Explore Brandon
See for yourself why everyone is talking about Brandon
Use our Chamber web site to get familiar with our town, its businesses, its events and calendar, and its people. Longtime popular events include the Town Wide Yard Sale in early August, the Great Brandon Auction in July, and Moonlight Madness shopping in December.
Stop at the Visitors’ Center located in the Stephen A Douglas birthplace to learn about Brandon’s history and enjoy the exhibits. Spend a few minutes in the Stephen A. Douglas museum as well. While you are there pick up a Brandon Walking Tour guide.
Summer activities include the Friday Farmers’ Market from early May through Columbus weekend right in Central Park. You’ll find produce, honey, maple syrup, goats’ milk soaps, and Brandon-made crafts. Wednesday evenings in July and August you can enjoy free concerts on the lawn behind the Brandon Inn complete with free popcorn. Our 4th of July parade is one of the largest in the state! You can even see old silent movies at the Old Town Hall complete with musical accompaniment and commentary.
Brandon has been called “the art and soul of Vermont”. Warren Kimble, the celebrated folk artist, still lives right here on Park Street and you can usually make an appointment to see him in his studio. His work is also at the BAG, the Brandon Artists’ Guild, which has a gallery downtown. Their 50+ members exhibit at their well curated gallery and present about 10 shows a year.
Brandon is a shining tribute to Vermont’s arts scene. Other Brandon artists have studios/galleries downtown and welcome visitors; Judith Reilly Gallery, ConsantsquareGallery, Vermont Folk Art Gallery, and The Gallery at SIX to name a few.
Our downtown is one of the last walkable complete village shopping areas in the state. There you will find a supermarket, drug store, hardware store, banks, hairdressers, offices, a bakery, bookstore, and wonderful retail shops with gifts, items for fiber crafts and the home, clothing, cards, flowers, and more. You can stop and enjoy the pace of small town life in one of the pocket parks near the river, see the Neshobe River falls, and get a coffee and pastry if you like.
Or if you are hungry for a meal you can choose from sandwiches to pizza to burgers or salads at outdoor tables. There is take-out and dine-in; French, American, and Chinese; cocktails and Vermont craft beers or Cokes and iced tea. You’ll find lots of dining options here in Brandon, but remember – this is Vermont. Nothing is too fussy here; you’ll be glad to know that casual attire is always in season.
