Syracuse festival guide 2025: See CNY’s huge calendar of summer events

0 of 64

It’s finally summer festival season in and around Syracuse, those magical five months where the sounds of live music and the scents of fresh cooking fill the streets around Central New York.

We’ve put together a list of all the major festivals in the greater Syracuse area, from musical events to cultural celebrations and even a big video game convention.

Know of something we missed? Email Katrina Tulloch at ktulloch@syracuse.com.

St. Sophia Greek Cultural Festival: June 5-8

Where: St. Sophia’s, 325 Waring Rd., DeWitt

What to expect: Vendors will offer a bevy of traditional Greek foods, including souvlaki, dolmades, gyros, spanakopita, loukoumades, baklava and more. Entertainment includes dancers, tours of the orthodox church and Greek culture sessions with wine and spirits. Free to attend.

More info: syracusegreekfest.com

Taste of Syracuse: June 6-7

Where: In and around Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: Syracuse’s largest food festival brings more than 80 local bars and restaurants to downtown, offering $2 samples of their favorite treats. The two-day festival features three stages that boom all day and night with live music from scores of local artists and national headliners, like Steven Page on Saturday). Free to attend.

More info: tasteofsyracuse.com

Oz-Stravaganza: June 6-8

Where: All Things Oz Museum, 219 W. Genesee St., Chittenango

What to expect: A celebration of the iconic Wizard of Oz film, including shopping, games, rides and entertainment in the hometown of Oz author L. Frank Baum.

More info: oz-stravaganza.com

Light a Candle for Literacy Parade & Children’s Book Festival: June 7

Where: Beauchamp Library, 2111 S. Salina St., Syracuse and Brighton Academy Middle School, 309 W. Brighton Ave., Syracuse

What to expect: The parade and festival include local children’s book authors and illustrators, free book giveaways, live performances, and a variety of engaging activities for children of all ages. The purpose is to increase awareness of the importance of literacy, counteract the summer reading loss in children, and help parents understand the importance of reading to their children daily.

More info: lightacandleforliteracy.org

NYS Blues Festival: June 12-14

Where: Chevy Court at the NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse

What to expect: Three days of open-air blues come to the state fairgrounds in Syracuse for the annual NYS Blues Fest. Admission is free and VIP packages are available for sale.

This year’s headliners include The Warren Haynes Band, new Grammy winner Ruthie Foster, blues-soul band Southern Avenue and a “Three Kings” tribute to blues icons B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King.

More info: nysbluesfest.com

Syracuse Juneteenth Festival: June 13-14

Where: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: The Juneteenth Festival features food, dance, vendors, music and a Victory Parade on Saturday morning. Juneteenth (June 19) marks the day at the end of the Civil War in 1865 that Union troops told the last slaves (in Galveston, Texas) that they were free. It became a federal holiday in 2021. Free to attend.

More info: syracusejuneteenth.com

Polish Festival: June 20-22

Where: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: The three-day festival celebrates Polish culture and heritage with dance, food and events like the pierogi eating contest and honoring Jason Smorol, the 2025 “Pole of the Year.” A variety of traditional Polish souvenirs, jewelry, T-shirts, hats and other arts and crafts will be sold during the event. Free to attend.

More info: polishscholarship.org

CNY Pride Parade & Festival: June 21

Where: Progress Park at Syracuse Inner Harbor

What to expect: This annual pride event is a vibrant, family-friendly celebration, drawing thousands of people to Progress Park at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. The 11 a.m. parade features an energetic, colorful procession along Solar Street and West Kirkpatrick Street, showcasing the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. The festival (12-5 p.m.) offers live entertainment, over 80 vendors, food and beverages. See all Syracuse Pride Month events here. Free to attend.

More info: cnypride.org

Navarino Strawberry Festival: June 21-22

Where: 3655 Cherry Valley Tnpk., Syracuse.

What to expect: Get ready for a day of family fun at Navarino Orchard’s Strawberry Festival. They host over 75 unique and handmade craft vendors, pony rides, bounce houses and more. Parking and entry are free.

The festival celebrates the strawberry-picking season which starts in mid-June, with raspberries to follow in early July. Apples and tomatoes start in August and run concurrently with pumpkins through October.

More info: navarinoorchard.com

Syracuse Jazz Fest: June 25-29

Where: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: The long-running free jazz festival continues its latest iteration in downtown Syracuse. Trombone Shorty will return to headline the JMA Wireless Main Stage in downtown Syracuse on Friday, June 27. The Spinners and Steve Smith’s Vital Information will highlight Thursday, June 26. Todd Rundgren will perform Saturday, June 28, in Clinton Square. Free to attend.

More info: syracusejazzfest.com

World Refugee Day: June 28

Where: 2400 Grant Blvd., Syracuse

What to expect: A community celebration at Grant Middle School honoring people who have fled violence or oppression in other countries to make their home here in Syracuse, with many cultural offerings from dance and music to food. Free to attend.

More info: facebook.com/worldrefugeedaysyracuse

Middle Eastern Cultural Festival: July 10-13

Where: St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4988 Onondaga Rd., Syracuse

What to expect: This sprawling annual event on the west side features a full course menu of homemade Middle Eastern food along with live Arabic music, dances and more.

More info: syracusemideastfest.com

Pizza & Pasta Festival: July 11-12

Where: Inner Harbor, Syracuse

What to expect: The two-day Pizza & Pasta Festival includes 20 food trucks, craft beers and live entertainment for a can’t-miss summer celebration of Italian cuisine.

More info: thesyracuseinnerharbor.com

St. Mary’s Egyptian Festival: July 18-20

Where: 106 Church St., North Syracuse

What to expect: The three-day Egyptian Festival features church tours of St. Mary, Egyptian food and desserts, drinks, gifts, a kids’ corner and more. Free admission.

More info: stmarystminacopticchurch.org/egyptian-festival

Syracuse Nationals: July 18-20

Where: NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse

What to expect: The largest car show in New York features vehicles from around the country in every category, from muscle cars to antiques to designer vehicles, all made before the year 2000.

More info: syracusenationals.com

St. Patrick’s Church Irish Festival: July 18-19

Where: St. Patrick’s Church on Tipperary Hill, 216 Lowell Ave., Syracuse

What to expect: Two days of live music, food and beer trucks, Irish dancers and raffles.

More info: stpatricksandstbrigids.org/irish-festival

Harborfest: July 24-27

Where: Breitbeck Park, Oswego

What to expect: The waterfront festival in Oswego is well known for its massive fireworks over Lake Ontario. But the days are filled with food, music, carnival games, rides and even helicopter trips. Headlining bands include Parmalee, Urgent and ColdFront.

More info: oswegoharborfest.com

Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival: July 25-27

Where: Columbus Circle and surrounding streets, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: More than 150 artisans and craftspeople from across the country and Canada will descend upon downtown Syracuse to hawk their wares, selling everything from art to furniture to clothing to jewelry. Free to attend.

More info: downtownsyracuse.com

KRockathon Reboot: July 26

Where: Chevy Court at the NYS Fairgrounds

What to expect: Local radio station K-Rock is bringing back its storied hard-rock festival. The 2025 KRockathon festival will feature a nostalgic lineup that includes Grammy-nominated rock band Nothing More, Candlebox, Drowning Pool, Alien Ant Farm and Set It Off. Students from School of Rock, a music education franchise with a location in Fayetteville, will perform an opening showcase.

More info: krockathon.com

Syracuse Ukrainian Festival: July 25-26

Where: 207 Tompkins St., Syracuse

What to expect: The Syracuse Ukrainian Festival provides an excellent opportunity to learn about Ukrainian culture and enjoy a fun-filled weekend trying pyrohy (dumplings), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), kielbasa (smoked sausage) and borscht.

The festival will be held on Tipperary Hill at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church. There are craft vendors, Ukrainian choral performances and dance numbers from the Syracuse Ukrainian Cultural Center’s ODESA dance group. There is free parking across from the Ukrainian National Home on West Fayette and the church’s doors will be open.

More info: stjohnbaptistucc.com/ukrainian-festival

Syracuse Puerto Rican Festival: July 26

Where: Sharkey’s Bar and Grill at 7240 Oswego Rd., Liverpool

What to expect: The Syracuse Puerto Rican Festival returns to Sharkey’s to celebrate Puerto Rican culture, food, music and vendors.

More info: facebook.com/PRFestivalSyracuse

Skaneateles Festival: July 31-Aug. 23

Where: Multiple venues in Skaneateles

What to expect: The Skaneateles Festival 2025 summer season lineup includes renowned banjo player Béla Fleck’s BEATrio with harpist Edmar Castañeda and drummer Antonio Sánchez, fiddlers Mark and Maggie O’Connor, bassist and singer esperanza spalding, and jazz great Bill Charlap.

It’s a destination for music enthusiasts from a wide variety of genres from jazz, to classical, to bluegrass. This season includes 13 main-series concerts, two KidsFest performances, a free music lecture series with Juilliard professor Aaron Wunsch, and free community outreach performances.

More info: skanfest.org

Macedonian Festival: Aug. 1-3

Where: 5083 Onondaga Rd., Syracuse

More info: You’ll be greeted from the St. George Macedonian Orthodox Church parking lot with live dancing and traditional music. Then comes grilled meats, stuffed peppers, flaky pastries and strong Balkan coffee. This festival will make you feel like you’ve flown overseas. Free to attend.

More info: stgeorgemoc.com/macedonian-festival

InterFaith Works Building Bridges Community Festival: Aug. 3

Where: Inner Harbor, Syracuse

What to expect: “Building Bridges” celebrates 25 years of InterFaith Works Center for Dialogue & Action’s annual festival and service to the community, with a special focus this year on food, youth and culture. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, the festival on Aug. 3 from 2-6 p.m. features a food giveaway featuring local farmers, a performance stage, free ice cream, food trucks, lawn games, hands-on STEM activities, face painting and henna. Free to attend.

More info: interfaithworkscny.org/event/building-bridges-community-festival

Taco and Margarita Festival: Aug. 8-9

Where: Inner Harbor, Syracuse

What to expect: Turn up the heat with two days of tacos, margaritas, live performances and fireworks. Proceeds will support La Casita Cultural Center, benefiting Hispanic communities across Central New York.

More info: thesyracuseinnerharbor.com

CNY Scottish Games: Aug. 10

Where: Long Branch Park, 3813 Long Branch Road, Liverpool

What to expect: These plaid-heavy games include competitions like Braemar stone, caber toss, sheaf toss and more. Spectators can enjoy food, music from the Highlands.

More info: cnyscottishgames.org

New York State Fair: Aug. 20 - Sept. 1

Where: NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd.

What to expect: Central New York’s biggest annual festival draws hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy two weeks of food, animals, more food, carnival games, rides, free concerts and, yes, even more food.

More info: nysfair.ny.gov

Syracuse Irish Fest: Sept. 5-6

Where: Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse

What to expect: Music, food, drink and a celebration of Irish ancestry. The two-day festival will feature headliners The Elders, Goitse, Aoife Scott, The Public House, The Causeway Giants, Attractive Nuisance, Joe Davoli, Kevin Flannigan and more. Free to attend.

More info: syracuseirishfestival.com

Golden Harvest Festival: Sept. 6-7

Where: Beaver Lake, 8477 E. Mud Lake Rd., Baldwinsville

What to expect: This is a great way to spend a fall afternoon with the family. The festival features arts and crafts, a corn maze, canoeing, guided nature walks and lots of other outdoor activities. Special children’s performances include magic shows, circus performers, puppet shows and live animal presentations. Admission is $5/adults and $1/child. Kids 3 and under attend for free.

More info: beaverlakenature.org/programs-and-events/special-events/golden-harvest-festival

Festa Italiana: Sept. 12-14

Where: In front of Syracuse City Hall, 233 E. Washington St.

What to expect: It’s a weekend of bocce, meatballs, music and dancing. Italian Fest brings the area’s best Italian restaurants to one place where visitors can sample foods like Utica greens, chicken riggies, cannoli and more while listening to music from local Italian artists. Free to attend.

More info: festaitalianasyracuse.org

KlezFest: Sept. 14

Where: 5655 Thompson Rd., Syracuse

What to expect: All are invited to KlezFest, the annual Jewish cultural celebration on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 12-4 p.m at the JCC. Delicious food, fun games and activities, and lively music will be the highlights of this event designed to introduce newcomers to Jewish culture.

More info: jccsyr.org

Westcott Street Cultural Fair: Sept. 28

Where: Westcott Street, Syracuse

What to expect: The all-day cultural fair starts with a parade at noon, followed by a celebration with music, dancing, community organizations and food vendors lining the business district of Westcott Street. Free to attend.

More info: westcottstreetfair.org

Inner Harbor Fest: Oct. 3-4

Where: Inner Harbor, Syracuse

What to expect: The two-day festival features dragon boat races on the water on Saturday, as well as fireworks, vendors, yard games and live music.

More info: thesyracuseinnerharbor.com

LaFayette Apple Festival: Oct. 11-12

Where: 2444 Tully Farms Road, LaFayette

What to expect: It’s a fall festival all about the apples. Come for breakfast and enjoy the apple pancakes, or stick around for the apple pie eating contest. Other entertainment includes pony rides, a petting zoo, rides and games, crafts and music.

More info: lafayetteapplefest.org

RetroGameCon: Oct. 10-12

Where: Oncenter, 800 S. State St., Syracuse

What to expect: RetroGameCon, the largest gaming convention in Upstate New York, brings together thousands of cosplayers, anime fans, and retro and modern gamers at The Oncenter. The three-day event features panels, tournaments, cosplay, trivia, live music, gaming contests, scavenger hunts and more.

More info: retrogamecon.com

Syracuse Film Festival: Oct. 17-19

Where: Onondaga Community College at 4585 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse.

What to expect: This festival includes panels for people in the film industry, screenings of short and feature-length films and the Sophia Award Ceremony.

More info: syracusefilmfest.com