Fall Weekend Bennington college

Fall Weekend is September 24-26. Come spend some time in your student's new home and share the Bennington experience together. Please see below for a schedule of events. 

Please note all brunch and dinner tickets are closed, as we are at guest capacity.

COVID protocol

As a reminder:

  • All people who are eligible to be vaccinated must be vaccinated, in order to attend.
  • Anyone who is not eligible to be vaccinated (such as children under 12) may attend outdoor events, but are required to have a negative COVID test result within 72-hours of arrival on campus. They cannot go inside buildings.
  • Everyone must have filled out the visitor form before arrival.
  • Everyone must be masked at all times, except when they are eating (and guests will walk through the line at the Dining Hall but must eat outdoors).

Changes/Updates:  

  • Everyone must upload proof of their vaccination card. Negative test results will only be accepted for those who are not eligible to be vaccinated.
  • The visitor form has been updated to allow vaccination cards and negative results to be uploaded, please resubmit the form if you filled it out prior to receiving this message. 
  • If you do not adhere to COVID protocol, including sharing proof of vaccination, you will be turned away.*** 


Questions?

Contact fallweekend@bennington.edu or call 802-440-4330.

Schedule of Events
COVID visitor form
Digital Packet
bike parked in a pile of fall leaves three trees that have turned bright red because of fall folliage students walk to class down a path covered in fall leaves

FWSCHEDULE

Schedule of Events

Friday

Saturday

  • 11:00 am-2:00 pm
    Brunch
    Commons Dining Hall
     
  • 1:00-2:15 pm
    Conversation with President Walker and College Leadership (*livestreamed)
    Commons Tent, rain location: VAPA Greenwall
     
  • 2:00-5:00 pm
    Lawn Games
    Commons Lawn
     
  • 2:00-5:00 pm
    Crafts
    Upper Student Center
     
  • 2:30-3:30 pm
    Elizabeth Coleman Visionary Leadership Award Ceremony
    CAPA
     
  • 2:30-4:00 pm
    FacultyWorks
    Commons Tent, rain location: VAPA Greenwall

    Drama Improv Workshop
    Dina Janis | 2:30 pm

    Drama Faculty member Dina Janis- welcomes Bennington's own Improv Tutorial members for improv and sketch comedy open rehearsal followed by a Q & A.

    Research Talk: Why do they eat like that?
    Katie Montovan | 3 pm

    Faculty member Katie Montovan will talk about her research which uses mathematical modeling to understand insect behavior (no mathematical skills required to attend!). We will specifically be thinking about how prey might adjust their foraging activity as they grow to avoid predators.

    Reading and Q&A
    Jenny Boully and Paul LaFarge | 3:30 pm

    Faculty member Jenny Boully will read her personal essay "On the Voyager Golden Records" and discuss how research infuses and intersects with the personal. Faculty member Paul La Farge will read from his novel The Night Ocean,. Q&A to follow. 
     
  • 3:30-4:30 pm
    Open Studios, Campus Tours, and Bird Walks

    Faculty member Blake Jones will lead a leisurely stroll around campus to find some of our favorite feathered friends and talk about studying biology at Bennington. Binoculars will be provided.
     
  • 3:30-6:30 pm
    Purple Carrot Farm workday
    Purple Carrot Farm
     
  • 5:00-7:00 pm
    Harvest Dinner     
    Commons Dining Hall

Sunday

Enjoy Vermont: 

  • Visit the Bennington Battle Monument
    15 Monument Circle, Old Bennington, VT 05201
    Open Friday-Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
     
  • Take a swim at Lake Paran (weather permitting)
    Houghton Street 
    North Bennington, VT 05257
     
  • Grab lunch (or your morning coffee!) at Powers Market
    9 Main St, North Bennington, VT
    Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-3:00 pm, Weekends 8:00 am-3:00 pm
     
  • Go Apple Picking at Terry`s Orchard
    55 Houghton Lane, Bennington, VT 05201
    Open Monday-Friday 12-5pm and Sundays 9-5pm. Closed Saturdays. 
    Contact via (802) 733-4761 or see Facebook group

Peep Some Leaves

Fall is the ideal time to visit Vermont. Check out these classic Leaf Peeping Routes! 

  • The Route 7A-Route 100 Loop
  • Kelly Stand Road to Grout Pond
  • Bennington, North Bennington, and Shaftsbury Fall Foliage Loop

Go Hiking!

  • Mile-Around Woods, 1.3 miles
    Located within walking distance from campus, the trailhead is at the Park McCullough House. Be sure to check out the museum while you’re there! 
  • Lye Brook Falls, 4.6 miles
    Approximately thirty minutes from campus, Lye Brook Falls features a moderate out-and-back hike with a beautiful waterfall at the end. 
  • Stratton Mountain Hikes, various lengths
    A fifty minute drive from campus, Stratton offers breathtaking views and hikes of different complexity. A mountain lift is available for those who don’t want to hike! 

Explore a museum 

The Clark Art Institute
225 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267
Galleries open 10:00 am–5:00 pm

MASS MoCA
1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247 
Open 10:00 am–6:00 pm
(please note that MASS MoCA is hosting their Fresh Grass Festival this weekend, which could affect the visiting experience and parking availability)

Robert Frost Stone House Museum
121 Historic Route 7A                 
Shaftsbury, Vermont 05262
Thursdays-Mondays, 10:00 am-4:00 pm

A conversation with President Laura Walker and College Leadership, as part of Fall Weekend play video
Close Video

Conversation with President Walker and College Leadership

DIGITALPACKET

Digital Packet

All the resources you'll need to enjoy your time on campus to the fullest. Paper copies will be handed out when you check in.