Spring Events
Events Worth The Trip
Spring blooms with excitement in the Finger Lakes! From flower festivals and farmers markets to wine trails and outdoor adventures, there’s no better time to explore our vibrant region. Plan your getaway around unforgettable seasonal celebrations showcasing the best local culture, food, and fun. Be sure to visit the individual event links for updated dates and more information.
Celebrate Commemorate Memorial Day
May – Waterloo
Annual event that celebrates Waterloo, NY as the official Birthplace of Memorial Day and commemorates the sacrifices of fallen soldiers. Event features the area’s largest parade, 5k run, music, arts and crafts, Civil War reenactment, and more.
CNY Maple Festival
April – Marathon
The annual Maple Festival is held in April in Marathon, NY. Enjoy children’s activities, train displays, helicopter and airboat rides, a quilt show, wood carvings, a pancake eating contest, live music, artisans with their unique creations, and homemade and unique maple products.
The Geneva Jazz Festival
First weekend in April – Geneva
For 4 days in Geneva, Jazz will descend upon the city! The Geneva Jazz festival features over 20 concerts of world-renowned jazz musicians and artists. The venues include some of Geneva’s best locations with craft beverages, wine, and dining options.
GlassFest
May – Corning’s Gaffer District
GlassFest is a multi-day family-friendly festival celebrating glass and the fire arts throughout Corning’s Gaffer District in “America’s Crystal City.” Come out for a long weekend full of live musical performances, live glass blowing, glass exhibits, art vendors, delicious food and drinks, and special shopping promotions. Grab your lawn chairs or a blanket and bring the family to watch headliner acts at the Rock The Park stage in our Riverfront Park. GlassFest 2024’s main headliner is Everclear. And don’t miss the spectacular fireworks display. This popular annual event kicks off summer in style.
Keuka Gravel Classic
June – Hammondsport, Steuben Brewing Company
Beginning and ending at Steuben Brewing Company, The Keuka Lake Gravel Classic will host hundreds of riders from around the country as they traverse challenging and scenic dirt roads, before celebrating the ride with food, live music, craft beer, prizes, and a kids’ course. Join professional cyclocross racer Curtis J White (2022 National Champion) for this year’s event, which is for seasoned riders and beginners. Offering three course distances (a 50-mile competitive race, a 30-mile non-competitive fun ride, an 18-mile non-competitive fundraiser ride) that will feature vistas and vineyards, soul-crushing climbs, and gnarly descents.
National Lake Trout Derby
Memorial Day weekend – Geneva
Seneca Lake is known as the Lake Trout capital of the world. The National Lake Trout Derby is one of the longest-standing derbies in the Finger Lakes. Over $30000 in prizes given out.
New York State Real British Ale Fest
May – Watkins Glen
Join brewers and brewery owners from some of the best breweries in New York State pour a variety of British-style real Ales from the cask. Discover and sample a variety of British-style real cask ales, including Stouts, Golden Ales, Bitters, English IPA’s plus many more. It will satisfy the curious minds and any beer lover, both newcomer and epicurean, up to the finest connoisseur! All beer samples are included in the ticket price, plus you receive a complimentary festival tasting glass and access to great food and live entertainment. The view of Seneca Lake from Beerocracy is amazing!
The Notorious G.I.B. Cheese Fest
May – Watkins Glen
Every Spring, the finest creameries, dairy farms, and local vendors & artisans create a cheese lover’s paradise for all to enjoy. Hosted by Grist Iron Brewing Co overlooking Seneca Lake in Hector, NY, festival goers can enjoy craft beer, delicious food, listen to live music, and immerse themselves in the wonders of Finger Lakes cheese. Grist Iron Brewing Company, a 150-acre property is a microbrewery that offers not only 15 different beers on tap at any given time, combined with breathtaking views of the Finger Lakes region, making the Cheese Fest a memorable annual springtime Finger Lakes event.
Rochester Lilac Festival
May – Highland Park
Each May, visitors travel from all over the world to visit Rochester’s Highland Park for the Annual Lilac Festival and to see the park’s 1,800 lilac bushes displaying 500 varieties of lilacs in a floral masterpiece of the deepest purples and purest whites. The festival celebrates the blooming of the largest collection of lilacs in North America. Enjoy ten days of free entertainment, family-friendly activities, food and drink, an art show – and of course, the fragrant lilacs!
Roll out the Barrels 2024
April – Lake Ontario Wine Trail
Throughout a weekend, enjoy special access to pre-release and newly released wines, spirits, and ciders. Travel the trail at your own pace for this self-guided tour. You will have special purchasing access for some of the sampled products before anyone else! Some locations will also offer access to production areas, giving guests visibility into the wine, spirit, or cider-making process, too.
Taste of Syracuse
First full weekend in June – Clinton Square, Downtown Syracuse
The Taste of Syracuse is a legendary festival located in Syracuse, NY. Considered Syracuse’s “kick off” of the summer, the Taste has been an annual festival for 25+ years. We celebrate local food, business, music, and more in the heart of downtown Syracuse, spanning from Clinton Square to the Chase Building. Treat yourself to $2 samples from a variety of local restaurants while you jam out to the great local music!
Waterfront Harbor Festival
June – Watkins Glen, NY
Visit Seneca Harbor Park in downtown Watkins Glen to enjoy a delightfully entertaining experience on Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. An annual tradition for over 30 years, the Waterfront Festival is anchored by the popular Cardboard Boat Regatta. Festival goers will laugh and applaud the bold and adventurous Captains and Crews as teams of all ages bravely sail their cardboard crafts from launch to the finish line – at the famous Seneca Pier House Pavilion. With live music playing, enjoy food and artisan vendors, & free children’s activities along the Harbor with a stunning lakeside view of Seneca Lake.
Wayne County Shopping Fling
May & November – Various Businesses in Wayne County
Shop an eclectic mix of local gift shops, antique dealers, wineries, artisans, and more during this bi-annual event. Collect your Stamp Sheet at your first stop, fill in your contact information on the bottom, and get shopping. Fill up your sheet with stamps from each stop and turn it into your last stop of this 3-day event for your chance to be entered to win one of four gift baskets.
Wildflower Festival
May – Hornell
Hornell’s 10th Annual Wildflower Festival celebrates spring, artists, small businesses, and much more! The festival will be held on the grass area next to the Hornell Partners for Grown & Hornell Chamber Building at 40 Main Street. Come enjoy live music, arts, crafts & food vendors, as well as local businesses.
