Through May: A new exhibit at the Art on the Mountain at the Deerhill Inn in West Dover, entitled “Hearts and Other Small Works,” featuring local artist and school teacher Chris Simpson, will be open to the public. For more information call (802) 464-3100.

May 9: The Village Stroll will be held in Wilmington from 4 to 7 pm. The stroll features an unveiling of the baby Vermonsters. For more information call (802) 464-8092.

May 9: To celebrate Wilmington’s first Village Stroll of 2008, Bartleby’s Books on North Main Street will a Fancy Nancy soiree from 4 to 7 pm. For more information contact Bartleby’s at (802) 464-5425.

May 9: Ann Coleman Gallery will host a reception from 4 to 7 pm during the Village Stroll.The Ann Coleman Gallery is located at 22 West Main Street in the Pickwell Building in Wilmington.

May 10: The Vermont Jazz Center presents the Howard Brofsky Quintet featuring Anotonio Hart at 8 pm at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro. Tickets cost $18 for general admission and $12 for students with valid ID. To purchase tickets or for further information visit www.vtjazz.org or call (802) 254 9088.

May 11: Three works by local composers Sheila Silver, Alice Spatz, and Larry Wallach will be featured during a concert by the Walden Chamber Players at the Clark on Sunday at 3 pm. A pre-concert talk will be held at 2 pm. Tickets are $15 ($10 for Clark members, free for seniors, students, and children). For tickets call the Walden Chamber Players at (866) 393-2927. The Clark is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, MA. For more information visit www.clarkart.edu or call (413) 458-2303.

May 15: Alicia Ostriker, a major American poet and critic, will read at Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro at 7 pm. Ostricker has published 11 volumes of poetry. Twice a National Book Award finalist, she has also received awards from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller foundations, the Poetry Society of America, the San Francisco Poetry Center, and the Paterson Poetry Center, among others. For more information call (802) 254-5290 or e-mail brattlib@brooks.

May 16: Twilight Music presents an evening of Scottish tunes and songs by Dan Houghton of the Edinburgh-based twin fiddle/bagpipe band, Cantrip, and some of his New England friends, at 8 pm at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery, 139 Main Street, in Brattleboro. Tickets cost $14 general and $12 for students and seniors. For ticket reservations and information call (802) 254-9276.

May 17: The Book Cellar in Brattleboro will host a culinary tour of Vermont, in support of the recent publication “Dishing Up Vermont,” at 2 pm. Vermont-based food writer Tracey Medeiros has compiled 145 recipes showcasing the best of the broad range of Vermont cooks and food producers dedicated to sustaining and enriching local culinary traditions. For more information call (802) 254-6810.

May 16-18: A really big circus show will be held at the New England Center for Circus Arts, Cotton Mill, Brattleboro, on Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. Cost is $12 adults, $8 under 12, under 2 free.For reservations call (802) 254-9780 or in advance at Verdé Store for Home & Garden in downtown Brattleboro (cash or check only). Visit www.necenterforcircusarts.org.

May 17: Twilight Music and Groove MaMa Ink present Rosie Red Burly-Q, a classic burlesque meets modern melodrama production complete with villains, damsels, bags o’ loot and heroines with pasties, at 8 pm, at Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery, 139 Main Street in Brattleboro. Tickets cost $14 general admission and $12 for students and seniors. For ticket reservations and information call (802) 254-9276.

May 17: The Jamaica Fiber Festival, now in its fifth year, is a community street fair celebrating spring, Vermont’s history of merino sheep keeping, community spirit, and fabulous fiber fun. The event includes sheep shearing demonstrations, carding, spinning and weaving demos, children’s hands-on activities, as well as fiber craft and fiber art vendors. Route 30, Jamaica Village. For more information visit www.jamaicafiberfestival.org.

May 17: The “Spring into Health” Community Health Fair, in Townshend will be held from 10 am to 2 pm. The fair features free health tests, an up-close look at the DHART helicopter, a chance to watch the young Vernon Tornado jump ropers meet a state police K-9 patrol dog, see fire and rescue trucks, try the climbing wall and the bike rodeo, and tour the state fire safety house.

May 18: The Brattleboro Community Chorus will presents two pieces of French music at 4 pm, at Persons Auditorium, in Marlboro. The soprano of Junko Watanabe combines with jubilant chorus and the extravagant orchestration of Francis Poulenc to make the “Gloria” a work of fireworks and romance. The “Requiem of Maurice Duruflé” is a profound work of infinite spirit, a doorway to the sublime where mysticism meets humanity. Tickets for the concert are $18 ($12 for students) and are available from the Brattleboro Music Center and at www.Brattleborotix.com. For tickets or more information contact the BMC at (802) 257-4523.

May 24: The 23rd annual Mayfest is a juried arts and crafts festival held on Main Street in Bennington. Artisans and specialty food vendors come from all over to participate in Southern Vermont’s premier spring kickoff event. Mayfest artisans create and design all wares sold. For more information visit www.betterbennington.com/mayfest.

May 25: Approximately 2,000 ducks will take to the Deerfield River, awarding over 100 prizes to duck ticket holders. Funds raised by the event will support the efforts of Make A Wish Foundation of Vermont. The Great Duck Race activities include face painting, balloons, games, food, and a duck quacking contest. The event takes place on the lawn at the Crafts Inn in the center of Wilmington starting at 10 am. The ducks will go in the water at 12 pm. Tickets for the Great Duck Race are available at Dot’s Restaurant in Wilmington and from area volunteers. Tickets are $4 per duck.

Through June 1: The art work of Kevin Burke and Jenna Konesko will be on display at the Wardsboro Library. Konesko’s creations are dimensional forms of the wonderment felt when observing the land around her and the stories of myth. Burke works in drawing, sculpture, and electronic arts. His works are inspired by the landscapes of Vermont and the human form. There are many layers and facets in both the drawing and the sculpture.