Peter Schumann, on high stilts, leads a parade of Bread & Puppet performers down Main Street in Plainfield, VT on July 4, 1976. (Photo by Richard Howard)
Bread & Puppet's Plainfield Years
A Weekend of Films & Events in Plainfield, Vermont
July 11th & 12th, 2026
Download Walking Map of Plainfield Events
(See map below)
All events are free, except for the film screening events, which are a benefit fundraiser for the non-profit Bread and Puppet Film Project. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
featuring
AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR
A New Film about Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Theater
Directed by Robbie Leppzer
AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR is an intimate portrait of Peter Schumann, the founder of the Bread & Puppet Theater, and his use of his art and theater productions to protest war throughout his life, from the Vietnam War to today's ongoing war in Gaza.
For more info about the film and to watch a trailer:
See below for a complete schedule of the July 11 -12 weekend events in Plainfield.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, July 11
• 10 am - Guided Tour of former Goddard Campus with David Halé, Goddard Archivist. Meet at the Science Building, The Creative Campus at Goddard, 123 Pitkin Drive.
• 10 am - 2 pm - The Country Bookshop (opened in 1976). Open to Visitors (courtesy of Ben Koenig), 35 Mill Street.
• 11 am - 3 pm - Exhibit of Peter Schumann's Paintings & Art (curated by Alexis Smith)
• Venue Sites:
• Plainfield Granary (former Plainfield Community Center),153 Main Street (interior and exterior)
• Cate Farm, 142 Cate Farm Road (interior and exterior) [Opens at Noon]
• The Country Bookshop, 35 Mill Street (exterior) [Open 10am - 2pm]
• The Old River Run, 53 Main Street (exterior)
• Outer Spice, 8195 US-2 (interior and exterior)
• Noon - 3 pm - Open Visiting Hours at Cate Farm (courtesy of Richard Wiswall), 142 Cate Farm Road. Also includes an exhibition of Peter Schumann’s Paintings & Art, bread and aioli, and a Bread & Puppet garbageman.
• 1 pm - Guided Tour of former Goddard Campus with David Halé, Goddard Archivist. Meet at the Science Building, The Creative Campus at Goddard, 123 Pitkin Drive.
• 4 pm - Screening of AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR (45 minutes, 2026) at The Haybarn Theater, The Creative Campus at Goddard, 123 Pitkin Drive.
• $15 in advance • $20 at the door (tickets)
• Featuring a Post-Screening Q&A with Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer with Barbara Leber, a veteran of Bread & Puppet's Plainfield years. Program MC - Michael Billingsley
• Co-sponsored by Turning Tide Films, The Creative Campus at Goddard, and Straight Arrow Productions
• A benefit fundraiser for the non-profit Bread & Puppet Film Project to help us complete a feature-length film about Bread & Puppet that will be released in 2027. For more info, click here.
Sunday, July 12
• 10 am - Guided Tour of former Goddard Campus with David Halé, Goddard Archivist. Meet at the Science Building, The Creative Campus at Goddard, 123 Pitkin Drive.
• 10 am - 2 pm - Oral Histories from Bread & Puppet's Plainfield Years, and Goddard College. Recording tent on the Grace Church lawn (courtesy of Carla Siegle and Michael Morlan)
• 10 am - 2 pm - The Country Bookshop (opened in 1976). Open to Visitors (courtesy of Ben Koenig), 35 Mill Street.
• 11 am - 3 pm - Exhibit of Peter Schumann's Paintings & Art (curated by Alexis Smith)
• Venue Sites:
• Plainfield Granary (former Plainfield Community Center),153 Main Street (interior and exterior)
• The Country Bookshop, 35 Mill Street (exterior) [Open 10am - 2pm]
• The Old River Run, 53 Main Street (exterior)
• Outer Spice, 8195 US-2 (interior and exterior)
• 11 am - 2 pm - "Plainfield and Goddard College in the '70s" • Exhibit on the Grace Church lawn, hosted by Plainfield Historical Society.
• Noon - 1 pm - Music Service with Montpelier Community Acapella Gospel Choir (led by Dr. James Stewart), Grace United Methodist Church (officiated of Pastor Jay Voorhees), 13 Mill Street.
• 3 pm - Screening of AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR at the Plainfield Opera House,18 High Street.
• $15 in advance • $20 at the door (tickets)
• Program MC - Donny Osman
• Live Music and Performance by members of the Bread & Puppet Theater
• Screening of AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR (45 minutes, 2026)
• Post Screening Q&A with Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer
• Screening of a 4K digitally remastered THE MEADOWS GREEN (Directed by DeeDee Halleck and George Griffin, 23 minutes, 1974), which chronicled a 1974 Bread & Puppet performance at Goddard College.
• Panel Discussion and Audience Conversation - "Bread & Puppet's Plainfield Years" (1970-1974) with Avram Patt, Helen Rabin and Paul Zaloom, moderated by Janna Osman.
• Co-sponsored by Turning Tide Films, Plainfield Arts, and Straight Arrow Productions
• A benefit fundraiser for the non-profit Bread & Puppet Film Project to help us complete a feature-length film about Bread & Puppet that will be released in 2027. For more info, click here.
Ongoing Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 10 - 12)
• Farmers' Market, Friday 3 pm - 6pm, Grace Church, 153 Main Street.
• Plainfield Community Supper, Friday 6pm - 8 pm, Grace Church, 153 Main Street.
• Restaurants: Positive Pie, Outer Spice Cafe, Haybarn Restaurant (Plainfield)
• To Go Food/Delis Fox Market (E. Montpelier), Dudley's Store (E. Montpelier), Plainfield Co-op & Hardware (Plainfield/E. Montpelier), Maplefields (Plainfield), Marshfield General Store (Marshfield), FeeBee's (Plainfield/Marshfield)
• Walking Tour of Plainfield (maps available)
Walking Map of Plainfield Events
Download PDF here.
Bread and Puppet Film Project
The film screening events are benefit fundraisers for the non-profit Bread & Puppet Film Project, which filmmaker Robbie Leppzer and Turning Tide Films have been producing for 9 years. In addition to releasing AN ARTIST RESPONDS TO WAR, we are also currently editing a feature-length documentary, BREAD & PUPPET: THE THEATER OF PETER SCHUMANN, about the full life story of Peter Schumann and the 63-year history of The Bread & Puppet Theater that will be completed in 2027.
Find out how you can help us finish the feature-length film: