September is pretty special in Vermont. The weather is often perfect – warm but not hot, with refreshingly cool nights. Dining inside or alfresco can be equally appealing.

The arts-and-entertainment scene is close to perfect, too. There are still plenty of outdoor events, but theater companies dive into their indoor seasons and college students return to town, which ramps up music inside local music venues.

If you can’t find any arts-and-entertainment activities to check out this month, well, you’re just not trying hard enough. Here’s a round-up of some of the events that could help you enjoy your own peak September.

Through Sept. 30, Vermont artist Samuel Wyatt is the focus of the exhibition “In Praise of Darkness: The ‘Writing on the Wall Project’ and Recent Paintings” that opened Aug 19, Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. Free. www.townhalltheater.org

Through Oct. 22, the annual “Exposed” display of outdoor sculpture. presented by The Current, returns for its 31st year with the 2022 theme of “Dreams,” locations throughout Stowe. Free. www.thecurrentnow.org

6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, indie-folk trio The Lone Bellow headlines a show with Pete Kilpatrick, Spruce Peak village green, Stowe. $40-$50. www.sprucepeakarts.org

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, Celtic-rockers the Dropkick Murphys play the grandstand at the Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction. $39-$59. www.champlainvalleyfair.org

8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, folk act Hiss Golden Messenger, led by M.C. Taylor, joins opener Carson McHone at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington $21 in advance, $24 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 4, more than 80 artists take part in the 51st-annual Mad River Valley Craft Fair, which will also feature music, a food court, children’s activities and more, Kenyon’s Field, Waitsfield. $5 for adults, free for children under 12; proceeds to support the Valley Players. www.madrivercraftfair.com

4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, the Vermont Philharmonic delivers a pops concert in the Champlain islands at Shore Acres, North Hero. $5-$22. www.vermontphilharmonic.com

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, the Dokken Lynch Reunion Tour revives the rocking 1980s with Warrant and Jack Russell’s Great White, Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction. $29-$39. www.champlainvalleyfair.com

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, a five-piece band from Northern Ireland, Connla, plays two sets for the Ripton Community Coffee House at its location this season, Burnham Hall in Lincoln. $15-$25. www.rcch.org

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, world-music-inspired folk rockers Billy Wylder, fronted by University of Vermont alumnus Avi Salloway, take the stage at Nectar’s, Burlington. $12. www.liveatnectars.com

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, the music of soul-singing legend Bill Withers will be celebrated in a concert presented by Higher Ground and featuring Vermont guitarist Bob Wagner & Friends, including Josh Weinstein, Dan Ryan, Leon Campos, Jake Whitesell and more, Backside 405, Pine Street, Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Noon-midnight Sunday, Sept. 4, the New World Festival is back with a Celtic/French-Canadian lineup of acts including Le Vent du Nord, Cantrip, Bon Debarras, Connla and the Karan Casey Trio, locations throughout Randolph including the Chandler Center for the Arts. $15-$50; free for ages 12 and under. www.chandler-arts.org

1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, an artist reception featuring the acrylic paintings of Williston artist Mary Lou Marcussen highlights an exhibit titled “Camp, Champ, Champlain” that runs through Sept. 25 and celebrates Lake Champlain (and its monster) and camp life, Emile A Gruppe Gallery, Jericho. Free. www.emilegruppegallery.com

4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, the music series P.M. Sundays, presented by Valley Stage Productions, begins its 2022-23 season with folk duo The Black Feathers, Richmond Congregational Church. $23 in advance, $25 day of show. www.valleystage.net

5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, Bobby Farlice-Rubio of the Fairbanks Museum will lead a “Twilight Stars” party that will also include live music, a beer garden and food at the one-time home of renowned educator Alexander Twilight, Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village, Brownington. $5 in advance, $10 day of event, free for children under 5. www.oldstonehousemuseum.org

8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, bass players extraordinaire Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey join drummer Derico Watson for a concert titled “Bass Extremes,” Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $39 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, Burlington songwriter-keyboardist Tyler Mast and his band perform at Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com

8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, ventriloquist Jeff Dunham delivers the final performance of this year’s Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction. $29-$59. www.champlainvalleyfair.org

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, Massachusetts-raised singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson and opening act Donovan Woods play the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $39.50 in advance, $44.50 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, the world premiere of “Both Eyes Open: The Annie Oakley Story” by Vermont playwright Jeanne Beckwith starts the play’s run through Sept. 18, Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier. $10-$30. www.lostnationtheater.org

8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, psychedelic-rock group King Buffalo, with opening act Handsome Jack, plays the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $17 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroudmusic.com

8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, the J. Wail Live Band is a collaboration of musicians embarking on the “Fall FunkDown Tour” with trombone player Natalie Cressman of the Trey Anastasio Band joined by musicians including Scott Hannay of the Mihali Band and Kito B. of Particle, Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $18 in advance, $20 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com

5-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, the always-popular South End Art Hop marks its 30th year with creators throwing open the doors to their studios, Pine Street and environs, Burlington. Free. www.seaba.com/arthop

7:30 pm. Friday, Sept. 9, as the Art Hop mayhem unfolds on Pine Street, the big, bold musical ensemble Bella’s Bartok joins local punk-fueled favorites The Bubs for a Backside 405 concert presented by Higher Ground, Pine Street. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, country veteran Lorrie Morgan begins the 2022-23 season at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $30-$40. www.paramountvt.org

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, stand-up comic Daniel Tosh brings his “Leaves and Lobster” tour to the Flynn, Burlington. $48.50-$92. www.flynnvt.org

3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, the opening celebration for the exhibit “Interplay,” which through Oct. 9 features the work of more than a dozen Vermont contemporary artists working in a variety of disciplines, takes place at Art at the Kent, Kents’ Corner State Historic Site, Calais (presented in conjunction with the Vermont Studio Center). Free. www.kentscorner.org

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, Project Y Theatre presents “Yoga with Jillian,” in which the title character takes the audience through an immersive yoga session, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $20. www.townhalltheater.org

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, Vermont Christian Music presents its fall “rock ‘n’ worship” evening with Cade Thompson, Justin Warren and Hannah Dawber, Ignite Church, Williston. $20-$25; free for children 7 and under. www.vtchristianmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, the New York punk trio Thick will be accompanied by Skating Polly and Bad Waitress at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, The Nude Party – a garage-rock band from North Carolina, not a clothing-optional event – follows opening act Pearl Charles at a Backside 405 concert presented by Higher Ground, Pine Street. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun follows opener Semler, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $23 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, veteran Vermont band The Grift will play a fundraiser to help the Waterbury Ambulance Service build a new station, Old Stage at the Essex Experience. $20-40; free for ages 6 and under. www.waterburyambulance.org

5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, the fall opening as well as a farewell reception for Janie Cohen, the museum director who’s retiring after 31 years, takes place at the Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington. Free. www.uvm.edu/fleming

9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, the Baltimore band Darsombra brings what it calls “a cinematic heavy psych rock ‘n’ roll show” to Radio Bean, Burlington. $5. www.radiobean.com

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, comic James Austin Johnson, known for his impressions on “Saturday Night Live,” tries to leave an impression for the crowd at Ira Allen Chapel, University of Vermont, Burlington, in a show presented by Higher Ground. $25-$35. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, once known as the front man for punk-rockers Black Flag and his own Rollins Band, Henry Rollins now draws a following as a spoken-word artist, and will have a few things to say in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $30 in advance, $33 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, the punk-rock band Anti-Flag headlines a show that includes Brendan Kelly and Mint Green, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $23 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16-Saturday, Sept. 17, internationally-renowned cellist (and Burlington resident) Zoe Keating delivers two performances in her hometown, ArtsRiot, Burlington. $25 in advance, $28 day of show. www.artsriot.com

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, comedian and former U.S. Sen. Al Franken, whose attempt at a March show was postponed, gives it another shot at the Flynn, Burlington, in a performance presented by Higher Ground. $48.50-$69.50. www.higherground.com or www.flynnvt.org

9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, hosted by drag performer Emoji Nightmare, a Pride Ball event titled “Metamorphosis” features DJs, dancing and drag and burlesque performances, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, the skating group Ice Dance International premieres its touring show “Grace” in an event presented by Spruce Peak Arts at Stowe Arena. $10-$75. www.sprucepeakarts.org

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, Sarah Ioannides, the latest candidate for the open music-director position with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, leads a program that includes “Riots and Prayers,” a composition by Daniel Bernard Roumain commissioned by the VSO, the Flynn and the University of Vermont Lane Series, the Flynn, Burlington. $8.35-$54.23. www.vso.org

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, New York bluegrass act the Eugene Tyler Band plays Foam Brewers, Burlington. Free. www.foambrewers.com

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, the oft-postponed concert by offbeat pop-rock duo They Might Be Giants – first scheduled for May 2020 and delayed multiple times since – looks like it’ll finally take place at the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com

4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, the Vermont-based Michele Fay Band brings its Americana sound to the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall. Donations accepted.

6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau plays two sets in a home-state show at Shelburne Vineyard. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. www.shelburnevineyard.com

6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, folk-pop musician Brett Dennen, with support from Vermont group Troy Millette & the Fire Below, performs on the Old Stage at The Essex Experience. $30. www.essexexperience.com

7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, caustic comic Lewis Black takes the stage at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland. $50-$70. www.paramountvt.org

8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, Jamaican musician Protoje is joined by Jesse Royal and Lila Ike in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $35 in advance, $39 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, multidisciplinary artist Corin Hewitt takes part in a visiting-artist talk in the Red Mill Building, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson. Free. www.vermontstudiocenter.org

8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs headline a performance that includes Boy Golden, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $18 in advance, $22 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, Tal Verdes, who became a hit on Tik Tok, appears in-person in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $28 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22-Saturday, Sept. 24, 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23-Saturday, Sept. 24, comic Beth Stelling presents five shows on her “Petty Betty Tour” at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $25. www.vermontcomedyclub.com

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, soul bands The Suffers (from Houston) and Dwight & Nicole (from Burlington) share a bill at the Backside 405 concert series presented by Higher Ground on Pine Street, Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Friday, Sept. 23-Sunday, Sept. 25, the Green Mountain Book Festival features writers including Ruth Ozeki, Katherine Arden, Megan Mayhew Bergman, Rajnii Eddins, Miciah Bay Gault, James Kochalka, Jay Parini, Bianca Stone and many more; most events at locations throughout Burlington are free. www.greenmountainbookfestival.org

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, a reproductive-rights rally features music from Vermont acts Kat Wright, Francesca Blanchard, Sarah King, Acqua Mossa and Father Figuer, presented by Higher Ground as part of its Backside 405 series, Pine Street, Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, the newly-formed Brian McCarthy Jazz Orchestra, featuring Ray Vega on trumpet, performs in the McCarthy Arts Center recital hall, St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Free. www.brianmccarthyjazz.com

8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, reggae royalty makes an appearance when Skip Marley, grandson of Bob Marley, plays a show in the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $29 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, Capital City Concerts starts its 23rd season with a performance by Montreal pianist Philip Chiu, Unitarian Church, Montpelier. $15-$30. www.capitalcityconcerts.org

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, British folk-rock legend Richard Thompson follows local openers Willa Mamet and Paul Miller to start the 2022-23 season at the Barre Opera House. $30-$53. www.barreoperahouse.org

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, Higher Ground presents folk-rock-etc. veterans Little Feat in a show with Mike Marks at the Flynn, Burlington. $58.75-$265. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, young bluegrass phenom Sierra Hull follows Taylor Rae in a concert in the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, indie-pop trio Vundabar and opener Another Michael play the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $18 in advance, $22 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, local singer-songwriter Marcie Hernandez celebrates the release of her “Tres Pedazos” music-video trilogy in a show that also features Vermont musicians Miriam Bernardo and Michael Chorney, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $10 in advance, $15 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, Canadian punk-rockers Pup follow Palehound and The OBGMs to the stage in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $27 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, veteran Arizona rockers Jimmy Eat World join Charly Bliss in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $40 in advance, $45 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, the Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” opens the 25th season at Northern Stage and runs through Oct. 23, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction. $19-$69. www.northernstage.org

8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27-Wednesday, Sept. 28, the Nebraska-born rock band 311 plays two shows with opening act Tropidelic, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $45. www.highergroundmusic.com

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, the dance group Step Afrika! steps onto the stage at the Flynn, Burlington. $25-$49. www.theflynn.org

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, the professional theater company Vermont Stage begins its 2022-23 season with the pandemic-delayed production “The Pitmen Painters,” which runs through Oct. 16, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $34.55-$38. www.vermontstage.org

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Minneapolis indie-rock duo The Cactus Blossoms, plus Alexa Rose, play the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, British alternative-rockers Wolf Alice and opener Luna Li visit the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $29 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, Vermont’s own DJ Disco Phantom presents “Feel Good Party Time” as part of the Backside 405 series presented by Higher Ground on Pine Street, Burlington. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. Follow Brent on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BrentHallenbeck.