NEWSLETTER
The Finger Lakes is not only well-versed in producing vino but also adept at making art in its many forms. Music from opera to the blues emanates from performing arts venues, while museums quietly feature works from some of the world’s most illustrious artists. Visitors to this region will also discover some of the state’s most unique museums. Annual arts festivals lure tourists and locals alike, providing tons of reasons to spend time in Skaneateles, Geneva, Ithaca, and many more charming towns in the Finger Lakes. Discover even more world-class arts and culture in every region of New York State with I LOVE NY’s newly launched regional map and guides, upcoming calendar of events, and more.
JUMP TO: Visual Arts | Theaters and Performing Arts | Historic Sites and Landmarks | Music and Film | Events and Festivals
Visual Arts
Credit: @corningmuseum on Instagram
You’ve never seen glass like this before! Displays from Ancient Egypt to the modern day are on exhibit and are part of the most extensive collection of glass art in the world. You’ll marvel at the chandeliers, furniture, jewelry, and figurines, all delicately crafted from glass. To witness artmaking in action, watch a thrilling Hot Glass Demo. Then check out a satisfying 15-minute Glass Breaking Demo. Make Your Own Glass sessions are available with reservations (spots fill quickly!), allowing you to take home a souvenir, hand-blown by you, to remember the day. These interactive activities, along with the exquisite glass exhibits, make this the ideal museum if you’re in Corning with kids.
Credit: @jbocianski on Instagram
The first Kodak camera appeared on the market in 1888. It was easy to carry and simple to use, thus a new generation of amateur photographers was born. The inventor, George Eastman, founded the Eastman Kodak Company. He also dramatically advanced techniques in photography and motion picture film. His Rochester estate is now a museum. Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum features photographs, film archives, and exhibits that highlight a timeline of photographic and cinematic technology. The 500-seat Dryden Theatre offers daily film screenings celebrating cinematic eras throughout movie history.
Credit: @modarchitecture on Instagram
Art lovers are captivated even before stepping inside this museum of modern and contemporary art in downtown Syracuse. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the sculptural building is its own artistic masterpiece. Inside, visitors will discover paintings and sculptures that span two centuries, as well as photography, video art, and the most comprehensive collection of American ceramics in the country. Gallery tours, artist talks, and more special events invite visitors to experience the museum from a more intimate perspective.
View a 17th-century Rembrandt, an early 20th-century O’Keeffe, and a Kehinde Wiley created in 2013. Such is the breadth of works at the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG), where extensive collections of African, Asian, Islamic, Latin American, Native American, and more art is also on display. Outside the gallery, large-scale works span 10 acres at Centennial Sculpture Park. Nearby, Poets Walk and Story Walk are interactive sidewalks that honor poets and local artists. Located in the culture-rich Neighborhood of the Arts in Rochester, MAG is rightly considered a local treasure.
Credit: @marcfeder_2013 on Instagram
An easy walk along the Seneca-Cayuga Canal is enhanced by several sculptures along the way. Many were created by women and commemorate women, a fitting theme since Seneca Falls is also home to the Women's Rights National Historical Park. One sculpture honors Diana Smith, the village’s first mayor. Another celebrates Amelia Bloomer, who was the first known woman to wear pants under her skirt. Some sculptures, like The Falls of Seneca Falls, highlight the beauty of the Finger Lakes.
Originally dedicated to the art of the American West, the Rockwell Museum has greatly expanded its holdings since opening in 1976. The American experience continues to be the focal point of the collection, conveyed by paintings, sculptures, photographs, and artifacts that represent Native American culture, 19th-century American art, early modernism, and post-World War II and contemporary art. Exhibits rotate several times a year, allowing every visit to reveal a new perspective. Located in Corning’s old City Hall, the Rockwell Museum hosts regular events to engage art lovers of all ages.
Theaters and Performing Arts
Year-round programming provides something for everyone, making this performing arts center an ideal community gathering space in downtown Auburn. Live concerts, musical comedies, and thought-provoking plays happen in the 199-seat mainstage theater. The 65-seat cinema features classic, documentary, and art films. Special events include the annual Cayuga Film Festival when high school and college students and emerging filmmakers are invited to submit their work. Café 108 offers an extensive breakfast and lunch menu of locally sourced food and donates all profits to the Auburn Public Theater.
The first-ever performance to grace the stage was The Count of Monte Cristo. That was in 1894, and the venue continues to bring top-notch performing arts to Geneva. Come for live concerts, plays, and musicals. The Smith also makes great use of their 30′ x 40′ movie screen, hosting a roster of fun activities. Past events have welcomed pups and their owners to watch Lady and the Tramp; Valentine’s Day was celebrated with a special dessert and a viewing of The Princess Bride. Visitors can get a closer look and learn more about The Smith on a guided History Tour.
When the curtain rose on its first film in 1928, admission was 25 cents, a live quartet entertained patrons during intermission, and the lobby had a Japanese pagoda fountain complete with a fish pond. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bob Dylan, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, and other powerhouse performers graced the stage. Today, the Syracuse venue is a premier destination for concerts, live comedy, films, touring Broadway shows, and much more.
Since 1991, this year-round professional theater company has been bringing bold performances to its downtown Ithaca stage. Be sure to check out the 2024-2025 season, featuring five exciting mainstage plays. Polishing Shakespeare (October 16-27) tells the comic story of a wealthy dot-commer seeking to translate Shakespeare into an easier form of English. The Brobot Adventure (February 12-23) brings intriguing combinations of sci-fi, looped vocals, and beatboxing to the stage. Kitchen Theatre has produced more than 200 shows, with a focus on regional and world premiere plays and musicals. The 99-seat theater promises an intimate experience and is housed in a LEED-certified “green” building.
For lovers of the arts, it’s all happening in Homer! Watch world-class live music, settle in for an evening of Burlesque Bingo, or sharpen your stand-up routine for the next Open Mic night. The center also offers lessons in flute, guitar, and more. There’s a book club, a community quilting studio, and a summer production of Shakespeare in the Park. The Gallery at the Center features exhibits by artists from near and far. The venue, a beautiful historic church with stained glass windows, makes the experience even more memorable.
Historic Sites and Landmarks
A Greek Revival mansion built in 1833 became Elmira’s first art museum. Matthias H. Arnot was a businessman and avid art collector who, throughout his lifetime, acquired more than 80 paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts. In his will, he left his mansion and collection to the town of Elmira. Arnot Art Museum is now home to one of the largest private collections that can still be viewed in its original location. The original collection features paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder, Jean-Francois Millet, and more Old Masters. They and other works added over the years contribute to the more than 2,000 works now held here.
In the heyday of the Erie Canal, weighlocks determined a vessel’s toll based on the weight of cargo onboard. The only weigh station still in existence is in Syracuse, and it is this—the 1850 Weighlock Building—that houses the Erie Canal Museum. Visitors can learn about the workings of the 19th-century waterway and how it shaped not only New York but the entire nation. A lot of the story is told through recreations of life in a canal town. This includes murals featured inside and outside the museum, which are artistic renderings of life on the Erie Canal. There are also paintings of note, including Madonna of the Canal by Elizabeth Leader (2015) and Clinton Square, c. 1864 by Mark Topp (1993).
Genesee Country Village and Museum
Credit: @judymcadoopelton.fireside on Instagram
A living history museum in Mumford offers experiences for everyone. The Historic Village is a history buff’s dream, as it takes visitors on a journey through a working 19th-century village. Art enthusiasts will be just as delighted by the John L. Wehle Gallery, named after the museum’s founder. The collection reflects a combination of Wehle’s passion for art mixed with his love of hunting, sports, and the great outdoors. Works on view span four centuries and include paintings and sculptures that depict wildlife and local landscapes. Gallery talks and tours invite visitors to delve deeper into the works.
Music and Film
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Photo Courtesy of RPO
Imagine sitting under the stars on a warm summer night. An orchestra of astonishing talent plays music from your favorite movies, perhaps Jurassic Park, Star Wars, or Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This is merely one of the many events that take place courtesy of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, a company founded by George Eastman in 1922. Their annual season features classic and contemporary concerts that include Sunday matinees, holiday specials, and performances especially for kids. Sensory-friendly concerts add an additional layer of accessibility. Concerts that integrate audience participation are aimed at engaging children of all ages in orchestral performances.
Since its first performance in 2013, the Finger Lakes Opera (FLO) has continued to present season after season of robust programming. The most recent season featured Gianni Schicchi, a comic opera by Puccini. There was also the world premiere of Two Corners, a brand-new opera set in Alabama during the Civil Rights movement. Finger Lakes Opera also hosts regular panel discussions and plays at small local venues, with the intention of bringing music to the wider community. The opera company is rightly proud of its Young Artist Program, a four-week summer session that presents young emerging artists with opportunities to perform in FLO productions.
Grab some popcorn and settle in at the oldest cinema in Onondaga County, whose mission is to engage the community with everything from thought-provoking films to frenzy-inducing movies like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. After decades under the same ownership, Manlius Cinema was purchased in 2022 by Dan Chapman and Joe Ori. The new owners made extensive renovations and installed a new digital projector, but they plan to maintain the cinema’s reputation as a great independent space where quality independent and foreign films can be counted on. They’ve also added their own unique touches, including a Halloween horror film festival to share their love of the genre. Manlius Cinema also hosts the annual Syracuse International Film Festival in September.
Thanks to CNY Jazz Central, there are plenty of places to snap your fingers to bebop, backbeats, and good old-fashioned jamming sessions! With the goal of delivering high-quality jazz and jazz programs throughout the year, the foundation has no lack of special events. Jazz in the City brings “cool heat on the street” to venues around Syracuse in the summer months, while a January JazzFest warms up winter with a full day of live music. There’s also a Jazz Cabaret Series, the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, and so much more. The CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra gives area young people the chance to show off their chops in pre-professional performances every July.
The Little Theatre emerged out of a resistance to the mass marketing of films that became the norm after the advent of talking motion pictures. Their mission to feature independent and foreign films lives on with a seemingly endless selection of film series. The monthly Black Cinema Series presents films exclusively by Black filmmakers and often includes panel discussions, while the So Fetch! The series appeals to fans of Mean Girls, the 2004 movie responsible for bringing that expression into the cultural vernacular. Plenty of new movies are also featured on the theater’s five screens. The Little Café serves sandwiches, salads, drinks, and desserts. They also host free live music and art exhibits by Little Theatre member artists.
Events and Festivals
You know summer is about to kick off in the Finger Lakes when the Geneva Music Festival is in town! For four weeks in May and June, world-class musicians gather, delighting music fans with the sounds of jazz, contemporary, bluegrass, and chamber music. The Cracker Factory, Gearan Center for the Performing Arts, and Linden Social transform into hives of talent as musicians from around the world take the spotlight. Featured performers are often Grammy Award winners; many are faculty from Yale, Juilliard, and other schools with world-class performing arts programs.
A themed parade kicks off the festivities, followed by a full weekend of live music and performances that take place on stages throughout Ithaca. Don’t miss the Spring Craft Fair, where local and regional artisans display jewelry, pottery, artwork, clothing, and many more unique items. The free event takes place in early June and brings together the best of beautiful Ithaca.
Credit: @momma_phranque on Instagram
Chase the blues away with three days of free music, held on Syracuse’s New York State Fairgrounds in June. Bands from across the country bring their distinct harmonies to the stage to celebrate the impact the blues have made on modern music. Start planning now for 2025— this past year’s headlining acts included Little Feat, The Record Company, and Shemekia Copeland, who NPR music called “one of the leading blues artists of our time.” Festival goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Food and beverages are sold on-site.
In the summer of 2024, the production of All’s Well That Ends Well kicked off the Ithaca Shakespeare Company’s ambitious goal of presenting each and every one of the bard’s 38 known plays. They have an admirable head start, having already performed 27 plays in their long-running history. By naming their project, Completing the Canon, the regional theater organization invites the audience along on what is sure to be an incredible theatrical journey. Ithaca Shakespeare Company features two plays every July as part of their outdoor Shakespeare festival. Performances take place at the Upper Entrance of Robert H. Treman State Park.
Notes of classical, jazz, bluegrass, and more fill the Skaneateles air during the month of August. The idea for a music festival in this picturesque lakeside town was conceived in 1980 and the event has been going strong ever since. Béla Fleck, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, and Rhiannon Giddens make up only part of the long list of Grammy Award winners who have delighted music fans. Performances take place at a handful of local venues.
Credit: @rochesterfringe on Instagram
Since its debut in 2012, the Rochester Fringe Festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the year. The multidisciplinary showcase delivers uber-creative performances that push the envelope to extremes. The 12-day September event features a stream of entertainment, from comedy, theater, and dance to music, movies, and much more. The home base is One Fringe Place, but venues around the city transform into Fringe performance spaces.
In search of the best LGBTQ+ films? Look no further! The ImageOut Fall Film Festival presents outstanding films that represent a range of LGBTQ+ experiences. Directors hail from around the world with films that include narrative features, documentaries, short films, and more. The Little Theatre, The Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum, and Wegmans Theater at RIT are venues. A kickoff party and closing night party bookend 10 days in October of unforgettable film screenings.
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