Find ‘Peak’ Fall Experiences at Events in St. Johnsbury
By Gillian Sewake (Director of Discover St. Johnsbury)
St. Johnsbury, Vermont - St. Johnsbury is full of ways to help you check items off your fall bucket list, and I’m excited to share a trio of upcoming events that will help you make the most of the season, whenever peak foliage arrives in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
You can find full details on Discover St. Johnsbury’s website, including links to full event information in the Calendar section, at www.DiscoverStJohnsbury.com.
First up, the St. Johnsbury History & Heritage Center will host artisans and historic craft demonstrations at its annual Festival of Traditional Crafts, held in concert with the Vermont Gas & Steam Engine Association’s display of antique engines. Living history reenactors will demonstrate butter making, rug hooking, and candle-making, along with hands-on play with historic toys and pump log-boring. Executive Director Emily Demers says the event will help you “learn the roots of today's trades & crafts and participate in keeping history alive.” The event takes place on the grounds of the History & Heritage Center at 421 Summer Street from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Also on that date, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum will hold its Annual Pie Sale Fundraiser from 9am until they sell out.
Next, you can enjoy sweeping views of fall colors at the one-of-a-kind dog park and cultural attraction Dog Mountain. A hillside paradise for pets and people alike, Dog Mountain’s lawns and hiking trails are full of works by the late artist Stephen Huneck, whose Dog Chapel is known as a special place to commemorate and celebrate the dogs in our lives. Dog Mountain will host its Fall Dog Party on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from noon to 4pm at 143 Parks Road, with activities to entertain visitors on both two and four legs.
Closing out foliage season, we’ll celebrate the fourth annual Fall for St. Johnsbury festival on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11. This festival brings fall fun to downtown St. Johnsbury and features beloved antique train rides along the scenic Passumpsic River. Additional activities will include a pancake breakfast, fall artisan market, international food festival, train-themed happenings, film showings, and lots more to be announced in the weeks ahead.
During Fall for St. Johnsbury, five train departures are scheduled for each day of the festival, along with a special sunset cocktail ride on Saturday evening. Trips will last an hour and depart from the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, the town’s historic passenger depot. Riders will travel in classic Green Mountain Railroad “Green Fleet” cars and enjoy knowledgeable narration about the history of the train route and significant sites along the way.
Tickets will go on sale in September and are expected to sell out quickly. The best way to purchase tickets as soon as they’re available is to follow Discover St. Johnsbury on social media or sign up for our e-newsletter through our website. Details are available at www.DiscoverStJohnsbury.com.
Whatever weekend fall foliage reaches its peak, you’ll have the perfect way to enjoy it with a visit to St. Johnsbury. I hope you’ll join us for these seasonal events and explore even more ideas for dining, weekend itineraries, attractions, and a whole lot more at www.DiscoverStJohnsbury.com.
Since 2002, Discover St. Johnsbury has worked to stimulate and promote the vitality of St. Johnsbury’s cultural, commercial, and community resources through regional marketing, community events, support for local businesses, and other economic development activities. Our organization combines the economic and commercial goals of a business alliance with the structure of a Designated Downtown organization.