Tied to diverse sectors of the New York economy, past and present, these events showcase the diversity of the state’s festival scene:
Celebrating ten years this July, the three-day Finger Lakes Wine Festival in Watkins Glen showcases the region’s preeminent viticultural industry, featuring more than 80 wineries along with regional artisans, live music, culinary classes and cooking demonstrations.
Another perfect pairing is the collaboration between the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance and the Finger Lakes Cider Alliance. Along with its own one-day festival in July, the former also participates in the latter’s nine-day Cider Week event in early October.
Before revolutionizing the way people saw the world through imaging and optics as the founding home of Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb, Rochester was a global powerhouse in milling (“Flour City”) and horticulture (“Flower City”). The latter is celebrated each May at the annual Lilac Festival. Turning 118 this year, it’s the largest free event of its kind in North America.
Staged in 155-acre Highland Park, the city’s original park (1888) from legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, it’s “nirvana for the nose” at this 10-day floral fest, including a kick-off parade, arts and crafts vendors, live music, craft beer garden, chocolate and wine tasting, live music—and 500-plus lilac varieties, many Rochester originals.
In the late 1800’s, Saranac Lake, close to Lake Placid and the everlasting hockey glory of the 1980 Winter Olympics, was a renowned health resort. With many “taking the cure” at the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium here, outdoor sports came into the picture in 1897 via an inaugural one-day winter carnival. Held sporadically through the following decades, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has been an annual tradition since 1947.
Celebrating its 120th anniversary in February 2017, the 10-day fest, renowned for its lakeside Ice Palace, features traditional winter sports and non-traditional events like Snowflake Volleyball, plus concerts, fireworks and more.
