Your Picks For This Weekend, Dec. 2-4

This weekend, don’t miss a rail jam at Stowe, Vermont’s 24th International Festival, holiday activities in the Mad River Valley, and the opportunity to visit Santa (who actually drives a snow plow). 

Dec. 3 | Design and Ride Rail Jam, Stowe, Vt. 

Freeskiers and riders can sign up to win big prizes at Stowe’s rail jam, part of the Triple Crown series. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and costs $20, plus a discounted $32 lift ticket.  stowe.com

Dec. 2-4 | Vermont International Festival, Essex Juntion, Vt. 

The Vermont Performing Art League presents the 24th annual Vermont International Festival, featuring hand-crafted gifts, ethnic cuisine, multi-cultural music and dance and a variety of exhibits. vermontinternationalfestival.com

Dec. 2-4 | Country Holiday Festival, Waitsfield, Vt. 

On Friday, Dec. 2, the valley holds its annual Country Holiday Festival (formerly called the Country Christmas Festival). See the festival kick off Friday night at Three Mountain Cafe. On Saturday, peruse the shops to spot local artists participating in a “Paint In,” during which they’ll paint the festive indoor scenes of holiday shopping in Waitsfield Village. The paintings will be featured in an outdoor pop-up gallery on Bridge Street, along with a visit from Santa, fire pits in the alley ways, s’mores, luminaries, an oxen-drawn sleigh ride and Bridge Street’s award-winning holiday decoration display. On Sunday, head over to the Mad River Green for games, food, drinks and more Santa. madrivervalley.com

Dec. 3 | Visit With Santa, Stowe, Vt. 

On Saturday, visit Santa on his sleigh on Stowe Mercantile. (Did you know that this particular Santa actually drives a snowplow?) For every child that visits Santa, $10 will be donated to the Lamoille Community Food Share. See more information here.