List of annual events in Syracuse facts for kids

The Syracuse, New York, area is a super fun place with lots of cool events happening all year long! From music and food to art and cultural celebrations, there's always something exciting to do. These events bring people together to celebrate different traditions, enjoy tasty treats, and have a great time.

Art and Creative Shows

Syracuse loves art, and you can find many events that show off amazing creations. These shows are perfect for seeing beautiful artwork and sometimes even making your own!

• Art on the Porches: Imagine walking through a neighborhood where artists display their work right on people's porches! This unique event happens on Ruskin Avenue in the Strathmore neighborhood.
• Syracuse Arts and Crafts Festival: This big festival brings together artists and craftspeople from all over. You can see paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and so much more.
• Festival of Trees: Held at the Everson Museum, this event features beautifully decorated Christmas trees. It's a magical way to get into the holiday spirit.
• Gingerbread Gallery: At the Erie Canal Museum, you can see amazing gingerbread creations. It's a sweet way to celebrate the holidays.
• Austn Park Annual Art & Craft show/sale: This show in Skaneateles is another great spot to discover local art and handmade crafts.

Cultural Celebrations

Syracuse is home to people from all over the world, and many festivals celebrate different cultures. These events are a fantastic way to learn about traditions, music, and food from various countries.

• Bavarianfest: Experience German culture with music, dancing, and traditional food.
• CNY Scottish Games & Celtic Festival: Enjoy Scottish traditions like bagpipes, Highland games, and dancing.
• New York India Festival: Celebrate Indian culture with colorful performances, music, and delicious food.
• Euro Fest: A festival that brings together different European cultures.
• Greek Cultural Festival: Enjoy Greek music, dancing, and amazing food like souvlaki and baklava.
• Irish Festival: Celebrate Irish heritage with lively music, dancing, and fun.
• Italian Festival (La Festa Italiana): A big celebration of Italian culture with food, music, and family fun.
• Jewish Music & Cultural Festival: Explore Jewish traditions through music, food, and art.
• Latin American Festival: Celebrate the vibrant cultures of Latin America with music, dance, and food.
• Middle Eastern Cultural Festival: Discover the rich traditions of the Middle East.
• Oktoberfest: Another German-themed festival with food, music, and fun activities.
• Polish Festival: Celebrate Polish culture with traditional food, music, and dance.
• Southeast Asian Festival: Experience the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia.
• St. George Macedonian Ethnic Festival: A celebration of Macedonian heritage.
• St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Festival: Enjoy Ukrainian traditions, food, and performances.
• St. Patrick's Irish Festival & Street Fair: A lively street fair celebrating Irish culture.
• St. Sophia's Greek Festival: Another wonderful Greek festival with food and fun.
• Westcott Street Cultural Fair: This fair celebrates the diverse cultures of the Westcott neighborhood with music, food, and art.

Film Fun

• Syracuse International Film Festival: If you love movies, this festival is for you! It showcases films from all over the world, giving you a chance to see new and exciting stories.

Foodie Events

Syracuse has many festivals dedicated to delicious food and drinks. Get ready to taste some amazing treats!

• Brew At The Zoo: Held at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, this event lets adults try different craft beers while enjoying the zoo.
• Chicken Wing Festival: A festival all about chicken wings! You can try different flavors and sauces.
• Strawberry Festival: Celebrate the sweet strawberry with treats, desserts, and fun activities.
• Taste of Syracuse: This huge event lets you try small portions of food from many local restaurants. It's a great way to discover new favorite places.
• Tomatofest: A festival dedicated to the versatile tomato, with different dishes and activities.
• Central New York Brewfest: Another event for adults to sample various craft beers.
• Empire Brewfest: More craft beer tasting for adults.

Historical Happenings

• Canal Day: This event celebrates the history of the Erie Canal, which played a big part in Syracuse's past. You can learn about how goods were transported long ago.

Holiday Celebrations

Syracuse loves to celebrate holidays with special events throughout the year.

• First Night: A family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration with performances and activities.
• Juneteenth Celebration: This event celebrates freedom and African American culture and history.
• Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade: A big parade celebrating St. Patrick's Day with floats, bands, and lots of green!
• Autumn Equinox Festival: Celebrate the start of autumn with nature-themed activities.
• Thanksgiving Day Parade: A festive parade to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Veterans Day Ceremony & Parade: A special event to honor and thank military veterans.
• The Great Zoo Boo: A fun, spooky event at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo around Halloween.

Music Festivals

Syracuse has a lively music scene with festivals for all kinds of music lovers.

• Syracuse Jazz Festival: Enjoy smooth jazz music from talented musicians.
• CNY Bluegrass Association Festival: A festival dedicated to bluegrass music.
• Empire State Brewing and Music Festival: Combines craft beverages with live music.
• CNY JazzFest: Another great festival for jazz fans.
• Jazz in the Square: Enjoy jazz performances in a public square.
• New York State Blues Festival: Listen to soulful blues music.
• Party in the Plaza concert series: Free outdoor concerts in a plaza.
• Syracuse Area Music Awards: Celebrates local musical talent.
• World in the Square: Features music from different cultures around the world.

Parades and Walks

Many events in Syracuse involve parades, walks, or marches for different causes and celebrations.

• CNY Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Walk: A walk to support and raise money for animals in need.
• Hiroshima/Nagasaki Procession: A solemn event remembering the atomic bombings and promoting peace.
• Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade: The big St. Patrick's Day parade mentioned earlier.

Performing Arts

• Syracuse International Arts & Puppet Festival: This festival features amazing puppet shows and other artistic performances.
• Shakespeare-in-the-Park: Enjoy classic plays by William Shakespeare performed outdoors in a park.

Races and Competitions

If you love sports and challenges, check out these events!

• Human Dogsled Race: A fun and unique race where teams pull a "sled" like dogsleds.
• Parks Run 4 Mile Race: A running race held in Onondaga Park in the Strathmore neighborhood.
• Syracuse Festival of Races: A collection of different running races.
• Syrathon: A multi-sport event, often including running, biking, and swimming.
• Syracuse Half Marathon: A challenging running race that covers half the distance of a full marathon.

Big Regional Events

These are some of the largest and most popular events in the Syracuse area.

• Great New York State Fair: This is a huge annual fair, one of the oldest and largest in the United States! It features rides, concerts, animal shows, amazing food, and lots of exhibits. It runs from late August to Labor Day.
• Skaneateles Festival: A classical music festival held in the beautiful village of Skaneateles.
• Solvay Summer Festival: A local summer festival with fun for the whole family.
• Armed Forces Day: Held with a Syracuse Chiefs Baseball game, this day honors the military.
• Super DIRT Week: A major dirt track racing event that attracts fans from all over.

Other Fun Events

Syracuse has many other exciting events that don't fit neatly into one category, but they are all a blast!

• Apple Festival: Celebrate apples with fresh cider, apple treats, and fun activities.
• Balloon Fest: Watch colorful hot air balloons take to the sky!
• Harborfest: A big festival held near the water, often with music, food, and fireworks.
• Lights on the Lake: A beautiful drive-through light show during the holiday season.
• Salt City Comic-Con: A convention for fans of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture. You can meet artists, buy merchandise, and even dress up as your favorite characters!
• Syracuse Nationals: A huge car show featuring classic cars, hot rods, and custom vehicles. It's a must-see for car enthusiasts.
• Syracuse Winterfest: A festival that celebrates winter with ice sculptures, outdoor activities, and more.