September in the Okemo Valley: Your Guide to Events, Activities, and Early Foliage Near Ludlow, Vermont
Planning a September trip to Vermont? From the Pulitzer Prize-winning Primary Trust at Weston Theater to early foliage chairlift rides and the Chester Festival, here is everything happening in the Okemo Valley near Ludlow, VT.
September in the Okemo Valley: Your Guide to Events, Activities, and Early Foliage Near Ludlow, Vermont
September is the Okemo Valley's secret season. The crowds thin, the air sharpens, and the first hints of gold and crimson appear on the hillsides above 2,000 feet. It is the bridge between summer adventure and peak foliage -- a two-week window when you can ride a mountain coaster in the morning and catch a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that night. If you are staying at The Governor's Inn in downtown Ludlow, you are positioned at the center of all of it. Here is your guide to the Okemo Valley this September.
Last Call for Summer: Adventure Zone and Jackson Gore Concerts
Okemo's Adventure Zone -- home of the Timber Ripper mountain coaster, Haulback Challenge Course, and bungee trampolines -- runs through Labor Day weekend before wrapping for the season. If you have been meaning to get the kids on the coaster, this is your last shot. The Zone operates Thursday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM, at the Jackson Gore base area, a 5-minute drive from the inn.
The Jackson Gore Summer Music Series throws its final free lawn concert of the season on Friday, September 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Bring a lawn chair, grab food from the on-site vendors, and send summer out right.
Weston Theater: Primary Trust (Aug 26 - Sep 6)
The Weston Theater Company closes out its 90th anniversary season with Primary Trust, the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama by Eboni Booth. Performances run August 26 through September 6 at Walker Farm in Weston, a 15-minute drive north on Route 100. Showtimes are 2 PM matinees Wednesday through Sunday and 7:30 PM evening shows. Tickets run $61 to $89 and can be purchased at westontheater.org or by calling 802-824-5288.
This is the cultural anchor of the early September calendar -- a Vermont-raised playwright's story about small-town life, loneliness, and the courage it takes to change. Do not miss it.
Scenic Chairlift Rides and Early Foliage Views
Okemo's scenic chairlift rides switch to weekends-only after Labor Day, operating Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 4 PM through Columbus Day weekend. The Sunburst Six lift carries you to the summit, where on a clear day you can see across southern Vermont and into New Hampshire. In September, the view starts to change -- the first color appears on the upper slopes, and the valley below is still green. It is the best preview of foliage season you can get without driving an hour.
Pair it with a drive along Scenic Route 100, where the late-summer light hits the Black River lakes differently than in any other month.
Hall Art Foundation: World-Class Art in Reading, VT
Twenty minutes south of Ludlow on Route 106, the Hall Art Foundation presents large-scale contemporary art exhibitions in a rural Vermont setting that has to be seen to be believed. Open weekends May through November, with timed entry at 11 AM, noon, 1, 2, and 3 PM. Admission is $15 for adults. The current exhibition features the work of Christian Marclay. Advance reservations are recommended but not required.
Buttermilk Falls: One Last Swim
Buttermilk Falls on Branch Brook in Ludlow is a 0.5-mile trail leading to three waterfalls, including a 20-foot middle falls that drops into a deep swimming pool. The water will be cold by mid-September, but the pools are still worth the walk -- and the falls are stunning framed by early foliage. The trailhead is on Buttermilk Falls Road, just off Route 103 south of the village. Pack a sandwich from Big Pop's Sandwich Shop on Pond Street and make it a picnic.
Looking Ahead: Chester Festival (Sep 19-20)
Mark your calendar for the 52nd annual Chester Festival, September 19 and 20 at Gateway Field on Route 103 in Chester. The free, two-day event features 100-plus juried artisans, food vendors, live music, and family activities -- and it kicks off the fall festival season in the Okemo Valley. Chester is a 20-minute drive south of the inn.
Still Going Strong
The Ludlow Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM on Depot Street through October 11, packed with late-season produce, maple products, and baked goods. Fox Run Golf Club at 89 Fox Lane in Ludlow is open for public play through October, with Men's League every Tuesday through September 15. And The Killarney at 44 Pond Street keeps the pub nights going all month -- Monday open mic, Tuesday trivia, Thursday Irish sessions.
Why September?
September in the Okemo Valley is the sweet spot: summer activities are still running, fall crowds have not yet arrived, and the first foliage color makes every view better. Rates at The Governor's Inn are lower than peak October weekends, and you will have the hiking trails and swimming holes to yourself.
Book your September stay at The Governor's Inn and experience the Okemo Valley's best-kept seasonal secret.
