July 1 - August 9, 2026 • Vermont Summer Festival

The Vermont Summer Festival is one of those shows that feels like a summer chapter you want to live inside. Six weeks of hunters, jumpers, and equitation unfold in East Dorset, Vermont, where the ring is busy, the mountains are close, and the pace is steady enough to enjoy.

JODS loves this show for the same reason you do. It’s a sport and a community with a touch of Vermont magic around the edges. We’re here to help you dress for the full experience, from warm-up rings and show days to ringside afternoons and quick trips into town.

Your Vermont Summer Festival Field Guide

Dates: July 1 through August 9, 2026

Where: Harold Beebe Farm, 3028 Route 7, East Dorset, VT 05251 (near Manchester and Dorset)

Find JODS: Look for the large tent by the Grand Prix Ring.

Vermont Summer Festival runs like a true circuit. Over six weeks, you’ll see a full spread of hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions across levels, from short-stirrup and juniors to the ringside moments everyone plans their week around.

The VSF Atmosphere

Harold Beebe Farm sits just outside Manchester, framed by green mountains and open sky. The atmosphere feels distinctly Vermont: relaxed, scenic, and quietly charming, with a boutique-show sensibility that encourages you to enjoy the day instead of rushing through it.

Families settle in ringside. Friends linger between classes. Spectators feel comfortable spending time on the grounds, even if they aren’t tied to a specific ride time. It’s inclusive in the way the best horse shows are, where riders, parents, trainers, siblings, and first-time visitors all share the same space and feel like they belong.

What To Expect

The Vermont summer weather is famously fickle. Mornings can feel cool, afternoons can turn warm, and rain tends to appear when you least want it.

Pack like you plan to be outside all day, because you will be. So, make sure to bring:

• Shoes that can handle grass, packed dirt, and the occasional muddy shortcut

• Layers you can put on at 7 a.m. and tuck away by noon

• A rain plan that goes beyond “hope for the best”

• A ringside look that still works at the barns and the vendor area

JODS’ Presence on the Grounds

Vermont Summer Festival has a rhythm that’s easy to fall into. The competition is serious, yet the atmosphere stays open and unhurried. People linger after a round, take an extra lap around the grounds, and turn a show day into a full summer day. That blend of sport and lifestyle is exactly where JODS feels at home.

What Fans & Attendees Can Expect From JODS

We love VSF because it reflects how riders actually move through a week on the circuit. You’re balancing show-ring turnout with schooling-day practicality, then stepping straight into the in-between moments that make the week memorable: ringside visits, quick vendor stops, a late class that runs into dinner plans in town. The right wardrobe here performs, photographs, and still feels like you when you’re off the horse.

You’ll find JODS at the large tent by the Grand Prix Ring. Stop in when the weather shifts and you need a layer you didn’t expect. Come by when you realize your rain plan needs an upgrade, or when you want a show shirt that feels crisp again after a long day. Sometimes it’s as simple as a small styling fix that makes you feel more pulled together before you head back to the ring.

VSF asks that your outfits keep up with the full days and changing conditions. JODS is built for that pace: modern, functional pieces with the kind of polish that makes sense in a show setting, whether you’re walking to the in-gate or settling in ringside.

What To Wear at Vermont Summer Festival

The JODS Style Guide for Vermont Weather

Vermont Summer Festival dressing is about being ready for shifts. The riders who look the most pulled together are rarely the ones who packed the most. They’re the ones who packed smart.

For Riders: Show Days, Schooling Days, and Everything Between

1. Start with layers that work around a ride time.

Vermont mornings can feel crisp, and afternoons can feel like true summer. The goal is a layer you can warm up in, then remove easily without wrinkling your whole plan.

• For Horses Maggy is a show-week favorite for this reason. It’s cozy for early starts, then simple to take off before you ride.

• The Essex Elbow Patch Sweater is classic Vermont style. It looks polished over a show shirt, reads timeless ringside, and still feels practical at the barns.

• For elevated, seasonal layering, lean into knits from Alashan. They’re the kind of pieces you wear once, then keep reaching for all six weeks.

2. Keep schooling looks intentional.

Schooling days at VSF are practical, but never sloppy. Color shows up beautifully against Vermont’s green backdrop, especially when you keep the silhouette clean. Two easy favorites:

• Tailored Sportsman Tech Breeches in summer-friendly colors are an easy way to look current while staying comfortable through long days.

• TKEQ Kennedy Shirts are a go-to for polished schooling with a modern feel that still photographs well.

3. For competition days, build a repeatable formula.

Competition days still call for traditional hunter, jumper, and equitation turnout: coat, breeches, boots, helmet, gloves, and a show shirt that holds its shape. What makes VSF different is the week-by-week rhythm, so you want enough staples that you’re never scrambling mid-circuit.

If you’re shopping from home during the festival, this is also a great time to refresh essentials. We run an expanded yearly sale during VSF, so you can browse the Sale Collection online and still catch the show-week timing.

Staying Rain Ready: Our Favorite Rain Gear for VSF

Vermont rain is just persistent enough to be annoying and frequent enough to require a real plan. The best rain pieces are the ones you can throw on quickly, keep nearby, and trust when the sky changes while you’re already committed to staying ringside.

Our VSF rain lineup:

• Helly Hansen Crew: A clean, athletic rain layer that moves easily, packs down well, and feels right for barn walks, golf-cart rides, and quick ringside runs.

• Helly Hansen Aden Long: Longer coverage with a polished silhouette, ideal when you want your rain layer to look intentional, not like a last-minute grab.

• Helly Hansen Rain Pants: The true show-week lifesaver for wet footing, muddy shortcuts, and mornings when the barns are damp and the day is still young.

• Arista Raincoats: Tailored and equestrian-friendly, with a refined fit that sits well over layers and still looks sharp when you’re in and out of the ring area.

• 70 Degrees Raincoats: Lightweight, easy-to-carry coverage that earns its spot in your chair bag, perfect for the uncertain rain forecasts that turn real mid-afternoon.

A raincoat should keep you comfortable. A great one keeps you comfortable and still looks sharp when the drizzle lasts longer than you expected.

Tips From Our Team

VSF rewards planning, especially if you’re there for multiple weeks or juggling more than one rider:

• Make sure you have enough show pants to get through the week without stress, plus backups for the days when Vermont weather turns unpredictable. 

• Bring layers you actually like wearing, because you’ll be reaching for them daily. 

• If the weekly derby is on your calendar, it’s worth thinking ahead about whether a shadbelly belongs in your trunk for the weeks you want to step into a bigger moment.

Why JODS Loves Vermont Summer Festival

The Vermont Summer Festival has the structure and stakes of a true circuit, but it still feels light on its feet. You get serious competition across hunters, jumpers, and equitation, with a weekly rhythm that keeps the grounds humming. At the same time, the setting invites you to slow down just enough to enjoy it. It's a sport with breathing room, which is a rare combination in the middle of show season.

The Festival That Welcomes Everyone

Short-stirrup kids, juniors, amateurs, and Grand Prix riders all share the same week, and the atmosphere stays welcoming throughout. Families settle in for the day, spectators feel comfortable spending time on the grounds, and even the busiest barns tend to have a little more room for community moments between classes.

Elevated by the Vermont Backdrop

East Dorset makes show week feel like a real summer trip. Between classes, Vermont gives you options that reset your brain in the best way: 

• Take an afternoon for Bromley Mountain’s Alpine Slide when you want something playful and classic. 

• Cool off at the Dorset Quarry, the kind of swimming spot locals swear by on humid days.

• Head into Manchester for outlet shopping and a coffee break that feels like a proper stroll, not an errand. 

They’re all close enough to fit into a show schedule, and good enough to make the week feel bigger than the ring.

A Perfect Setting for Versatile Style

VSF style is built for movement. You go from barn to ring to vendor area, then straight into town for dinner. The best outfits here are those that look clean and intentional, yet still functional enough for real show days. 

That’s exactly where JODS lives: pieces that perform, layer well, and still feel polished in the photos you’ll keep.

Join Us at Vermont Summer Festival

Come visit JODS at the large tent by the Grand Prix Ring. Stop in for styling help, warm-weather layers, rain essentials, and those small upgrades that make the whole week feel more pulled together, even when the forecast shifts.

For show-week outfit ideas and behind-the-scenes coverage, follow JODS on social and subscribe to our newsletter. You’ll get styling notes, new arrivals, and the kind of show-season guidance that keeps your packing simple and your looks polished.

We’ll be ringside, cheering you on, all summer long.