Town of Bennington

08/14/2026

The Town Offices will be closed on Monday, August 17, 2026, in observance of Battle Day. We will re-open on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, at 7:30 am.

08/14/2026

Lots of great events this year for the 249th annual commemoration of the Battle of Bennington!

For a detailed list of events, visit the Town website at https://benningtonvt.org/battleday

08/13/2026

The Bennington Select Board will be meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM at the Bennington Firehouse, 130 River Street.

You will find agenda, minutes, and materials that will be discussed at the meeting by clicking the link below:

08/13/2026

The agenda for the Monday, August 17 Select Board Listening Session has been posted on the Town website. Use the link below to view.

08/12/2026

FROM THE Hoosick River Watershed Association:

Meet the Walloomsac River Critters

With just a few more weeks until school begins, be sure to get outside and play in the River. In this catch and release program, open to all scientists from very young to very old, we will explore the world of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Walloomsac River.

Join the naturalist educators Arianna Collins of the Hoosic River Watershed Association and Bonnie Daley of Trout Unlimited Southwestern Vermont Chapter on Thursday, August 20 from 4-5pm at McWaters Park for this fun outing.

The park is next to the Burt Henry Bridge in Bennington VT. Parking is located at the intersection of River Road and Harrington Road on the north side of the bridge. Registration is requested so we know how many people to expect. Wear shoes you can get wet.

You can go to
https://hoorwa.org/event/meet-the-walloomsac-river-critters/
for the registration link. This free program is supported by grant funding from Whipstock Hill Preservation Society.

In this catch and release program, open to all scientists from very young to very old, we will explore the world of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the

08/12/2026

Bennington Select Board to Hold Community Listening Session on Local Option Tax Proposal

The Town of Bennington is seeking input from the community on ways to reduce the town's heavy reliance on property taxes. As part of this work, the Select Board established an Economic Development Committee (EDC) which has suggested that Bennington consider adopting a 1% Local Option Tax—an approach used by 48 Vermont municipalities, including nearly every major commercial center in the state.

To help ensure community engagement, the Bennington Select Board will hold a public listening session to discuss the idea on Monday, August 17, at 6:00 PM. The session will take place in the multi‑purpose room on the third floor of the Fire Facility, 130 River Street in Bennington. Residents are invited to attend, ask questions, and share their perspectives as the Town evaluates whether a Local Option Tax is an appropriate tool for Bennington’s future.

Based on actual spending data, a Local Option Tax in Bennington would generate an estimated $1.8 million per year, with the majority of revenue coming from non‑residents. Regional data provided by the SW Vermont Chamber Foundation shows that more than half of all spending in the Bennington area is made by visitors, and 41% of the local workforce commutes from outside the community — relying on Bennington’s roads, public safety services, and infrastructure even though those systems are funded almost entirely by local property taxpayers.

The Select Board's review process emphasizes transparency and public involvement. The Select Board will establish a clear policy for how new revenue would be allocated so that community input guides how funds are spent. Some of the ideas suggested for how this funding could be used includes tax stabilization, economic development initiatives, small‑business support, housing development, transformational projects, and infrastructure investment.

To learn more or submit a comment online, visit: https://www.benningtonvt.org/government/select_board/local_option_tax.php

To participate via Zoom, join Webinar ID: 895 8796 9602.

08/12/2026

The Bennington Energy Committee is seeking additional members.

The Energy Committee is a committee established by the Select Board to pursue implementation of the Town’s Energy Plan, advocate for energy conservation and renewable energy projects, and report on a regular basis to the Select Board. Committee members serve for two-year terms.

In addition to adults, one position is available for a youth member, aged 16-17.

If you are interested in being appointed to serve on this committee, please send a letter of interest to Town Manager Dan Monks. You can email him at [email protected] or send it via mail to:

Dan Monks
c/o Town of Bennington
P.O. Box 469
Bennington, VT 05201

08/11/2026

The Town of Bennington Announces 2026 Battle Day Celebrations Honoring America’s Longest Celebrated Revolutionary War Battle

The Town of Bennington proudly announces plans for the 2026 Battle Day celebrations, continuing a tradition that has endured since 1778. For nearly two and a half centuries, the community has gathered to commemorate the Battle of Bennington — the longest continuously celebrated battle of the American Revolution.

The Battle of Bennington, fought on August 16, 1777, was a decisive Patriot victory that helped turn the tide of the war. Although the engagement took place just over the New York line, the British objective was the Continental supply depot located where the Bennington Battle Monument now stands. A combined force of Vermont fighters, regional militia under Gen. John Stark, and the Continental regiment of Green Mountain Boys led by Col. Seth Warner defeated the raiding force before it could reach its target. The victory paved the way for the British surrender at Saratoga two months later, altering the course of the war and the future of the world.

Bennington’s commitment to honoring this history is unmatched. Celebrations have taken place every year since 1778, and past commemorations have drawn national attention. President Rutherford B. Hayes joined the festivities in 1877, and President Benjamin Harrison attended the 1891 dedication of the Bennington Battle Monument — still Vermont’s tallest man made building at 306 feet.

The Bennington Fire Department continues its longstanding leadership in organizing Battle Day weekend, including the community’s signature Sunday parade. Plans and updates for the 2026 celebration will be posted on the Town website as they become available, and residents are encouraged to subscribe for notifications. With the 250th anniversary of the Battle approaching, the Town invites the public to learn more at Bennington250.org.

2026 Battle Day Weekend:
Festivities begin on August 8 and continue through Battle Day weekend through the 16th. Events include Basket Bingo at the Elks Club, a Car Cruise In with Hemmings, the beloved Fireman’s Lunch, Chicken Barbecue, Vegas Night, Big Truck Night, Kids Day at the Vermont Veterans Home, the USS Bennington Memorial Service, a Food Truck Festival downtown, a comedic play “First Link in the Chain” at the Bennington Theater, and an America 250 concert by Sage City Symphony and the Music Company Orchestra. The Battle Day Parade steps off at 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 16, with participant line up beginning at 10:00 am. Applications for floats, groups, and marching bands are available online. Details on timing are available on the Town website at benningtonvt.org/battleday.

At the Bennington Battle Monument, visitors will enjoy free admission to all Vermont State Historic Sites on August 16. The annual 5K race takes place on August 15, followed by a weekend encampment featuring reenactors, cannon and musket demonstrations, and a concert by the historic Moodus Drum and Fife Corps — a tradition dating back 135 years to the Monument’s dedication.

Across the state line in New York at the Bennington Battlefield in Walloomsac, guided tours will be offered hourly on August 15, leading visitors through key locations of the First Engagement. On August 16 at 6:00 pm, a formal commemoration marking the 249th anniversary of the battle will include historical accounts, a wreath laying, and an artillery salute.

The Old First Church will host a Battle Day anniversary service on Sunday, August 16 at 10:00 am. The hour long program will feature historical readings and reflections by writer and historian Phil Holland, along with hymns honoring the spirit of the day.

The Town of Bennington invites residents, visitors, and history enthusiasts to join in celebrating this enduring tradition and the pivotal moment in America’s fight for independence. Additional details are available on the Town website at benningtonvt.org/battleday. You can subscribe to the page to receive notices when it is updated.

08/11/2026

What an amazing job!

Town employees put the final touches on the Depot Street bridge last week. Through teamwork and efficient use of time and resources the project was finished on time and saved the community over $600,000 by doing this work ourselves.

The last bridge was built in 1926. The new bridge proudly has the date of 2026 and we fully expect it to last another hundred years. We are very lucky to have an incredible team of talented workers working for our town!

08/11/2026

VOTE TODAY!

IN PERSON VOTING is today, August 11, 2026 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The polling place is the Bennington Fire Facility located at 130 River Street (use Lincoln Street entrance). For North Bennington residents, your polling location is at the Village Trustees Office at 2 Depot Street (also known as the Old Train Station).