Norman Rockwell Vermont Hometown is Launchpad for 2nd Annual Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival

The Arlington Common, a hub for community, wellness and creativity, will host the second annual Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival, April 27 ? 30^th. The event will take place at its two-acre community campus located in Arlington's downtown and less than half a mile from the Battenkill River, the heart of the fly fishing community and one of the United States' premier fly fishing destinations for wild brown and brook trout. Attendees from as far as Canada and North Carolina will again be traveling to Arlington to join the celebrated history of fly fishing on the legendary Battenkill River, with event proceeds earmarked for the nonprofit Arlington Common and Battenkill River conservation projects while showcasing the Arlington area's local inns, restaurants, small businesses and nonprofits.

"The Battenkill is back, and we look forward to celebrating our tight knit community, sharing our passion for the sport and showcasing the Battenkill River and its impressive network of people and organizations with our festival attendees," says Bill Bullock, former executive director of the American Museum of Fly Fishing and current board member of the Arlington Common.

The three-day event will include:

• Guided tours of habitat restoration of the Battenkill led by Trout Unlimited
• Food from local restaurants and food trucks, community meals presented by local nonprofits, musical entertainment, and a beer tent hosted by local Vermont breweries, fly fishing workshops and seminars
• Drawn to the Waters; Images of an Angler's Passion, an art exhibit in the Arlington Common's Watkins House exhibition space, showcasing the history between Arlington and the Battenkill, as well as original works from acclaimed fly fishing painters like Adrianno Manocchia, Luther Hall, Chuck Marshall and George Van Hook
• Free casting instruction and demos from Orvis Company fly fishing staff
• Fly tying seminars and workshop hosted by some of the best fly tiers in the Northeast.
• Keynote presentation by Tom Rosenbauer, acclaimed fly fisherman, author and host of The Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast and Orvis' chief enthusiast
• Presentations by Mike Valla, noted fly fishing author, Neville Crabbe, executive director of communications for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, award winning outdoor photographer Pat Ford, and many more
• The International Fly Fishing Film Festival, showcasing nine films produced by a diverse group of professional filmmakers
• Vendors from throughout the fly fishing industry showcasing bamboo rod building, sporting collectibles, fly fishing artists, destinations and more.

Bullock says, "The Battenkill is one of the most storied fly fishing rivers in the United States and is home to the famous Hendrickson hatch. The beloved Battenkill was the inspiration for prominent landscape artists, including Odgen Pleissner and Jack Atherton, and was featured in several of Norman Rockwell's pieces."

The Arlington Common launched in early 2021 and currently offers more than a dozen fitness and wellness classes, artists studios, and vibrant community programming. The two-acre property is in the midst of a capital campaign, and once complete, will feature a state-of-the-art community space, and a music and performing arts hall. With two new pickleball courts, our wellness center continues to offer exciting fitness programs for the greater Arlington area.

Learn more about the 2nd Annual Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival here.

About The Arlington Common
The Arlington Common is a community non-profit campus that strengthens the Arlington area community through wellness, culture, creativity, and education.

About The Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival
The Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival's mission is to promote the conservation and stewardship of our treasured Battenkill watershed while showcasing the beautiful town of Arlington, one of the United States' premier fly fishing destinations. Funds raised from the weekend will support the Arlington Common in its mission to be a community hub that enhances and strengthens the Arlington area through creativity, wellness, culture, and education. A portion of funds raised from the festival will be directed to organizations whose missions support conservation, sustainability, and accountability among the various Battenkill user groups.