Cool nights and crisp mornings define Burlington's weather this week, with temperatures starting in the 20s and 30s before climbing to the upper 40s and lower 50s today under persistent cloud cover. Tuesday and Wednesday bring welcome relief with emerging sunshine and temperatures reaching the mid-50s both days. Thursday sees our next significant weather system arrive, with rain filling in from southwest to northeast and potentially delivering over an inch of precipitation through Friday. Halloween looks manageable despite lingering showers and clouds, with comfortable mid-50s temperatures making costume decisions easier. Saturday starts the weekend with leftover showers and upper 40s before Sunday turns drier with temperatures back in the low 50s.

Tonight's cloud cover won't stop Burlington from coming alive with options for every interest. Foam Brewers hosts "Dinner and a Murder" starting at 6 PM, where Matt Hagen's Classy Boss quartet sets the mood with Bossa Nova and Spaghetti Western instrumentals before his full band launches into sinister murder ballads. Those preferring pedal power can join Ez Breezy's "Minks in the Moonlight" bike ride departing at 6 PM from Local Motion's Trailside Center for a 15.5-mile causeway cruise searching for fuzzy nocturnal neighbors. Silent Book Club takes over Bar Renée from 6 to 8 PM for their monthly gathering where readers bring any book they fancy and enjoy an hour of companionable silence. South Burlington gets into the tech policy game with the People vs. Big Tech town hall at the library from 5:30 to 7 PM, tackling data privacy and AI concerns. The UVM Horse Barn's Halloween celebration runs from 5:30 to 7 PM with costumed horses welcoming trick-or-treaters stall to stall, while Burlington's planBTV 2050 Downtown and Waterfront Visioning Workshop shapes the city's future from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Tuesday's emerging sunshine sets the stage for an absolutely packed day of activities across greater Burlington. The afternoon kicks off with the Burlington Garden Club welcoming "The Gardening Guy" Henry Homeyer at 1 PM at Faith United Methodist Church, sharing Vermont gardening wisdom free of charge. Tina Turner's electrifying story takes The Flynn stage at 7:30 PM, bringing the Queen of Rock n' Roll's Grammy-winning hits to life. The Burlington Odd Fellows' Spooky Potluck and Pumpkin Carving starts at 6:30 PM on North Avenue, where kitty litter cake and eyeball meatballs compete for most grotesque dish. Green Mountain Roller Derby's Boot Camp continues at the Champlain Valley Exposition from 7 to 10 PM with loaner gear available for curious skaters. Tech learners can join Digital Foundations for Work and Life at Burlington Technical Center from 6 to 7:30 PM for free smartphone skills training. Environmental warriors shouldn't miss the Carbonauts Workshop at Hula Lakeside, offering personalized carbon footprint analysis with lifetime calculator access.

Wednesday's continued sunshine provides the perfect backdrop for intellectual and artistic pursuits. UVM's Master of Public Administration program presents "Searching for Monsters to Destroy: Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World" with Paul Lenze from 4 to 5:30 PM in Lafayette Hall, exploring America's evolving role in shifting global dynamics. Later that evening at 7 PM, Cricket Blue transforms "Over the Garden Wall" into a rollicking night of spooky chamber folk at Higher Ground, complete with frogs, pumpkins, and rock facts from the beloved animated series.

Thursday brings the rain but won't dampen spirits with events spanning from midday through evening. Seniors gather at St. John Vianney Parish for their free luncheon at noon featuring two types of mac and cheese. The Heineberg Senior Center's Leaf Collage Class runs from 2 to 4 PM with artist Chris Gluck guiding participants through pressed leaf masterpieces. University Mall's Halloween Malloween starts at 3:30 PM with haunted train rides in the parking garage and trick-or-treating through stores. Evening entertainment splits between Los Straitjackets' Lucha Libre masked instrumental rock at Higher Ground at 8 PM and the Kizomba Dance Class Halloween Edition at The Venetian Soda Lounge starting at 6:45 PM, where beginners learn this smooth Angolan partner dance before the party begins. Green Mountain Roller Derby's Boot Camp concludes Thursday from 7 to 10 PM at the Expo for those ready to commit to the full two-day experience.

A cool stretch has settled in: today is a crisp 5° below the typical Oct 27 high, with a low running about +1° versus normal. The next three days keep highs ~3–4° cooler than average while lows hover near to slightly below normal—more “late-October denim jacket” than deep-chill.

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We’ve got an official Meetup group for Burlington! The city’s packed with things to do. Btown Brief highlights it, and Btown Brief IRL gets you out experiencing it with people.

Always a great turn out! Another coffee meetup this Saturday at 10am at Zero Gravity. It’s always great seeing familiar faces, and even better meeting new ones each week. We’ll chat about Vermont living, touch on a bit of local news, and share what’s worth checking out around town this weekend. Come hang, have a coffee, and join the conversation.

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'Help Burlington turn the corner': Governor releases plan to address safety challenges

Another article about Scott's 14-point action plan as it tries tackling Burlington's public safety through a combination of increased state police presence, expanded substance use treatment, and a special court docket to address case backlogs. The plan sidesteps specifics on funding, with officials saying it'll work "within existing resources," though the special court alone is projected to cost $150,000 for its 90-day pilot. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak frames the city's challenges as a "trifecta" of homelessness, mental health, and opiates that no single municipality can handle alone, while emphasizing that prison remains a "non-solution" for most offenders.

Pride Center of Vermont leaves longtime Burlington home

The Pride Center's departure from downtown Burlington comes amid a funding shortfall that forced the organization to pause most services earlier this month. The space had seen declining in-person use in recent years while carrying high overhead costs, prompting a planned move that the financial crisis accelerated. Staff and volunteers packed years of program materials, photographs, and community archives while the organization conducts a full assessment of community needs and works to develop a more sustainable model. No replacement location has been secured yet, leaving a significant gap in LGBTQ+ services and gathering space in Burlington's downtown core.

Burlington couple opens micro-cinema after Roxy theater closure

Brett Yates and Michelle Sagalchik are transforming a former College Street yoga studio into Partizanfilm, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit micro-cinema with two screening rooms seating 19 and 31 people. The theater aims to fill Burlington's cinema void with curated programming and a cafe-hangout lobby space, funded by over 280 members who vote on theater decisions. Opening is slated for November, though no specific date has been set.

Warren Zeiders to perform at 2026 Champlain Valley Fair in Vermont

Country music fans can mark their calendars for the 2026 Champlain Valley Fair, where rising star Warren Zeiders will perform. While the announcement just was made, it’s quite a while away, giving fans plenty of time to plan for what's sure to be a highlight of next year's fair season.

Shoppers turn to secondhand stores for sustainable Halloween costumes

Burlington's Vault Collective and Old Gold are seeing October rushes as shoppers seek vintage alternatives to mass-produced Halloween costumes. With the average Halloween costume now costing $37 (up 11% from last year according to the National Retail Federation), secondhand shopping offers both financial and environmental benefits. Store owner Ruth Meteer emphasizes selling pieces that work beyond October 31st, from racing jackets to cheetah prints that transition seamlessly into everyday wardrobes.

'Hi Neighbor' strives to create community in Shelburne

Shelburne's new "Hi Neighbor" series kicked off October 12 at Harrington Village Green with apple cider, doughnuts, and unscripted conversation between residents and town officials. The Equity & Diversity Committee plans these gatherings twice per season across different neighborhoods, creating informal spaces for community feedback without preset agendas. The next gathering hits the Hullcrest neighborhood November 1st.

Vermont 911 now connecting callers to 988 for mental health support

Vermont's new 911-to-988 transfer protocol allows emergency dispatchers to connect mental health crisis calls directly to trained counselors rather than automatically dispatching police or EMS. The statewide rollout follows successful pilots in Hartford and Westminster, with the first transfers happening in September. Dispatchers stay on the line until 988 counselors join, ensuring smooth handoffs for Vermonters experiencing mental health emergencies.

Casella's new bid shakes up recycling talks in BTV

Burlington's struggling municipal recycling program faces a pivotal decision after Casella submitted a revised seven-year contract bid following their initial five-year proposal at $1.55 million annually. With only one of four recycling staff positions filled despite 70% tax increases and hiring bonuses, DPW must weigh privatization against maintaining city control. The department's recommendation comes to council in December, with concerns that outsourcing could permanently end municipal recycling operations.

Local students outpace state in VTCAP tests

Champlain Valley School District students significantly outperformed state averages on VTCAP tests, with 55% testing proficient in math and 73% in literacy compared to state averages of 39% and 55% respectively. These results remain consistent with the district's performance over the past two years, though officials emphasize standardized tests don't capture the full picture of student success.

Vermont launches Button Up campaign to help residents save on heating costs

Efficiency Vermont's Button Up campaign highlights available tax credits and weatherization programs as heating season approaches, with state-funded assistance available across all income levels despite federal funding cuts. Vermont Gas, Burlington Electric, and state officials are coordinating outreach efforts to help residents reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and utility bills before winter's coldest months arrive.

Catamount Weekend Wrap: Men's Soccer Shines, Teams Brace for Homestand

It was a weekend of major matchups and mixed results for UVM Athletics, headlined by a stunning upset on the pitch. The No. 7 ranked Men's Soccer team delivered the highlight of the week, traveling to take on No. 2 Bryant and walking away with a massive 2-1 victory on Saturday night. On the women's side, the soccer team fought hard on the road, ending their Sunday afternoon match in a 1-1 draw against Binghamton. Action on the ice saw the Women's Hockey team split a two-game series. The Catamounts showcased a relentless offense on Friday, shutting out Franklin Pierce 3-0, but were unable to complete the sweep, falling 3-1 in Saturday's rematch. On the court, the Men's Basketball team tipped off its exhibition season but fell short against St. Michael's in a Saturday night contest.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Home Games

Catamount fans have plenty of opportunities to cheer on the home teams this week. The action kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 29, as Men's Basketball hosts an exhibition game against Saint Anselm at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, is a packed day, starting with Field Hockey taking on Maine at 3 p.m., followed by Women's Basketball's exhibition game against Saint Michael's at 6 p.m. Halloween brings a Friday double-header. Women's Ice Hockey faces Boston College in a morning matchup at 11 a.m., and Men's Soccer returns home to host UAlbany at 6 p.m. The Women's Hockey team will face Boston College again on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. to close out the homestand.

Monday, October 27, 2025

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Stay tuned for things like a Food Deal highlights, Poll Questions, Top Reddit Posts, Volunteer Opportunities, Reader Photos, Restaurant Spotlights, Small Business Features, and Btown Explained (quick local deep dive). Or even things like Dine Out Review, Podcast Pick, Pet of the Week (adoptable to user submitted), new local Job Highlights, a Burlington Throwback Photo or Fact, and a quick Burlington Game like “Spot That Location”, VT crossword, or unscramble popular Burlington terms. I’m figuring it out.

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite btownbrief links:

Full list of 202+ activities to do at anytime is always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do

Full list of restaurant reviews here.

Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals. View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Another week unfolds in the Queen City with enough variety to satisfy restless souls and homebodies alike. Whether you're carving pumpkins, learning to roller derby, or singing along to Tina Turner classics, Burlington delivers the goods through whatever weather comes our way. Support our local venues, check out those linked events, and keep those tips coming about what makes this town tick.

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