Finger Lakes October to December 2026
What's on in the Finger Lakes this autumn
Harvest in the Finger Lakes runs late. Riesling, the region's defining grape, is often still on the vine at the end of October, so the autumn calendar moves with the cellar: press pads and open fermenters in October, barrel samples and the first young wines in November, then the trail weekends and village festivals that carry the season to the new year. Here is everything on around the eleven lakes between October and December, day by day, with a few picks from someone who would rather taste from the tank than from the bar.
Pick a day
Everything on that day, including runs that started earlier. Weekends are marked.
The editor's picks
Eight dates worth planning a weekend around, chosen for what they teach about the wines, not for the size of the crowd.
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Open Doors: Harvest Tour at Hermann J. Wiemer
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee
The clearest look at a harvest you can get without working one: fruit on the press pad, then the cellar, then a tasting that joins the two. Four Fridays left at $25 a head.
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Think Like a Winemaker: inside the Domaine LeSeurre cave at harvest
Domaine LeSeurre Winery, Hammondsport
A punch-down done in front of you teaches more than a chapter on extraction. Twenty guests a session, 21 and over, and the 18 October date was already full.
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Fall Series Fridays at Fox Run: cellar walk and paired lunch
Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan
Seven small bites against seven wines in the barrel room, after a walk through a cellar in full swing. The best-value lesson of the month at $60 before tax and gratuity.
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Fall Sky Rides at Bristol Mountain
Bristol Mountain, Route 64, Bristol
The one pick with no wine in it: a chairlift over the Bristol Hills as the colour turns, with a café at mid-station. Weekends to 1 November; rides sell out, so book ahead.
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Harvest Festival Open House at Hermann J. Wiemer
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee
Young 2026 wines straight from the tank, weeks after picking, with the winemakers beside them. The one afternoon that shows what a vintage is before the cellar tidies it up.
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Red Wine Barrel Tasting at McGregor Vineyard
McGregor Vineyard, Dundee
Barrel samples of the 2025 reds after nearly a year in wood, both Saperavis included. Saturdays John McGregor sets them against earlier vintages; Sundays the same wines come with food.
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Nouveau Release Gathering at Six Eighty Cellars
Six Eighty Cellars, Ovid
A nouveau is a vintage's first finished wine, bottled within weeks and meant for drinking now. This free Sunday gathering is the earliest taste of 2026 you will get.
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Handcrafted Holiday on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Around Keuka Lake
Six wineries, one set route and something at each you do not get at the bar: a vertical, a production tour, an unreleased wine. Tickets close on 9 November.
Nothing matches those choices.
Already under way
Runs that started earlier and continue
October
The picking month
77 events start this month
Picking in a cool region is a judgement about acidity as much as sugar, and the growers who wait longest for aromatic ripeness are the ones whose Riesling you remember. That waiting is why October is the month to be inside a winery rather than at its bar: Wiemer walks visitors across the press pad on Fridays, Domaine LeSeurre opens its cave with the punch-downs under way, and Fox Run pairs a cellar walk with lunch in the barrel room. Outside, the Bristol Hills turn colour under the chairlifts, the farm festivals peak on Columbus Day weekend, and Halloween brings candy pairings, costume contests and parades to nearly every village.
5 events
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· 10 am to 6 pm
Fall Festival and pumpkin patch at Pick'n Patch
Pick'n Patch, Routes 5 and 20, Stanley · about 10 miles east of Canandaigua · weekend pass $17.95 online or $20.95 at the gate; weekday pass $14.95 online or $18.95 at the gate; everyone aged 3 to 73 needs a ticket; no ticket needed to buy donuts, treats or pumpkins
Pumpkin patch, pick-your-own apples, a corn maze, sunflowers and more than 20 farm attractions, open daily except Tuesdays until the end of October.
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· 11 am to 1:30 pm
Fall Series Fridays at Fox Run: cellar walk and paired lunch
Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan · west side of Seneca Lake · $60 plus tax and gratuity ($72 all-in on Tock)
A guided walk through the vineyard and winery in full swing, a sample with the winemaker, then a lunch of seven small bites paired with seven wines in the barrel room by chef Brud Holland.
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· farm open 9 am to 5 pm daily; juice pickup Friday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Fresh-pressed juice and pick-your-own grapes at Fulkerson
Fulkerson Winery, Dundee · west side of Seneca Lake · juice and grapes priced per variety
Fulkerson presses more than 30 grape varieties during harvest and sells the juice fresh off the press to home winemakers, with a pick-your-own list priced per pound whose estimated picking dates ran to 2 October. Varieties sell out as they are picked: by the afternoon of 9 October 21 of 26 juices were gone, with Catawba (pickup 16 to 19 October), Riesling, Traminette, Vidal and Vincent still listed.
Event detailsPick-your-own listFulkerson Winery: hours and wines
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· 5 to 7 pm
Live at the Harvest Bar: Forge Cellars' harvest Fridays
The Salon at Forge Cellars, Burdett · east side of Seneca Lake, above Burdett · free live music
Forge's harvest-season Friday series at the Salon: free live music, fire pits and bone-dry Riesling while the cellar is in full swing, ending with a Halloween special on 30 October.
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· 3 to 4:15 pm
Open Doors: Harvest Tour at Hermann J. Wiemer
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee · west side of Seneca Lake · $25 per ticket on Tock
A guided walk across the press pad to see the week's fruit come in, then into the cellar to talk fermentation, finishing with a short tasting. Each Friday is different because the picking is.
Event detailsTicketsHermann J. Wiemer Vineyard: hours and wines
14 events
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band 1 to 4 pm
Columbus Day Weekend Car Show with Dirtroad Ruckus at Treleaven
Treleaven Wines, King Ferry · east shore of Cayuga Lake · free
The Saturday of Columbus Day weekend at Treleaven: a car show on the grounds and the band Dirtroad Ruckus on the Hangtime stage from 1 to 4 pm, with the tasting room, the on-site kitchen and the draft list open. No ticket price; the winery takes free RSVPs on Eventbrite.
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· 11 am to 5 pm
Fall Festival at Bristol Mountain
Bristol Mountain, Route 64 · Bristol Hills, west of Canandaigua Lake · $20 with a sky ride (ages two and up); $12 general admission for ages 12 and up, under 12 free
Two days of sky rides, summit hikes, SweeTango apple sampling, a Kids Adventure Park, rock wall, bungee trampolines and aerial park, with live music, food and artisan vendors.
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· Saturday 8 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm; cider tastings 11 am to 5 pm
Fall Festival at Grisamore Farms
Grisamore Farms, Locke · about six miles south of Owasco Lake · free admission and parking; pick-your-own apples and pumpkins priced by the pound
A free farm festival with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a sunflower maze, wagon rides, pumpkin and face painting, craft vendors, live music and tastings from Grisamore Cider Works.
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· 10 am to 5 pm
Fall Festival at Moore Family Farm
Moore Family Farm, 570 Auburn Road, Groton · east of Cayuga Lake, between Lansing and Groton · general admission $17.95 online plus a $0.99 booking fee and sales tax, $22.95 at the gate; ticket required for ages 3 and up, 2 and under free
A pumpkin and tree farm's autumn festival in its last weeks: a five-acre corn maze, u-pick pumpkins, more than 35 farm attractions and reservable campfire sites, with the apple cannons, paintball and goat feed as paid extras, open Saturdays and Sundays to 1 November plus Monday 12 October and Friday 23 October. Children aged two and under enter free.
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8 am to 1 pm; trick-or-treating 9 am to noon
Fall Harvest Bash at the Geneva Farmers Market
Lakefront Park, Lake Street, Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · no admission price listed; free trick-or-treat market bags while they last
The lakefront farmers market closes its season with trick-or-treating through the stalls for children 12 and under (free market bags while they last), a vendor booth-decorating contest, yard games and a last chance to stock up from local farmers and bakers.
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· 11 am to 4 pm in October; the mid-station café is open noon to 4 pm; hours for 1 November not posted
Fall Sky Rides at Bristol Mountain
Bristol Mountain, Route 64 · Bristol Hills, west of Canandaigua Lake · $15 booked three or more days ahead, $20 inside three days; ages two and under free; on Fall Festival weekend (10 and 11 October) rides are $20 through the festival ticket
Chairlift rides over the Bristol Hills foliage on Saturdays and Sundays until 1 November, plus Columbus Day Monday, with hikes from the summit and the Morning Star Café at mid-station. Children under 48 inches must ride with an adult.
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FallFest 2 to 5 pm, HalloweenFest 6 to 10 pm
FallFest at Lincoln Hill Farms
Lincoln Hill Farms, Route 247, Canandaigua · just south of the city of Canandaigua · FallFest VIP passport $25 adults, $5 children 5 and under (includes the evening music); HalloweenFest alone $10 adults, $5 children 5 and under; Zombie Hunt $20
An afternoon of family fall activities on the farm south of the city: cinnamon sugar donuts, ZooMobile animal encounters, face painting, seasonal games, a pumpkin to take home, a spider ride, a daytime zombie hunt, photo spots and a vendor village, with pony rides and some activities as paid extras. The evening HalloweenFest with live music from Roc Star Academy follows at 6 pm, included in the VIP passport.
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10 am to 4 pm (first horse race 11 am; boutiques, wagon and pony rides to 3 pm)
Genesee Valley Hunt Races
3320 Nations Road, off County Route 39, Geneseo · west of Conesus Lake · general admission ticket, price not printed on the organiser page; children 12 and under free with a paying adult
Steeplechase racing on Nations Road from 11 am, after the Jack Russell terrier races at 10 am, with wiener dog races, a hound parade, children's activities, wagon and pony rides, a farmers market, food vendors and wine and craft beer tasting; the boutiques and rides run to 3 pm. Leashed dogs are welcome and parking is free.
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· 6 to 10 pm on the farm's page; its ticket page lists 5 pm starts for 17 and 24 October
HalloweenFest at Lincoln Hill Farms
Lincoln Hill Farms, Route 247, Canandaigua · just south of the city of Canandaigua · $10 adults, $5 children 5 and under; Zombie Hunt $20 adults
Three Saturday evenings of Halloween on the farm: live music, Halloween games, fire pits, seasonal food and drink, a vendor village and an immersive nighttime Zombie Hunt through the grounds. On 10 October it follows the afternoon FallFest.
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5:30 to 8:30 pm
Harvest Dinner at Point of the Bluff Vineyards
Point of the Bluff production barn, County Road 76, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake · $185.19 plus sales tax, gratuity included
Live music and hors d'oeuvres in the pavilion, then a four-course dinner from The Park Inn kitchen built on fall produce from Glenn Scott Farm, each course paired with Point of the Bluff wines, with community-style seating. Ticket sales closed on 9 October; Humanitix keeps a waitlist.
Event listingTicketsPoint of the Bluff Vineyards: hours and wines
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1 to 4 pm
Harvest Fest at Hosmer Winery
Hosmer Winery, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · free admission
An afternoon on the lawn in the middle of Cayuga's harvest, now in its third year: live music from Ghost Train, Blowin' Smoke BBQ until it runs out, local vendors, tastings, mimosas and slushies. Free admission and everyone is welcome; bring a chair, and friendly dogs on leashes are fine.
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· Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 9 am to 5 pm; apple pancake breakfast from 7 am
LaFayette Apple Festival
LaFayette Apple Festival grounds · about 10 miles east of Otisco Lake · $8 cash at the gate (cards accepted with a small processing fee); children 12 and under free; online presale on Eventbrite ($9.04 with fees) until 7 am on 10 October
The 53rd country apple festival: rides, free entertainment, food vendors, crafters and an apple pancake breakfast both mornings, on Columbus Day weekend. No pets apart from service dogs.
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11 am to 4 pm
Live Glass Blowing at Bully Hill
Bully Hill Vineyards, 8843 Greyton H. Taylor Memorial Drive, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake, above Hammondsport · free admission
Glass artists Elijiah Smith and Kalli Snodgrass give a live glassblowing showcase at the winery, with live music from PJ Elliott from 1 to 4 pm the same afternoon.
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· 10 am to 4 pm
Witch Hat Hunt and Great Pumpkin Hunt at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum
Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum, across from Emerson Park, Auburn · north shore of Owasco Lake · free
All October the free agricultural museum across from Emerson Park hides 50 witches' hats and 50 pumpkins among its exhibits; children follow the clues, record their finds on an entry form and hand it in for a Halloween goodie bag. Open 10 am to 4 pm daily.
4 events
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· morning slot 9 am to 2 pm, afternoon slot 2 to 7 pm
Pumpkin Fest at Tim's Pumpkin Patch
Tim's Pumpkin Patch, Rose Hill Road, Marietta · town of Marcellus, near the north end of Otisco Lake · $9.30 to $10.34 including fees; a pre-purchased ticket is required this weekend only
The farm's busiest weekend becomes a ticketed Pumpkin Fest with music, specialty foods and its 15 included activities, from the animal barn and corn maze to wagon rides and the sunflower field, plus the pick-your-own pumpkin field. Pumpkins are priced separately. Saturday 10 October sold out in both slots by 9 October; Sunday was running low.
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10 am; 90 minutes to two hours
Terroir Masterclass: Vineyard Harvest, with Domaine LeSeurre
1487 Heritage vineyard, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · $120, $100 for wine club members
Sébastien LeSeurre walks a vineyard planted in 1976 as the picking decision is being made: berries tasted at different ripeness, then block against block in the glass. The Sunday 11 October session, the only one still listed, was fully booked by 9 October.
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4 to 6 pm on the winery's page (the booking page shows a 4 to 5 pm slot)
Vintage Cruises: a Living Roots tasting aboard the Pat II
Depot Park dock, Water Street, Hammondsport · south end of Keuka Lake · price on FareHarbor; wine club members can ask for a discount code
An early-evening cruise on Keuka Lake aboard the Boating Museum's Pat II, with four tastings of Living Roots wines; the winery lists 4 to 6 pm while the booking page shows a one-hour slot from 4 pm. The two October sailings are the last of the season.
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11:30 am to 4 pm; Betty's Ghost plays 1 to 4 pm
Witches, Women & Wine at Lucas Vineyards
Lucas Vineyards, County Road 150, Interlaken · west shore of Cayuga Lake · no cover charge; drinks and food-truck food for purchase
The second Halloween-season party at Lucas: a Witches of the Water's Edge meet-and-greet and dance demonstration from 11:30 am, the band Betty's Ghost from 1 pm, food from Ace Automatics, and wine slushies. Costumes are encouraged.
3 events
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· 10 am to 5 pm
Halloween Candy Pairing at Bully Hill
Bully Hill Vineyards, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake, above Hammondsport · price not listed
A wine-and-Halloween-candy pairing offered daily in the tasting room from mid-October to Halloween; the winery's page gives no further detail.
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6 to 9 pm
Lobster Wine Dinner at Treleaven Wines
Farm in the Willows at Treleaven Wines, King Ferry · east shore of Cayuga Lake · $125 per person including food, wine, tax and service charge
A six-course Maine lobster dinner by chef Manuel Reynoso of the winery's restaurant, Farm in the Willows: tempura lobster with mango chutney, lobster ravioli, lobster salad and a classic half lobster with clarified butter, each course paired with wines from the Treleaven library, then a Vidal Blanc cheese mousse dessert. The $125 ticket covers food, wine, tax and service.
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ride slots from 11:30 am to 5 pm
Trail Ride & Tasting at Living Roots
Living Roots Wine & Co., County Road 87, Hammondsport · above the west shore of Keuka Lake · $150 per ticket
A short horsemanship lesson and a 35-minute guided horseback ride through the family's Shale Creek Vineyard above the lake, followed by a wine tasting in the tasting room.
5 events
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6 to 8 pm
Autumn Wine Dinner at Hosmer Winery
The Hosmer Barn, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · price when booking
A seated, paired dinner by Word of Mouth Catering built around the Hosmer range, held in the barn during the thick of harvest; the menu is posted on the ticket page.
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· 10 am to 5 pm, Friday to Sunday
Brushes & Bottles, Pumpkin Edition, at Idol Ridge
Idol Ridge Winery, Lodi · east side of Seneca Lake · $5 per pumpkin; painting supplies provided
A pumpkin-painting weekend in the tasting room: pick a pumpkin for $5, paint it with the supplies provided, and have a drink from the tasting bar while it dries.
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6 to 7:30 pm
Fluent in Fancy: a wine label course at New York Kitchen
Wine Spectator Theater at New York Kitchen, 800 South Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · $58
A guided tasting of five wines built around reading wine labels: what the terms, regions and classifications on a bottle actually tell you. For curious drinkers who want to shop and order with more confidence.
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· 10 am; 90 minutes to two hours
Think Like a Winemaker: inside the Domaine LeSeurre cave at harvest
Domaine LeSeurre Winery, Hammondsport · east side of Keuka Lake · $120, $100 for wine club members
The working cave with presses, tanks and open bins all running: grapes on the press pad, juice from the tank valve, a punch-down done in front of you, then five or six finished wines with charcuterie in the tasting room. Wear closed shoes. The 18 October session was full by 9 October; the other three had seats.
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doors 6 pm, dinner 6:15 pm
Winemaker's Dinner with David Whiting at Red Newt
Red Newt Bistro, 3675 Tichenor Road, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · $125 plus tax; $100 plus tax for wine club members
Founding winemaker David Whiting goes back into the Bistro kitchen to cook a menu of his favourite classic Red Newt dishes, with lead winemaker Christina Zapel alongside him in the kitchen and on the floor pairing the wines; the Tock page carries the menu, from a butternut squash bisque to a pumpkin cheesecake. Seating is limited to 24.
Event detailsTicketsRed Newt Cellars Winery & Bistro: hours and wines
9 events
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noon to 4 pm
Good Earth Day tastings for Lodi Food4All at Silver Thread
Silver Thread estate tasting room (the A-frame), 1401 Caywood Road, Lodi · east side of Seneca Lake · tasting flight, price not listed; all proceeds donated
For one afternoon Silver Thread opens its original A-frame tasting room at the Caywood Road vineyard for walk-in flights, and every tasting fee goes to Lodi Food4All, the food pantry up the road. The Winegarden on Route 414 is closed that day for a private event.
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10 am to 5 pm; food truck noon to 5 pm, live music 1 to 4 pm
Oars Up anniversary party at Either Oar
Either Oar Wine, Whiskey & Cheese Bar, 6075 State Route 414, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · no price listed
The Montezuma group's wine, whiskey and cheese bar on Route 414 (the former Penguin Bay Winery site) marks a year since its grand opening with Billy Bobber's Reef N' Beef food truck from noon, Nate Michaels playing from 1 pm, and a One Year Flight of two wines, two whiskeys and four cheeses all day.
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11 am to 5 pm
Oktoberfest & Fall Market at Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars
Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars, Naples · south end of Canandaigua Lake · no price listed
An Oktoberfest afternoon run jointly with Engine 14 Brewery next door: craft vendors and the Macarollin' food truck line the street between the two, live music plays outside from 1 to 4:30 pm, a beer pong tournament starts at 3:30 pm at Engine 14, and the evening carries on there with music from 6 to 9 pm.
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10 am to 4 pm
Old Fashion Halloween at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum
Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum, across from Emerson Park, Auburn · north shore of Owasco Lake · free
A free, old-fashioned Halloween day at the agricultural museum with trick-or-treating at 11 am and 1:30 pm, costume parades at 11:30 am and 2 pm with prizes for every child, pumpkin carving from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, free horse-and-wagon and Model T rides, blacksmith demonstrations, music and refreshments.
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· noon to 4 pm
Pumpkin Painting at Bully Hill
Bully Hill Vineyards, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake, above Hammondsport · free
Paint a pumpkin at the winery from noon to 4 pm on the third weekend of October and take it home or leave it on display; pumpkins and paint are provided and there is no charge. The winery says its events are kid- and dog-friendly.
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noon to 3 pm
Pumpkin Roll at Brook Street Park, Geneva
Brook Street Park, Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · no admission price listed; duck races, food and a bake sale for purchase
A neighbourhood pumpkin festival, rain or shine: pumpkin races and painting, apple pressing, slingshot chucking, rubber duck water races, kids' books, a DJ, cider and donut holes, with chili, pizza and a bake sale for sale. Bring canned goods for the Center of Concern.
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1 to 4 pm
Scarecrow Jubilee at Ithaca Children's Garden
Ithaca Children's Garden, 121 Turtle Lane · south end of Cayuga Lake · free; suggested donation $5 per person or $15 per family
The garden's annual outdoor autumn festival. Children build their own scarecrow with materials provided, carve pumpkins, dance to live music and play games, with the Cornell Raptor Program from 2 to 3 pm and Lilypad Puppet Theatre from 3:30 to 4 pm. Free and family-friendly, with a suggested donation at the Eventbrite RSVP.
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7 to 8:30 pm
Vineyards & Vaults: The Italian Tour at the Seward House
Seward House Museum, South Street, Auburn · downtown Auburn, north end of Owasco Lake · $50
An evening for 25 guests pairing six Italian wines, from Piedmont to Sicily, with stories, journals and artefacts from William Seward's travels through Italy, with Jack Sherman as sommelier. Registration is open; tickets are booked by phone.
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5 to 9 pm; live music 6 to 9 pm
Witches and Wizards Night at Treleaven Wines
The Hangtime at Treleaven Wines, King Ferry · east shore of Cayuga Lake · free
An autumn evening in the Hangtime with Darkwine playing from 6 to 9 pm, fog effects, fire pits, dry-ice displays, a s'mores station with traditional and savory versions, potion-styled themed drinks and witchy trivia. Brooms, wands and hats are optional but encouraged. No ticket price; free RSVP on Eventbrite.
4 events
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four one-hour sessions at 10:30 am, noon, 1:30 pm and 3 pm; the 10:30 session was full by 9 October
Kids' Pumpkin Decorating at 20 Deep Winery
20 Deep Winery, Mendon Ionia Road, Honeoye Falls · north of the lakes · $18 per child; adults need no ticket
Four one-hour pumpkin decorating sessions for children aged 2 to 12, with the pumpkin, paint, stickers, googly eyes, glue and apple cider included and the finished pumpkin going home with them. Adults need no ticket and can have a cider mimosa or a glass on the covered patio while the kids work. Each session is capped at 18 children; the 10:30 session was full by 9 October.
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11 am to 6 pm; lederhosen contest noon, stein-holding heats from 1 pm, live music 1 to 5 pm
Oktoberfest at Three Brothers
Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, Lerch Road, Geneva · north-east corner of Seneca Lake · free admission; pumpkin painting $3, cornucopia workshop $40 pre-purchase
A full estate day with free admission: a War Horse stein-holding competition in afternoon heats, a lederhosen contest at noon, Joe Biz and the FLX Alpine Band playing from 1 pm, a staff pumpkin-carving contest with a fan vote, pumpkin painting for all ages ($3) and a cornucopia workshop ($40, pre-purchase).
Event detailsThree Brothers Wineries & Estates: hours and wines
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noon to 1:30 pm
Pride of Place: a New York wine history tasting at New York Kitchen
Wine Spectator Theater at New York Kitchen, 800 South Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · $58
Beverage educator Sandy Waters leads a tasting tour through New York wine history, with a hand-picked lineup from classic styles to newer expressions, each pour matched with a nosh plate from chef Pam Cecere. For longtime New York wine fans and newcomers alike.
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noon to 4 pm
Sunday Social at McGregor Vineyard
McGregor Vineyard, 5503 Dutch Street, Dundee · east side of Keuka Lake · $7, $5 for wine club members
A Sunday afternoon gathering at the winery open to members and non-members: the ticket includes a glass of the 2024 Saperavi or the 2025 Unoaked Chardonnay, the kitchen serves food plates until 4 pm, and wine club member Jerry Smith plays guitar from 1 to 4 pm.
1 event
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6 pm
Oktoberfest Four-Course Beer Pairing at Veraisons, Glenora Wine Cellars
Veraisons Restaurant at Glenora Wine Cellars, Dundee · west side of Seneca Lake · $50 with beer pairing, $40 without, plus tax and gratuity
Glenora's restaurant serves a four-course Bavarian menu paired with Horseheads Brewing beers: bratwurst croquette or pork belly, beet and pear salad or smoked potato-leek soup, herb-roasted chicken or pork schnitzel, then gingerbread cake or pumpkin creme brulee. Menu subject to change.
3 events
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· Friday scavenger hunt forms from 10 am and Barrow walking tours at 1 and 3 pm; Saturday parade 10 am, craft fair 10 am to 3 pm with live music 11 am to 2 pm, cemetery tours 10:30 am, noon and 1:30 pm, Shop, Sip & Stroll 2 to 5 pm; Sunday dog costume contest 11 am, pumpkin pie contest noon, trick-or-treating at the Sinclair 4 to 5 pm
Fall Fest Weekend in Skaneateles
Downtown Skaneateles and the Skaneateles Community Center · north end of Skaneateles Lake · no admission listed; the cemetery tours are free
The chamber's autumn weekend fills the village: a scavenger hunt for children 12 and under from Friday, a trick-or-treat sidewalk parade downtown at 10 am Saturday, a craft fair with more than 25 vendors, food trucks and live music at the Community Center, free cemetery tours and an afternoon Shop, Sip & Stroll, and on Sunday a dog costume contest, a pumpkin pie contest and trick-or-treating at the Sinclair.
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6 to 9 pm
Halloween Party at Montezuma Winery
Montezuma Winery tasting room, Route 20, Seneca Falls · north end of Cayuga Lake · $10
DJ Addya, four signature Halloween cocktails, a limited food menu and a staff-judged costume contest with prizes for best couple, funniest and most creative, in the Seneca Falls tasting room.
Event detailsTicketsMontezuma Winery Finger Lakes: hours and wines
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· tours at 6 pm and 7 pm each evening
Haunted History Tours of Auburn at the Seward House
Seward House Museum grounds and nearby streets, Auburn · downtown Auburn, north end of Owasco Lake · $15 adults, $10 children 12 and under ($12.51 to $17.85 with Eventbrite fees)
Costumed guides lead evening walks around the Seward House grounds and the darkened streets of Auburn with tales of Victorian funeral customs, Seward family ghost lore and local true crime. Tickets are on sale online and by phone.
10 events
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11 am to 3 pm
Fall Into Canandaigua
Downtown Canandaigua, South Main Street · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · no admission price listed
Downtown's autumn afternoon: pumpkin decorating, a kids' costume parade and contest, Witches of Waters Edge performances, a petting zoo, face painting, character meet-and-greets, a Kids Fun Zone and a Monster Mash dance-off with prizes.
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11 am to 3 pm
Halloween Celebration at Letchworth State Park
Humphrey Nature Center, Letchworth State Park, Castile · Letchworth State Park, west of Mount Morris · free
A free Halloween afternoon at the park's Humphrey Nature Center, with continuous activity stations and treats at the center and along the Autism Nature Trail. Run by NYS Parks with the Autism Nature Trail and the Friends of Letchworth.
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5 pm
Halloween Party with Genesee Saw at Arbor Hill
Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill, Naples · west of Canandaigua Lake, above Naples · no price listed
A Halloween party at Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill, the brewpub on Route 64 in South Bristol, with Genesee Saw, alongside Arbor Hill's wines, grape pies and sauces. The listing gives no price or further detail.
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6 to 9 pm
Hangtime Concert Series: The Petty Thieves at Treleaven
Treleaven Wines, King Ferry · east shore of Cayuga Lake · free
An autumn date in Treleaven's Hangtime Concert Series, with The Petty Thieves on stage from 6 to 9 pm; free with an RSVP on Eventbrite.
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· Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4:30 pm
Hos-oween Weekend at Hosmer Winery
Hosmer Winery, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · $35 per ticket for the pairing walk-through; grounds, music and food truck free
A ticket buys a souvenir glass and a walk through three haunted food-and-wine pairing stations, four wines, an apple-cider mimosa and a tarot reading. On the grounds, free to all, Betty's Ghost play on Saturday and Caleb Liber on Sunday, with a food truck, spooky slushies and cider mimosas for sale. Costumes are encouraged; the winery asks that no children come.
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6 to 8:30 pm
Mystery Wine Tasting with Lake Life bites at Living Roots
Living Roots Wine & Co., 8560 County Road 87, Hammondsport · above the west shore of Keuka Lake · $75 per ticket
A blind-tasting quiz at the Finger Lakes tasting room: four mystery wines from different producers, plus bonus comparative pours, with questions to answer about each and light bites from Lake Life Catering between rounds.
Event detailsTicketsLiving Roots Wine & Co.: hours and wines
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7 pm; doors 6:30 pm
Next Stop Comedy stand-up night at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, 5712 State Route 414, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · $27 including fees
A touring stand-up showcase in the winery; the ticket page names Brian Enck and Alex Brady for this date, lineup subject to change. Drinks and light snacks are sold during the show.
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1 pm
Orchard and Apple Tasting Tour at Indian Creek Farm
Indian Creek Farm, Trumansburg Road, Ithaca · west side of the south end of Cayuga Lake · free
A free guided walk through the u-pick orchard with Oz, tasting what is still on the trees in late October; the farm's 7 October u-pick list ran from Northern Spy and Macoun to Pixie Crunch, Crimson Gold and Cortland. Meet at the farm playground. The farm is open Tuesday to Sunday for u-pick apples and pumpkins, with cider donuts Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
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5:30 to 8 pm; check-in from 5 pm; the first half hour is kept for the youngest visitors
The Enchanted Forest at Cumming Nature Center
RMSC Cumming Nature Center, Gulick Road, Naples · hills above Naples, between Canandaigua and Honeoye lakes · $8 adults and teens, $5 children 12 and under; members $1 off
A family-friendly, not-so-scary night hike: a half-mile loop through pines strung with twinkle lights, meeting a cast of costumed characters and learning about nocturnal wildlife. The 5:30 slot suits younger children. Cider and donuts are sold at the nature center, red cellophane is offered for flashlights, and a carved pumpkin dropped off by 4 pm on Friday 23 October earns a free ticket.
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4 to 6 pm; costume parade at 4:30 pm
Trunk or Treat on Main Street, Penn Yan
Main Street, Penn Yan · north-east tip of Keuka Lake · no price listed
Decorated car boots line Main Street handing out candy to children, with a costume-contest parade in front of the Elks, a trunk contest, food trucks and games.
4 events
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line-up 3:45 pm, parade 4 pm
80th Annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest in Geneva
From the State Armory, 300 Main Street, to DeSales High School gym, 90 Pulteney Street, Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · no price listed
Geneva's 80th Halloween parade lines up at the State Armory and walks to the DeSales High School gym, where the costume contest follows. The community Thriller dance returns along the route.
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5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Haunted Stroll at Sonnenberg Gardens
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · $10; $5 for ages 3 to 15; free under 3
An evening Halloween walk through the Victorian gardens, meeting witches, goblins and ghouls along the paths, with hot chocolate, cider, cider doughnuts and adult drinks for sale. Rain or shine; the entry gates close at 8 pm.
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noon to 4 pm
Spooky Science at the Sciencenter
Sciencenter, First Street, Ithaca · south end of Cayuga Lake · free
The Sciencenter's annual free Halloween afternoon: families explore the museum in costume with eerie experiments, hands-on activities and Halloween fun for all ages.
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noon to 2 pm
Trick or Treat at Emerson Park
Emerson Park, 6877 East Lake Road, Auburn · north shore of Owasco Lake · free
A free afternoon of trick-or-treating through Emerson Park on the north shore of Owasco Lake, run by the Friends of Emerson Park, with costumes encouraged, free candy, face painting and small surprises for children of all ages.
1 event
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6 to 8 pm
Museum in the Dark at the Museum of the Earth
Museum of the Earth, Trumansburg Road, Ithaca · south end of Cayuga Lake · $8; members, EBT cardholders and children free
An after-dark opening with Cornell astronomy students running space stations: an infrared camera, the Magic Planet globe, Mars through a VR headset, liquid-nitrogen ice cream and telescopes outside if the sky is clear. Costumes encouraged.
3 events
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6 to 9 pm
Howl-O-Ween at Atwater Vineyards
Atwater Vineyards tasting room, 5055 State Route 414, Burdett · east side of Seneca Lake · price not listed
A Thursday-evening Halloween party where guests and their leashed dogs come in costume: wine and cocktails with food from Kelly's Kitchen, a photo booth and a costume contest, with proceeds going to the Humane Society of Schuyler County.
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· 10 am to 5:30 pm
Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards tasting room, 5712 State Route 414, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · complimentary candy pairing with a wine tasting
For the three days up to Halloween, a tasting at the Hector bar comes with three wines each matched to a classic Halloween candy, to see which pairing works best. The same pairing runs at Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars in Naples.
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· 10 am to 5:30 pm
Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings at Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars
Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars, Naples · south end of Canandaigua Lake · complimentary with a wine tasting
For three days the Naples tasting room (and the Hector winery) adds a complimentary Halloween candy pairing to the tasting: three wines, each matched with a classic Halloween candy, to see which pairing works best. Winery hours 10 am to 5:30 pm.
4 events
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6 to 7:30 pm
Hallo-WINE: sips and spooky science at New York Kitchen
Wine Spectator Theater at New York Kitchen, 800 South Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · $60
Sommelier and chemistry professor Heather McKechney pours five blood-red wines while unpicking the origins and supposed science behind Halloween legends such as vampires, werewolves and zombies, with a nosh box from chef Pam Cecere. Costumes are encouraged.
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4 to 6 pm
Halloween in Downtown Ithaca
Participating businesses throughout downtown Ithaca · south end of Cayuga Lake · free
Trick-or-treating from shop to shop in downtown Ithaca on the Friday before Halloween. Families in costume follow the Halloween signs in participating storefront windows and use the alliance's map to find candy stops; this year's list of participating businesses is confirmed closer to the day.
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6:30 to 9 pm
Harvest Dinner at Fox Run
Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan · west side of Seneca Lake · $125 plus tax and gratuity ($150 all-in on Tock)
The second of Fox Run's two harvest dinners this year: five courses by chef Brud Holland with winemakers Craig Hosbach and Angie Lawler talking through each pairing. The published menu runs from a sweet corn and sweet potato strudel with the unoaked Chardonnay and a porcini risotto with Cabernet Franc to turkey two ways with the 2025 Dry Riesling and an apple, plum and walnut roulade with Tawny Port.
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5 to 7 pm
Howl-een Party at Idol Ridge
Idol Ridge Winery, Lodi · east side of Seneca Lake · no price listed
A costume party on the evening before Halloween with Halloween-themed cocktails, live music and pup cups for the dogs, which are welcome.
7 events
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· 1 to 3 pm
Drop In Discovery Days at Cornell Botanic Gardens
Nevin Welcome Center, Cornell Botanic Gardens, Ithaca · south end of Cayuga Lake · free
Free hands-on activities for families led by the gardens' youth educators, with a different seasonal activity each Saturday session.
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11 am to 9 pm
Halloween at Acquilano Wine Cellars
Acquilano Wine Cellars, South Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · no price listed
Halloween day at the Main Street tasting room and wine bar: come in costume and drink from a broad list of Acquilano wines. The organiser gives no further detail.
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3 pm in the listing text (its calendar slot says 2 to 2:30 pm)
Halloween Costume Contest at Three Brothers
Bagg Dare band stand, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, Lerch Road, Geneva · north-east corner of Seneca Lake · no price listed; no sign-up needed
Costumed guests walk the Bagg Dare band stand on Halloween afternoon while the crowd picks a favourite; the best costume wins a $50 gift card and there are SINgria samples. No sign-up, just turn up at 3 pm.
Event detailsThree Brothers Wineries & Estates: hours and wines
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time not yet posted
Halloween Costume Party at Deer Run Winery
Deer Run Winery, 3772 West Lake Road, Geneseo · west shore of Conesus Lake · price not yet posted
Conesus Lake's oldest operating winery hosts a Halloween costume party on the Saturday night of Halloween itself. The winery has posted the date on its autumn calendar but says tickets and details will follow, so check the events page before you go.
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6 pm
Halloween Parade in Geneseo
Village Park to Main Street, Geneseo · village of Geneseo, west of Conesus Lake · no price listed
A parade that gathers at Village Park at 6 pm and heads down Main Street, on Halloween itself.
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6 to 10 pm
Halloween Party with Telephone Party at the Oasis, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
The Oasis at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, 5712 State Route 414, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · free
A family-friendly Halloween night in Hazlitt's outdoor Oasis bar: Telephone Party play danceable pop, there is a costume contest with prizes for the top three, a candy handout for children, and Kelly's Kitchen food truck plus small bites through the evening.
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10 am to 5 pm
Sips & Spells on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
Participating Cayuga Lake Wine Trail wineries · around Cayuga Lake · $65, $60 for a non-alcoholic ticket
The trail's Halloween tour, a self-guided route between member wineries with a wine tasting at each stop; a non-alcoholic ticket swaps the tastings for potion-styled mocktails. Each ticket includes a gathering bag, a souvenir glass, an item to take home from each winery and roaming performances by the Witches of Water's Edge. Sold out, which is the pattern for the trail's ticketed weekends: buy the holiday tours early.
November
The cellar month
24 events start this month
By November the fruit is in and the interesting work moves indoors: fermentations finishing, malolactic conversion softening the reds, the first barrel samples drawn with a thief. Wiemer's open house pours the young 2026 wines straight from the tank, McGregor opens its 2025 reds from barrel on two weekends, and Six Eighty releases a nouveau, the first finished wine of the vintage, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The end-of-harvest dinners at Silver Thread and Sheldrake Point fall on the same Friday. Then the trails take over: Keuka's Handcrafted Holiday on the 14th and the first Deck the Halls and Jingle & Mingle weekends from the 20th, the Seneca one already sold out.
1 event
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6 pm
November Sunday Supper at Anthony Road
Anthony Road Wine Company, Penn Yan · west side of Seneca Lake · $75, $65 for club members, plus tax and gratuity
A casual three-course dinner by a local chef on the first Sunday of November, each course paired with Anthony Road wines in the tasting room.
Event detailsTicketsAnthony Road Wine Company: hours and wines
2 events
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6:30 to 8:30 pm
Harvest's End wine and cider pairing dinner at Silver Thread
Silver Thread Winegarden, Lodi · east side of Seneca Lake · $140 per person including gratuity, sales tax extra; $15 off for club members
Three courses by chef Tim Hardiman of Hardiman Hospitality, each paired with both a Silver Thread wine and a Finger Lakes Cider House cider, to mark the end of picking at the Winegarden on Route 414. Just 42 seats.
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6 to 8 pm on the events page (the winery's own calendar shows 5 to 7 pm; confirm when booking)
Wine Makers Dinner at Sheldrake Point
The Vine at Sheldrake Point, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · $130 including pairings, tax and gratuity; club members 10 percent off
Four courses with the winery's own pairings: honeynut squash bisque, seared diver scallops, Pinot-braised lamb shank on a preserved-lemon risotto cake and a sweet corn crème brûlée.
3 events
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1 to 4 pm
Bon Vivant, an end-of-harvest party at Hosmer
Hosmer Winery, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · no cover
When the last bins are in, Hosmer throws a party with live music from Donna Colton and apple-cider mimosas, and the staff finally have time to talk about the vintage.
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1 to 5 pm
Harvest Festival Open House at Hermann J. Wiemer
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee · west side of Seneca Lake · $45 per ticket on Tock
Wiemer opens the cellar for an afternoon of themed tasting stations: new releases beside the classics, young 2026 wines straight from the tank and the winemakers on hand to talk through them. A food truck, a coffee bar, live music, a scavenger hunt and wine games run through the afternoon.
Event detailsTicketsHermann J. Wiemer Vineyard: hours and wines
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10 am to 3 pm
Holiday Market at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, 8419 State Route 54, Hammondsport · south end of Keuka Lake · $5 admission, includes the museum
A one-day holiday market of dozens of artisans and makers inside the aviation and motorcycle museum south of the village, with a make-and-take craft for children, food and drink for sale and free parking; the $5 entry also covers the museum galleries. Indoors; no pets apart from service animals.
1 event
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5 to 7 pm
Sunday Supper at Six Eighty Cellars
Six Eighty Cellars, Swick Road, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · $35 for wine club members, $50 general
The winery's monthly Sunday dinner for 20 guests: a seasonal, house-made menu at one table overlooking Cayuga Lake, with Six Eighty wines available to add on.
2 events
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· Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm; Saturday 5 to 7 pm food, drink and music with no admission fee
Christkindl Market at the Granger Homestead
Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, North Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · cash only: $10 a day, $15 for a multi-day pass, under 12 free; Saturday evening free
The 20th German-style Christmas market on the museum lawn: more than 150 regional artisans and food vendors in heated tents, German food, wine, beer and Gideon's Grog, live holiday music, visits with Santa, an Elf School and a lantern parade. New this year, a Saturday evening of food, drink and music from 5 to 7 pm with no admission charge.
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· Wednesdays and Sundays 1 to 5 pm, Thursdays and Fridays 1 to 7 pm, Saturdays 11 am to 5 pm
Festival of Trees at the Granger Homestead
Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, North Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · $5 adults, $4 seniors and members, $1 students, under 5 free
Well over one hundred trees, wreaths, gift baskets and seasonal decorations fill the homestead and are sold by silent auction, from the market weekend to the first Saturday of December. Closed 19 November and Thanksgiving Day.
4 events
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10 am to 5 pm
Handcrafted Holiday on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Six Keuka Lake wineries: Keuka Spring, Agricolae Estate by Ravines, Weis, Domaine LeSeurre, Heron Hill and Vineyard View · around Keuka Lake · $110 all-in; $20 off one ticket for a designated driver with code DD2026
The trail's behind-the-scenes tour: a set route through six wineries with four pours and a holiday bite by Lake Life Catering at each, plus something you do not get at the bar, whether an owner-led tasting, a production tour, a vertical or an unreleased wine.
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5:15 to 9 pm
Preserving Summer: a fermentation dinner at Damiani
Damiani production facility, Peach Orchard Road, Hector · east side of Seneca Lake · $150
A 30-minute tour among the barrels of the new vintage while they are still bubbling, then six plant-based courses from Johnny's Kitchen, each built around a seasonal ferment and served with Damiani wines.
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· Saturdays 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm (about 90 minutes); Sundays 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm (about 60 minutes)
Red Wine Barrel Tasting at McGregor Vineyard
McGregor Vineyard, 5503 Dutch Street, Dundee · east side of Keuka Lake · $50 Saturday tasting with John McGregor; $35 Sunday red wine and food flight
Barrel samples of the 2025 reds, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rob Roy Red and both Saperavis. Saturdays John McGregor leads a seated comparison with earlier vintages; Sundays the tasting room manager pours the same wines with local foods and cheeses shared at the table. A third weekend follows on 9 and 10 January 2027.
Event detailsReserve NovemberMcGregor Vineyard: hours and wines
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time not yet posted
Vintner Dinner at Deer Run Winery
Deer Run Winery, 3772 West Lake Road, Geneseo · west shore of Conesus Lake · price not yet posted
A Vintner Dinner at the winery on a mid-November Saturday. The winery has announced the date only; menu, price and booking are still to come.
1 event
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seatings at 10 am, noon and 1 pm
Brunch and Bubbles with Chef Dillon Towner at Cane & Vine Wine Cellars
Cane & Vine Wine Cellars, 4156 State Route 14, Geneva · west side of Seneca Lake, just south of Geneva · $50 including one signature mimosa, alcoholic or not
A Sunday brunch buffet cooked by Dillon Towner of Chat-A-Whyle in Bath: French toast, pancakes, quiches, glazed ham, roasted potatoes, salads, a grazing table and the winery's sweet and savoury chimney cakes, with a mimosa included.
2 events
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· Friday noon to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Deck the Halls Weekend on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Participating Seneca Lake Wine Trail wineries · around Seneca Lake · $85 single, $120 for a couple, $35 for a non-tasting designated driver; one ticket covers all three days
A self-guided tour of decorated member wineries around the lake: a food sample paired with a pour and three further tastes at each stop, a grapevine wreath and recipe book at your starting winery, and ornaments to collect. Sold out at all 17 wineries by early October; the trail keeps a waiting list and warns against tickets its office has not confirmed. The second weekend runs 4 to 6 December.
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· 10 am to 5 pm
Jingle & Mingle on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
Ten Cayuga Lake Wine Trail wineries, Buttonwood Grove to Thirsty Owl · around Cayuga Lake · $65 single, $95 for a couple, $45 for a designated driver, plus tax and service fees; non-refundable
The renamed Holiday Shopping Spree: a tasting, a festive food sample where offered and a collectible reindeer ornament at each of ten wineries, Buttonwood Grove to Thirsty Owl, with a souvenir glass and one visit per winery across the three days. Groups are limited to 12; by 9 October the Montezuma, Swedish Hill and Six Mile Creek starting slots had sold out. The second weekend runs 4 to 6 December.
1 event
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11 am to 5 pm
Holiday in the Valley Christmas Market at the Wadsworth Homestead
Wadsworth Homestead, Geneseo · west of Conesus Lake · admission price not listed
A holiday shopping day at the Wadsworth Homestead with 45 vendors of handmade goods inside the decorated 1804 house and under an outdoor heated tent, plus food trucks and specialty cocktails. The homestead is open to tour during the market.
2 events
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· 10 am to 6 pm (10 am to 4 pm on 31 December)
Festival of Trees at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum
Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum, across from Emerson Park, Auburn · north shore of Owasco Lake · free
More than 200 decorated trees fill the heated agricultural museum across from Emerson Park for the holidays, with free admission, parking, coffee and hot chocolate. Open 10 am to 6 pm daily to 30 December and 10 am to 4 pm on 31 December, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; the display continues to 31 January.
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3 to 5 pm
Nouveau Release Gathering at Six Eighty Cellars
Six Eighty Cellars, Swick Road, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · free
A free release party for the winery's newest Nouveau on the Sunday before Thanksgiving: complimentary pours, live jazz and light bites, with bottles of the young wine to take home.
1 event
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5 to 7 pm
A Vegan Thanksgiving at Sheldrake Point
The Vine at Sheldrake Point, Ovid · west shore of Cayuga Lake · $85 adults, $35 children; optional wine pairing $35
A chef-prepared vegan Thanksgiving dinner at the winery's bistro on the eve of the holiday, overlooking the lake, with a children's price and an optional pairing of Sheldrake Point wines.
1 event
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seatings at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm
Thanksgiving Day Buffet at Veraisons, Glenora Wine Cellars
Veraisons Restaurant at Glenora Wine Cellars, Dundee · west side of Seneca Lake · $50 adults, $26 for children 12 and under, plus tax and gratuity
Glenora's restaurant serves a Thanksgiving buffet of hot and cold dishes, salads, vegan and vegetarian options and desserts, with three seatings, a children's price and the lake below the windows.
1 event
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· noon to 4 pm; Christmas Eve show noon to 2:30 pm
Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles
Village of Skaneateles streets · north end of Skaneateles Lake · no ticket needed; street theatre in the village streets
The 33rd Dickens Christmas: costumed characters from A Christmas Carol fill the village streets as roaming street theatre on the Friday after Thanksgiving and every weekend to Christmas, with a shorter show on Christmas Eve. The chamber had not yet posted the 2026 programme when checked on 9 October.
2 events
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drop in any time from noon to 4 pm
Evergreen Wreath Make & Take at Three Brothers
War Horse brewery hangar, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, Lerch Road, Geneva · north-east corner of Seneca Lake · $50, including one drink token
Make an evergreen wreath dressed with foraged and dried botanicals and a bow in the brewery hangar on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, with a drink token included in the ticket.
Event detailsTicketsThree Brothers Wineries & Estates: hours and wines
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parade 4 pm; tree lighting ceremony 5 pm, with the new tree lit at 5:15 pm
Holiday Parade and Downtown Tree Lighting in Auburn
Genesee Street from Fulton Street to Metcalf Plaza, then the State Street Event Plaza, Auburn · downtown Auburn, north end of Owasco Lake · no ticket; a public street parade
Auburn's 39th holiday parade lines up at East Genesee and Fulton Streets at 4 pm and marches west down Genesee Street to Metcalf Plaza. At 5 pm the State Street Event Plaza hosts the tree lighting ceremony, with music from the Purple Lancer Cadets, free hot cocoa and a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus; the downtown council says the new tree is lit at 5:15 pm.
December
The festive month
24 events start this month
December is when the villages do the work: Light Up Geneva on the 3rd, Watkins Glen's Village Christmas on the 4th, Seneca Falls playing Bedford Falls for five days from the 9th, and Dickens characters loose in Skaneateles every weekend to Christmas Eve. The second trail weekends run from the 4th to the 6th, Bully Hill pairs its wines with holiday cookies to the 19th, and Deer Run lights its tasting room by candle on three Thursdays. What to pour: a traditional-method sparkling from the lakes for the first guests, an off-dry Riesling with anything spiced, and Cabernet Franc with the roast. Tasting rooms keep shorter weeks from here on, so check hours before a long drive.
2 events
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· time not yet posted
Candlelight Nights at Deer Run Winery
Deer Run Winery, 3772 West Lake Road, Geneseo · west shore of Conesus Lake · price not yet posted
Three Thursday evenings billed as Candlelight Nights at the winery in the run-up to Christmas. Dates are posted; hours, what is planned and any reservation details are still to come from the winery.
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6 to 8 pm
Light Up Geneva holiday lights fundraiser
The Experience Center, 3rd floor of the Dove Block, 465 Exchange Street, Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · free, suggested $20 donation
The downtown district's annual evening of hors d'oeuvres, music, a cash bar and silent and live auctions pays for Geneva's holiday and winter lights, which stay up into February. Guests vote on which decorations to add downtown.
7 events
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6 to 7 pm
Christmasing in Geneseo
Village of Geneseo · village of Geneseo, west of Conesus Lake · no price listed
A one-hour evening gathering in the village on the first Friday of December; the organisers say more details are to come, so check the listing nearer the date.
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· Friday noon to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Deck the Halls Weekend on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, second weekend
Participating Seneca Lake Wine Trail wineries · around Seneca Lake · $85 single, $120 for a couple, $35 for a non-tasting designated driver; separate tickets from the November weekend
The second Deck the Halls weekend, same format as November: decorated wineries, a paired food sample and three further tastes at each stop, a grapevine wreath packet at your starting winery and ornaments to collect. Tickets are good for all three days. Nearly sold out: on 2 October only six of the 17 starting wineries had tickets left and the weekend packages were gone.
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· 10 am to 5 pm
Holiday Cookie Pairing at Bully Hill
Bully Hill Vineyards, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake, above Hammondsport · price not listed
A wine-and-holiday-cookie pairing offered daily in the tasting room for the first three weeks of December.
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· 10 am to 5 pm
Jingle & Mingle on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, second weekend
Ten Cayuga Lake Wine Trail wineries, Buttonwood Grove to Thirsty Owl · around Cayuga Lake · $65 single, $95 for a couple, $45 for a designated driver, plus tax and service fees; non-refundable; separate tickets from the November weekend
The second Jingle & Mingle weekend, same route and format: a tasting, a festive food sample where offered and a collectible reindeer ornament at each of ten wineries, with a souvenir glass and one visit per winery across the three days. Groups are limited to 12; by 9 October the Montezuma and Six Mile Creek starting slots had sold out and Swedish Hill had one ticket left.
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5:30 to 7 pm
Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony in Geneva
City Hall, 47 Castle Street, Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · free
Geneva lights its tree outside City Hall on the first Friday of December to open the holiday season, a family evening downtown the same weekend as the Jingle in Geneva art walk.
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6 to 7 pm
Skaneateles Sings and Village Tree Lighting
Village gazebo and the United Methodist Church, Skaneateles · north end of Skaneateles Lake · no price listed
Villagers gather at the gazebo at 6 pm to meet Dickens Christmas characters and Father Christmas, sing carols led by the Girl Scouts and watch the village Christmas tree lit, then warm up at the United Methodist Church with a magic show while village stores hold an open house.
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5 to 8 pm
Village Christmas in Watkins Glen
Franklin Street, downtown Watkins Glen · south end of Seneca Lake · free
The 33rd Village Christmas fills Franklin Street with photos with Santa and his workshop, seasonal stories and a scavenger hunt, local vendors and holiday shopping, the village tree lighting, a community parade and fireworks to open the season.
4 events
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2 to 9 pm
Avon Holiday Spectacular on Genesee Street
Genesee Street business district, Avon · village of Avon, north of Conesus Lake · no price listed
Avon's downtown holiday evening fills Genesee Street with lights, music, family activities, local vendors and artisans, and Santa makes appearances. Overflow parking is at Avon Middle School with a shuttle.
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time not yet posted
Family Interactive Christmas Movie Night at Deer Run Winery
Deer Run Winery, 3772 West Lake Road, Geneseo · west shore of Conesus Lake · price not yet posted
A Family Interactive Christmas Movie Night at the winery on the first Saturday of December. The winery lists the date and the title on its autumn calendar; the film, start time and any ticketing are still to be announced.
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11 am to 3 pm
Jingle in Geneva Art Walk
Downtown Geneva · north end of Seneca Lake · no price listed
A downtown celebration of the arts on the first Saturday of December: exhibits, workshops, artist pop-ups, handmade crafts and make-your-own-art stops for holiday gifts.
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times not yet posted
WinterFest in Trumansburg
Downtown Trumansburg · west of Cayuga Lake, above Taughannock Falls · free
A free celebration of light and community in downtown Trumansburg on the first Saturday of December, with Santa and Mrs Claus in attendance; the village calendar does not yet give times.
1 event
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1 to 4 pm
A Magical Afternoon: Pictures with Santa at the Wadsworth Homestead
Wadsworth Homestead, 4 South Street, Geneseo · village of Geneseo, west of Conesus Lake · ticketed; price not yet posted
Santa receives children in the 1804 Wadsworth Homestead on a December Sunday afternoon, with a professional photographer taking pictures and digital files supplied afterwards. Families are encouraged to dress in holiday attire. Tickets will be sold through Valley Ticketing.
1 event
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· varies by event; parade Saturday 12 December at 1 pm, bell-ringing ceremony Sunday 13 December at 4:15 pm
It's a Wonderful Life Festival in Seneca Falls
Fall Street and venues around the village, Seneca Falls · north end of Cayuga Lake · many events free, including the readings, the Saturday film screening, the dance and the chestnuts; the radio play and the Jimmy Stewart play ($15 at the door) are ticketed; the dinners and card workshops are sold out
The 80th-anniversary festival for the film in the town that claims to be Bedford Falls: five days of talks and readings, autograph sessions with cast members Karolyn Grimes, Jimmy Hawkins and Don Collins, a live radio play, roasted chestnuts, the parade on Fall Street and the closing bell-ringing ceremony.
4 events
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10 am to 4 pm
A Very Merry FLXmas Holiday Market at Three Brothers
Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, Lerch Road, Geneva · north-east corner of Seneca Lake · free admission
An indoor and outdoor holiday market with more than 70 local artisans and makers in mini villages across the estate, with wine, beer, cider and soda tastings, a food truck and the Iron Heart Café.
Event detailsThree Brothers Wineries & Estates: hours and wines
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times not yet posted
Christmas in the Park 50th Anniversary, Hammondsport
Village of Hammondsport (location not yet posted) · south end of Keuka Lake · no price listed
The village's Christmas in the Park reaches its 50th year on the second Saturday of December. The chamber has posted only the date so far and says dates may change; schedule, hours and activities are still to come.
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11 am to 4 pm
Hometown Holidays on Main Street, Geneseo
Main Street, Geneseo · village of Geneseo, west of Conesus Lake · no price listed
Main Street's Saturday holiday celebration in the village; the organisers say more details are to come, so check the listing nearer the date.
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11 am to 3 pm (the winery's page prints 11 pm, an evident slip)
Visit with Santa at Bully Hill
Bully Hill Vineyards, Hammondsport · west side of Keuka Lake, above Hammondsport · price not listed
Santa visits the winery on the second Saturday of December, during the Holiday Cookie Pairing weeks.
3 events
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9 to 11 am
Breakfast with Santa at the Big Tree Inn
Big Tree Inn, Main Street, Geneseo · village of Geneseo, west of Conesus Lake · $21 for children 12 and under, $34 for adults
Photos with Santa from 9 am, then a buffet breakfast from 9:30 to 11 am with a hot chocolate station for the children and a cash bar for mimosas and bloody marys for the grown-ups, at the village's historic inn. Tickets are sold on the inn's event page.
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10 am to 4 pm; Santa 10 am to 3:30 pm
Christmas Open House at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum
Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum, across from Emerson Park, Auburn · north shore of Owasco Lake · free
The museum's holiday open house with Santa from 10 am to 3:30 pm, free horse-drawn wagon and Model T rides weather permitting, music, refreshments and children's activities, while the Festival of Trees display of more than 200 trees continues inside. Admission is free.
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noon to 5:30 pm; Seward House open house noon to 4 pm
Holiday Traditions in Auburn
Historic sites, museums and churches across Auburn · downtown Auburn, north end of Owasco Lake · free
A free afternoon of holiday open houses at Auburn's historic sites, museums and churches, with the Seward House decorated for Christmas and stories of Seward family Christmases, plus live holiday music and Santa at the Equal Rights Heritage Center.
2 events
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registration 10 to 11:30 am; curling runs to about 2 pm
International Rutabaga Curl at the Ithaca Farmers Market
Ithaca Farmers Market pavilion, Steamboat Landing, 545 Third Street · south end of Cayuga Lake · spectators free; $5 to compete including a rutabaga or turnip, $10 with a bag
The 29th running of the market's tongue-in-cheek rutabaga curling championship, held on the last outdoor Saturday market of the year. Adults and children register on site in the morning, practise their throws and compete with MCs, referees, a chorus and musicians looking on; younger children join the turnip toss. Bring the whole family.
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9:30 am
The Night Before Christmas at the Granger Homestead
Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, North Main Street, Canandaigua · city of Canandaigua, north end of the lake · free
A reading and puppet show of The Night Before Christmas in the homestead, with sugar plums to sample, at 9:30 on the Saturday morning before Christmas. Free; reservations are encouraged because space is limited, and the 2025 showing sold out.
Before you go
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Trail weekends sell out weeks ahead.
One ticket covers all three days of a weekend, a designated-driver ticket costs less, and the trails warn against resold tickets. Seneca's November Deck the Halls was gone at every winery by early October; Cayuga and Keuka still had tickets on 9 October.
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The dinners are small and go early.
Winemaker dinners seat 24 to 42 people and sell through Tock or the winery's own site, usually at a price before tax and gratuity. Where an organiser had not yet posted a start time, the entry says so, and so will the calendar entry you save.
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Children are welcome more often than you might expect.
The green tags mark events whose organiser says children are welcome, from pumpkin decorating at 20 Deep to the Festival of Trees in Auburn; events for 21 and over are marked too. Dogs are a separate question, and the journal's dog-friendly guide covers which wineries take them.
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Winter hours start in November.
Many tasting rooms shorten their week after the trail weekends and some close midweek until spring. Each winery's own page carries its hours, and the interactive map turns a day of events into a route with the wineries open around them.
Still to be announced
A few regulars had not posted their 2026 details when this list was compiled on 9 October: Dr Konstantin Frank's holiday market, Penn Yan's StarShine weekend, Illuminate Canandaigua, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail's December weekend and the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail's winter events among them. They will be added once the organisers confirm.
Plan the rest of the trip
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Trip planning guide
Where to base yourself, how many wineries fit in a day, and sample itineraries shore by shore.
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Every winery, by lake
The directory behind these listings: hours, wines, food, dogs and booking for each winery.
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The journal
Longer reads on the harvest, dog-friendly tasting rooms and a weekend planner.
Wine guides by lake
Don't see your event?
Running a wine, harvest, family or holiday event anywhere around the eleven lakes? Send us the details and we will add it once the date is up on your own website or ticketing page, so include that link. Wineries, farms, museums and villages are all welcome.
No email app on this device? Write to hello@fingerlakeswinemap.com