You may still be relishing in the warm nights and long summer walks on the beach, but fall is on the horizon. The days will get shorter but there are still so many things to look forward including our favorite festivals around the state. From food festivals to events the whole family can enjoy; New York State has got you covered when it comes to having fun this season.
· Adirondack Balloon Festival
September 19 – September 22
Hot air balloonists from across the United States as well as internationally based pilots attend the Adirondack Balloon Festival for the awe-inspiring views of the Southern Adirondacks. Featuring a wide array of hot air balloons including special shapes, the festival includes lots of family fun, activities and entertainment.
· The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze
September 20 – November 30
The most electrifying event in the tri-state area, The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze meanders through an 18th-century landscape and discovers a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns—all designed and hand-carved on site by our team of artisans!
· Apple Harvest Festival
September 27 – September 29
The 37th annual three-day fall festival in the Finger Lakes celebrates New York’s Apple Growers and Cider Makers. Enjoy cider tasting & food pairing events, a farmer showcase featuring Upstate New York 4-H, the First Peoples Festival celebrating our indigenous people of New York State, and cider & pomology master talks.
· Oktoberfest Weekends at Hunter Mountain
September 28 – October 20
Oktoberfest is four weekends long, capturing the beauty of the northern Catskills in Autumn. Experience live entertainment and great food surrounded by lush fall foliage. The modern celebration of the harvest features numerous vendors, free crafts for the kids, and much more.
· Taste of the Catskills
October 12 – October 13
The Taste of the Catskills Festival is a family-friendly event that showcases the food, beer, crafts, and wine of the region. With a variety of vendors including farmers, value-added food producers, and restaurants, attendees learn how food travels from farm to fork during a fun-filled autumn weekend on the grounds of Maple Shade Farm, a family-run farm in Delhi.
· Oyster Festival
October 19 – October 20
The Oyster Festival, the East Coast’s largest waterfront festival attracting more than 150,000 attendees each year, offering a mixture of new activities and old favorites to entertain the whole family.
· NYS SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 19 – October 20
Visitors and vendors from far and near gather annually at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds for a festival like no other. Meet sheep, llamas, and alpacas, and watch the competitions, shows and shearing demos! Indulge in specialty food and wine tastings or watch cooking demonstrations from professional chefs. Over 300 fiber artists and craftsmen offer everything from yarn and spinning wheels to clothing and housewares. Angora and cashmere are some of the most luxurious materials you can buy.
· The Genesee Valley Hunt Races
The Genesee Valley Hunt Races is a 120+ year old event featuring live equestrian racing, dog events, boutique shopping, wagon rides, and a New York State themed-food and wine farmers market located in Livingston County in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Attendees to this October event are known for their high-class tailgate parties in which tailgaters pass down their coveted front row spaces among generations of family. These elaborate parties are complete with fine china, table linens, and decor and guest chefs/celebrities judge the tailgates on their presentation and culinary experience.
· FLX Cider Week
Sept. 27 – Oct. 6th
Events will take place across the Finger Lakes region, with Ithaca’s burgeoning craft cider scene prompting more than 25 events alone. The week-long celebration of craft cider will hold events such as the following:
o Specialty three course themed cider dinners at farm-to-table eateries such as Hazelnut Kitchen. http://hazelnutkitchen.com/flx-cider-week-september-27-october-6/
o Craft cocktail tastings at a special “Monks and Makers” a NY Cider Tasting Salon at the Downtown Ithaca Marriott, in conjunction with the annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monks-and-makers-2019-a-nys-cider-tasting-salon-tickets-67520803541
o Orchard tours and tastings not typically open to the public – https://ciderweekflx.com/flx/events/
o A soil to glass orchard tour at Eve’s cidery – https://www.visitithaca.com/node/2411
o Zydeco dancing at the brand new South Hill Cider, located just above beautiful Buttermilk Falls State Park https://events.visitithaca.com/event/south_hill_cider_zydeco_stomp
