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Festivals, parades, and air shows, oh my! There’s so much to do in New York State this summer. Try delicious new foods, jam out to live music in beautiful outdoor amphitheaters, take a spin on midway rides, celebrate rich culture and community, watch hot air balloons take flight, and more, all season long. Mark your calendars. Here are some Empire State events you don’t want to miss! 

Updated 05/01/2025 | Originally published 05/02/2023

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Make your way over to Jones Beach this Memorial Day Weekend for a show that’ll knock your socks off! 2025 marks the Airshow’s 21st Anniversary with a thrilling lineup that includes air performances from United States Air Force Thunderbirds as the headliner, the United States Navy F-35C Demo Team, US Army Golden Knights parachute team, and much more. Wantagh; May 24 – May 25 from 10am – 3pm. Admission is free. Parking costs $10.

Photo Credit: Gabe Palacio

Enjoy gorgeous outdoor views while you watch an entertaining and enchanting lineup of performances. Watch one of Shakespeare’s most madcap comedies, The Comedy of Errors (June 8-August 3) or catch The Matchmaker (June 6-August 3), set between a sleepy Hudson River town and the bustling metropolis of 1880’s New York City. Later in the summer, Octet (August 11-September 7) is set to hit the Hudson Valley Shakespeare stage, the first to follow the original Off-Broadway version, as well as Julius Caesar (September 9-10). Garrison; June 6 – September 10. Prices vary by show and seat.

Start your engines and cruise through the scenic Adirondacks at the world’s largest multi-brand motorcycle touring rally! Admire the latest bikes and demos at trade shows, watch daring stunt shows, enjoy a delicious catered dinner boat cruise, and more right in Lake George. Lake George; May 28-31. Day passes can be purchased online or at the Lake George Holiday Inn the week of the event starting Tuesday.

Join millions in celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month at events throughout New York State! NYC holds a plethora of Pride events including the annual Pride March on June 29 which commemorates the first gay rights march that honored the first anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Long Island’s Pride events on June 8 include a day-long celebration with dancing, tons of vendors, exciting live performances, and food and drinks. Capital Pride also returns June 8 with an exciting parade and festival in Washington Park! Click here for more Pride events throughout New York State.

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It’s not summer without a concert at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. Bethel Woods’ amphitheater is one of the best venues for live music in the Catskills! This summer’s concert series features chart-topping artists like Dave Matthews Band, Luke Bryan, Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, , and more! The amphitheater also hosts festivals including Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities (July 25), a free one-day music extravaganza celebrating Disability Pride Month by showcasing musicians with disabilities. Bethel; May 24 through – September 13. Prices vary by event.

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Kick off the summer in Syracuse’s Clinton Square for one of the Finger Lakes’ biggest food and music festivals! Watch over 25 bands play live on three stages and taste the delicious cuisine of Syracuse from over 75 vendors including the original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Did we mention it’s free? Syracuse; June 6-7 from 11AM – 10PM. Free admission. Samples are $2.

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Set sail and celebrate 47 fun-filled years of Fairport Canal Days at one of the most popular arts festivals in New York State! With free admission, over 200 artisans, tons of fine food vendors, live music, and a Kids Zone for the little ones, there’s something for everyone! Fairport; June 6-8. Free.

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A summer in NYC isn’t complete without an iconic SummerStage live performance! The festival lasts around four months and features a diverse lineup of free and ticketed performances throughout all five boroughs ranging from music to dance to theater. This year’s headliners include The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital (June 9, 13, 11, 14, 15, 16), a Juneteenth Celebration with Noname/Ravyn Lenae/ Fana Hues (June 18), The Roots (July 20), a Pride celebration with Kehlani (June 26), and more. Manhattan; May-October. Free and ticketed events. Prices vary by show.

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Complete your summer in New York City with a dramatic Shakespearean production! After an 18-month renovation, Delacorte Theater will reopen this summer with a celebratory, star-studded production of Twelfth Night. Throughout its 45+ year history, Shakespeare in the Park has seen over five million visitors from around the world and performances from James Earl Jones, Meryl Streep, and Al Pacino! Don’t miss out on this summer’s production, directed by Tony Award nominee Saheem Ali. Manhattan; August 7-September 14. Tickets are free but must be reserved online.

Photo by Ruby Tull

Watch groundbreaking storytelling and star-studded premieres unfold right before your eyes at one of the world’s most popular film festivals right in NYC! This year’s lineup features 118 feature films from 135 filmmakers across 36 countries, including the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Miley Cyrus’ highly anticipated visual album Something Beautiful, and Tow, featuring Octavia Spencer, Demi Lovato, and Rose Byrne, among others! Manhattan; June 4-15. Prices for passes vary by event.

Celebrate boxing legends, honor the sport’s rich history, and enjoy a lineup of exciting events in boxing’s hometown at the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend! The four-day celebration kicks off Thursday, June 5 at the museum grounds with the opening bell rings and features a 5K Fun Run, Boxing Autograph Card Show, and a Parade of Champions, ending the weekend with the Induction Ceremony. This year’s 2025 inductees include Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, Mary Jo Sanders, Yessica Chavez, and more! Canastota; June 5-8. Ticket prices vary by event.

A diverse lineup of big-name and up-and-coming artists awaits at this summer staple of the Capital Region! With each week of the six-week series embracing a different genre from folk rock to hip hop, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Albany; concerts are Thursdays from June 5 – July 17 from 4:30pm – 8pm. Admission is free.

Photo Courtesy of Food and Wine Festival

Celebrate good food and beverage from vendors all over New York State, from the white sand shores of Long Island to the roaring river of the Thousand Islands at the Great NY State Food & Wine Festival! Don’t miss out on this year’s delicious vendor lineup including Adirondack Winery, Saint Lawrence Spirits, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Thousand Islands Winery, Nav’s Popcorn, and more. Clayton; June 13-15. Admission is $20 for adults (21+), $5 for children 13-20, and free for children under 12.

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Honor the history and roots of the blues genre at one of the largest free blues events in the Northeast! Catch talented headliners like Warren Haynes Band, Ruthie Foster, Southern Avenue, The Kingsnakes, along with local and regional talent. Syracuse; June 12-14. Admission is free. Parking is $10 per car, $5 per motorcycle. 

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The summer isn’t complete without witnessing a live performance at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center). With this year’s lineup ranging from big-name performers like Thomas Rhett, Def Leppard, Blink 182, Mumford & Sons to the renowned New York City Ballet, Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, there’s something for everyone! Enjoy the music from the open area lawn or 5,000 covered seats. Saratoga Springs; now through September 27. Ticket prices vary by event.

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Head to Plattekill Mountain in Roxbury for a day filled with yoga and meditation for the whole family! More than 40 classes and workshops are scheduled throughout the festival with everything from aerial yoga to kids yoga to restorative yoga, each taught by instructors from all over the country. Plus, there will also be a food and vendor market. Roxbury, July 26 General admission: $30, basic pass: $140, VIP pass: $165.

Celebrate 54 years of art at the LARAC June Arts Festival! Stroll through one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in the state with more than 130 exhibitors and a variety of items from handmade jewelry and home items to fine art and textiles. With children’s activities and art demos for the kids, there’s fun for the whole family! Glens Falls; June 14, 10am-5pm, and June 15, 10am-4pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

Don’t miss one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country at Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival! The 49th annual event honoring the abolition of slavery and preserving African-American heritage takes place at Martin Luther King Jr. Park and includes a parade, live entertainment, children’s activities, delicious food vendors, and more. Buffalo; June 14-15. Admission is free.

Head to the Rochester International Jazz Festival for one of the coolest experiences in American Jazz! At this nine-day celebration featuring over 1,700 artists, you’ll hear music from all over the world at one of the 20 venues throughout downtown. Catch ticketed headliners like Smokey Robinson, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, The Wood Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, and Thundercat,, or free headliner shows from Jesus Molina, Chris Lane, Lettuce, and more! Rochester; June 20-28. Prices vary by event.

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From chamber music to interfaith programs to kayak eco-tours, there’s always something new to experience at the Chautauqua Institution! Stop by for their wonderful annual summer ensemble, featuring nine themed weeks with a mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities including performances from the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Counting Crows, Alexander Gavrylyuk, and more. Chautauqua; June 21 – August 24. Ticket prices vary by event.

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Fill your summer with thrilling drama and exciting outdoor musicals and plays (for free!) at Park Playhouse! This year’s production is Oklahoma! (July 1-27), with a special encore weekend July 31-August 2. Other Playhouse productions include The Waiting (June 12-15), The Little Mermaid (July 22-August 17), and Moana Jr. (August 21-24) all showing at the Cohoes Music Hall. Albany; June 12- August 24. Admission is free.

Photo Courtesy of LEGOLAND

Celebrate July 4th weekend at LEGOLAND® New York Resort’s Red, White & BOOM! event! Use 3D glasses to watch as colorful fireworks burst into LEGO bricks right before your eyes and be sure to check out other Bricktastic events all included with regular day admission. Goshen; July 4. One-day theme park admission is $49/person online and $94/person at the front gate.

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Merriment awaits at the 49th Annual Sterling Renaissance Festival! Prepare to be enchanted as you stroll through the Royal Marketplace, witness the Queen and her entourage touring the streets, experience plentiful culinary creations, and play authentic Elizabethan games. Sterling; Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 7pm, July 5-August 17 rain or shine. Single-day general admission tickets start at $41.71 for adults and $26.21 for children 4 – 11.

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Experience one of the largest and most magical Fourth of July celebrations in the country at the Macy’s 49th Annual 4th of July Fireworks! Prepare to be amazed as beautiful bursts of color synchronize with the accompanying pop and patriotic music. Manhattan; July 4 at 8pm. See website for more information.

Encounter some of the world’s greatest opera and musical theater this summer at the internationally acclaimed Glimmerglass Festival! Take in the view of Otsego Lake while you watch performances like Tosca (July 11 – August 16), Sunday in The Park With George (July 12 – August 17), The Rake’s Progress (July 18 – August 16), The House on Mango Street (July 19 – 15), Odyssey (August 3-8), and more. Cooperstown; July 11 – August 17. Ticket prices vary by performance.

Attention foodies: mark your calendars for one of the country’s largest two-day food festivals happening this summer! Get a taste of some of Buffalo’s best restaurants, food trucks, wineries, and more. While you enjoy tasty Buffalonian bites, enjoy live entertainment throughout the festival and cooking demonstrations from the Culinary Stage. Buffalo; July 12, 11am-8pm – July 13, 11am-7pm. Admission is free. Food and beverages can be purchased with tickets. $6 for 10 tickets.

This once small local event is now one of the largest free festivals in the region, seeing around 75,000 visitors annually! With four fun-filled days complete with live entertainment, a wide variety of vendors, midway rides, a children’s parade, and fireworks, there’s something for the whole family. Oswego; July 24-27. Admission is free.

Credit: National Comedy Center

Get ready to laugh at The National Comedy Center’s annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival! Join visitors from across the nation at more than 50 events featuring 30 artists in Jamestown. This year’s headliners include Jon Stewart, Bill Murray, and SNL cast member and writer, Mikey Day, and head writer Streeter Seidell. These comedy legends join the festival’s history of renowned headliners like Trevor Noah, Jay Leno, John Mulaney, and Ellen DeGeneres, just to name a few. Jamestown; August 7-10. Ticket prices vary by event and go on sale to the public May 2 at 10am.

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Join over 100,000 travelers from across the country as you watch 25 colorful hot air balloons take to the skies at the 41st Annual Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally Expo! Rock out at three nights of live performances from Jason Michael Carroll, Jared Campbell, and Alyssa Crosby, and be sure to stop by the car and truck shows. Binghamton; August 1-3. Access to morning launches is free. Admission for concerts and other events to be announced. 

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Discover what makes New York State so great at the 13-day celebration of the Great New York State Fair! Join thousands of fairgoers and experience delicious food, exhilarating exhibits, adorable animals, midway rides, and big-name entertainment like Steve Miller Band, O.A.R., Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, and more! Syracuse; August 20- September 1, 9am-11pm. Admission is $8 per person and free for 12 and under and 65+. Parking costs $12 per vehicle.

Travel back to the days of eight tracks and cassette tapes at Alexandria Bay’s free outdoor live entertainment weekend, Rockin’ the Bay! Enjoy a weekend filled with classic rock, classic cars, and more. Alexandria Bay; August 21 – 24. Entry is free.

Experience the only Grand Slam tournament that takes place in America and the final major of the tennis calendar at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens this summer! Watch two weeks of the world’s best tennis player’s battle for titles like defending US Open singles champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. Queens; August 18 – September 7. Individual tickets go on sale to the public May 30. Prices vary by event.

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End summer with one of the largest outdoor horse shows in the United States at the Hampton Classic! Watch 200+ separate competitions, including the coveted Hampton Classic Grand Prix, complete with top equestrians, national champion hunter competitors, and Olympic medalists. Spectators can also enjoy 80 onsite shops, international food options, kids activities, and Animal Adoption Day on Monday, August 25. Bridgehampton; August 24 – 31. Daily admission is $20 per car, cash only.

Credit: Visit Buffalo Niagara

Attention wing lovers! Be sure to hit up the official Home of the Buffalo Wing this summer for the National Buffalo Wing Festival! Join over 50,000+ visitors as you sample over 100 styles of chicken wings from local, national, and international eateries. While you snack, check out other activities like the hot wing eating competition, celebrity-influencer “sauce-off,” bobbing for wings, and the United States Buffalo Wing Eating Championship. Buffalo; August 30, 11am-8pm and August 31, 11am-7pm. Admission is $20 per person per day. Children eight and under are free. Food tickets are an additional $13.80 per ten tickets.

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