Forest Festival

Forest Festival - September 26, 2026

 

Take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the Mount Tom Forest, try your hand at woodworking, or bring a picnic and blanket/chairs and enjoy live music in the pony pasture. Witness the whole forest product cycle in action, from logging to sawmilling to woodcraft. Meet local foresters, artisans, and community organizers. Enjoy family-friendly programs and ranger-led experiences celebrating the ecological and cultural value of the forest.

During Forest Festival, all park programs are free. No reservations are needed.

Parking is located at Billings Farm & Museum. Take the paved path to the right of the Billings Farm Visitor Center and cross Elm St to enter the national park. A shuttle is available on event days to transport visitors from the parking lot to the festival. See Directions for details.

 

Carriage ride at Forest Festival 2023

NPS Photo

All Day Activities | 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides | Pickup at Park Entrance, Pony Pasture, & Carriage Barn Visitor Center

Take a horse-drawn carriage ride to event stations throughout the park with horses from Billings Farm & Museum.

Junior Ranger Hub | Pony Pasture

Join us at the Junior Ranger Hub for activities suitable for visitors of all ages:

• Tree Identification: Learn to identify different tree species in the area.

• Create a Bookmark: Design your own bookmark inspired by the Mount Tom Forest.

• Plant imPRESSions: Learn about the historic herbaria created by Elizabeth Billings' and Elsie May Kittredge. Press local flora and make your own modern version!

• Artist-in-Residence Demonstrations: Meet 2026 Artists-in-Residence Allison Cook and Shawn Dumont.

Portable Sawmill Demonstration | Pony Pasture

Watch sustainable forestry in action by F&F Millworks.

Horse Logging Demonstration | Pony Pasture

Meet the horse loggers (and horses) and learn about sustainable and historic logging practices.

Timbersports Demonstration | Pony Pasture

Meet the University of Vermont Timbersports Team! Demonstrations will include log chopping, manual sawing, and chainsaw crosscuts.

Outreach Tables | Pony Pasture

Learn from local community organizers about local forest practices, including:

• Farm and Wilderness
• Vermont Woodlands Association
• Vermont State Parks
• Vermont Land Trust
• U.S. Forest Service
• Billings Farm & Museum

Woodcraft Demonstrations & Vendors | Carriage Barn Visitor Center Entrance

2026 featured artisans include:

• Rockledge Farm Woodworks: Assorted wood crafts

• Susie J. Gray: Willow weaving

• Sue Lenfest: Ash baskets

• George Ainley: Windsor chairs

Historic Carriage Display | Woodbarn Exhibit

Take a short hike to the Woodbarn Exhibit to view a special exhibition featuring a historic carriage up close that has been recently conserved. Learn about the carriage and sled collection, the history of the carriage roads, and the efforts involved in conserving these remarkable vehicles!

 

The Slow Cookers perform at Forest Festival 2023

NPS Photo

Live Music

Bring a picnic and blanket/chairs and enjoy live music in the pony pasture.

11:00 am to 1:00 p.m. | Tim and Toben Traver

Irish traditional music (jigs, reels, waltz and polkas), along with New England contra dance music. Very lively and danceable for little ones!

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Sugar in the Pan

Vermont Folklife’s youth trad ensemble, Sugar in the Pan, is delighted to share music honoring mentors and tradition bearers from a variety of regions, including New England, Québec, Maritime Canada, Appalachia, and Sweden at the annual Forest Festival! Their program features lively tunes that will have folks dancing in their seats as well as songs that encourage listeners to join in! These six fantastic musicians, aged 14 to 18, bring a multitude of instruments to the stage. Hailing from all over Vermont, Ben, Lienna, Isolde, Lux, Kate, and Eli look forward to sharing their traditions.

In addition to sharing joyful music and building skills through performance opportunities, Sugar in the Pan raises funds for the Young Tradition Touring Group and increases awareness for Young Tradition programming. Past performances include the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C., New World Festival in Vermont and the Rockport Opera House in Maine as well as various private events, schools, and retirement communities.