The weather may be cooling down but fall festival season is heating up. Now is the time to gather, enjoy an array of cuisine and celebrate everything from heritage to harvest. Take a look at a sampling of upcoming fall festivals and put a weekend in Syracuse on your itinerary.
Syracuse Irish Festival
Sept. 9-10
Location: Clinton Square
You don't have to be Irish to experience the Syracuse Irish Festival. All things Irish will take over Clinton Square this weekend as bands fill Downtown with live music and vendors keep the Guinness flowing. This family-friendly event boasts a variety of Irish food, craft vendors and Irish step-dance performances. Don't miss out on this entertaining celebration.
Golden Harvest Festival
Sept. 10-11
Location: Beaver Lake Nature Center
This old-fashioned, country fair-style event has something for everyone. Hands-on nature activities, horse-drawn hayrides, free canoeing, fresh doughnuts, live animal demonstrations, unique games, great shopping with local artists and crafters, and an eclectic mix of live music and entertainment round out the weekend. Audience participation has long been a mainstay of the program as visitors serve as both contestants and judges in the signature Living Scarecrow and Wild Critter Call contests.
Festa Italiana
Sept. 16, 17, 18
Location: Outside of City Hall, Downtown Syracuse
One of the area's top food festivals, Festa Italiana, returns from September 16th - 18th, 2022. Fill up on food from Avicolli's Italian Restaurant, desserts from Biscotti Cafe, or a variety of other vendors, and check out the entertainment schedule to catch one of the area acts performing on the main or second stage.
Autumn Equinox Festival
Sept. 17
Location: Long Branch Park, Liverpool
Celebrate the autumn equinox and Pagan Pride Day with drumming, dancing and music. People of all religions are welcome to this fun festival and admission is just a non-perishable food item donation for the Food Bank of Central New York. Shop around an array of vendors for everything from crystals and hand-forged jewelry to furniture and art prints. Get your tarot cards read or speak to a psychic medium. This unique festival is a great way to celebrate the autumn equinox.
Ballpark Brewfest
Sept. 24
Location: NBT Bank Stadium, Home of the Syracuse Mets
Head out to the Ballpark — not for a game, but rather some brews! Sample over 80 unique craft beers from an array of breweries. Check out the "Keeping it Local" Corner and try some of the best brews and ciders from the 315 area code. Breweries such as Bull Finch Brewing, Eastwood, Meier's Creek, Underground Beer Lab and more will be in attendance! Get your tickets for the Ballpark Brewfest today!
Westcott Street Cultural Fair
Sept. 25
12:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Westcott Street
Come down to Syracuse’s vibrant Westcott neighborhood for, the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, a one-day festival full of community celebration. Vendors and booths will line Westcott Street and various stages will feature everything from live music to belly dancing performances. Pick up a local good, enjoy a great array of food or watch the festival kick-off with a festive parade down Westcott Street.
TAP into the MOST presented by Nave Law Firm
Sept. 30
6 - 9 pm
Location: The Museum of Science & Technology (M.O.S.T.), Downtown Syracuse
Join your friends at the museum's famed tasting event, featuring dozens of the best regional beers, wines, ciders and spirits as well as some of the Syracuse area's fave foods. Mix and mingle at The M.O.S.T., while enjoying an exclusive selection of the finest beverage and food pairings, with all proceeds supporting local educational programs and ongoing exhibit preservation efforts.
Lafayette Apple Festival
October 8-9
Location: 5330 Rowland Road, Lafayette
Join in on this celebration of all things apple. Apple cider, apple fritters, apple pie, apple dumplings and apple donuts are a few of the many apple-centric foods and drinks available at the Lafayette Apple Festival. Rides, crafts, a food court and pie baking contests are staples of this festival.
Mimosa Fest featuring Ryan Cabrera
October 9
Location: The Westcott Theater
Brunch? Check. Mimosas? Double Check. 🥂 Get your tix for general admission, with doors opening at 12 p.m. and one free mimosa included in ticket price. VIP admission serves up early entry, two free mimosas, one event T-shirt and access to the VIP area. A killer venue, bomb drinks and pop star DJ Ryan Cabrera spinning beats all afternoon — that's how you get into the fall vibe! 🍾
Enchanted Beaver Lake
October TBD
Location: Beaver Lake Nature Center
More than 500 specially carved jack-o-lanterns of different shapes and sizes, plus 500 glowing luminaria light the way along two winding wooded trails. Face painting, fortune telling, magic shows and storytelling add to the enchantment of the night. Enchanted Beaver Lake is the perfect October celebration and a must-see during pumpkin season.
Halloween Bar Crawl (21+)
October 29
Locations: Clinton Street Pub, Gilded Club, Orbis Lounge, Saltine Warrior Sports Pub, Shaughnessy's Irish Pub
5+ venues, 2 drinks or shots, custom badge and lanyard, exclusive food and drink specials at select locations, waived cover at all venues, professional photographers, $1,000 costume contest, awesome after party from and more — the Jack-O-Lantern won't be the only thing getting lit this Halloween. 🎃🔥
