Midd Summer Fest
Circa 2011-2013

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This was the offical website for the Midd Summer Fest, an annual event that is organized by the Better Middlebury Partnership as a celebration of some of Vermont's finest beer, wine, cider, cheese and other products.

To get information on the latest Midd Summer Festival go to http://experiencemiddlebury.com/play/community-events/midd-summer-festival/
The content is from the site's 2011-2013 archived pages.

The Midd Summer Festival is an annual event that is organized by the Better Middlebury Partnership as a celebration of some of Vermont's finest beer, wine, cider, cheese and other products. The event attracts residents and visitors to Vermont into downtown Middlebury to sample and purchase Vermont made products, listen to music, socialize, and have a great time! In addition, all of the proceeds of the event benefit three great Vermont non-profit organizations.

PRESS RELEASE

2013 Midd Summer Fest

August 3, 2013
Marbleworks
Middlebury, VT

The 3rd Annual Midd Summer Festival will take place on August 3, 2013 from 3-7PM! It will be held in the Marble Works in downtown Middlebury! For more information on the 2013 festival, please contact the committee at info@middsummerfestival.com

 

on tap for 2013

• Breweries

• 14th Star Brewery
• Drop In Brewery
• Fiddlehead Brewing
• Long Trail
• Magic Hat
• Peak Organic
• Harpoon Brewery
• The Norwich Inn
• Otter Creek
• Trapp Family Lodge Brewery
• The Shed Brewery
• Switchback
• Wolaver’s Organic Ales
• Northshire Brewery
• Kingdom Brewing

• Wineries & Spirits

• Windfall Orchard
• Fresh Tracks Vineyard
• Lincoln Peak Vineyard
• WhistlePig Rye Whiskey
• East Shore Vineyard
• Caledonia Spirits

• Hard & Ice Cider Makers

• Champlain Orchards Hard Cider
• Citizen Cider
• Eden Ice Cider
• Whetstone Ciderworks
• Woodchuck Cider

• Cheese & More

• Blake Hill Preserves
• Cabot Creamery
• Crowley Cheese
• Plymouth Artisan Cheese
• Aqua Vitea
• Twig Farm
• Blue Ledge Farm

2013 Musicians

This year, we're happy to welcome Yankee Chank, Hollis Brown, Mark Daly and Jatoba to MSF.

Yankee Chank is a group of Vermont musicians who perform the traditional dance music of southwest Louisiana. Drawn together by a shared passion for cajun and zydeco music, the band has been performing in a variety of venues since 1996. Its performances offer an immersion into this marvelous unique music using fiddle, accordion, guitar and bass. Members include Mark Sustic (bass and percussion), Bob Naess (fiddle and vocals), Cannon Labrie (accordion and vocals), Jim Burns (guitar).Hollis Brown, hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., is described as a timeless funky blues band that blends Southern rock with a lyrical relevancy that ties in a modern pop theme.Mark Daly, a Middlebury native, is back under a new moniker, Plato Ears. Tirelessly working over the past 6 months, he has been re-defining his sound into a blend of hip hop, soul, dance and indie rock. Recording two full albums already this year, he comes to the Midd Summer Fest to spread his latest material in a rare, stripped down acoustic performance.Jatoba: On the surface, the energetic, rhythmic, acoustic sound that the Brattleboro based trio describes with the equation "bluegrass + new-grass = groovegrass" is the perfect soundtrack for kicking back and enjoying life, particularly on a sundrenched summer day. But listen a little closer and you'll discover a group that is rich, compelling, adventurous and artistically gutsy. What musicians John Jamison (acoustic guitar, mandolin, sitar and vocals), Jason Scaggs (acoustic guitar, acoustic baritone guitar, banjo and vocals) and Jeff Richardson (bass, spoons, vocals)bring to the table is a mixture of surprising chord changes, high-speed instrumental breakdowns, complex rhythms, adventurous solos, dream sequences, tight three-part vocal harmonies, lyrics which strike the ears like Beat generation poetry and often tell meaningful stories of introspection and redemption - these are all part of Jatoba's colorful, courageous palette.

Where to Stay

There are a wide variety of options for out of town visitors who wish to stay in Middlebury overnight, below are links to area hotels and inns, located a short distance away from the event:

Middlebury Inn

Swift House Inn 

Courtyard Middlebury 

Tickets

Tickets will be available at the event and are available at a discounted price of $20 in advance below; tickets purchased at the gate are $25 per adult, $5 for a non-drinker or a person under 21 years of age, and for any Child under 6 years old admission is free. Discounted tickets are also for sale in town prior to the event. Find them at: Two Brothers, Middlebury Inn, Noonie's Deli, Skihaus and Clementine.

Adult tickets include: admission to event, souvenir glass, 10 tasting tokens for beer, wine, and cider*, sampling of cheeses.

Non-drinkers & Under 21 tickets include: admission to event, sampling of cheeses.

*additional tokens will be available for purchase at the event for $1.00 per token

Please Note: Despite that fact that we love dogs and would love to spend time with your dog, we cannot allow dogs into the event this year. Due to safety, sanitary, and space concerns it is not possible to bring your dog to this year's festival!

Exhibitor Info

The festival committee is seeking participation from all Vermont breweries, vineyards, and cheese makers to provide the festival attendee with a true showcase of all of the great products produced in our wonderful state. This is an opportunity for producers to showcase their products to a large group of potential customers who are interested in Vermont beers, wines and cheeses.

 

"Not only did I attend the 2013 festival, but I met my future husband there! He was sweating in the heat of the day wearing one of the most awesome Superman sweatshirts I've seen and manning a wine table. When I asked him about the sweatshirt, he told me that his daughter was a huge Superman fan and that she had given the sweatshirt to him as birthday present a few hours before the festival started, when it was much cooler. His daughter overheard the convo and insisted that he take it off to cool off. He promised to wear it later in the evening. I was blown away by his kindness and thoughtfulness regarding his daughter's special birthday gift. Turned out his wife had passed away a year before and he was a single dad making a yeoman effort to keep his child happy. We were married 6 months later, thanks to the festival and Superman!" Meg Shilo-Greer

 

 

 

The 2012 Vermont Beer,Wine & Cheese Festival

The Midd Summer Festival Committee is pleased to announce that the date for the 2012 festival has been set - it will be August 4th from 3-7PM! It will be held in the Marble Works in downtown Middlebury...more details to follow soon!

The Midd Summer Festival is an annual event that is organized by the Better Middlebury Partnership and is a celebration of Vermont Beer, Wine, and Cheese. The event attracts residents and visitors to Vermont into downtown Middlebury to sample Vermont made products, listen to music, socialize, and have a great time! In addition, all of the proceeds of the event benefit great Vermont non-profit organizations.

The 2011 festival drew over 1,700 attendees who enjoyed great Vermont beers, wines, ciders, cheeses, and music! The event generated nearly $14,000 in support to the Vermont Food Bank, the Addison County Firefighters Association, and The Better Middlebury Partnership. In addition, all of the proceeds of the event will go to three great non-profit organizations! The 2011 event supported the Vermont Food Bank, the Addison County Firefighters Association, and The Better Middlebury Partnership.

2011 Exhibitors

• Breweries

• Harpoon
• Long Trail
• Magic Hat
• Northshire Brewery
• Otter Creek
• Switchback
• Trout River
• Wolaver’s Organic Ales

• Wineries

• Boyden Valley
• Caledonia/Honey Gardens Winery
• Charlotte Village Winery
• East Shore Vineyard
• Huntington River Vineyard
• Lincoln Peak Vineyard
• Neshobe River Winery
• Shelburne Vineyard
• Snow Farm Vineyard

• Cider Makers

• Champlain Orchards Hard Cider
• Eden Ice Cider
• Hall Home Place Ice Cider
• Windfall Orchards Ice Cider
• Woodchuck Cider

• Cheesemakers

• Boston Post Dairy
• Crowley Cheese
• Cabot Creamery
• Fat Toad Farm
• Grafton Village Cheese Company
• Maplebrook Farm
• Plymouth Artisan Cheese
• Scholten Family Farm
• Taylor Farm
• Twig Farm
• West River Creamery

• Other

• American Flatbread
• Aqua Vitea
• Middlebury Chocolates
• Stone Leaf Teahouse
• Vermont Brownie Company
• Vermont Coffee Co.
• Vermont Hydroponic
• Vermont Salumi

Music

Joshua Panda Band

Joshua Panda is an exceptional combination of country and soul, George Jones and Otis Redding, and has traveled with this unique sound to a unique place: Vermont. Integrating such soulful energy into his original pieces, Joshua has captured a spirit in his performance, which encompasses both the flailing of a fervent preacher and the intimacy of your best friend telling you a story.

Split Tongue Crow

A lifetime spent in the vast hills and rambling valleys of Vermont can do a lot for shaping a band's sound. Coming off more as a front-porch musical family than a independent band; Split Tongue Crow's backwoods harmonies and hauntingly earnest songwriting have become a favorite of fans and skeptics alike. One listen is all it takes to fall in love with such honest and unforgettable music.

Where to Stay

There are a wide variety of options for out of town visitors who wish to stay in Middlebury overnight, below is a link to our sponsor hotel, located a short walk away from the event:

Middlebury Inn 

Tickets

Tickets will be available at the event and are available for purchase in advance online and at several retail locations.

Tickets prices for advance purchase are $20 for an Adult, $5 for a Designated Driver or person under 21 years of age, and for any Child under 6 years old admission is free!

Adult tickets include: admission to event, souvenir glass, 10 tasting tokens for beer, wine, and cider*, unlimited sampling of cheeses.

DD & Under 21 tickets include: admission to event, unlimited sampling of cheeses.

*additional tokens will be available for purchase at the event for $1.00 per token

Sponsor Info

The Better Middlebury Partnership is comprised of a volunteer board that works very hard to promote Middlebury and the surrounding community through a variety of means including hosting four major events each year. Although the labor to organize these events is free there are numerous costs associated with putting them on. We are looking for local businesses to help support these events and in turn the community as a whole through sponsorship opportunities at each event.

As a Midd Summer Fest sponsor you will receive a variety of benefits depending on your level of sponsorship, including: your company logo on advertising/tickets/posters/souvenir glass, mentions on radio spots, multiple mentions at event, and free tickets to the event.

Exhibitor Info

The festival committee is seeking participation from all Vermont breweries, vineyards, and cheese makers to provide the festival attendee with a true showcase of all of the great products produced in our wonderful State. This is an opportunity for producers to showcase their products to a large group of potential customers who are interested in Vermont Beers, Wines and Cheeses.

 

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More Background On MiddSummerFestival.com

 

MiddSummerFestival.com was the official website for the Midd Summer Festival, a regional craft beverage and artisan food celebration held in Middlebury, Vermont during the early 2010s. Active primarily between 2011 and 2013, the website functioned as the primary promotional and informational hub for the event. It provided details about vendors, ticketing, entertainment, sponsors, nonprofit beneficiaries, lodging options, and community partnerships.

The festival itself was organized by the Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening downtown Middlebury’s economic vitality and cultural life. MiddSummerFestival.com reflected BMP’s broader mission: to draw residents and visitors into the historic downtown area through events that celebrate local identity, small businesses, and Vermont-made products.

Although the standalone site is no longer active today, archived versions and regional press coverage preserve a detailed portrait of a festival that captured an important moment in Vermont’s craft beverage expansion and farm-to-table movement.

Geographic Context: Middlebury, Vermont

The Midd Summer Festival took place in Middlebury, the shire town of Addison County and home to Middlebury College. Nestled between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, Middlebury has long been associated with agriculture, artisan production, and cultural programming.

Most editions of the festival were held in the Marble Works District, a historic riverside area along Otter Creek that blends restored industrial buildings with open gathering spaces. The location offered scenic views, pedestrian accessibility, and proximity to restaurants, inns, and retail shops. Visitors could walk to lodging such as the Middlebury Inn or explore nearby establishments before and after the event.

Middlebury’s size—large enough to host significant events yet small enough to maintain a close-knit community atmosphere—made it an ideal setting for a regional tasting festival.

Founding Purpose and Community Mission

From its inception, the Midd Summer Festival was designed to do more than showcase food and drink. Its purpose was threefold:

• Celebrate Vermont’s craft beverage and artisan food industries
• Strengthen downtown economic activity
• Raise funds for regional nonprofit organizations

Proceeds from the event supported organizations including the Vermont Food Bank, the Addison County Firefighters Association, and BMP itself.

This philanthropic structure distinguished the festival from purely commercial tasting events. Attendees were not only sampling beer, wine, cider, and cheese—they were contributing to hunger relief efforts, first responders, and local economic development.

In its inaugural year, local reporting from the Addison Independent indicated that the festival drew approximately 1,700 attendees and generated nearly $14,000 in nonprofit support, signaling strong early success.

The Craft Beverage Explosion in Vermont

To understand MiddSummerFestival.com’s significance, it helps to situate it within Vermont’s craft beverage boom of the late 2000s and early 2010s.

During this period, Vermont emerged as one of the most brewery-dense states in the country. Established names such as Magic Hat Brewing Company and Long Trail Brewing Company were joined by rapidly growing independent producers. Simultaneously, cider production expanded dramatically, with companies like Woodchuck Hard Cider gaining national attention.

Cheesemaking also flourished, with producers such as Cabot Creamery building a strong reputation for high-quality artisan dairy products.

The Midd Summer Festival capitalized on this moment. By assembling breweries, wineries, cider makers, distillers, and cheesemakers into a single tasting event, it offered attendees a curated snapshot of Vermont’s agricultural craftsmanship.

Vendor Participation and Product Diversity

One of the most compelling aspects of the website was its detailed exhibitor listings. The festival regularly featured:

• Breweries (often more than a dozen)
• Wineries and vineyard producers
• Hard cider and ice cider makers
• Distilleries and spirits producers
• Artisan cheesemakers
• Specialty food producers

Participants ranged from well-known brands to smaller regional operations, giving producers access to a concentrated audience of engaged consumers.

Adult tickets typically included a souvenir tasting glass, a set number of tasting tokens, and unlimited cheese sampling. Additional tokens could be purchased onsite. Many vendors offered bottled products for sale, and festival merchandise such as T-shirts and souvenir bags were available.

For producers, the event functioned as both a marketing platform and a direct sales opportunity. It allowed them to connect face-to-face with potential customers who were already interested in Vermont-made products.

Music and Cultural Programming

MiddSummerFestival.com highlighted live music as a key part of the event atmosphere. Each year featured multiple bands representing a range of styles—from blues-rock and groovegrass to Cajun dance music and acoustic sets.

This blend of musical genres reflected Vermont’s eclectic cultural identity. The entertainment encouraged attendees to stay for the full duration of the event (typically 3–7 PM), socialize, and enjoy the riverside setting.

By integrating music into a tasting festival, organizers created a multi-sensory experience. It was not simply about consumption; it was about community gathering.

Ticketing Structure and Accessibility

The website carefully outlined ticket categories to balance fundraising goals with accessibility:

• Adult (21+) tickets included sampling privileges and souvenir items.
• Designated driver and under-21 tickets were priced lower and included admission plus cheese sampling.
• Children under six were admitted free.

Advance ticket pricing encouraged early commitment, while local retail outlets provided in-person purchase options. This distribution model leveraged downtown businesses and strengthened local partnerships.

The festival’s pricing—around $20 in advance and $25 at the gate during early years—was relatively modest compared to larger metropolitan tasting events, reinforcing its community orientation rather than exclusivity.

Economic Impact on Downtown Middlebury

Beyond nonprofit fundraising, the festival stimulated local commerce. Hotels, inns, restaurants, and retail shops benefited from increased foot traffic. Visitors from outside Addison County often stayed overnight, dined locally, and explored Middlebury’s shops.

BMP’s strategy was consistent with national downtown revitalization models: anchor events bring people into the core district, where they discover businesses they may return to later.

MiddSummerFestival.com reinforced this strategy by including lodging recommendations and encouraging visitors to explore the town.

Sponsorship and Business Partnerships

The website also outlined sponsorship opportunities for local businesses. Sponsors received logo placement on advertising materials, tickets, posters, souvenir glasses, and radio mentions. Higher sponsorship levels included event tickets and on-stage acknowledgments.

This model created a feedback loop:

• Businesses funded the event.
• The event brought customers downtown.
• Proceeds supported nonprofits and BMP.
• BMP reinvested in future programming.

Such structures are typical of successful community-driven festivals.

Audience Profile

The Midd Summer Festival attracted a diverse demographic:

• Local residents
• Middlebury College students and alumni
• Vermont craft beverage enthusiasts
• Regional tourists from New York and New England
• Families and designated drivers participating in non-alcohol components

The festival’s tone was celebratory but community-focused. While alcohol sampling was central, the presence of cheese tastings, music, and nonprofit beneficiaries broadened its appeal.

Press Coverage and Public Reception

Local media coverage emphasized strong attendance and positive community response. Reports described the festival as lively and well attended, particularly in its first year. Organizers cited overwhelming success and expressed enthusiasm about building the event into an annual tradition.

Anecdotal testimonials shared on the site—such as a story of two attendees who met at the festival and later married—added a personal dimension that reinforced the event’s social character.

Although the festival did not generate national press attention, it established itself as a meaningful regional tradition during its active years.

Relationship to Other Middlebury Events

Middlebury hosts multiple annual events that celebrate arts, food, and music. The Middlebury Festival on-the-Green is one of the region’s most established summer cultural gatherings. Farmers markets and seasonal street festivals also draw steady attendance.

The Midd Summer Festival fit naturally into this broader ecosystem of downtown programming. It focused specifically on craft beverages and artisan foods, carving out a niche within Middlebury’s event calendar.

Over time, elements of its spirit—local product celebration, outdoor music, downtown activation—continued in other BMP initiatives.

Website Structure and Design

Archived versions of MiddSummerFestival.com reveal a straightforward, informational layout typical of early-2010s event websites:

• Home page with festival overview
• Exhibitor lists by category
• Music lineup details
• Ticket information
• Sponsorship section
• Lodging recommendations
• Contact email for inquiries

The design emphasized clarity over visual sophistication. Its primary function was logistical communication rather than immersive branding. Social media integration was minimal compared to modern event websites, reflecting its era.

Cultural and Social Significance

MiddSummerFestival.com represents more than a defunct event site. It captures a specific moment in Vermont’s cultural trajectory:

• The rise of craft beverage tourism
• Growing consumer interest in local sourcing
• Downtown revitalization efforts in small towns
• Community-centered philanthropy through events

The festival embodied Vermont’s identity as an agricultural state with strong artisan traditions. It also reflected a nationwide shift toward experiential consumption—where people value tasting events and local storytelling over mass-produced entertainment.

Legacy and Evolution

Although MiddSummerFestival.com is no longer active and the festival appears to have evolved or concluded in its original form, its legacy lives on in:

• Continued downtown events organized by BMP
• Ongoing growth of Vermont’s craft beverage industry
• Community-based fundraising festivals across the state

Events such as farmers markets, tasting weekends, and seasonal markets continue to activate Middlebury’s downtown and celebrate Vermont-made goods.

The Midd Summer Festival may not have reached the scale of statewide events, but during its years of operation it effectively combined culture, commerce, and charity in a way that resonated locally.

MiddSummerFestival.com served as the digital gateway to a vibrant community celebration that blended Vermont’s best beers, wines, ciders, cheeses, and music into a single summer afternoon in Middlebury.

Organized by the Better Middlebury Partnership, the festival:

• Drew significant attendance in its early years
• Raised meaningful funds for local nonprofits
• Supported downtown economic activity
• Highlighted Vermont’s artisan producers
• Strengthened community identity

Though the website is now archived, it remains a valuable record of how small-town festivals can leverage regional strengths to create events that are festive, philanthropic, and culturally significant.

In the broader history of Vermont’s craft movement and downtown revitalization efforts, MiddSummerFestival.com stands as a concise but telling example of how local initiative and community pride can shape memorable public experiences.

 

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