Manchester, Vermont is the ideal location to take in the beauty and enchantment of the upcoming winter months and holidays. While the inns and hotels are “decking the halls” in anticipation of the Shires’ Holiday Inn Tours, a favorite of many residents and tourists, restaurants are preparing their unique holiday menus and seasonal offerings!

In just a few short weeks, Manchester Merriment kicks off.  Make plans now to ensure you don’t miss out on your annual favorite festivities, such as the Santa Express, Shires Holiday Inn Tours, Menorah Lighting, Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade, and Community Holiday Tree Lighting, just to name a few. This holiday season has a ton of fun, family-friendly events planned, so be sure to frequently check our daily events calendar for the precise times and dates of both returning favorites and brand-new holiday activities and experiences.

Ready to hit the slopes?  Local ski areas are working hard, preparing their mountains for the arrival of winter enthusiasts. Whether you’re skiers, snowboarders, or tubers, remember to book your rooms at your preferred local lodging property as many slopes will open as early as Friday, November 24, if not earlier, weather permitting of course.   For a complete list of ski areas in southern Vermont visit –  manchestervermont.com/ski-southern-vt

HOLIDAY PLANNING

Make Your List and Check it Twice

Avoid the holiday shopping crowds and visit Southern Vermont’s top shopping destination between November 10 and November 12. Many of our unique local shops, boutiques, designer outlets, and artisan galleries will be providing amazing discounts from BOGO bargains to savings up to 50–60% OFF regular pricing during the “Shop Early, Shop Local, and Save“ weekend. Why wait to indulge in the finest offers of the season and tackle your holiday shopping list?  Can’t make it to this weekend’s event?  Black Friday will be your second chance to fulfil your holiday shopping needs, when many stores will be opening earlier and remaining open later, allowing you more time to uncover some incredible deals and experience the beauty and unique shopping in Manchester, VT.

Dining Out

Hungry for Holiday festivities? With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa just around the corner, don’t wait to make a reservation at your local favorite, order ahead for take-home meals and special desserts, or shop for the needed supplies to make your favorite holiday meal at home. Take the stress out of the holidays this year, plan ahead and have more quality time to spend with your loved ones.

Our neighborhood restaurants can accommodate your needs, whether you’re searching for a quiet meal or a place to host your friends or family. They not only provide delicious seasonal and locally sourced food, but some also offer first-rate lodging right on the premises. Lack a spare bed for your guests visiting from out of town? Too full to get behind the wheel of your car? Had that holiday cocktail that was one too many? Don’t worry, reserve a room at any of the many fine lodging properties in southern Vermont then eat and drink to your heart’s content.

The Equinox Golf Resort and Spa, located right in the center of Manchester Village has been cooking and serving locals and visitors alike for more than a century. Their annual Thanksgiving Day Brunch Buffet is, you guessed it, Thursday, November 24th from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Roasted prime rib, local tom turkey, and Wilcox Farms pork loin will all be available at the chef’s carving stations. Of course, everything else you need to create your delicious holiday meal is offered, including their “to die for” assortment of desserts to top it all off. Reservations are required. And looking ahead – join them on Sunday, December 3 for their Santa Brunch!

Just a short drive from downtown Manchester you will discover the quintessential Vermont town of Dorset. This town features two distinct Inns, both with their own unique and outstanding bar and restaurant. The Dorset Inn and Barrows House will be transformed into enchanted wonderlands during the holiday season, thanks to owner Lauren Bryant’s creative direction. They will be adorned with an abundance of holiday trees, wreaths, garlands, and charming ornaments, having been designed and decorated both inside and out by a group of local designers, craftsmen, and artisans. Visit during the Shires of Holiday Inn Tours on Saturday, 12/2 & Saturday, 9, to experience the newly decorated Inns as they will be open to the public. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance at Shires Holiday Inn Tours.

Both Inns will be serving traditional Thanksgiving meals along with other holiday dining offerings for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Each year, the chefs assemble a special menu of American favorites including Roasted Misty Knoll Turkey, Slow Roasted Prime Rib, and classic New England Baked Cod. Set in the elegantly appointed dining room, and complemented by an award-winning wine cellar, a holiday dinner at the Dorset Inn is truly an exceptional Vermont experience. Similarly, Barrows House will be celebrating the holidays with special menus, but with a slightly more contemporary flair. Dishes like Chilean Sea Bass and Whole Roasted Beef Tenderloin, along with vegetarian specialties, highlight the menus, including the Barrows House version of the traditional Turkey dinner.  Reservations are required and guests are urged to book as early as possible.

Kimpton Taconic Hotel is a boutique hotel that brings to mind grand leisure inns of days past, while artfully bringing to life all your modern hospitality whims. Surrounded by mountains in this Manchester Village, Kimpton Taconic offers couples, families, and wedding parties a free-spirited take on a New England escape that’s both classic and highly curated to your preferences. Call it quintessential Vermont with a fresh twist. Their restaurant, The Copper Grouse, will be serving up a 3 course pre-fixe Thanksgiving menu from 12 pm – 8 pm. Reservations are required.

A Home-Cooked Meal

There are lots of friendly locations throughout town that provide anything and everything you might need to prepare your own spectacular holiday dinner.

The Vermont Kitchen Supply store has everything you need to make meal preparation, cooking, serving, and cleanup a breeze—whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned prosecutor. For cookware, kitchen tools, gadgets, small kitchen appliances, glassware, tableware, and more, they are a one-stop shop. Pick up one of their many cookbooks while you’re there to discover a new favorite dish. Find what you need and uncover your hidden chef with the help of the welcoming staff at Vermont Kitchen Supply.  Remember that now is the ideal moment to cross things off your holiday shopping list. You’ll find the ideal difficult-to-find gift among a large assortment of your favorite brands, including Staub, DeBuyer, Bodum, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Wusthof, and more.  Are you unsure of what your partner in cooking needs? Gift certificates to the store make a perfect holiday gift.

Without dessert, no holiday meal is complete! Visit Mother Myrick’s Confectionery to satisfy your desire for sweets. They have all of your seasonal favorites, including cheesecakes, chocolate turkeys, decorated cookies, and pies including apple, pecan, pumpkin, chocolate walnut, caramel apple, and cherry blueberry apple combos, among others! They will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, so make sure to plan ahead and place your order now.

Take Away Meals

Want to avoid a crowded restaurant, but don’t feel like cooking a Thanksgiving meal? Reach out to Pearls Place and Pantry or Amy’s on the Road. Pearl’s Place and Pantry is offering a family-style Southern Thanksgiving feast for 4-6 people that includes all the fixings – roast turkey, house-smoked ham, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, biscuits and so much more. They even offer homestyle pie where you can choose between apple and pumpkin. YUM! Order by no later than Friday, November 17th, and pick up on Wednesday, November 22nd from 2 pm – 6 pm. Amy’s on the Road offers a menu of sides and apps to complete your Thanksgiving feast! From sausage and apple stuffing, and butternut squash puree to cheesy baked shrimp scampi dip with crostini and more. Pre-order your favorite sides and apps by Wednesday, November 15th, and pickup from 9 am to 12 pm on Wednesday, November 22nd.

The Manchester, VT area is the best place to DINE, SHOP, STAY, and EXPERIENCE everything that Southern Vermont has to offer. Experience the allure and splendor of our classic Vermont small town while we assist you in unplugging and recharging or in making holiday plans and preparations. Manchester has become a popular place to live and visit during this season due to its exceptional indoor and outdoor experiences, festivals, exceptional cultural events, unique shopping, and delicious locally prepared and sourced culinary delights. We look forward to welcoming you back very soon.