Welcome to the Top 10 Events in New York
Explore the selection of the top 10 annual events and festivals, fairs and celebrations (listed in calendar priority) across the State of New York, including events in Lake Placid, Albany, Rochester, Long Island and New York.New York has many beautiful attractions. If you're interested in relocating to New York, NYC movers can help.
Empire State Winter Games
February
Lake Placid, New York
Patterned after the Olympics, New York's Empire State Winter Games is not only the first and largest of its kind in the nation, but is often considered to be among the most successful - setting the standard for multi-sport amateur athletic programs.
Lake Placid's Winter Games have been the training
ground for many of New York State's most successful winter Olympic athletes. Several former Empire State Winter Games athletes medaled in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
For more information visit:www.empirestatewintergames.com
Tulip Festival
May
Albany, New York
Named one of the 2008 top 100 events by the American Bus Association, and Winner of the 2003 Hospitality Excellence Award, this spring festival of more than 200,000 tulips has been a hit for 60 years.
Attractions at this three day event include the street scrubbing on State Street, the Tulip Queen Coronation, Tulip Queen and Court Luncheon and Royal Tulip Ball, music events, children’s activities, food, and art and craft vendors.
For more information visit: www.albanyevents.org
360 l 365 George Eastman House Film Festival
May
Rochester, New York
Spotlighting the cinematic works of women by bringing the finest independent motion pictures and film artists to Rochester and Western New York audiences, the 360 l 365 George Eastman House Film Festival is one of only 40 film festivals worldwide that celebrates the work of women filmmakers, and is the largest, longest running women’s film festival on the East Coast.
Past guests include actors Rita Moreno, Christine Lahti, Angela Bassett, Candice Bergen, Bill Pullman, Joan Allen, Jane Alexander, Famke Janssen, Sally Kellerman, Nancy “Bart Simpson” Cartwright, and others.
For more information visit: www.film360365.com
Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
June
Rochester, New York
With all performances at 8pm at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, a Rochester tradition for 10 years, offers an impressive line-up of stars and talent. Attracting more than 165,000 visitors each year, the jazz festival showcases 250 concerts over 9 days in June each year.
For more information visit : http://www.rochesterjazz.com/
Harborfest
July
Oswego, New York
During the past 21 years Harborfest has grown from a small local festival to a major regional event with national performance acts and the ever-popular fireworks show.
More than 250,000 visitors attend the annual festival that has earned more than 10 International Festival and Event Association Awards for excellence. Harborfest was named a “Top 100 Event in North America” by the prestigious American Bus Association on four different occasions and was voted the most popular festival in Central New York by viewers of WSTM-TV3. Of most recent note for 2008, Harborfest is voted number eight on www.fireworksguide.com
For more information visit: www.oswegoharborfest.com
OR ... TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP EVENTS USA FEATURE PROFILE ABOUT HARBORFESTGreat New York State Fair
August
Syracuse, New York
Each summer, the 12-day Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York State's agriculture, entertainment, education, industry & technology.
More than a million visitors enjoy more than 375 acres of animals, exhibits and displays, food, live performances from the biggest names in entertainment, midway rides and games of skill.
For more information visit: www.nysfair.org
Adirondack Balloon Festival
September
Queensbury, New York
Voted one of the top 100 events in the country by event goers of the American Bus Association, the Adirondack Balloon Festival features several balloon flights over four days as well as kids activities, art shows, kite flying, military aircraft displays, and fireworks.
The event takes place in the city of Glen Falls, the town of Queensbury, Lake George Village Battlefield Park and Adirondack Community College with five balloon launches featuring more than 350 balloons of all shapes and sizes.
For more information visit: www.adirondackballoonfest.org
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
September
Saugerties, New York
The annual, fall Hudson Valley Garlic Festival celebrates garlic and its generous life-sustaining gifts with early harvest rituals, music, dance, delicious food, and fun. Main attractions include the GArlic MArketplace, Garlic Food Alley, demonstrations and lectures about garlic, chef demonstrations, arts and crafts and a children’s area.
The first festival in 1990 attracted less than 420 enthusiasts. Today, the event draws more than 50,000 attendees.
For more information visit: http://hvgf.org
Oyster Festival, Oyster Bay
October
Long Island, New York
The free Oyster Festival is one of the East Coast's largest annual waterfront festivals. A major fund-raising event for local charities, the celebration has offered food and entertainment for over 24 years.
Visitors enjoy live music outdoors, craft fairs and an antiques market, as well as an exotic animal petting zoo, tall ships and the Food Court for the freshest seafood and tastiest snacks available anywhere.
For more information visit: www.theoysterfestival.org
Hamptons International Film Festival
October
Long Island, New York
Founded to celebrate the Independent film - long, short, fiction and documentary - and to introduce a unique and varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers, the 16 year old Hamptons International Film Festival exhibits films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives.
Notable films have included Birth, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Gods and Monsters, Hotel Rwanda, Kinsey, Pollock, Nowhere in Africa, and much more.
For more information visit: http://hamptonsfilmfest.org
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
November
New York City, New York
Starting in 1924 as Macy’s Christmas Parade with animals from the Central Park Zoo, this popular event now attracts more than 2.5 million people and another 44 million tune in to watch the balloons, floats, bands and celebrities in the most spectacular Thanksgiving holiday celebration in the world.
The three hour parade trails from 77th Street down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, then down Broadway to Herald Square.
For more information visit: www.macys.com/campaign/parade/parade.jsp
