Summer Events
Events Worth The Trip
Elmira
July 31-Aug 3
A local tradition offering agricultural exhibits, grandstand events, demolition derby, carnival rides, truck and tractor pulls, and more!
Avon
Second Saturday in August
The Avon Rotary Corn Festival is our club’s largest annual fundraiser, which has truly emerged as a major community event. The festival draws thousands of people from our region to see friends, browse arts and crafts, listen to a wide range of music on three separate stages, play games, eat lots of festival food, enjoy a locally brewed craft beer at our Beer Garden, participate in our annual corn eating contest and enjoy the day. We typically host over 135 craft vendors and 25 food vendors. The Festival culminates in a large outdoor concert by the popular party band The SkyCoasters from 7-10 pm.
Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic
Dwyer Memorial Park, Preble
August
Pack a lawn chair, a picnic and enjoy the celebration of all things Bluegrass as you’re overlooking beautiful Little York Lake! Bill Knowlton’s Bluegrass Ramble Picnic, the oldest bluegrass festival in the northeastern United States, features a wide variety of CNY bluegrass and old-time bands.
Seneca Falls
July 7-9, 2024
Celebrating business and commerce along the Cayuga-Seneca canal (part of the Erie Canal System), Canal Fest is a three-day community event filled food, crafts and entertainment.
Hickories Park, Owego
Wednesdays, July 3-August 7
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic dinner and relax with the sounds of live music. A different band is featured every week. The July 3 concert will begin at 7:30pm, followed by a fireworks display at 9:30pm.
Seneca Falls
July 19-21, 2024
Convention Days is an annual event held in the spirit of the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls. Not only does the event commemorate the convention anniversary, it draws on the tenets of community, engagement, and activism that made the original convention a crucible of change. Talks and presentations by scholars and people active in the field of women’s history illuminate historical topics, while living history presentations and family programs provide interactive opportunities for learning.
Corn Hill Neighborhood
July 13-14, 2024
The 56th Corn Hill Arts Festival will take place on July 13 and 14, 2024! This two-day festival has become a fabric of the Rochester community over the years. The festival, which takes place over nine streets, will showcase hundreds of artists from across the country, as well as talented musicians from near and far. We encourage you to mark your calendars and invite your family and friends because you won’t want to miss this beloved festival!
Cortland Arts Off Main Festival
Cortland
A family-friendly celebration of Cortland’s art and creativity, and downtown. Free to participants and complete with artist vendors, live music, performing artists, live pottery demonstrations, children’s activities, wine and craft beverage tasting and food from downtown restaurants. Live music and entertainment will be performed throughout the day. Take part in the live interactive chalk mural!
Elmira Street Painting Festival
Downtown Elmira
July 8-9, 2024
An art-filled, family fun weekend where the streets of Downtown Elmira are turned into canvases for artists to create their masterpieces. Live music, food, pop-up art galleries and more!
Elmira
June-August
A gorgeous Victorian-era Amusement Park offering rides, walking trails, dragon boat rides, miniature golf, and one of the last remaining carousel’s where you can still catch a brass ring. Check their calendar for on-going events throughout the summer.
Cloud Croft Studios, 1003 Sanford Rd. Owego, NY 13827
August 23 thru September 29, 2024
The Opening Night & Awards Ceremony will be on Friday, August 23, 2024. After the opening, the exhibition will run from August 24 to September 29, 2024. The exhibition will feature work from artists within a 100-mile radius of Owego, encompassing 25 counties in New York and Pennsylvania. For every artwork sold in the exhibition, 80% of proceeds will go to the artist and 20% of the commission will go towards Art a la Carte, a unique arts education program and partnership between TAC and the Tioga County Food for Families.
Village of Fairport
June 1-2, 2024
Celebrating its 47th year as one of the premier juried art festivals in the Northeast alongside the scenic village on the historic Erie Canal. Located in Fairport, NY: a “front-porch” friendly village, located on the scenic Erie Canal
Moravia
August 9-1, 2024
In August 2019, the Friends group brought back the ever-popular Fillmore Days and Bathtub Races, a beloved community event that had been suspended for about 20 years. An estimated 2,500 people attended, proving that good, clean fun never goes out of style.
Geneseo
July 12-13, 2024
A tradition since 1982, the Geneseo Rotary Summer Festival has become the most popular summer weekend in Geneseo. What started years ago as a small summer event held by the downtown merchants has become a source of major family fun in Livingston County. The entire downtown area and the Village Park are transformed into activity venues, live entertainment venues featuring local talent and bands, food vendor venues, craft venues and sidewalk sales for this wonderful celebration.
Saturday morning begins at 11 am with the annual Teddy Bear Parade marching down Main Street and into the Village Park, and the festival traditionally ends with a free concert on Saturday at 8 pm.
Elmira
April-September
One of the most spectacular ways to take in the beauty of the S. Finger Lakes is a glider ride at Harris Hill Soaring! A glider is a motorless plane that is towed in the air before being released to soar quietly among the clouds. Each rider is accompanied by a certified pilot, with rides lasting around 20 minutes.
NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Second to last Wednesday in August through Labor Day
People from across New York State will come together this year to experience an affordable, 13-day celebration of delicious food, eye-opening exhibits, captivating entertainment, and great fun. Each year’s New York State Fair showcases numerous animals, hundreds of commercial attractions, scores of exciting midway rides, and dozens of big-name entertainers. Come find out what greatness awaits you at the New York State Fair!
Auburn
August 11, 2024
Join us as we renew Auburn’s annual tradition of fun, competition, and celebration. Hundreds of 2, 3, or 4 person teams begin with a runner (4 miles) who hands off to a biker (12.4 miles) who then hand off to their kayaker 2 canoeists, or paddle boarder (2.5 miles). Young or old, serious racers or beginners, compete for glory or the pursuit of fun and fitness.
Hemlock
July 16 – 20, 2024
Since 1857, there has been something for everyone at the largest fair in Livingston County! Get ready for Monster Trucks, Demo Derbys, and Truck + Tractor pulls. There will be animal exhibits and 4H events in full force. The Heritage Museum will be open all week to attendees as well. Check out the website for a daily schedule, different events will be occurring each day, in addition to antique agricultural demonstrations, exhibitions at the sawmill, chainsaw carvings, and more.
Village of Homer
July 15, 2024
The festival includes over 125 artisans and crafters, lots of great food, live music and entertainment for all ages. Holiday in Homer is held on the beautiful church green in downtown Homer.
Indigenous Music & Arts Festival
Ganondagan State Historic Site
Victor
July 27-28, 2024
This annual event showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through dance, music, storytelling, traditional craft demonstrations, a Native American Arts Market, children’s activities, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, Indigenous food, and more.
Auburn
Month of June
Join together in the City of Auburn – to commemorate June 19th with family friendly events, parades, galas and more.
Lake Ontario waters
July 13 and 14, 2024
Sodus Point has a rich history of sportfishing on Lake Ontario. The area has a one of a kind fishery that offers the opportunity to target many different species, from King Salmon to Steelhead and Brown trout. It’s no wonder why many teams bring limit catches to weigh-in year after year.
Lima
August 1-4, 2024
Mark your calendar for the first Saturday in August! We have free kids activities, vendors, bed races and lots more!
Village of Homer
August
For four days, the town of Homer is filled with Huskies, but not the kind attached to a sled. Truck buffs, regional history enthusiasts, and festival-goers come in hoards to the Annual Brockway Truck Show, for the sights and sounds of the Brockway Motor Truck Co. legacy. A majority of the show’s events will take place at the Central New York Living History Center, which is home to an impressive collection of Brockways, as well as select venues throughout Cortland County, and culminates with the popular Brockway Truck Parade in the Village of Homer.
National Warplane Museum Airshow
Geneseo
July 13-14, 2024
Join us in Geneseo, NY July 13 & 14, 2024 for an experience like no other. Our popular tailgate viewing area will again be available for you to enjoy the show from the comfort of your vehicle with your family and friends. Experience the legacy of aviation at the airshow with our turf runway offering an up close and personal experience with both aircraft and pilots. With a redesigned layout that includes more aircraft on the field on our expanded flightline, expanded general admission showline viewing and an increased number of vendors and exhibitors for the crowd’s enjoyment, a great hometown airshow experience is waiting for you.
Red Creek
July 4-5 and July 11-12
Enjoy wine tasting and visiting with over 40 unique craft artisans, listen to our great musical entertainment as you stroll through our family farm museum, walk the 60′ Labyrinth and shop in the Ol’factory Farm gift shop.
Chevy Court, NYS Fairgrounds
Third weekend in June
The New York State Blues Festival is one of the largest FREE blues events in the Northeast. This annual 3-day musical celebration, showcases a collection of regional and national artists from multiple genres, all with roots steeped in tradition and vision, and arranges them for a continuous river of music.
Letchworth State Park, Mt Morris
June 8, 2024
Join us for our 2024 New York State Yoga Festivals in breathtaking Letchworth State Park! Known as the “”Grand Canyon of the East”” for its beautiful gorges, waterfalls, and trails, the park will provide the perfect backdrop for a day of yoga, hiking, meditation, music, and exploring the work of local artisans. Recharge your soul as we practice yoga, learn new ideas, and make new friends in the great outdoors!
Festival Parking will be at Highbanks Recreation Area. From there you will be directed to check in and lead to main classes. There are multiple entrances into the park with the closest entry to the park being Mt. Morris Letchworth State Park entrance fee is $10 per car (cash) and free before 9am.
Canandaigua
Third week in July
Games, rides, and classic fair food. Antique tractors. A veritable parade of movable farm equipment.
Owego, NY
June
Come and be a part of the 42nd Annual Owego Strawberry Festival! Take part in various activities spanning three days, including the Rock and Run at Hickories Park on Thursday from 5 to 9 pm. Downtown Owego comes alive on Friday with the vibrant Strawberry Festival Block Party from 5 to 10 pm, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at 9:30 pm. Saturday boasts the main event, the Strawberry Festival, running from 9 am to 5 pm, highlighted by a parade at 9:30 am.
Phelps
Late July/Early August
A little village makes a big deal over fermented cabbage! Food, games, and rides.
Fair Haven/Sterling
August 11, 2024
Bring a lawn chair and tour around the village of Fair Haven to hear music of all genres! Pick a porch, porch hop or come for the culmination in the evening! It’s a fun filled, music-centric day on the shores of Great Lake Ontario.
Parcel 5, Rochester
Augsut 1-3, 2024
The 2024 Puerto Rican Festival in Rochester, New York will take place on August 3–5 at Innovative Field. The festival will feature live music, food, cultural events, and celebrity guests. The festival is Rochester’s longest-running ethnic festival and is a way to celebrate and learn about Puerto Rican culture.
Dansville
August 31, 2024
Rally ‘Round The Valley is a community-wide Labor Day festival held in Dansville, NY. The event features a hot air balloon GLOW, on Thursday, followed by a day-long celebration on Saturday, with activities for the whole family. The event is organized to promote community-wide festivities and is a great opportunity to enjoy some fun activities and great food.
Red, White, & Blue Balloon Festival
Letchworth State Park
Memorial Day weekend
The Letchworth Red, White & Blue Balloon is held annually on Memorial Day weekend. Approximately 20 balloons will splash the Letchworth gorge with color. All launches are wind and weather permitting. Flights take place from the Archery Field Overlook at the Castile entrance Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights at about 6PM, and Saturday & Sunday mornings at about 6AM. This is a non-commercial, event where pilots attend simply to enjoy the unique experience of flying amidst the beauty of the “Grand Canyon of the East”. The event is free to the public, although you must pay the entrance fee to the Park if you arrive during normal operating hours.
Seneca Falls
July 6, 2024
Our race celebrates the passing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It all started back in Seneca Falls, NY, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott held the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention – the first-ever Women’s Rights Convention.
Various Locations, Downtown Rochester
June 3-9, 2024
Rochester Cocktail Revival is New York State’s only weeklong festival celebrating craft cocktail culture. Rochester boasts a booming scene of cocktail bars and top-tier mixology talent. Each year, 20+ cocktail bars in the downtown area take part in RCR, showcasing the spirit brands that make the exciting local craft culture possible. RCR exists to highlight this culture through education and celebration, significant contributions to the Rochester economy, and displays of camaraderie between its bars to both the trade and consumers.
Rochester International Jazz Festival
Various Locations, Downtown Rochester
June 21-29, 2024
More than 1,500 artists perform in more than 300 concerts over this 9 day festival at both public outdoor stages and ticketed indoor venues. The venues, all located within walking distance in and around Rochester’s east end cultural district, range from elegant concert halls to intimate clubs to outdoor stages. Concerts feature a mix of local, national, and international performers, and wide variety of musical styles. Visitors will also enjoy food and beverages, and other special events. At night the festival invites artists and visitors to improvised “Jam Sessions.”
Rochester Pride Parade & Festival
Highland Park
July 20, 2024
Annual celebration of Rochester’s LGBTQ+ community. Pride parade will culminate in Pride Festival at Highland Park, featuring: food, wine and beer, games and activities, vendor tables, live music and performances.
Cayuga Co.
Last full weekend in July
The annual 50-mile Route 90 Garage Sale takes on a festival atmosphere each year as friends, families, and the occasional family dog, go searching for surprises. Stretching along the roadside of Route 90, a New York State Scenic Byway, the sale runs from Montezuma in the north, to the Village of Homer at the south
Reed’s Seeds, Cortland
August
An all-day, overnight outdoor festival featuring the local area’s musical acts. Featuring local and regional musicians on two stages, Seedstock is held at a home of one of the festival founders and for one weekend, this picturesque farmhouse and surrounding land turn into a special place where people gather to celebrate music, life and community.
Waterloo
July 17-20, 2024
Since the first Seneca County Fair in 1841, it has been a local gathering for farmers, neighbors and visitors. Join us for a week of agriculture, friendly competition, display of crafts and projects, the demolition derby and much more! This year there will be many new and exciting events to include the Rodeo! Join us for daily entertainment for the kids and for the big kids with playland amusements, live music, square dancing, and many craft vendors. We anticipate many nights of family fun, making memories and supporting the local animal shows!
Skaneateles Antique & Classic Boat Show
Clift Park, Skaneateles
Last weekend in July
The Skaneateles Antique & Classic Boat Show draws exhibitors from throughout New York state, the East Coast, the Midwest and Canada, and about 10,000 visitors each year. It is hosted by the Finger Lakes Chapter (FLC) of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) and the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Come for the spectacular vintage boats. Stay for the music, history, kids’ activities, camaraderie—and boats!
Frisbie Brothers Dairy Farm, Spencer
July 21, 2024
A free, family event that celebrates our agricultural heritage and educates the community about the importance of farms. FREE ice cream, animal and farm tours, farm vendors, live music, and kids activities including face painting.
Fair Haven/Sterling
Weekends in July-August
The rules of everyday life are suspended for this special day of play and feasting. Be so bold as to join your fellow villagers in whatever amusements they have created for the day.
Steuben County Fairgrounds, Bath
August 12-18, 2024
The oldest county fair in NY State and the longest continuously-running fair in the country, the Steuben County Fair features fun activities like tractor pulls, rodeos, demolition derbies, racing pigs (that’s right), special ag and livestock exhibits and competitions, carnival rides and games, tasty treats like funnel cakes and delicious fair food. When you consider that Steuben has “the most farming acreage of any New York State county,” you understand the County Fair carries on the tradition of being a gathering place for light-hearted fun and a showcase for the many agricultural achievements in the area.
Clinton Square, Downtown Syracuse
Last weekend in June
Since 1981, the Syracuse Jazz Fest has served as the Central New York region’s oldest, longest-running, and best-attended music festival. It’s a free event and has featured legendary artists like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Pete Fountain, and Natalie Cole. The four-day event begins with local musicians playing at numerous downtown restaurants and venues, and finishes with a headliner that will light up anyone’s soul.
NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Third weekend in July
The Syracuse Nationals is the largest car show in the Northeast! Come see cars from all over the US at the New York State Fairgrounds. Plus, there will be music, food, and more! Children 12 and under are free!
Big Flats
Late-Spring thru Labor Day
A nationally recognized amphitheater offering live, headliner concerts throughout the summer on its Budweiser Summer Stage. Previous artists have included, Keith Urban, the Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, STYX, ZZ Top and many more.
Marvin Park, Owego
August 7, 8, 9, 10, 2024
Join us in celebrating local agriculture and talent all week long at the 58th Annual Pennsylvania Tioga County Fair. Enjoy rides, games, live performances, demo derby, exhibits, food and much more.
Brantling Ski Slopes
July 25-28, 2024
BlueGrass Music fills Brantling Ski Slopes during this 3 day summer festival. Enjoy a lineup of local and national BlueGrass Bands that will leave you dancing the days away. Free camping is available with purchase of a weekend ticket.
Wayne County Fairgrounds-Palmyra
August 12 and 17, 2024
The Great Wayne County Fair is a fair located in Palmyra, NY that was established in 1856 and is a historical staple of Wayne County NY. Tour the grounds to interact with livestock, enjoy food and craft vendors, or midway rides. Check out one of the demolition derbies held throughout the week or maybe the Grease Pole competition.
