Marina Franklin Credit: Courtesy of Ashley Chappell Pop-Culture Prowess Wednesday 31 New York City standup Marina Franklin knows how to properly ring in 2026: with two back-to-back shows at Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Known for her wildly successful comedy special “Single Black Fe male” and thought-provoking podcast “Friends Like Us,” the veteran entertainer leaves a lasting impression with her self-proclaimed “viciously likable” presence. Guitar Heroes Wednesday 31 Thursday 1 Gogol Bordello Credit: Courtesy Since 1999, punk-rockers Gogol Bordello have been playing high-octane shows around the globe, but lucky for us they’re spending New Year’s right here in Vermont, at Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. The revolutionary collective — led by Eugene Hütz, an expat of Burlington and Ukraine — says goodbye to 2025 with performances so electrifying, breakers might blow. In-Flight Entertainment Friday 26 Pine grosbeak Credit: Courtesy of Zac Cota Avian admirers gather invaluable intel during the Hunger Mountain Winter Bird Count across Waterbury fields, forests and backyards. The all-day event harks back to 1900, when an ornithologist proposed a gunless alternative to the traditional Christmas hunt. Now in its 126th season, the community science project helps collect crucial census data for conservation organizations. Near and Deer Saturday 27 Reindeer Live Credit: Courtesy After Christmas, the spirit of the season lives on at ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain’s Reindeer Live in Burlington, where Vermont Reindeer Farm connects its antlered charges with animal lovers of all ages. Come for the photo ops; stay for fun facts about what makes Santa’s sleigh-powering critters so well adapted for cold and snow. Early to Bed Wednesday 31 New Year’s at Noon Credit: Courtesy of Elizabeth Humphreys Prone to yawning by 8 p.m.? Nightlife not really your bag? Head to Norwich, where Montshire Museum of Science offers New Year’s at Noon. Revelers desiring that classic countdown experience — 12 hours earlier than those party animals in Times Square — delight in hands-on, family-friendly activities, culminating in a sparkling, balloon-filled ring-in to remember. Fancy Free Wednesday 31 Adventure Dinner New Year’s Eve Dance Party Credit: Courtesy of Heather Gallagher 2025 was a doozy. Time to shake it off at the Adventure Dinner New Year’s Eve Dance Party in Colchester. Disco balls and decadent décor set the mood for a foodie-focused, fueled-up fête, complete with a bottomless snack spread, rotating bites and a retro shrimp tower. Glasses of regular and NA bubbly at midnight start 2026 on a high note. Northern Exposure Wednesday 31 Sandglass Theater Credit: Courtesy It’s a fact: St. Johnsbury does the holidays right. First Night North takes revelry to the next level with a town-wide celebration spanning eight hours and 18 venues. Expect the unexpected, including tarot readings, hypnosis acts, planetarium shows, karaoke, puppetry and even an obstacle course. Shuttles run continuous loops around town so you won’t miss a moment. Aria Ready? Wednesday 31 Helen Lyons Credit: Courtesy “New Year’s Eve at the Opera” delivers sonic chills and thrills at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington. Accomplished visiting and local talent — including sparkling soprano (and Vermont Public host) Helen Lyons — hit high notes out of the park in excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte and other evergreen masterpieces. Soule Food Wednesday 31 New Year’s Eve With Soule Monde Credit: Courtesy Town Hall Theater cordially invites you to Middlebury for a funk-tastic toast to 2026 at New Year’s Eve With Soule Monde. The dynamic duo features keyboardist Ray Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton, who conjure irresistibly groovy sounds. Bonus: An early countdown awaits attendees between 9:30 and 10 p.m. — aka “Ripton midnight.” Cloud Nine Thursday 1 Friday 2 Green Mountain Mahler Festival Credit: Courtesy Want to usher in 2026 with some restorative classical music? The Green Mountain Mahler Festival’s orchestra and chorus satisfy that wish with two performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s enduring Ninth Symphony at Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester. Daniel Bruce conducts the annual affair, replete with stirring solos by Stefanie Weigand, Erik Kroncke and other talented vocalists. Slow and Steady Through Sunday 4 “Caspian Series #14” by Paul Gruhler Credit: Courtesy Southern Vermont Arts Center’s “Into the Abstract” exhibit in Manchester highlights the works of Paul Gruhler and Neha Vedpathak, artists separated by generations but united in their artistic vision. Their methods — from Gruhler’s layering of color to Vedpathak’s time-intensive “plucking” technique — result in bold, abstract works that challenge modernity’s obsession with speedy output. Light on Their Feet Wednesday 7 ‘Chrysolation’ Credit: Courtesy of Miles Mazel Harlem Lite Feet takes center stage when dance pioneer Chrybaby Cozie and members of the renowned Bomb Squad present Chrysolation in Hanover, N.H. The powerful two-part performance takes audiences from Daryl Roth Studio Theater to the Top of the Hop with seemingly weightless movements evoking the origins and evolution of the New York City street-dance style. Bear in Mind Ongoing Beary Magical Lights Tour Credit: Courtesy of Lienne Bick Shelburne’s iconic Vermont Teddy Bear Factory invites guests to take a festive trek with the Beary Magical Lights Tour. Inside, a twinkling path through the production floor showcases where furry friends come to life. Outside, a winter wonderland of dancing lights, projections and an interactive story walk await, made merrier with 3D glasses that transform ordinary bulbs into un-bear-ably cute shapes. Dream Weavers Ongoing Artwork by David Smith Credit: Courtesy December is an appropriate time to muse on memories of the year that’s passed and visions of the year ahead. In Shelburne, Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery’s group exhibit, “Variations on a Dream,” taps into the shifting moods of winter with contemplative works spanning styles and mediums by noteworthy artists from across the region. The post Magnificent 14: Must See, Must Do, December 26-January 7 appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less