Snow Snake Games, Restaurant Week, and a Bunny Ballet Highlight Vermont’s Sunday Events
Vermont offers a diverse range of activities today, , from traditional Native American games to culinary celebrations and children’s entertainment.
In the Upper Valley, the annual Snow Snake Games are underway. Hosted by the Koasek Tribe, the event invites participants to compete in throwing wooden snakes down a 300-foot track for a chance to win a prize. Organizers report the current record stands at an impressive 7 miles for a single throw. The games are taking place at Five Corners Road in Thetford Center, running from 1 p.m. To 5 p.m.
For those with a taste for local cuisine, Restaurant Week kicks off today in Downtown Montpelier. The week-long event encourages support for local restaurants and cafes, with many offering cocktail specials and discounted menu items. A downtown restaurant challenge adds to the fun – visitors who dine at four participating eateries and submit a card at City Hall will be entered to win a prize. Restaurant Week continues through .
Families with young children can enjoy a reading of the children’s book “The Bunny Ballet” at Inklings Bookstore in Waitsfield. The free event, starting at 11 a.m., will include a dance-along session and complimentary bunny ears for attendees.
The Snow Snake game itself is an ancient tradition, as explained by Donald Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan band of the Abenaki nation, who described it as sliding a stick down a track, with the longest distance winning. The competition, while generally friendly, can sometimes result in the winner claiming all the sticks from their opponents, particularly when playing against another nation.
Participants in the Snow Snake games often craft their own sticks, carefully sanding hardwood and applying protective coatings like polyurethane and beeswax. Some even add a personal touch with food coloring. The tradition is seen as a way to keep cultural practices alive, with attendees traveling from various locations to participate.
While the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is hosting a Snow Snake event on , offering snow snakes for visitors to borrow, today’s event in Thetford Center provides a direct opportunity to experience the Koasek Tribe’s hosting of the annual games.
