What Is Highlight?

Highlight is Burlington’s go-to NYE celebration, produced by Burlington City Arts & Signal Kitchen, taking place at multiple locations in the City throughout the 31st. Many of the festivities are crowdsourced through the Bright Ideas Project, which asks artists and innovators to submit projects for Highlight to fund and produce. Other events help round out the evening with an incredible showcase of music, art, food, and community.

For Highlight 2024, we’re welcoming revelers from far and wide to celebrate with unique, in-person experiences in downtown Burlington and at the Waterfront. We’ll set the stage for the biggest party of the year as we come together to count down the experiences and ideas that make our community a hub of incredible creativity. Artists, food vendors, musicians, and everyone in between helps build an event that HIGHLIGHTS the best of Burlington, live for one glorious night as we cheers to auld lang syne.

Questions? Email hello@highlight.community

Tickets

The Highlight Button is your all-access ticket to every single Highlight event. Buttons are $15 in November and $18 in December for adults and youth. Children five and under get in free.

With accessibility in mind, if you or anyone you know find the pricing to be an obstacle, send an email to hello@highlight.community and we will be happy to help you. 

Purchasing Online:
You are welcome to purchase your buttons online using Seven Days Tickets. We are taking care of the online fees, so it’s easy and the same price as purchasing in person. Once you complete your purchase, you will be emailed a receipt. Your name is also added to our Will Call list and you can pick up your buttons on the day of Highlight at any of our venues, as every venue has a box office on December 31. Additionally, if you want to get your button ahead of time, you can visit the BCA Center Gallery at 135 Church Street. We are open Wednesdays through Fridays 12-5 pm and Saturdays 12-8 pm. 

Purchasing In-Person at our Partner Locations: 

We are thrilled to have a number of Burlington locations where you can purchase Highlight buttons in person. Thanks to the locations below for supporting Highlight during their busy holiday season.

Burlington:
BCA Center (135 Church St.)*
BCA Studios (405 Pine St.)
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (1 College St)
Foam Brewery (112 Lake St.)
Phoenix Books (191 Bank St.) 

*The BCA Center Gallery will be closed on Wednesday, December 25. We will be open on Sunday and Monday, December 29 and 30 from 12-4 for Will Call and in-person ticket purchases. 

Please note: Your button is a universal ticket. However, entrance is on a first-come first-served basis and the most popular events will likely reach capacity at some point. If there’s something you really want to see, we recommend getting to the event early.

FAQ

Why the button?
The Highlight Button is your all-access ticket to every single Highlight event. You can make the most of this ticket price, depending on how many events you get to check out. With accessibility in mind, if you or anyone you know find the pricing to be an obstacle, send an email to hello@highlight.community and we will be happy to help you.

 

Does my button guarantee me entrance to events?
While the Highlight button is a universal ticket to each event, some indoor activities are limited by capacity and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So if there’s something that you absolutely cannot miss, be sure to get there early!

 

When & Where is Highlight?
Highlight starts midday on Sunday, December 31, 2024 and ends at 12:30 am on January 1, 2024. Most venues are located in Burlington’s downtown and waterfront areas.

 

Who is Highlight for?
Everyone! From daytime activities for kids and families to theater performances, comedy, live music, unique culinary experiences, mind-blowing art installations, fire dancing, fireworks, and more, there is truly something for everyone.

 

Are we serving alcohol? Yes we are, thanks to our generous sponsors at Foam Brewers and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

 

Are there Fireworks?
Of course! NorthStar Fireworks will light up the sky at the waterfront. Head to Waterfront Park for a front-row view. Warm up beforehand with bonfires and a fire-dance performance by Vermont’s Cirque de Fuego.

 

Are dogs allowed?

We allow leashed, well-behaved dogs in Waterfront Park. Please be aware that there are crowds, kids (often running around), food, and music during ours events. We also have fireworks at 8 pm, followed by Cirque de Fuego’s Champ Burn. Service dogs are allowed in any venue, inside and out.

What is the Bright Ideas Project?

Highlight’s events are designed and built by your friends and neighbors. Through the “Bright Ideas Project,” Highlight crowdsources ideas from Vermonters for all kinds of New Year’s Eve happenings. Through an open call for proposals, we grant funds and support to select ideas that come to life at Highlight.

Highlight’s Bright Ideas Project is proudly presented by EastRise Credit Union. With Vermont roots going back 75 years, EastRise provides financial tools and guidance to help build stronger, more sustainable financial futures. They are committed to supporting our people, businesses, artists, and community events to bring people together and build a sense of community.

 

Community Guidelines

Our Mission

Create a safe space for a global community to celebrate and support Vermont-grown performers with friends, family, and neighbors, both near and far.

Who are our community members?

Vermont is Highlight’s home, but our community reaches far and wide beyond Vermont’s borders. We welcome people from around the world to celebrate and be a part of our community.

What values does our community hold?

We expect all members of our community to support and celebrate:

  • Diversity
  • Creativity
  • Kindness
  • Open-mindedness
  • Respect
  • Safety

All community members must follow our community rules including: 

  • Helping other community members when needed
  • Showing respect to others at all times
  • Keeping an open mind about creative works
  • Celebrating our differences and similarities alike

We will NOT tolerate those who engage in interactions or content that may be: 

  • Inappropriately sexual or graphic
  • Dangerous, harmful, or unsafe
  • Hateful, violent, threatening, or harassing
  • Misleading or intending to spam or scam
  • Illegal in any way
  • Encroaching on the privacy of others
  • Unsafe for children