New York State Celebrates Spring with Festivals, Food, and Wine

Robert Doyle READ TIME: 5 MIN.

Albany, New York - Spring is just around the corner and that means cities and towns across New York State will be celebrating the arrival and excitement of the season with a variety of festivals and events. From mid-March through mid-June, visitors can enjoy the booming food and wine scene, sensational concerts and shows, cultural and artistic exhibitions, adventurous outdoor activities and adrenaline-racing sporting tournaments.

From its majestic mountains, storied cities and pristine lakes to pastoral farmlands and vineyards, New York State has it all. Here's a selection of some of the season's best festivities:

  • Food & Wine

    The 7th Annual Adirondack Festival of Food and Wine takes place at Lake Placid's Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa from April 19-22. The festival will feature "The Culinary Melting Pot" theme to capture how the five elements of taste influence the way people eat and drink. The popular four-day event will include wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, a cooking competition and various special seminars. Visit the Inn's website as the lodging packages and detailed itineraries become available: http://www.mirrorlakeinn.com/dining-Adirondack-Festival-Food-Wine.cfm or call (518) 523-2544.

    The Lake Ontario Wine Trail Tour de Tanks invites guests to take part in an interactive and unique tasting experience, including tours by the winemakers, food pairings and sneak previews of the incredible tastes that are coming in the new vintage. The events take place on April 14-15 in Williamson. Participating locations include JD Wine Cellars, Casa Larga Vineyards, Young Sommer Winery and Thorpe Vineyard. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.lakeontariowinetrail.com or call (315) 589-8861.

    A Taste of Syracuse is central New York's largest downtown. The annual food-a-rama showcases the area's most unique restaurants, wineries, breweries and entertainers from June 1-2. The festival closes several blocks of downtown streets to make way for dozens of vendors and concert stages. For more information, visit http://www.tasteofsyracuse.com/ or call (315) 471-9597.

    Tap NY is the longest running craft beer and food event in New York State and has grown tenfold through the years to now include the entire Base Lodge facilities at Hunter Mountain, in the Catskills, plus added tent space. From April 28-29, over 70 invited breweries representing 140-plus individual beers offer everything from India Pale Ales (IPAs) and lagers to wiesbiers, doppel and trippel bocks, stouts, ales - virtually any variety you know of, and probably a few that you don't. For more information, visit http://www.tap-ny.com/ or call (518) 263-4223.

    Uncork a natural wonder on the Niagara Wine Trail from April 13-15. Experience the beautiful countryside between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario as you spend the day traveling from one winery to another. Collect recipes as you sample food at each winery along the way and receive a wine glass at the first winery of your choice. Visit http://www.niagarawinetrail.org/ for more information or call (716) 772-2211.

  • Music

    The 35th Annual Ithaca Festival from May 31 - June 3 is the premier music and arts festival of its kind in the region. Over 30,000 people come through the festival over the four-day period and approximately 1,000 talented local musicians, painters, dancers, clowns, community groups and ensembles perform throughout the Ithaca Festival weekend. Enjoy multiple stages of entertainment, a special kid's activity area, a sustainability expo, a craft show, a parade, and delicious festival food at various locations. For more information, visit http://www.ithacafestival.org or call (607) 273-3646.

    The LakeGeorge.com Elvis Festival takes place May 31 - June 3 in Lake George. Over 4,000 spectators are expected to celebrate the life and music of Elvis Presley with Las Vegas-style tribute shows and a three-day competition. Visit http://www.lakegeorgeelvisfest.com/ for more information or call (518) 681-7452.

    Riverdance will perform for the last time in the Capital Region at the Glens Falls Civic Center on May 1 for one show only as the tour says "Farewell" to the United States for good. Riverdance draws on Irish traditions and the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. This unique show features an international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan's music. For tickets and more information, visit www.glensfallscc.com or call (518) 798-0202.

  • Arts & Culture

    The Russian National Ballet Theatre's "Swan Lake" will be performed at the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts in Vestal, in the Central New York region, on April 23. The Russian National Ballet Theatre, founded in Moscow in the late 1980s, is dedicated to upholding the timeless tradition of classical Russian ballet. The legendary Bolshoi principal dancer, Elena Radchenko, was selected by Presidential decree to assume the first permanent artistic directorship of this company with over 50 dancers. For tickets and more information, visit http://anderson.binghamton.edu or call (607) 777-6802.

    The SaratogaArtsFest is an organization that produces an annual four-day festival of the same name in Saratoga Springs. This year's festival takes place from June 7-10 with a program featuring emerging and established local, national and international artists at performance venues and exhibit spaces. For more information, visit http://www.saratogaartsfest.org or call (518) 580-8010.

    The East Durham Irish Festival takes place from May 26-27 with new and fresh entertainment direct from Ireland. Enjoy traditional Irish music, food, vendors and more. For information, visit http://www.eastdurhamirishfestival.com or call (518) 634-2286.

  • Nature

    Home Grown in Binghamton (May 11-14) allows guests to see what life inside the forest is like. Explore life among the branches while Home Grown takes you through the forests and hills of this surrounding community. Experience animal encounters and unleash your own creativity with animated creatures you design. Climb atop a tree house and discover the beauty of the forest from a birds-eye view. For more information, visit http://www.roberson.org/ or call (607) 772-0660.

    In the Finger Lakes region, the annual Montezuma Wildlife Festival on May 5 in Savannah brings families together to discover the wonders of nature, the wealth of healthy living through recreations and the richness of history that surrounds the area. For more information, visit http://iloveny.com/What-To-Do/Events/Montezuma-Wildlife-Festival/16888.aspx or call (315) 365-3588.

  • Air, Land & White Water

    The NASCAR Exhibit Opening on June 2 in Saratoga Springs will use cars, photos, memorabilia and personalities to illustrate NASCAR's growth from a dusty, Southern Sunday afternoon attraction to a national phenomenon. The exhibit will feature huge crowds of devoted fans, team sponsorships from all facets of corporate America, cutting edge technology, modern superspeedways and 'larger than life' driving heroes drawn from all corners of the United States, South America and Australia. For more information, visit http://saratogaautomuseum.org/nascar-exhibit-2012/ or call (518)-587-1935.

    On Long Island, the Jones Beach Annual Air Show in Wantagh will take place May 26-27. This year's lineup will include the United States Navy Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, as well as some of the best military and civilian aerobatic performers performing today. For more information, visit http://www.jonesbeachairshow.com/ or call (516) 785-1600.

    The 53rd Hudson River Whitewater Derby is the longest running white water derby, including novice slalom, giant slalom and a downriver race. The kayak competition takes place May 5-6 in Adirondacks town of North Creek. The festival will feature exhibits from the Adirondack Museum, live music, guided bike rides and hikes, a bounce house for the kids, helicopter rides, outdoor demonstrations, kayak and raft rides, among other activities. For more details, visit http://www.whitewaterderby.com or call (518) 251-2612.

    New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York's attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it's wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers.

    For a complete list of events in New York State, visit www.iloveny.com

    For more information, visit http://www.iloveny.com


    by Robert Doyle

    Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.

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