TOWNSHEND-The second-floor Townshend Opera House is stirring back to a vibrant stage life following the official kickoff on Aug. 1 of The Friends of the Townshend Town Hall and Opera House.
Starting in December and continuing throughout all of 2026, Friends of the Town Hall and Opera House will host a series of live cultural programs-bringing together music, ideas, fun, entertainment and community in a uniquely Townshend setting.
Planned programs include:
• Music performances - professional music, student ensembles, and acoustic concerts featuring local and regional talent.
• Historical lecture series - short, engaging talks on Vermont people, places, and public life.
• School events and Community Nights - special events in collaboration with Leland & Gray Union High School and Townshend community groups such as the Townshend Historical Society.
• Themed holiday celebrations, including a Dec. 20 winter program of music and music, and a Fourth of July extravaganza with fife and drums in 2026.
• "Town Talks" - compelling, lively 60-minute presentations from the Opera House stage crafted to inspire, inform, and ignite conversation. They will feature personal insights and unique perspectives from individuals with lived experience, professional expertise, or powerful stories to share.
• Distinguished Author Lecture Series - this series will bring authors of historical, environmental, and civic interest to Townshend.
All events will be free and open to the public, held in the upstairs Opera House - the very hall were Townshend's live performances all started in 1921.
A complimentary reception will be provided after each performance.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.