Visitors' eyes seemed to fall immediately on the Orphan Tower, a ten-foot high structure of dangling dolls, each artfully and intricately fashioned by South African bead-workers.

“It all began when my uncle’s wife fell sick, but she told everyone that she had cancer. But sure enough, she passed away a few months later.”

It’s been a pleasure seeing this year’s Festival through the eyes of our visitors, taking in countless details we might otherwise have missed.

Thank you to all the staff, interns, volunteers, organizational partners, participants, and visitors.

GRAMMY-nominated musician Christylez Bacon is well known for his imaginative blending of acoustic and hip-hop music

The University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station work with Vermont maple-syrup makers to improve the state’s signature crop.

Christylez Bacon discusses the importance of improvisation in hip-hop and accepts a challenge to create a freestyle rap using ten random words.

Professor Charlie Bamforth from UC Davis delivers a wonderful talk about the positive merits of America’s favorite cold beverage.

We pick a few of our favorite visitor photos or videos every day, and take them to a wider audience by featuring them on our Festival blog.

Over the past two weeks, a Quilting Bee workshop has sprung up under a tent, dedicated to helping the public create 3′ x 6′ panels to add to The AIDS Memorial Quilt.