By Denise Schoonhoven
Things to do in New York State in August
Celebrate fairs and festivals in the Empire State during the long late summer days of August. Browse the handiwork of talented crafters in northern
New York. Spend a day at the state fair or join a small town celebration along the Erie Canal. Check out the Scottish Games in central New York; settle back for classical music in Saratoga Springs.
Stone Mills Craft Show
Watch crafters demonstrate how they create their handiwork. The crafts are original works, selected by a jury and displayed by the artisans themselves. The show is held the first weekend of August on the grounds of the Stone Mill agriculture history museum complex that includes an old cheese factory and farm equipment dating back through the 18th century.
Stone Mills Craft Show
Northern New York Agricultural Historical Society
34312 Route 180
LaFargeville, NY 13656
(315) 658-2353
New York State Fair
See the livestock and agricultural products grown by farmers throughout the state of New York. Check which home-baked goods and homemade jam win blue ribbons. Stop in to the Empire State Theater and Musical Instrument Museum building on the fairgrounds for song and dance performances by New York state artists. Take time to look over the amazing butter and New York cheese sculptures. End your day at the Pride of New York Marketplace where the entire store features candy and snacks made in the state. The state fair runs for 12 days at the end of every August into September.
New York State Fair
581 State Fair Blvd.
Syracuse, NY 13209
(315) 487-8877
www.nysfair.org
Little Falls Canal Celebration
Join a good old-fashioned town celebration with picnics, pies, fireworks and fishing competitions. Cheer along the grand parade. Listen to a concert in the park; stroll through the classic car show. The Little Falls Canal Celebration occurs the first weekend of August in the Mohawk River Valley of northern New York.
Little Falls Canal Celebration Committee
c/o Little Falls Family YMCA
15 Jackson Street
Little Falls, NY 13365
(315) 823-1740
www.littlefallsny.com
Central New York Scottish Games and Celtic Festival
Bagpipes fill the air with music at Long Branch Park in Syracuse on an early August Saturday morning at the annual Scottish Games and Celtic Festival. Watch the dance competition. Listen to Irish harp music; enjoy Celtic craft displays. Cheer the caber throwers as they compete to toss the heavy, long caber poles the farthest distance.
CNY Scottish Games
P.O. Box 6405
Syracuse, NY 13217
(315) 463-8876
www.cnyscottishgames.org
Philadelphia Orchestra at the SPAC
The Philadelphia Orchestra takes up its annual weeks-long summer residency in Saratoga each August. Hear its classical music performances in the park setting of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Arrive an hour early for an entertaining pre-performance talk by the conductor or a music scholar.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
108 Avenue of the Pines
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-3330
www.spac.org
Resources
About the Author:
A seasoned business traveler, Denise Schoonhoven specializes in food, travel, landscaping, design and personal development topics. She has lived and worked in London, San Francisco, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest. Schoonhoven hails from the corporate writing world where she authored marketing material, catalogs, presentations and training documents.
Photo Credits:
Courtesy of Sue Byford at sxc.hu
