Last updated: June 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET
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Burlington, Vermont waterfront on Lake Champlain at sunset

Burlington Navy Week 2026: Dates, Schedule, Events & Champlain Valley Fair

StateVermont
DatesAug 24 – 30, 2026
Anchor EventChamplain Valley Fair
CostFree
UPCOMINGFIRST-TIME HOST
Source: NAVCO Last verified Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Navy Week Burlington 2026 — Key Facts

Host city
Burlington, Vermont
Dates
August 24 – 30, 2026
Anchor event
Champlain Valley Fair
First-time host?
Yes
Cost
Free and open to the public
Operator
Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO)
Navy assets
Navy bands and interactive displays; Ceremonial Guard; Hometown Sailors; STEM demonstrations…
Coordinates
44.476°, -73.212°

Source: NAVCO — Navy Week Burlington 2026 · Last verified: June 10, 2026

MISSION DOSSIER

Vermont's largest city becomes a first-time Navy Week host in 2026, with the tour coinciding with the beloved Champlain Valley Fair. Burlington's vibrant waterfront on Lake Champlain — home to the "Lone Sailor" statue honoring the lake's naval heritage — provides a fitting backdrop for engagement.

Burlington's naval history is exceptionally significant: the Battle of Valcour Island (1776) on Lake Champlain was one of the first naval battles of the American Revolution, and the Battle of Plattsburgh (1814) was a decisive War of 1812 naval victory. Battery Park is named for an 1813 British naval attack on the city.

Anchor Event

Anchor-event-confirmed

The Champlain Valley Fair is Vermont's largest county fair, running August 28 – September 6 ("The Ten Best Days of Summer!") at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Features agricultural exhibits, midway rides, concerts, motorsports, and nationally recognized performers. Navy Week (Aug 24–30) overlaps with the fair's opening three days, positioning Navy outreach to reach the fair's massive audience.

Anchor event website

Explicitly confirmed as a first-time host by NAVCO. Cmdr. Holland highlighted Burlington as part of the 2026 expansion into new communities.

What to Expect

  • Champlain Valley Fair integration
  • "Lone Sailor" statue at Waterfront Park
  • Revolutionary War and War of 1812 naval heritage
  • Navy Band performances
  • STEM demonstrations
  • Community engagement across Vermont
  • Lake Champlain Maritime Museum exhibits

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day-by-day breakdown. Items marked "TBA" mean NAVCO hasn't published precise times yet — check the official NAVCO city page or anchor event website closer to event week for confirmed schedules.

Source key:NAVCO-confirmedConfirmed by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) official city page.Anchor-event-confirmedConfirmed by the anchor event organizer (air show, festival, or host venue).Local context — unverifiedLocal context or expected programming compiled by NavyWeek.org — not yet confirmed by NAVCO.

Monday, August 24, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Friday, August 28, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Saturday, August 29, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

Sunday, August 30, 2026

TBA
  • Daily schedule TBALocal context — unverified

    NAVCO has not published a detailed daily breakdown for this day. Check the official NAVCO city page for updates.

VENUES & MAP

BURLINGTON1Champlain Valley Exposition2Burlington Waterfront Park3Battery Park4Church Street Marketplace5Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Schematic map — not to scale. Pins are approximate locations of primary Navy Week venues in Burlington. Use the venue addresses below for navigation.
1.

Champlain Valley Exposition

Local context — unverified
105 Pearl St, Essex Junction, VT 05452

Champlain Valley Fair — Vermont's largest fair.

Free on-site lot.

2.

Burlington Waterfront Park

Local context — unverified
20 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401

Home to the "Lone Sailor" statue.

Paid waterfront garages and metered street.

3.

Battery Park

Local context — unverified
1 N Battery St, Burlington, VT 05401

War of 1812 British attack site — historic naval significance.

Metered street parking.

4.

Church Street Marketplace

Local context — unverified
Church St, Burlington, VT 05401

Pedestrian marketplace — Navy Band performances.

Marketplace garage on Cherry St; paid.

5.

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Local context — unverified
4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT 05491

Naval heritage exhibits and outreach.

Free on-site lot.

Parking & Getting There

Local context — unverified

Champlain Valley Exposition offers free on-site parking — generally adequate even during the fair. In downtown Burlington, use the Cherry Street Marketplace garage or paid waterfront garages near Lake Street; metered street parking is free Sundays.

Cost

Free. All official Navy Week Burlington events — Navy Band performances, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum naval exhibits, ceremonial events — are free. Champlain Valley Fair admission is ticketed by the Fair.

Local Military Context

Burlington's naval history is exceptionally significant despite its distance from the ocean. The Battle of Valcour Island (October 11, 1776) on Lake Champlain was one of the first naval battles of the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold commanded a Continental Navy fleet that stalled British invasion plans — a strategically decisive delay often cited as foundational to the American naval tradition.

The Battle of Plattsburgh / Battle of Lake Champlain (September 11, 1814) was a decisive War of 1812 naval victory. Burlington served as a key naval staging base, and Battery Park is named for an 1813 British naval attack. The 158th Fighter Wing (Vermont Air National Guard) was the first ANG unit to receive the F-35A Lightning II (2019). Vermont has approximately 40,000 veterans, one of the highest per-capita rates in New England.

Navy Assets & Units

  • Navy bands and interactive displays
  • Ceremonial Guard
  • Hometown Sailors
  • STEM demonstrations
  • Recruiters

FAQ — NAVY WEEK BURLINGTON

Navy Week Burlington runs August 24–30, 2026, overlapping the opening three days of the Champlain Valley Fair (Aug 28 – Sep 6).

Yes. All official Navy Week events are free. Champlain Valley Fair admission is sold separately by the Fair.

The Lone Sailor statue stands at Waterfront Park (20 Lake St) overlooking Lake Champlain — honoring sailors past and present and the lake's naval heritage.

The Battle of Valcour Island (1776) on Lake Champlain was one of the first naval battles of the American Revolution. The Battle of Plattsburgh / Battle of Lake Champlain (1814) was a decisive War of 1812 naval victory. Battery Park is named for an 1813 British naval attack on the city.

Use the Marketplace garage on Cherry Street, or paid waterfront garages near Lake Street. Metered street parking is free on Sundays.

No. 2026 is Burlington's first time as a Navy Week host city, confirmed by NAVCO.

MORE NAVY WEEK 2026 CITIES

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U.S. NAVY REFERENCE

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