The Best of Vermont Summer Festival 2026: Your Guide to Ludlow's Biggest Summer Weekend

The 6th annual Best of Vermont Summer Festival returns to Okemo Field in Ludlow, VT on August 22-23, 2026. Live music, 100+ Vermont artisans, craft beer, food trucks, and a family fun zone.

The Best of Vermont Summer Festival 2026: Your Guide to Ludlow's Biggest Summer Weekend

If you are looking for the single best reason to spend a weekend in Ludlow this August, it arrives August 22-23 at Okemo Field. The Best of Vermont Summer Festival -- now in its sixth year -- brings two full days of live music, craft beverages, 100-plus Vermont artisans, food trucks, and family fun to the heart of the Okemo Valley.  Here is everything you need to know to plan your festival weekend.

The Basics

The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, from 11 AM to 5 PM each day, rain or shine, at Okemo Field on Route 103 and Bixby Road in Ludlow. Tickets range from free admission for kids to about $8-10 for adults, and can be purchased in advance through the festival's ticket page. The event is hosted by the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and presented by Mary W. Davis Realtor & Associates, with support from sponsors including Okemo Mountain Resort, The Vermont Country Store, and Smugglers Notch Distillery.

The Music Lineup

Live music runs continuously both days, and the 2026 lineup leans into rock, Americana, jam, and interactive fun.

Saturday, August 22:

• 11 AM - 1 PM: Bear Mountain Boys -- A four-piece rock and classic rock band known for everything from John Denver to the Black Crowes. They are a fixture on the Okemo Valley live music circuit, having played Off The Rails, The Killarney, and the Cavendish Summer Concert Series. A great high-energy opener.
• 1 PM - 3 PM: The Loonz -- Vermont-based act bringing their own blend of groove and jam.
• 3 PM - 5 PM: The Rustie Bus Band -- Closes out Saturday with an afternoon set to send you back to the inn in good spirits.

Sunday, August 23:

• 11 AM - 1 PM: Sammy Blanchette -- Kicks off the final day with an acoustic-leaning set.
• 1 PM - 3 PM: Rick Redington & Tuff Luv -- A Vermont music veteran. Rick Redington has been a staple of the Vermont scene for years, and Tuff Luv brings a soulful, rootsy sound.
• 3 PM - 5 PM: Learn to Line Dance with B.O.L.D. -- Britt and Olivia close out the festival with an interactive line dancing session. No experience required, all ages welcome. It is the kind of thing that turns a Sunday afternoon at a Vermont festival into a memory.

100-Plus Vermont Vendors

This is where the festival earns its name. More than 100 vendors set up across Okemo Field, and the list reads like a who's who of Vermont makers. You will find:

• Craft beverages: Smugglers Notch Distillery, Putney Mountain Winery & Spirits, and St. Johnsbury Distillery pouring in the beer and wine garden, sponsored by Eight Oh Brew.
• Maple and farm goods: Mettowee Valley Maple, Papa John's Sugar Shack, and Sugar Bowl Farm bringing the Vermont maple syrup and farm products.
• Artisans and fine craft: Form & Function Pottery, Vermont Slate Art, SKA Designs Glass, Radical Roots Glass Works, and dozens more woodworkers, jewelers, and artists.
• Specialty foods: Barred Owl Bags, Salsa Sisters, Chimera Meats, and a wide range of Vermont-made pantry goods.

Food Trucks and the Dining Tent

Festival food goes well beyond the typical vendor tent. The dining tent this year features lobster rolls, and the food truck lineup includes Bumbles Birria, Frenchy & Balloo's BBQ, Taqueria el Chepe, Junior's Food Truck, AJ's Catering (fried dough and ice cream), Waffle Cabin, The Sundae Sisters, and Sunshine Lemonade. Whether you want a full lunch or a festival snack, you will not go hungry.

Family Fun Zone

New for 2026, the Family Fun Zone has been expanded with clown antics, facepainting, games, and hands-on activities for kids. Sponsored by COTA Oil and Heritage Family Credit Union, it is designed to keep younger visitors entertained while parents browse the vendor tents or grab a beer. Agriculture demos and community displays round out the educational side of the festival.

Pairing the Festival With the Rest of Your Weekend

To build out the rest of your weekend, Okemo Mountain Resort offers scenic chairlift rides, hiking, and mountain biking just up the road. The Ludlow Farmers Market runs Sunday mornings from 9 AM to 1 PM on Depot Street -- a perfect pre-festival stop. And if you need breakfast before heading to the grounds, check out our guide to breakfast in Ludlow or our picks for the best takeout in town for a post-festival dinner.

The Details

• When: August 22-23, 2026, 11 AM - 5 PM each day (rain or shine)
• Where: Okemo Field, Route 103 & Bixby Road, Ludlow, VT
• Tickets: Free for kids, approximately $8-10 for adults -- buy online or at the gate
• Info: yourplaceinvermont.com or call 802-228-5830
• Follow: Best of Vermont Summer Festival on Facebook for updates