If you will be in Central New York over the summer, you won’t be pressed for activities to fill your days. Whether you’re willing to venture outside of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ or you want to stay close to campus, we have compiled some entertaining events for you to check out.
Food Truck Battle
Check out the two-day at the New York State Fairgrounds on May 16 and May 17! Over 50 local food trucks will participate in the event. Each truck will offer low-cost samples and full-price menu items. Plus, an exciting lineup of live music and artisan vendors will provide some entertainment as you enjoy your food truck fare. Admission to the festival is as low as $5 when you buy presale tickets before May 9!
Spring Writes Literary Festival
This May, the will make Central New York a hub for lovers of writing and literature. This annual event is based in Ithaca, but many of the festival’s events are online for those who cannot make the trip. In all, the festival will span the month of May and include over 40 free literary events. For more information, check out the festival’s .
Shakespeare in the Park
This summer, two Shakespeare productions will take to the Thornden Park Amphitheater. From June 13-15 and June 20-22, you can catch Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Othello.” Then, from Aug. 1-3 and Aug. 8-10, you can watch one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies, “Twelfth Night.” Plus, all shows are free to attend! So, pack a snack, bring a blanket and enjoy the show.
Kevin Hart: Acting My Age Tour
The world-famous comedian Kevin Hart will take to the OnCenter on June 29. Hart’s stop in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ will be one of many on his worldwide Acting My Age Tour. Hart is known for his narrative-based comedy and relatable stories that have audiences laughing out loud. You can starting at $75.
Skaneateles Festival
From July 31-Aug. 23, you can listen to music in beautiful Skaneateles nearly every day at the four-week . Much of the music at the festival is classical or orchestral and will include some high-profile musicians in that genre. Perhaps the most well-known performer at this festival will be Esperanza Spalding, a bass player and singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon.
CNY Pride
This year’s CNY Pride festival and parade will take place on June 21 in Progress Park. Whether you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, the festival will be an exciting, unifying celebration. Check out for more information about the event, and to learn more about other pride events in CNY.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Mets
The season runs through September, so there is no shortage of games for you to attend this summer! There are different themed days every week, like Taco Tuesday and Dollar Thursday ($1 fountain drinks and $2 hot dogs!). Tickets are also relatively inexpensive, beginning at $21 for most games.
Written By Chloe Langerman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications