Sept. 26 events will support Waterbury Common Market, CV Habitat for Humanity
September 18, 2026 | By Waterbury RoundaboutNote Sept. 23: This post was updated to add details of an additional weekend fundraiser for the Waterbury Common Market.
Two local nonprofits will get a boost next weekend through fundraising events planned in Waterbury and at Sugarbush.
Waterbury: ‘Food for Your Funny Bone’
Bill Torrey visits the Steele Community Room for a storytelling event on Saturday, Sept. 26. Courtesy photo
Saturday’s event in the Steele Community Room at the Waterbury municipal complex will support the Waterbury Common Market as master storyteller Bill Torrey visits for a show that’s “rated SBL.” That’s short for “school bus language,” for Torrey, who says, “If your kid rides the bus, they’ve heard worse than this.”
A five-time Moth StorySlam winner and self-described “sixth-generation woodchuck,” Torrey will share from his repertoire of real-Vermont, true, personal humorous tales.
His storytime will run from 4 to 5 p.m. and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Waterbury Community Market. This will be the third fundraiser Torrey has held for Vermont food resource nonprofits.
“When the SNAP benefits were cut, I felt I had to do something,” he said. “It breaks my heart to know that there are people that go to bed hungry in Vermont and this administration is making it worse.”
Torrey organized a benefit in Lincoln last fall at Vermont Family Forest's Middle Barn, and raised $1,220 for Feeding Champlain Valley. In the spring, he held an event at the Richmond Library, raising $1,660 for the Richmond Food Shelf and Thrift Store.
Waterbury Common Market Director Sara Whitehair said Torrey organized the storytelling date on his own, something the organization appreciates.
“We are very grateful to Bill Torrey for putting on this fundraiser for the Waterbury Common Market! It always warms our hearts when community members want to help us out, and we appreciate when people use their various special skills to create a fun and successful fundraiser,” Whitehair said. “This is truly a special opportunity to support us, and also to support Bill. Thank you, Bill!
Tickets are available in advance online or at the door. Torrey suggests a donation of $15-20 per person.
Located at 57 South Main Street, the Waterbury Common Market is a nonprofit resource for food and grocery items free of charge to community members serving Waterbury, Duxbury, Bolton, Middlesex, Moretown and Stowe. It’s open Monday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m.
In addition to the storytelling fundraiser, Aubuchon Ace Hardware in Moretown (just over the bridge from Waterbury) is having a grand reopening this weekend celebration that includes some fundraising for the Waterbury Common Market. Whitehair said the store is doing a round-up collection at its checkouts all month, with proceeds supporting the market. On Saturday, staff will be grilling food in exchange for donations of cash or canned goods for the market.
Sugarbush: Talking Dreads headline Outpour ’26 music festival
Outpour music festival concert poster. Courtesy image
Outpour ’26 comes to Sugarbush Resort at Mt. Ellen on Saturday, Sept. 26, bringing three bands, food, activities, and a raffle to support Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity.
This is the fourth year that Sugarbush, Mad River Valley Rotary, and Lawson’s Finest Liquids have hosted the music and community event to support an important Vermont organization.
The music begins at 2 p.m. in the meadow at Mt. Ellen with a local favorite, The Detonators, opening the program. They’re followed by Mal Maiz, blending Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and psychedelic sounds. Headliner Talking Dreads adds a reggae twist to the music of the Talking Heads for an upbeat, dance-friendly set that puts a new spin on some familiar favorites.
Tickets: $25 in advance; 12 & under are free; $35 day of the show. Rotary has an auction and raffle planned. Additional sponsor is dOb Productions.