Drive through the Mad River Valley on a December evening, and you’ll witness something extraordinary. From Moretown to Warren, a 20-mile stretch of winding road transforms into a constellation of handmade stars. They glow from residential lawns, hang from shop fronts, adorn covered bridges, and light up barn sides. Standing anywhere from three to fifteen feet tall, these illuminated stars have become the defining symbol of Christmas in Vermont’s Mad River Valley.
What started as one woman’s childhood memory has grown into a valley-wide tradition. It’s a story of creativity, community, resilience, and how simple acts of beauty can unite an entire region. For anyone staying at our Lodging in Vermont, the Stars of the Mad River Valley offer something you won’t find anywhere else: a living tradition you can drive through, photograph, and become part of during your stay.
A Tradition Born from Memory: How the Vermont Stars Display Began
The tradition began with Dr. Corin Bauer, who grew up in Fayston. Her mother placed a single glowing star in their top window each year, and Corin carried that memory with her. In 2013, she gathered saplings, shaped them into stars, wrapped them in lights, and placed them outside her Waitsfield office. Neighbors loved the idea, and soon they were making their own.
By the next year, shop owners and residents joined in. Community star-making days filled parking lots, where families dropped off branches and built stars together. By 2015, more than 500 stars lined the roads from Moretown to Warren, turning the whole valley into a glowing pathway. In 2016, the tradition took on a deeper meaning after the loss of five local teens. People crafted sets of five stars and lit them in October as a show of strength and comfort.
Today, you will see more than 600 stars across the valley made from rustic saplings and clean-milled wood, strung with all kinds of lights. If you’re inspired to create your own star, the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce offers kits benefiting local foundations with everything you need to build your own 3’ or 6’ star, including pre-drilled sticks, hardware, and string lights.
Experiencing Christmas in Vermont Through the Stars
For visitors spending Christmas in Vermont or simply traveling through during winter, the Stars of the Mad River Valley offer a unique experience, and a slow drive after dark is the best way to take them in. The route from Moretown through Waitsfield to Warren takes about half an hour, longer if you stop for photo-ops along the way. (Make sure to tag #VTLIGHTSTHEWAY in your posts!)
Historic Waitsfield Village is still the center of it all. The covered bridge glows with a cluster of handmade stars that looks especially beautiful after fresh snow. The displays usually begin in early December and stay lit through mid-January, though many residents keep theirs shining longer to brighten the long winter nights.
A Valley United by Light
What makes the Stars of the Mad River Valley so special is what they represent. In an era when so much feels divided and disconnected, here’s a tradition that literally lights up an entire valley through individual participation. Each star represents someone who decided to join in, to add their light to the collective glow, to be part of something larger than themselves.
The tradition is free to enjoy, accessible to everyone, and welcomes participation from anyone willing to make or display a star. It doesn’t require wealth or special skills. It connects the valley’s longtime residents with newcomers, locals with visitors, business owners with homeowners.
Planning Your Starlit Visit
If you’re planning to experience Vermont for Christmas and want to see the Stars of the Mad River Valley, staying at one of our Mad River Lodges puts you in the perfect position. All four of our properties are located within the star-studded stretch of Route 100, meaning you can enjoy the displays from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave.
The stars look particularly beautiful after fresh snowfall, when the white lights reflect off the snow and create an ethereal glow. Clear, cold nights offer the crispest views, with stars sharp against the dark sky. But even on cloudy or snowy evenings, the stars provide warmth and light that cuts through winter’s gloom.
Join the Constellation
Winter in Vermont takes many forms: cozy inn stays, skiing fresh powder, sleigh rides through snowy fields, or hot cider by the fire. But few traditions capture the authentic spirit of the Vermont community like the Stars of the Mad River Valley. They remind us that light multiplies when shared, that creativity connects us, and that sometimes the simplest gestures, like making a star from branches, wrapping it in lights, and displaying it for others to enjoy, can illuminate far more than the dark winter night.
Book your stay at Mad River Lodges this winter and become part of a tradition that transforms the entire valley into a celebration of light, community, and resilience.
The stars are waiting.