It's Festival Season in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State
Canandaigua, NY (PRWEB) April 23, 2014 -- It's festival season in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Just about every weekend from spring through fall there is a great time to be had for visitors and locals alike. Whether it be beer, wine, food or the outdoors, it's here to explore.
"We like to consider the Finger Lakes to be the festival capital of the world," said AJ Shear, Communications Manager for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection. "We're very proud of where we live and we love to share the amazing features of our region with visitors by showing off everything we have at our festivals. Grape and wine festivals, Native American festivals and art festivals are all a part of cultural abundance that exists in the Finger Lakes."
Here is a sampling of upcoming events in the Finger Lakes:
Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival
June 4 – 8, 2014
Canandaigua, NY
http://www.fingerlakespleinair.com
The Plein Air Festival is the first of its kind in New York State. The event will feature as many as forty-five talented artists from across the country to paint the beauty of Canandaigua and the Finger Lakes, and will bring in art lovers and collectors.
Artists will work in various painting media on location in and around Canandaigua throughout the weekend painting scenes and vistas, city streets, historic structures, farm and vineyard vistas. While the artists are busy painting there will be family events, live music, food, art exhibits and educational programs on Saturday. Young and old alike can transform the downtown sidewalks into works of art using colored chalks in the Chalk It Up...Downtown Event. Judging, exhibition, awards and sale of artists' work will take place on Sunday.
Sonnenberg Gardens Roses and Rosés
June 9, 2014
Canandaigua, NY
http://www.sonnenberg.org
This elegant wine and food pairing event showcases over thirty wineries and restaurants of the Finger Lakes Region and kicks off Rose Week at the historic Sonnenberg Gardens. Guests are invited to stroll through the historic Mansion, Belvedere, and Rose Garden where over 2,500 roses are in bloom during the garden’s peak.
Finger Lakes Brew Festival
June 21, 2014
Geneva, NY
http://www.visitgenevany.com
There are few things better than a summer evening by a beautiful lake. Add to that, the opportunity to taste beer and mingling with other beer lovers, and you have a great way to celebrate the summer solstice. Held alongside Seneca Lake on the first day of summer, the Finger Lakes Brew Festival will feature local music, breweries, tastings and vendors. The festival is hosted by the Geneva Y and will take place in the new Geneva Lakefront Events Center at the Lakefront Park along the northern shore of Seneca Lake.
Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials
July 11 – 13, 2014
Victor, NY
http://www.stuarthorsetrials.org
Agility, endurance, and bravery are on display in three disciplines (dressage, cross country, and show jumping, known collectively as “eventing”) with the added excitement of an often-unpredictable relationship between horse and rider. The “extreme triathlon of equestrian sports” moniker is no understatement. More than 250 riders from across the United States and overseas will compete at this family-friendly event.
Native American Dance & Music Festival
July 26 – 27, 2014
Victor, NY
http://www.ganondagan.org
The Native American Dance & Music Festival is Ganondagan's annual summer event that features a wide range of Native American traditional dancers, musicians, storytellers, and artists sharing their cultural heritage, crafts and arts with festival goers.
This event also features the ever popular children and adult workshops such as cornhusk doll making, native foods such as fry-bread, interpreted programs in the Visitor's Center and Bark Longhouse, guided trail walks, and the family drum jam.
Finger Lakes Riesling Festival
Aug. 9 – 10, 2014
Canandaigua, NY
http://www.rieslingfestival.com
Beautiful lakes. Nature’s bounty. The friendliest people. In one weekend, we celebrate it all. Join us as wineries, breweries, restaurants, cheese makers, artists, craftsmen and musicians gather to bring everything that makes our region special together in one place. It’s a festival to celebrate summer, families, fun … and the good times when it all comes together.
Finger Lakes HopFest
Aug. 9 – 10, 2014
Bloomfield, NY
http://www.nedlohbrewing.com
Nedloh Brewing Co. is proud to host the first ever Finger Lakes HopFest, a new festival that will bring together brewers and enthusiasts to celebrate, sample and learn about hops and craft beer. Hopsfest will feature educational seminars with tips on crafting great beers, growing hops, home brewing and pairing beer with foods. Beer lovers will be able sample craft brews from Nedloh Brewing Co. and different breweries from across Upstate New York. In addition to a food truck rodeo, there will be a Big Green Egg Grill chef cook-off.
Naples Grape Festival
Sept. 27 – 28, 2014
Naples, NY
http://www.naplesgrapefest.org
Since 1961, the grape festival has been held every September to celebrate the area's grape harvest, talented artisans, wine makers, local and regional music and cuisine in the Naples valley. Bake a pie for the World's Greatest Grape Pie Contest and sample everything "grape" that the Finger Lakes has to offer. Taste Finger Lakes wines in the wine tent and explore arts and crafts for every taste and budget. Throughout the 2-day festival you can enjoy area musicians performing rock, blues, jazz and original music to get your feet tapping and your heart singing.
AJ Shear, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, 877-386-4669, [email protected]
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