Immediately west of Orford, NH lies Fairlee, Vermont. There, the Friends of Fairlee Forest is kicking off the second century of the Vermont Town Forest Act on Saturday, July 2, 2016 with the Upper Valley's first-ever celebration of its magnificent wild woodlands. The Fairlee Forest Festival will take place in the Fairlee Village Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Over thirty participants will offer programs for children and adults on topics such as wildlife and habitats, forestry and logging, trails and forest recreation, nature photography, backyard birds, and wild foods. There will be lively "mountain music" by area bands all afternoon, and booths featuring forest products and crafts as well as those showcasing many of the region's conservation and forest recreation organizations.

Highlights include one of Vermont's last horse loggers with his horses and rig, interactive wildlife exhibits by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, traditional Native American songs and stories by author Michael Caduto, and programs by experts from Vermont Audubon, area colleges and universities, and state agencies responsible for Vermont's wildlife and forests, to name a few. Several of these will accompany guided hikes in Fairlee Forest on Sunday July 3.

The Forest Festival is part of Fairlee's July 4 weekend celebrations which also include a family fair and band concert Sunday evening and the popular Orford-Fairlee Independence Day Parade, BBQ, and fireworks display on Monday.


Posted 5/22/16