Capital Connection for Washington County

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Capital Connection for Washington County

Let us connect you to Vermont's Capital region!

Capital Connection is a program under Montpelier Alive that connects those interested in relocating to Washington County, Vermont to information, resources and the general community.

10/09/2026

Vermont is showing off!

This year's fall foliage is some of the best we've seen in years. And with sunshine in the forecast for Saturday, it's looking like a pretty perfect excuse to get out and explore!

Whether you've just unpacked your moving boxes, or are dreaming about making Vermont your home someday, there's no better time to see what makes this little corner of the world so special.

Here are a few places around Washington County to soak up the color (and maybe pick up a few goodies along the way):

Middlesex: Take a drive along Route 12 and enjoy the colorful hillsides, or head to Wrightsville Reservoir for a little fresh air.

Worcester: Follow Route 12 north through the Worcester Mountains for a winding drive with plenty of fall scenery.

Waterbury: Head to Little River State Park for wooded trails, reservoir views, and a whole lot of autumn color.

Montpelier: You don't have to go far! Hubbard Park is a lovely spot for a fall walk, and the view from the tower is worth the climb.

Waitsfield: Take a scenic drive through the Mad River Valley, where the mountains and farms make a pretty spectacular backdrop.

Cabot: Make your way to Burtt's Apple Orchard for apple picking, c***r donuts, and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

East Montpelier: Stop by Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks for a little maple goodness and some classic Vermont scenery.

And if you're thinking about moving to Vermont, consider this a little preview of what life in Washington County can look like. Sure, the foliage gets all the attention this time of year, but it's the small towns, friendly faces, and places you'll eventually call your own that make living here special.

Now tell us, where's your favorite place to leaf peep in Washington County?

Foliage forecast: VTDigger / Henry's Weather Channel
vtdigger.org/2026/10/08/the-fall-foliage-is-the-best-its-been-in-years

MontpelierAlive.com/CapitalConnection

09/25/2026

Moving somewhere new comes with a lot of questions.

Where do you look for housing?
How do you meet people?
What town might be the right fit?
Where do you find a job, a dentist, a good swimming hole,
or someone to tell you what you’re supposed to do with yourself in February?

That’s where Capital Connection comes in.

We connect new and prospective residents with local resources, people, places, and a better sense of what it’s like to call this part of Vermont home.

We host new resident mixers, maintain a jobs board, curate resources from towns across the county, and produce the Heart of Vermont Podcast, where we talk with locals about living, working, and finding community here.

Find us at montpelieralive.com/capitalconnection

Capital Connection is supported in part by EastRise Credit Union and Community National Bank.

(photo credit: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur)

09/17/2026

If you’re new to Washington County, or thinking about making Central Vermont home, there are so many ways to get out, meet your neighbors, and get a feel for the community. We spotted a few great ones on the local bulletin board this week:

The Robert Cray Band | Barre | Saturday, September 19th
Head to the Barre Opera House for an evening with five-time Grammy winner Robert Cray and his band, with Vermont blues musician Dave Keller opening the show.
barreoperahouse.org/the-robert-cray-band-all-amped-tour-2026.html

Montpelier Porchfest | Montpelier | Sunday, September 20th 12–5pm
Montpelier's first-ever Porchfest turns porches, lawns and driveways throughout the city into stages for a free afternoon of live music. Walk, bike or wander from neighborhood to neighborhood and enjoy live, local music.
Montpelierporchfest.org

Every Day: Big and Small | Montpelier | Thursday, October 1st
Vermont filmmaker Bess O'Brien's new documentary comes to the Savoy Theater at 7pm. The film shares stories of Vermonters creating connection, resilience and belonging through everyday acts of community.

Capital Connection is Washington County's welcome wagon for new and prospective residents. Whether you just arrived, have been here for a little while, or are wondering if Central Vermont could be your next home, we're here to help you find your people, your places, and your way into the community.

Visit our website to learn more:
MontpelierAlive.com/CapitalConnection

09/09/2026

🏒 Looking for a fun way to get connected in Central Vermont? 🏒

On Saturday, October 3rd, Central Vermont Youth Hockey is hosting Throttle Up for Hockey, a motorcycle poker run and community event supporting Black Bear Hockey, Central Vermont’s youth hockey program.

Black Bear Hockey provides youth players with a positive, fun environment to learn and develop their skills, with a focus on making hockey affordable and inclusive for Central Vermont families. And if you’re new to the area and have a kid who’s interested in hockey, registration for the 2026–27 season is currently open, with financial assistance available for qualifying families.

The day starts with a motorcycle poker run from Norwich University’s Kreitzberg Arena in Northfield, with riders finishing at the BOR Arena in Barre. From 11:30am–5pm, everyone is invited to the community celebration featuring food, family activities, live music, raffles, and more.

No motorcycle required! Come ride, come hang out, meet some local families, or just enjoy a fun Central Vermont afternoon while supporting youth sports.

Saturday, October 3
B.O.R. Arena, Barre
11:30am–5pm

Learn more about Throttle Up and Black Bear Hockey:

zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/throttle-up-for-hockey-motorcycle-poker-run-and-community-event

blackbearhockey.org

09/04/2026

🎙Episode 2 of The Heart of Vermont Podcast is here!

We’ve been teasing our trip to Barre, and now you can finally hear the whole conversation.

Katie and Morgan sit down with Tracie Lewis of the Barre Partnership and community organizer Shawna Trader at the Barre Social Club to talk about Barre’s history, the Heritage Festival, the legendary fistfight that named the city, and what it really takes to find your place in a new community.

If you’re new to Washington County, thinking about making Vermont your home, or just curious about the community around you, give it a listen!

Find the link to Episode 2 on our blog:
montpelieralive.com/blog/finding-the-heart-of-barre

Barre Social Club
The Barre Partnership

09/03/2026

We’re at the Waitsfield Roundup Revival tonight, meeting new residents of Washington County and helping folks get connected with local resources, information, and community!

If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi. There’s food trucks, live music, and a whole lot of good community vibes. We’ll be here until 7 PM!

Come find us! 👋

08/31/2026

🧠 What does a neuroinclusive workplace actually look like? 🧠

Join Montpelier Alive and All Brains Belong VT for a free virtual workshop on neuroinclusive employment on Wednesday, September 9th from 9–10am.

One in five people learns, thinks, and/or communicates differently and small changes in how we hire, communicate, train, supervise, and structure our workplaces can make a big difference.

Dr. Mel Houser of All Brains Belong VT will lead this practical, introductory session and share actionable steps organizations can take to become more accessible and neuroinclusive.

Business owners, employees, nonprofit teams, community members, and curious learners are all welcome.

Virtual via Zoom
Wednesday, September 9 | 9–10 AM
FREE

Register: allbrainsbelong.org/montpelier-alive

Presented through Montpelier Alive's Capital Connection for Washington County program.

08/27/2026

Did you know Capital Connection for Washington County has a podcast?

It’s one of the ways we’re helping prospective and new residents get to know the people, places, stories, and community that make Washington County feel like home.

Episode 2 is on the way! Katie and Morgan recently ventured to the Barre Social Club to chat with Tracie Lewis, Executive Director of the Barre Partnership, and Shawna Trader, manager of the Montpelier Farmers Market, community organizer, and author. We talked about the Barre Heritage Festival, the fistfight that named Barre, and what advice they’d give someone who’s new to the area and looking to find their place in the community.

We had our kids in tow for this one, too which meant squeezing in some granite sculpture exploring and, naturally, a stop at the Kitty Korner Café. 🐈

We’re still putting the finishing touches on Episode 2, but you can catch up on Episode 1 now while you wait. 🎧

creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/HeartofVermont

Barre Social Club The Barre Partnership

08/17/2026

Some encouraging housing news from Vermont!

A new 30-unit affordable housing community just opened in Rutland, creating more homes close to downtown and giving us another reason to feel hopeful about the future of housing across the state.

We know finding a place to call home can be one of the biggest questions when you’re thinking about a move to Vermont. While there’s still plenty of work to do, communities and housing partners across the state are finding ways to build new homes, preserve the ones we already have, and make future projects easier to move forward.

And that’s good news for Central Vermont, too. 💚

Here in Washington County, we’re excited to see the momentum around creating more places for people to put down roots, find community, and build a life in Vermont.

There’s more work ahead but there are also more reasons to be hopeful. 🌱

Read the full story from VTDigger: vtdigger.org/2026/08/07/new-affordable-multi-family-housing-opens-in-rutland/

Story and photo by Greta Solsaa

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Montpelier, VT

Website

https://montpelieralive.com/

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