The Beat

Howes Cave, NY–The Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave, NY, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 4, celebrating the completion of a $400,000 expansion to its 7,500-square-foot facility. 

“We’re excited to welcome visitors to our beautiful longhouse-inspired museum with a new, light-filled entrance—and to share even more Haudenosaunee culture through expanded exhibit space,” said Steph Shultes, Iroquois Museum Director.

Binghamton, N.Y. – The Binghamton University Ballroom Dance Association will host its annual ballroom competition, Binghamton Ballroom Dance Revolution, on Saturday, March 22, at MacArthur Elementary School, located at 1123 Vestal Ave, Binghamton. The event, which runs throughout the day, is free and open to the public.

Celebrating Tourism Excellence

Utica, N.Y. (March 17, 2025) – Oneida County Tourism (OCT) will hold its 41st annual meeting Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 4:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. at Munson, located at 310 Genesee Street, Utica. Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. and OCT Board President Chris Destito, Jr. will present the 2025 Christopher P. Destito Tourism Leadership Award to Frank Elias and Heather Delia, the visionary leaders of Utica Coffee Roasting Company. Members of the media are invited to attend in person to cover the meeting.

Norwich, N.Y. – The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) launches the 2025 museum season with special Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 1. The Community Gallery will host “Creativity in Bloom: The Storied Illustrations of Suzanne Bloom,” a career retrospective with exclusive exhibit art created by Chenango County’s own award-winning children’s author and illustrator.

Five Sundays of maple sugaring activities and pancake breakfasts begin March 2

Cooperstown, NY — Join friends and family for another season of Sugaring Off Sundays at Fenimore Farm & Country Village in Cooperstown, New York.  The weekly event begins March 2 and continues each Sunday through March 30 offering contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, and much more. A pancake breakfast including sausage and home fries is served from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and features local syrup provided by the Otsego County Maple Producers.

Utica, N.Y. - Join the Utica/Oneida County Branch NAACP to celebrate Black History Month 2025 with its annual program hosted by the History Center. This event will follow the national theme of African Americans and Labor. The program is available in person and virtually via Zoom.

Utica, N.Y. (January 23, 2025) – “Got an old mule and her name is Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal!” These famous lyrics from the classic song The Erie Canal remind us of the waterway’s rich history—and now, the canal is celebrating an incredible milestone: 200 years! 

To commemorate this bicentennial anniversary, Oneida County Tourism (OCT) is inviting you to share your love for the canal by entering the Oneida County Tourism Capture the Canal photo contest. This is your chance to showcase your talent, celebrate your community and make history right here in Oneida County. Winning photos will be featured in the OCT Destination Guide, on social media, and our website.

Cooperstown, N.Y. — This winter, Fenimore Art Museum presents three live, virtual tours focusing on the museum’s renowned collections. Each of the free tours will be offered on two separate dates. All take place on Tuesdays, January 14 through February 18 from 2:00-2:30 p.m. and are conducted via Zoom. To see the full schedule, tour descriptions, and to register, visit FenimoreArt.org. Virtual tours are free of charge, but we ask that you consider a donation in order for the museum to continue offering quality virtual programming.

Utica, N.Y. (November 25, 2024) – Oneida County Tourism proudly announces the addition of two highly accomplished professionals to its Board of Directors: Michael Lehr, VP of Marketing and Content for the Utica Comets, and Danny Frieden, Co-Owner of Copper City Brewing Co. in Rome, NY. Their combined expertise will strengthen Oneida County Tourism’s strategy and expand our insight into both sports tourism and agritourism.

Calling All Playwrights, Poets, and Prose-Smiths!

Cooperstown, N.Y. — Fenimore Art Museum’s Glimmer Globe Theatre is pleased to announce its 2025 NEXT! Readings of New Works by Regional Playwrights and Write Out Loud performances, both planned to take place at the museum early next year. The museum is currently looking for submissions of plays, poems, prose and short stories for consideration. All submission guidelines can be found at fenimoreartmuseum.org/submissions. Deadline for submissions is January 19, 2025.