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Waterbury’s arts and music scene is vibrant and energized, and that’s just how we like it. We even have a weekend-long event celebrating the arts - Waterbury Arts Fest - an annual summer event showcasing artisans and musicians from across the region. It draws visitors from near and far for a day filled with food, music, fun, and art.
Waterbury embraces the arts year round, with a variety of galleries, shops, and performance spaces to suit all art lovers. Many places also offer classes and workshops, or carry arts and craft materials to keep your hands busy and minds creating even after you leave town.
Check out the complete list of arts & culture in Waterbury. Don't forget to use Waterbury Bucks as you support our local businesses!
Looking to add a few more stops onto the art tour? Pair it with these other great self-guided tours!
TOUR HISTORIC WATERBURYTake a step back in time and explore Waterbury’s history. We invite you to meander down our back roads and side streets for beautiful vistas and interesting buildings, old and new.
TAKE THE WINDSHIELD TOUROne of the best ways to discover more of Waterbury is by winding along the waters and through the trees on a scenic drive. Stop and stretch your legs along the way, or just stick to the windshield tour. You can’t go wrong no matter how you decide to explore these vistas!
Axel's Gallery & Frame Shop
Discover dynamic contemporary art in the heart of downtown. Axel’s rotating exhibitions, artisan highlights, musical performances and pop-ups connect the arts to our community.
Grange Hall Cultural Center
Browse their rotating gallery shows, and stick around for a performance - music, comedy, theater, and dance are just a few of the genres featured here.
Jeremy Ayers Pottery
Watch the artist at work throwing and glazing handmade functional and decorative pottery, ranging from vases and cake stands to teapots and bowls. Keep an eye out for events at 18 Elm that incorporate art, music, food, and family-friendly fun.
Stowe Street Cafe
Browse their unique collection of local art and gifts while enjoying made-from-scratch baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Keep an eye on their painting and stained glass workshops led by local artists.
Axel's Gallery & Frame Shop
Experience the musical prowess of Vermont musicians at the popular summertime Music in the Alley series. The typical service alleyway at Axel’s Gallery is transformed into a thriving set to experience contemporary compositions. These events are free and open to the public - if you can get a seat!
Grange Hall Cultural Center
Music, comedy, theater, and dance are just a few of the genres featured here. After the show, browse their gallery on-site.
The Reservoir Restaurant & Tap Room
Savor delicious eats sourced locally from Vermont’s farms and have a pint from their house-made label, Big Tree Brewing, while you catch a show from local musicians.
Waterbury Rotary Club
Concerts in the Park is a summer music series organized by the Waterbury Rotary Club. These performances bring Rusty Parker Memorial Park to life on Thursday evenings in the summer. Stop by the Waterbury Farmers Market, happening simultaneously in the park, to grab dinner while you enjoy the tunes.
Grange Hall Cultural Center
In addition to a gallery and performance space, the Grange has fun classes and workshops for budding artists.
Green Mountain Performing Arts
Offering a diverse range of dance, theatre, and music education classes for all ages and abilities with highly qualified, caring instructors.
MakerSphere
This space for creativity has classes for kids and adults in all manners of arts, crafts, and trades. In the winter, they partner to create the River of Light parade through downtown.
Stowe Street Cafe
Take a workshop in painting or stained glass, led by local artists, while enjoying made-from-scratch baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Keep an eye on their painting and stained glass workshops led by local artists.
The Tiny Acorn
Arts and craft supplies and kits to inspire creativity in kids and kids-at-heart.
Yarn
In addition to a wide array of yarn, fiber craft notions, patterns, and knowledgeable staff, their classes help guide crafters through projects from start to finish, whether it's their first or hundredth.
The artworks listed below are just a small sampling of the public art around Waterbury, so keep an eye out as you explore for more pieces ranging from miniatures to murals!
Located at the downtown roundabout
As you enter town from the roundabout, look up at the pièce de résistance, "The Waterbury Special” rail art project on the train trestle. Created by artist Phillip Godenschwager, this sculpture depicts historic Waterbury buildings and industries as train cars.
Located in the alley by Axel's Gallery & Frame Shop
Created for the ten year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene, this multi-story art installation represents how the town of Waterbury rebounded from the storm and subsequent flood which damaged much of town. Like the mythical creature, the artwork represents the strength and resiliency of Waterbury.
Located at Rusty Parker Memorial Park, 51 South Main Street, Elm Street Parking Lot & Bidwell Lane
As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together” and nothing is more fitting for Waterbury as we welcome residents and visitors to share our values of community, town involvement, and a bit of good, old fun! These bright, multi-colored birds were created by Vermont artist Tyler Vendituoli, who submitted his creative flock of birds for the Waterbury Rail Art Project four years ago. The birds were so colorful and whimsical, we decided to purchase some birds and perch them throughout town!
Located at Ben & Jerry's
This powerful mural was inspired by the life of Congressman John Lewis and the graphic novel trilogy "March." It features quotes from John Lewis and images of the graphic novel, with scenes of the Civil Rights movement and a message encouraging people to vote. Learn more about John Lewis and "The Long March" mural here.
Located at Stowe Street Cafe
Painted by local Torrey Carroll Smith, this colorful triptych brings smiles to all who pass. Keep an eye out for more pieces by the artist at pop-up exhibits around town, which include portraits and everyday scenes of Waterbury.
Located on the State Complex lawn
This sculpture installation features rocks from around the region and state, including glacial boulders. It was designed by Sarah Sherman and fabricated by Dominic Ranieri and Gregory Wright.
Located by the Public Safety & Forensics Lab at the State Complex
This colorful and abstract installation by Dan Gottsegen is inspired by DNA strands, blood cells, fingerprints and more, reflecting the work happening inside the adjacent Public Safety & Forensics Lab building. The surrounding area features rocks with carved symbols, done in collaboration with landscape designer Terry Boyle.
Located at Sunflower Natural Foods
Painted by local artist Dorothy Langevin, this colorful mural of sunflowers and dragonflies welcomes shoppers to Sunflower Natural Foods and brightens the drive of anyone along Route 100.
Located on Route 100 North
Eagle-eyed travelers along Route 100 will be en-raptored with this massive bird sculpture made by Martin McGowan using recycled materials, including shiny pieces of chrome from 1950s and 1960s cars. This piece replaces his previous sculpture of a galloping horse, also located at the turnoff along Route 100.
Previously located at Arvad's Pub & Grill; Currently located at the Vermont History Center
This beloved mural by Sarah-Lee Terrat once occupied two walls of Arvad's Pub & Grill. Painted in 2007, it captured some of Vermont's famous characters, historical and contemporary, including politicians, musicians, writers, athletes, and more. The mural was painted over when Arvad's closed and was later salvaged, removed, and restored by the artist in 2019. It now resides at the Vermont History Center in Barre, along with a key to everyone in the mural. Learn more about this mural's storied past here.
