Annual Events

Events Worth The Trip

While many travelers associate the Finger Lakes with summer festivities with winery tours and scenic hikes, the region is filled with great events all year long. From celebrations as big as the New York State Fair to the quaintness of day-long village festivals, there is something special to celebrate in the Finger Lakes during every season.

Spring is the season for blooming, with folks coming out of hibernation to celebrate a rediscovered love of the outdoors, flowers, and maple syrup. As the weather starts to warm, people take to the streets and the lakes, reveling in various outdoor activities. There’s something for everyone; the Keuka Gravel Classic for bikers, the National Lake Trout Derby for the fisherman, and the Waterfront Harbor Festival for the boaters. Gardeners and flower enthusiasts alike will enjoy the celebrations at the Rochester Lilac Festival and the Hornell Wildflower Festival. The CNY Maple Festival indulges the community of Marathon in sweetness every April. In May Finger Lakes breweries play host to the New York State Real British Ale Fest and the Notorious G.I.B. Cheese Fest before the Taste of Syracuse kicks off the summer season.

Summer in the Finger Lakes brings a multitude of festivals. Car shows, pride parades, music festivals, and county fairs fill the calendar. Some of the more unique summer festivals in the Finger Lakes include Moravia’s Fillmore Days & Bathtub Races, Homer’s National Brockway Truck Show, and the Sterling Renaissance Festival. Hot air balloons steal the show at the annual Rally ‘Round the Valley in Dansville and the Red, White, and Blue Balloon Festival at Letchworth State Park.

Fall harvest is synonymous with apple picking, pumpkin carving, and haunted happenings. Nearly every village and town in the Finger Lakes has their own fall festival planned. In addition to the hayrides and pies, there are a handful of more unique events planned for autumn. Wings and Wheels at Hammondsport celebrates the village’s transportation pioneers while Macedon’s Lumberjack Festival embraces brawny activities like ax throwing and sawing.
As fall turns into winter, holiday celebrations abound. Lights on the Lake in Syracuse is a seasonal rite of passage. Holiday movie lovers flock to Seneca Falls to show their adoration for the Christmas classic during the It’s A Wonderful Life Festival. Winterfests, holiday markets, and fire & ice festivals are in constant rotation. The new year brings Vintage Vines and Valentines in Naples before Brave Brews Fest honors the historic changemakers of the Finger Lakes during Women’s History Month in March.