On a dark April night, as Vermont anticipates a once-in-a-lifetime total eclipse, Illuminate Vermont shines bright with the power of artistic expression and celebration.

Enjoy cocktails, food trucks, live music, and shopping at this indoor/outdoor market. Admission is free!

Illuminate Vermont is a free artisan street festival set in the heart of South Burlington's growing downtown. Support local artists, artisans, and food producers. Attractions include a setting of winter lights on Market Street, unique handmade products, local artisan food, hot beverages, food trucks, live music, and other performances. No tickets are required for this event. It is free and open to the public.

Schedule of Events

April 5, 2024

Gates Open - 5:00 PM
You are required to show your ID upon entry if you plan to have a drink or sample any Vermont made liquors, wines, or beer.

Main Stage
5:00 - 6:45 PM - Better Angels (trio)
7:15 - 9:00 PM - Better Angels

Market Street
6:00 - 8:00 PM - Ryan Sweezey

Born and raised in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, Ryan Sweezey spent several years performing around Boston before relocating to Burlington, VT. On top of ongoing recording projects, Ryan performs countless shows around the Northeast both as a solo performer and as front-man of his band Ryan Sweezey and the Midnight Walkers.   In 2019, Ryan won the Advance Music Singer/Songwriter Contest at Higher Ground from a pool of talent from around the Northeast. He is a five-time New England Music Award Nominee (Best in Vermont, Best Male Vocalist) and in 2023 was nominated for the Seven Daysies Best Pop Artist or Group in Vermont. Ryan is also a member of Jesse Agan's Shake the Band, which won the Seven Daysies Best Pop Artist or Group award in 2022.

Library
5:00 - 6:30 PM - A Pair of Pauls Playing Piano

Paul Webb has played piano professionally in the Burlington area for over thirty years, including as house pianist at the Inn at Shelburne Farms since it's opening in 1987. Paul Webb has released three CDs of original compositions featuring piano-driven songs with intelligent lyrics and memorable melodies. He enjoys applying his style to jazz standards and the Great American Songbook. More info and music at paulwebbsongs.com

Paul Gittelsohn enjoys delighting audiences with his vast repertoire of ragtime, jazz and novelty tunes while accompanying himself on piano, tenor banjo, guitar or mandolin. After busking at some of the finest street corners in San Francisco, Paul G. toured California with his hot swing vocal trio, On The Air. He co-founded and performed with such memorable groups as Cadillac Slim & The Hub Cats, The Legendary Prairietones, and The Tin Pan Valentinos. Paul G. plays tenor banjo and sings many of his favorite humorous songs with the Onion River Jazz Band.

With their combined 116 years of music experience A Pair of Pauls Playing Piano will tickle your funny bones as they tickle the ivories.

7:00 - 8:30 PM - Ukulele Clare

This entertaining duo charms audiences with originals and songs drawn from the American Songbook, bringing the best of jazz, country, folk, and blues. "Ukulele" Clare Innes is a ukulele shenanigan instigator who brings a lighthearted style to the stage with her ukulele, banjolele, and harmonica. Rebecca Padula backs her smoldering alto with guitar, ukulele, and the occasional kazoo. Click here for more information about classes.  

Auditorium
6:00 PM - U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division Summit Winds

7:30 PM - Blue Note 6

Gates Close - 9:00 PM
Illuminate Vermont continues Saturday!

April 6, 2024

Gates Open - 5:00 PM
You are required to show your ID upon entry if you plan to have a drink or sample any Vermont made liquors, wines, or beer.

Main Stage
5:00 - 6:45 PM - Judi Emanuel Family Band

7:15 - 9:00 PM - Jenni Johnson and the Jazz Junketeers

Jenni Johnson, bandleader: born and raised in NYC/Harlem now lives in Burlington, VT.  Jenni returned to Vermont after working in Boston at M.I.T's Physics Department as an Administrator and Counselor to work as a Therapist and Instructor at UVM. She put together a musical group she calls Jenni & The Jazz Junketeers and represented Burlington, VT at its Sister City International Jazz Over the Volga Festival, Yaroslavl Russia.  The Junketeers perform a variety of music that includes Jazz, Soul and Swing.

The Jazz Junketeers are…

Nick Warner, Bassist: Nick has been gigging professionally since high school and originally worked as a jazz and horn section trumpeter. Nick studied music theory, composition and performance at University of Vermont and appears as a sideman with multiple artists.

Gus Ziesing, Horns: Gus runs Low Tech Studios where Jenni has  recorded several of her albums. Gus will be playing the soprano and tenor sax and clarinet. He will also  add vocal background support.

Felix Anderson, Drummer: Felix has played in bands ranging from punk to blues that included Ludovico Treatment, Big Hair, DirtBox5 and many others. He has opened up for Primus and John Lee ******.

Bruce Cohen, Keyboardist: Bruce has been playing piano for 40 years with a variety of groups that include a 17-piece Big Band and other smaller ensembles, as well as doing solo performances.

Market Street
6:30 - 7:00 PM - Cirque de Fuego

A Vermont based fire performance troupe providing entertainment since 2014.  Cirque de Fuego offers ambient performances including fire breathing, fire juggling, partner acrobat fire routines, choreographed pieces and fire dancing.

6:30 - 8:00 PM - EmaLou and The Beat

A Burlington, VT-based trio. We play a mix of contemporary and classic folk, rock ‘n roll, and funk music - as well as originals from members Alayna Howard and Emma Cook. Andy Feltus is The Beat, our drummer.

Library
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Dr. Jolivette Poetry Theater

Dr. Jolivette will perform Poetry Theater, a lively spoken word literary artform. Her performances are uplifting, educational, honest and sometimes fiery! Dr. Jolivette teaches American history, particularly on the Black experience, interpreting race and place in America and courses on Women of Color. Her presence at the Illuminate Festival was made possible in part by the Clemmons Family Farm, clemmonsfamilyfarm.org and a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation.

7:00 - 8:30 PM - Music Brings Joy

Auditorium
6:00 PM - Andriana Chobot Duo

7:30 PM - Green Mountain Brass Band

Gates Close - 9:00 PM

Date:
April 5-6, 2024

Hours:
5:00pm to 9:00pm

Location:
Illuminate Vermont Artisan Street Festival,
180 Market Street
South Burlington, VT 05403

Click here for More Information