10 can't miss September festivals
Back to school means back to planning for Rochester-area families. With sports, homework and dance classes, weekends start filling up fast.
Yet festival season in the past few years has extended through September. Here are some must-do events to pencil in now.
1 First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival, Sept. 18 to 27; rochesterfringe.com. This 10-day event, with more than 300 shows, has quickly become a can't-miss fest in Rochester. There are plenty of kid-friendly events on the weekends, including a giant tricycle making its way through Martin Luther King Jr. Park (formerly Manhattan Square), along with some spectacular pyrotechnics during Circus Orange on Sept. 19, and a street chalk mini-fest and a sing-along (with a costume contest) version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory during the second weekend.
2 Naples Grape Festival, Sept. 27 and 28; naplesgrapefest.org. You've got to celebrate the grape somehow during harvest season. What better way than to make an excursion to Finger Lakes wine country to eat some of the most spectacular grape pies and enjoy arts and crafts and entertainment?
3 Purple Foot Festival, Sept. 14; casalarga.com. If Naples seems too far, or you want to get messy by stomping grapes, this fest at the closest of the wineries, Casa Larga Vineyards in Perinton, is for you. Get an early hayride fix, see how wine is made and more.
4 Rochester Irish Festival, Friday and Saturday; rochester irishfestival.com. Enjoy reunion performances of Wild Geese and Celtic Fire, plus the Dady Brothers, throw in some competitive Irish dancing and other activities, and it's the first of three lively weekends at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit. Cost is $10.
5 Irondequoit Oktoberfest, Sept. 12 and 13, 18, 19 and 20; oktoberfestny.com. Switch over to German music, dancing and food for this two-weekend fest at Camp Eastman. Tickets are $8.
6 M&T Bank Clothesline Festival, Saturday and Sunday; mag.rochester.edu. On the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery, this is one of the area's most beloved arts festivals featuring displays by more than 400 artists and artisans. Admission is $5.
7 Greentopia, Sept. 12 and 13; greentopiafest.com. This High Falls festival kicks off Friday night with its annual From the Ground fashion show featuring garments made by local designers from upcycled, recycled or repurposed materials. The main environmentally focused fest has cut back from two days to a Saturday event but hasn't reduced the breadth of its programming. Top-rate classical music, percussion enhanced by echoes from the gorge and Americana music will accompany a food expo, alternative fuel vehicle show, eco-friendly booths, exhibitions and more.
8 Curtiss Fall Flying Festival, Sept. 13; glennhcurtissmus eum.org. This is another chance for a dip down into the Finger Lakes, this time in Hammondsport, where visiting seaplanes will land on Keuka Lake and then be displayed. Add some food and activities, and it's worth the hour drive.
9 Macedon Center Community Lumberjack Festival, Saturday and Sunday; macedoncenterfire.org. This is a world-class competition in amateur (Saturday) and pro (Sunday) categories, plus greased pole climbing, demonstrations, children's activities and more will be happening both days at the Macedon Center Firemen's Field. There will be food available all day, but early risers are rewarded with the fest's famous pancake breakfast. Admission is $3.
10 Turtle Hill Folk Festival, Sept. 12, 13 and 14; goldenlink.org. Concerts, sing-a-longs, children's activities, music workshops, jam sessions, food and more will be going all weekend at the Rotary Sunshine Camp in Rush.