and at farmers markets.
Music and arts
- Brattleboro Music Center A community music school and performance venue that hosts classical, jazz, and folk concerts.
- New England Youth Theatre A youth‑centered theatre company known for high‑quality productions.
- Gallery Walk A monthly art walk on the first Friday, when galleries and studios open their doors.
- Folk music tradition A strong local scene of singer‑songwriters and folk musicians, often performing at cafes and the Common.
A little history
- 1753 Brattleboro chartered
- 1834 Brattleboro Retreat founded
- 1860s–1900s Estey Organ Company becomes a major manufacturer
- 1892–1896 Rudyard Kipling lives in Dummerston and writes 'The Jungle Book'
- 1960s–1970s Brattleboro becomes a hub for the back‑to‑the‑land and counterculture movements
Rivalries
- Brattleboro vs. Bellows Falls high school football Local gridiron rivalry
- Vermont vs. New Hampshire Friendly rivalry across the Connecticut River
- Red Sox vs. Yankees Baseball loyalties run deep
- Mount Snow vs. Stratton Ski area competition
- Game day Skiing and snowboarding at Mount Snow
- Game day High school sports rivalries
- Outdoors Hike Mount Wantastiquet
- Outdoors Ski at Mount Snow
- With kids Visit the Brooks Memorial Library for story time
- With kids Attend a performance at the New England Youth Theatre
Vermonters speak with a distinct New England accent, often dropping the 'r' in words like 'car' (cah) and using 'ayuh' for yes. 'Wicked' is a common intensifier, and local terms like 'mud season' and 'sugarhouse' reflect the rural, seasonal lifestyle.
Only here
- The Strolling of the Heifers parade, where cows walk down Main Street every June.
- The Brattleboro Food Co‑op, a community‑owned grocery store that's a social hub.
- The Latchis Theatre, an art deco movie palace with a Greek mythology mural.
- The Creamery Covered Bridge, one of the few covered bridges in a downtown setting.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to love mud season in April, when dirt roads turn to muck—good boots are essential.
- Pronounce Brattleboro as 'BRAT-ul-burrow' (or 'BRAT-ul-buh-roh'); locals will appreciate the effort.
- Try a maple creemee at a local stand—it's a Vermont rite of passage.
- Get a membership at the Brattleboro Food Co‑op to feel part of the community.
- Be prepared for cold, snowy winters; invest in a warm coat and ice scraper.
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Part of Keene area
Nearby
Every areaKeeneNew HampshireWhere the mountain meets Main Street.GreenfieldMassachusettsWhere the river meets the hillsBenningtonVermontWhere covered bridges cross into the mountains.Amherst–NorthamptonMassachusettsA valley of ideas and autumn leaves.PittsfieldMassachusettsWhere art and nature meetSpringfieldMassachusettsWhere the river meets the mountains and history lives.WorcesterMassachusettsSeven hills, one heart, and a diner on every corner.RutlandVermontWhere the Green Mountains meet the maple groves.
Brattleboro, 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.