BURLINGTON, VERMONT – Prepare for some foolish fun when Burlington City Arts (BCA) brings the Fools Block Party to downtown Burlington on August 1-2, 2025!
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanek and Burlington City Arts Executive Director Doreen Kraft gathered with downtown businesses at The Café HOT. on June 25 to announce the return of a smaller version of the beloved annual Burlington event, Festival of Fools.
In February, BCA announced that in the wake of losing the Festival's longtime presenting sponsor, the Festival of Fools would be paused for 2025. Since 2007, the Festival of Fools, a three-day celebration of busking, music, and community joy, has grown into one of Burlington’s signature annual events. It brings 50,000+ locals and visitors to downtown Burlington on the first weekend in August to not just enjoy the Festival, but to shop, dine, and support local businesses. Many downtown businesses report that the Festival of Fools has been their highest sales weekend of the season.
When Travis and Allan Walker-Hodkin, owners of The Café HOT, reached out to BCA and offered to lead a crowdfunding campaign among local businesses to bring a smaller version of the Festival to downtown Burlington this summer, the response was overwhelming, with 30+ local businesses donating to support this endeavor.
As BCA Executive Director Doreen Kraft said, "We are so inspired by our Burlington business community coming together to keep the joy of Fools alive in 2025. As we negotiate a changing fundraising landscape we are still looking for presenting sponsors to partner with us to bring Fools back to its full glory in 2026 as well as continue to produce beloved city-wide events like Highlight New Year’s Eve. These are unique opportunities to be a part of events that bring so much joy to Burlington and unite our community year after year."
With this groundswell of support, BCA is thrilled to announce the 2025 Fools Block Party on Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, which will bring exciting entertainers and musicians to the Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park for two days of family-friendly fun.
Travis and Allan Walker-Hodkin said of their decision to lead this effort, "The Festival of Fools has been a source of joy for Burlington for the past 18 years, and its cancellation this year was a shock to us all. We’re happy and proud to stand with our fellow Burlington businesses and BCA to bring it back, albeit as a smaller event, during a summer when we need to maintain the momentum of joy more than ever. We’ll look forward to clowning around with you all at the Fools Block Party, made possible by your Burlington businesses and BCA."
Fools has been a free, inclusive, family-friendly event that creates a place for community to gather and experience wonder and joy. Filling the streets with laughter and vibrancy, it’s a yearly reminder of the power of arts events to activate and energize our public spaces, creating important opportunities for community connection.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanek said, "I appreciate the business community and BCA rallying together to help bring the 2025 Fools Block Party to Burlington. The Fools Block Party is a free, inclusive, family-friendly way that visitors and locals alike can come together, be in our downtown, engage with amazing performing artists, and generally enjoy art and everything Burlington has to offer!"
Fools Block Party performers include returning favorites and new talent from BCA’s deep bench of foolishly talented entertainers. This year will feature returning Fools such as the hilarious hounds of Mutts Gone Nuts, acrobatic sibling double act The Red Trouser Show, the precocious performers of the Circus Smirkus Road Show, and juggling genius Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy. New to the Fools fold are Burlington's own high-flying aerialist Nicole Degasse and street entertainer extraordinaire Mason Ames. Marvelous musical acts include breakout Vermont indie darlings Robber Robber and acclaimed folk duo Cricket Blue.
And the door is still open for more businesses and community members to make a donation and get in on the fun of supporting the Fools Block Party and seeding the future of this beloved event. Watch the Fools website for updates on performers, schedules, and more coming soon.
Fools Block Party Supporters:
All Souls Tortilleria, Always Full Market, American Flatbread Burlington Hearth, August First, Ben & Jerry's, Brio Coffeeworks, CannaPlanners, City Market, Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor, Devil Takes a Holiday, Foley Services, Grey Jay, Hen of the Wood, Honey Road, Hotel Vermont, Karma Bird House, LeZot Camera, Mr. Mikes, Muddy Waters, Onyx Tonics, Perrywinkle's Fine Jewelry, Play Dog Play, Pomerleau Family Foundation, Restaurant Poco, Silla, Stone Soup, Stranger Still, The Café HOT., The Farmhouse Group, The Skinny Pancake, Vermont Pub and Brewery |
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About Burlington City Arts
For over 30 years, Burlington City Arts (BCA) has helped cement Burlington, Vermont’s reputation as one of America’s most livable cities for the arts. Our physical locations include the BCA Center, a three-level, year-round exhibition space, as well as BCA Studios, which hosts art classes, camps, and open studio hours in our state-of-the-art facilities. BCA also produces city-wide festivals, events, concerts, films, artist markets, and more. Funded by a unique public/private partnership in which private charitable contributions leverage City funding, BCA is dedicated to supporting artists while expanding access to arts-based education and experiences. BCA provides a national model for centering the arts in community impact, on sectors as varied as education, the environment, civic dialogue, and the economy.
For more information:
Elena Rosen
Communications Director, Burlington City Arts
802-829-6411
[email protected] |
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