Festivals & Fairs

32nd Annual Cortland Water Festival

Location: Cortland Waterworks, Broadway Street, Cortland

Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The 32nd Annual Cortland Water Festival will be held Saturday, June 3rd, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Cortland Water Works on Broadway Street in Cortland.

The event will feature an assortment of educational, water-related activities and displays, including horse drawn tours of the aquifer. Kids can play games, get their faces painted, blow bubbles, join the duck races, and play the Water Wizard Game. Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District’s mascot Ronny Raindrop® will be there. There will also be many interesting displays and demonstrations for kids and adults.

The event is free and is sponsored by the City of Cortland Water Department and Department of Public Works, the Cortland County Health Department, and the Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Cortland dairy parade

Location: Begins on North Main St. and ends at the fairgrounds

Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This year’s June Dairy Parade event will kick off National Dairy Month by holding their annual June Dairy Parade for Cortland County!

The Dairy Parade, but in “reverse route,” is set for Tuesday, June 6th  from 4-8 p.m. and will be a little different for all to see on starting at 6:30pm on North Main Street and ending at the Cortland Fairgrounds off of Homer Avenue.  The Crowning will take place on the Cortland Fairgrounds.

St. Anthony’s Festival

Location: St. Anthony’s of Padua Church, 50 Pomeroy St., Cortland

The Saint Anthony's Festival is celebrating the festival of St. Anthony of Padua Parish! Fireworks, parade, games, live music, food & more.   

cortland county junior fair

Location: Cortland County Fairgrounds, 4301 Fairgrounds Dr., Cortland

The Cortland County Junior Fair returns to the Cortland County Fairgrounds on July 4-8. 

Visit and see the hard work ethic of agriculture families and 4-H kids that showcase their hard work, all striving for excellence. You might find something that your own kids have been missing out on. Fairs are a celebration of who we are, what we do, and where we live. Fairs are all about families.

Cortland main street music series

Location: Main St., Cortland

Every Friday night in July, hear live music on Main St. in Cortland. Gates open at 5 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m. Free admission for all ages. Bring lawn chairs.

route 90 garage sale

Location: Route 90 (Homer to Montezuma)

The annual 50 mile Route 90 Garage Sale takes on a festival atmosphere each year as friends, family members and the occasional family dog go searching for surprises. Stretching along the roadside of Route 90 – a Scenic New York State Byway the sale runs from Montezuma in the north to the Village of Homer at the southern end. Along the way, you will find everything imaginable from antique andirons to zebra prints and loads of other unexpected delights.

Seedstock XIII

Location: 3336 Route 215, Cortland

Seedstock started out as a house party with a handful of local bands and a couple hundred friends hanging out on a Saturday in the summer of 2008. Over the years it grew into a 3-day festival with dozens of bands playing throughout the weekend. In 2020 and 2021 the festival was put on hold and is now getting back to its roots as a one-day house party.

Cortland Arts Off Main Street Festival

Location: Court Street, Cortland

Saturday, August 5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Arts Off Main Festival is a reimagining of the twelve-year-old Arts & Wine Festival being held August 5th, 2022, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Court Street will be transformed into a family-friendly celebration of Cortland’s art and creativity, and downtown. The celebration will be free and complete with artist vendors, live music, performing artists, live pottery demonstration, children’s activities, wine and craft beverage tasting, and food from downtown restaurants*

Live music and entertainment will be performed throughout the day. Check out the entertainment tab for a listing of performers and performance times.

Check out their website for more information.