The hills may be bare, but the community is full of life.

Don’t let our winding dirt roads fool you — this little corner of Vermont knows how to have a good time! Whether you’re craving live tunes, tasty treats, or small-town charm, there’s plenty to explore this month. Check out what’s happening right here in our neck of the woods, and make it part of an unforgettable stay at the treehouse!  Don't forget to make the most of your stay by enjoying your complimentary sauna at the Forest Spa and our Add-on's!  Community members can book a two-hour Streamside Sauna Session here!

Local happenings include:

Artistic Mending Pop-Up, Front Seat Coffee, Every Friday from 7-9am - Repair of Knitted and Woven Fabric: Darning, Patching, Sashiko, Replacing Knitted Stitches. Are there moth holes in your sweater? Rips in your pants? Blown out elbows in your favorite shirt? - Go talk to Gwen

Yoga and Qigong at the Open Space Studio, ongoing with classes every day!

BY DONATION ALL LEVELS YOGA CLASS, January 31st 3-4 pm, The Open Space Studio, Hardwick - 
with Sophie to raise funds for Hazen Union High School's Panama Service Learning Trip.

Vermont's Free Ice Fishing Day & Festival, Elmore State Park, Saturday, January 31st   - No fishing license? No problem! Vermont's Free Ice Fishing Day is the perfect opportunity for everyone, residents and non-residents alike, to try ice fishing. Looking for a day of fishy fun for the whole family? Join us for our annual Free Ice Fishing Festival at Elmore State Park. Come learn ice fishing basics from the pros with fun, hands-on demos including hole drilling, tip-up and jigging techniques, ice safety tips, knot tying, fish identification and more. Just dress appropriately for the weather and we will provide the equipment, bait and fish fry!

Bingo & Burgers at the Greensboro United Church, Saturday, Jan 31, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM - Join us for an evening of low stakes gambling and classic American cuisine! Doors open at 6pm for burgers, and the games will begin at 6:30. Throughout the evening, live piano music will be provided by Greensboro's own Andrew Koehler, a fiendish tickler of the ivories. All games will be 50/50 and cash only—you win half, the other half goes toward the Civic Standard's New Home Fundraiser. BYO dauber if you have one!

Montpelier Winterfest, January 31st-February 1st 2026 - Celebrate Winter Together in Montpelier, the heart of Vermont. This free, family-friendly event is packed with activities for all ages. Enjoy outdoor adventure, cozy indoor gatherings, downtown shopping, music, and seasonal traditions.

The Snow Moon (Full Moon), Sunday, February 1, 5:09pm, Everywhere.   - Let's hope for a clear night!  It's the traditional marker of heavy winter snows.

The 2026 Craftsbury Marathon Ski Festival, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Sunday, February 1 - The Marathon Ski Festival is back for another fantastic weekend of cross country ski racing. The 2026 Festival will again be a stand-alone popular racing event, with techniques and distances for racers of all ages and abilities. Saturday brings the traditional classic Craftsbury Marathon, with short and long course options for open, college, and high school racers and a short course tour for BKL skiers and chaperones. We hope to have a 15k loop, allowing for a 45k long race and a 30k short race for the classic race on Saturday and 30k or 15k for the freestyle race on Sunday. 

Game Night at Front Seat Coffee, Thursday February 5th, 6-9pm - Game night is back! Bring a game and some friends, or join a hosted game with Adam and Rachel. There are also plenty of games available for use. Front Seat will have foods (baked goods, soup, etc) and drinks (beer, wine, or any of our barista drinks).

Henchey Memorial Eastern Cup and UVM Carnival, Friday, February 6, 9 AM - Sunday, February 8, 4:00 PM,   Craftsbury Outdoor Center - The best skiers in New England return to the trails of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for a three-day weekend of ski racing. Day one on Friday features the top collegiate athletes in the region contesting a classic sprint. Day two, Saturday, combines the EISA college field with NENSA’s Eastern Cup, with everyone racing freestyle individual starts. Day three, Sunday, is another classic sprint, this time featuring the Eastern Cup field.

Honkey Tonk Night at the Legion,  Saturday, Feb 07, Hardwick American Legion, Feb 07, 2026, 7:00 – 11:00 PM - Join us once again at the Hardwick American Legion for a Honkey Tonk dance. Doors at 7, dance lesson at 7:30, dance at 8. Our band of local hotshots will keep the classic country coming until every heart in the room is broke. Get out your boots and sequins! Cash bar, exciting snacks, and our guarantee: at least two steps

La bohème, Highland Center for the Arts, Saturday, February 13 & 14, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM   -  Opera Vermont and Highland Center for the Arts present a new production of Puccini's beloved La bohème, a timeless tale of love and heartbreak. Composed by Giacomo Puccini and premiered in 1896, it follows a group of struggling artists who chase their dreams while barely scraping by. Puccini’s lush, emotionally charged music captures both the exuberant joy of young love and the deep sorrow of loss. Both intimate and grand,La Bohème paints a portrait of life’s fleeting beauty and the enduring power of love.

Orchard Valley Winter Fair: Feb 14, 2026, 10 AM to 2 PM, Orchard Valley Waldorf School, East Montpelier, VT -  Looking for a fun winter activity for the whole family? Join us for the Winter Fair at Orchard Valley on Saturday, February 14th, from 10 am to 2 pm, for a magical day filled with joy and creativity!
🎨 Activities include: Candle-dipping, Unique children's crafts, Face painting, Storytelling, Magical Fairy Realm, Games
Enjoy local foods-a home-cooked soups plus Bonte Bakery and Heyday Bakery Bread, Jasper Hill Cheeses, Magic Spoon treats and Capitol grounds Coffee & tea. 💰 Admission is free. Activities range in price from $1-5. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a day of fun and community spirit. We can't wait to see you there!

Love Readings, Saturday, February 14th, 5-8pm at the Backstairs at Harry's Hardware.  Get an intuitive Tarot love/relationship or issue reading from an experienced professional. CONFIDENTIAL! $20/15 minutes. Walk-ins welcome or reserve a spot by emailing sglebus@gmail.com 

Hardwick Trails Nordic Ski Lessons, Saturday, February 14th, starting at 9:15am - The frigid temperatures have limited our lesson program offerings this winter, but weather reports for this coming Saturday predict sun (really!) and temperatures in the twenties! The weather and snow conditions will make for a perfect morning to hone your Nordic skiing skills with our experienced instructors, or just head out to enjoy the trails on your own. Nordic ski lessons will begin at 9:15 AM. The cabin will be open from 9:00 -11:00 for equipment loans. Alternately, join in multigenerational games on skis at 10:00 for a good dose of fun as you challenge your skiing abilities. An advanced sign-up is requested to ensure that we have adequate staffing for the ski lesson or multigenerational games options. On Saturday morning, check our website or Facebook page for lesson confirmation. Hot cocoa ☕️ and chocolate chip cookies 🍪 await you at the cabin to either fuel or celebrate your ski adventures!!

Hardwick Community Winter Market, Hazen Union, Hardwick, February 15th, 2026, 10 AM to 1 PM -  (also March 15th) All three markets will be happening in the Hazen Union High School gymnasium so there's plenty of parking & attendance is free! We hope you'll join us in coming out to support your local growers, producers, artisans, and youth/students! There will also be some great opportunities to support yourself in our 'winter wellness' area with a chair massage, reiki session, aromatherapy etc. Other elements include: Free live music (by the Brothers Miller on 1/25), lots of new & familiar faces, tons of yummy local food , prepared/lunch options, fun kids activities and a FREE $10 value meal & grocery voucher for the first 100 customers to arrive. These are going to be really fun community events with something for everyone!

Cirque Kalabanté, Sunday, February 15, 7:00 pm, Montreal-based African Circus, Sunday, February, 15, 7:00 pm, Lyndon Institute Auditorium- Founded by African circus star Yamoussa Bangoura, who has performed worldwide, including with Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Eloize, Cirque Kalabanté is a dazzling spectacle inspired by daily life in Guinea, showcasing the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, it vibrates with energy, strength, agility and joy. The troupe’s acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora – for an unforgettable journey.

Chinese New Year, Year of the Fire Horse, Tuesday, February 17th, Everywhere - “Fire Horse energy amplifies the Horse’s natural independence and restlessness, creating a powerful drive for freedom, self-expression, and breaking away from limitations,” explains Janine Lowe, a Chinese astrology expert and author of Feng Shui Your Way to Abundance. “Historically and socially, Fire Horse years often coincide with upheaval, cultural shifts, and bold collective movements, where people feel compelled to challenge authority, redefine identity, and push for radical change.” 

Pancake Supper, February 17th at 5:30pm, Fellowship Hall Greensboro United Church of Christ, Free

George Woodard talks Farming (Stories & Songs), February 21st, 4:00pm, Greensboro Library, Free

Curds & Curling (New Date), Highland Center for the Arts, Saturday, February 21, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM -  One of my favorite events of the year! Cabin Fever? Get Cheesy with Us! Grab your friends and join us for an epic afternoon of Curds and Curling—a winter showdown like no other! With live music, warming fires, and plenty of cheese, we’re turning the cold into gold. The spotlight? A wheel of Jasper Hill cheddar as the curling stone! Sweep your way to victory in Vermont’s twist on this classic sport, or cheer on the action as competitors vie for the ultimate prize: the coveted Golden Cheese Award. While the cheese flies, treat yourself to gooey mac-n-cheese, melty raclette, and a sampling of the finest cheeses around. Thirsty? Sip on signature drinks featuring Barr Hill gin to keep you toasty and festive.

John Fealy, Harry's Hardware, Cabot, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 7:00 PM  9:00 PM - John Fealy is a folk singer songwriter living in Cabot, VT. John's songs are often inspired by people, family, consciousness, and nature. He performs his songs on acoustic guitar and banjo and aims to connect deeply and vulnerably with his listeners. In 2026 John will be performing a new collection of songs that reflect on his experiences with fatherhood, love and grief, his work in street outreach, and other heartfelt things. 

Green Burial in VT Documentary and Q&A, Parker Ladd Community Room at the Jeudevine Memorial Library, 93 N. Main St., in Hardwick. Feb 26, 2026, 6 to 7:30 PM: Come to the Jeudevine Memorial Library on Thursday, February 26, at 6 PM to see a short documentary called "From Earth to Earth: the Lost Art of Dying in America," and discuss natural burial in Vermont. Jim Hogle, Communications and Outreach Coordinator of the Vermont Forest Cemetery, with show the film that describes natural burial and its benefits through stories from the people who worked to make it legal in Vermont, and the stories of people whose experiences have shown the ways it can help come to terms with the loss of a loved one, and with one's own mortality. A Q&A with Hogle will follow the documentary.  This event is free and open to the public.

Murder Mystery Movie Night, Jeudevine Memorial Library, 93 N. Main St., in Hardwick, Friday, Feb 27, 2026, 7 PM: The first Friday Night Film in the murder mystery series, based on the recommendations from Rick Winston during his talk called "Whodunits and Whydunits." This week we'll show: Whodunit in the tower with the knife and the maid? (2019, Rated pg-13) Because of oddities in the movie licensing process for libraries, we can't post the name of the movie outside of the library, but you can visit the library or check the website to find out. (https://jeudevinememoriallibrary.org/) Come on out this Friday to watch an excellent film with friends. Plus popcorn and cookies!

Breathwork for Deep Healing at Sierra Dawn McFeeters in Woodbury, VT, February 28, 2026, 12-4pm - Breathwork has been used for millennia to enhance health and connection with spirit. The aim of this workshop is to connect to the divine within ourselves, our true nature, our souls. The breathing technique helps to move stagnant energy in the body allowing physical healing and emotional release. Many have healed old wounds, discovered unhealthy patterns of thought and behavior, or found a spark to ignite inner creativity.

Sweet Cicely Harry's Hardware, Cabot, Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:00 PM  9:00 PM - Sweet Cicely is Northern VT folk-grass fun!  Fran  Forim on upright bass, Marc Edwards on lead guitar, Hank Clark on mandolin and Christine Malcolm on rhythm guitar and washboard.  They hope to see you out in the wild!

February is Black History Month!  Some highlights of the month (from a HR newsletter from the State of Vermont - my regular job) include:

• February 1:  National Freedom Day (USA) - Honors the signing of a resolution that proposed the 13^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution on February 1, 1865
• February 15: Nirvana Day (Buddhism) (International) - Nirvana Day is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80. Since the date is not exactly known when The Buddha died, some Buddhists observe this day on February 8^th. The majority of Buddhists observe it on February 15^th. Mainly observed in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, and Vietnam.
• February 16: Presidents’ Day (USA) - Presidents’ Day is officially George Washington’s Birthday in the United States. Popularly recognized as honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents. This is a federal holiday.
• February 17: Lunar New Year Begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later (floating dates)
• February 18: Ash Wednesday (Christianity) Ash Wednesday is celebrated on Wednesday seven weeks before Easter and the day after Mardi Gras also referred to as Fat Tuesday. This is a Christian observance which represents the first day of Lent and the starting of approximately 6 weeks of fasting and penance.
• February 17 - March 19: Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is a time of fasting, reflection, prayer, and community for Muslims around the world.
• February 20: World Day of Social Justice (International) - To raise a voice against social injustice and to bring the various communities internationally together to eliminate discrimination based on poverty, gender, ability, literacy, or religion.
• February 20: National Day of Racial Healing (USA) - To promote solidarity between people of all races in dismantling systemic racism and inequity. The National Day of Healing is celebrated annually the day after the national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr.
• February 21: Mother Language Day (International) - This Day recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind