Keep’n It Real Thursday 2 Lake Morey Resort’s free summer concert series in Fairlee continues with an unforgettable performance by Shaggy. The diamond-selling dancehall giant — aka Mr. Boombastic himself — brings his chart-topping reggae crossover hits to local listeners, including th e 2000 global smash “It Wasn’t Me” and, for all you romantics out there, the tender earworm “Angel.” Baby, You’re a Firework Friday 3 Credit: © Stelya | Dreamstime Spectators gather at Burlington’s Waterfront Park for BTV July 3, Vermont’s largest fireworks display — soaring to new heights for the nation’s big birthday. A sky parade of Beta Technologies aircraft nods to the past, present and future of aviation, while family-friendly activities, local food and drink, and live music by Sambatucada and House on Fire complete the patriotic party. Stars, Stripes and Strings Wednesday 1-Sunday 5 Vermont Symphony Orchestra Credit: Courtesy of Adam Silverman Photography The Vermont Symphony Orchestra hits the road for “America 250,” its whirlwind summer festival tour gracing five towns in five days, from East Burke to Grafton. Conducted by music director Andrew Crust, the ensemble marks the country’s semiquincentennial with a program of orchestral favorites, interspersed with live readings of historic speeches and poetry. Sparking Joy Saturday 4 Richmond 4th of July Parade Celebration Credit: Courtesy A fun run kicks off the annual Richmond 4th of July Parade and Celebration at Volunteers Green, followed by a spirited procession of elaborate floats and costumed folks. The all-day bash boasts a bouncy house, kids’ games and activities, face painting, food vendors, a DJ, and a grand finale of fireworks that lights up the night. Viva la Verse Sunday 5 Ocean Vuong Credit: Courtesy of Tom Hines The Back Roads Readings series returns to Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro with esteemed author and New York University professor Ocean Vuong. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, and raised in Connecticut, the poet pulls listeners into his literary world with selections from his lyrical works exploring intergenerational trauma, queer identity and the immigrant experience. Picking Party Wednesday 8 Yonder Mountain String Band Credit: Courtesy of Robin Vega At Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Grammy-nominated progressive bluegrass outfit Yonder Mountain String Band navigate acoustic music into unchartered territory. A performance of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame inductees’ 12th album, Good as True, marks the culmination of nearly three decades of pioneering musicianship. Life in a Northern Town Ongoing Colby-Curtis Museum Credit: © Jiawangkun | Dreamstime Colby-Curtis Museum’s timely exhibit “Habiter la frontière/Living on the Border” in Stanstead, Québec, captures the complex reality of daily life on both sides of the international boundary. A curated collection of everyday objects, archival materials, audio testimonies and outdoor installations highlights the history of the region, where an invisible line acts as both barrier and bridge. The post Magnificent 7: Must-See, Must-Do Events in and Around Vermont, July 1-8 appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less