The Ramble at Burlington's Old North End
The Ramble in Burlington’s Old North End is back! On July 27, from the wee hours of the morning to the setting of the sun behind the Adirondacks (and then a little bit more) the Old North End Ramble will be celebrating the arts and culture of the O.N.E.
The Old North End represents Vermont’s most racially diverse and artistically inclined population. People of all cultural, ethnic, economic, and artistic backgrounds reside in the Old North End. The Ramble is an opportunity to celebrate diversity, the arts, and the community.
This year’s theme is “The Golden Years.” Grab your bike, scooter, roller blades, horse-drawn carriage, or just put on a good pair of walking shoes, and head on down to the streets of the Old North End for a grand celebration. Streets will be closed; food will be plentiful (Knead Bakery will be offering everyone a free vegan chocolate chip cookie!); games will feature everywhere; and music will be near-constant.
Check out The Ramble’s Events Page for the full details, but here’s an overview of what to expect:
Begin your day at Nunyuns Bakery and Cafe, which opens its doors at 7 AM. Art by Fern Crete will be featured, and Cinse Bonino will offer $5 Wise Asks readings starting at 10 AM.
By then, the day will have fully begun, and events sprout like wildflowers. At 9 AM, evolution pt & yoga studio founder Janet Carscadden will be offering a free all-ages yoga class, which will feature live music by Patrick McAndrew. Meet just north of the bandshell in Battery Park to join in! At 10 AM, the O.N.E. Arts Yard Sale begins at 72 North Champlain Street. All sorts of items from knitting machines to furniture to toys and art supplies will be on offer, along with kids activities. The Bizarre Bazaar Yard Sale will also be taking place at 10 AM, at 331 North Winooski Avenue. Any and all practical and impractical bikes and bike accessories will be available!
Games and activities will also begin at 10 AM. Field Day, also known as the “Old North End Olympics,” begins at 10. The following events will feature in this eccentric pentathlon-of-sorts: bowling ball shot putt, tug of war, baby races, long jump, sack races, arm wrestling, distance run, hula hoop race, etc. The games will take place at Battery Park, and athletes of all ages and abilities are welcome!
Also at 10 AM will be the “Ramble Super Premium Bike Skillz Park of Excellence.” The Burlington Bike Park is hosting a pop-up park at Pomeroy Park on North Street from 10 AM until 2 PM. The park is designed for all ages, and you can also come and learn about plans to build a real bike park in Burlington!
At 11 AM, food and craft vendors will begin offering their many wares at the ONE World Market hosted by the Community and Economic Development Office at 20 Allen Street. $5 Bluebird fairy card readings, smartphone consulting, live music and dance, ice cream, and bounce houses will also be there!
At noon, Drifter’s will be hosting a paint by numbers event with a special twist: you get to paint Drifter’s itself! Help give the place a new look and stop by 156 North Winooski Avenue.
At 1, the Steph Pappas Experience will start playing on the corner of Crombie Street and North Winooski Avenue. Bring a blanket or chair, and maybe a lunch, or you could check out the food at Drifter’s or Barrio Bakery, which are conveniently located next door.
The Ramble Round-Up, a musical extravaganza, will take place from 6 to 10 PM at 12-22 North Street. Come and enjoy the block party, which will feature food trucks, a beer garden, hip-hop dance classes, and the following artists: Mal MaizBarbacoa, A2VT, Julia Caesar, Henry Finch and The Capacity Ensemble, J Bengoy. Come and enjoy the party!
Even as the sun sets, the celebration rambles on! From 8 PM to 2 AM, DJ Taka will be lighting up the Light Club Lamp Shop, 12 North Winooski Avenue. And from 10 PM until 1 AM, The Red Newts and friends will be playing at the Olde Northender Pub at 23 North Street.
General festivities begin wrapping up just before midnight.
Come out and enjoy the Ramble with your friends, this July 27!
“ALL for O.N.E. and O.N.E. for ALL”
Text by Luke Vidic.
Photos by Ted Wimpey.
Poster and logo courtesy of The Ramble.