Finger Lakes’ Travel Maven’s Festival Guide Lists 50+ Festivals & Celebrations for 2011

The Sterling Renaissance Festival is but one of over 50 events listed on this guide!

Once May hits, the Finger Lakes region makes up for “down time” during its snowy winters with a vast variety of festivals during the Spring, Summer and Fall that runs right through the end of the year!  The Finger Lakes’ Travel Maven’s Festival & Celebration Guide offers a list of more than 50 major festivals & celebrations taking place in the Finger Lakes Region! How many of these events can you hit this year?

If you would like to download this FREE 2011 Festival & Celebration Guide to the Finger Lakes region, available in web format with links and as a .pdf to post next to the family’s calendar, simple click on the link below.

Register and Download our Festival Guide!

 

Finger Lakes Artisanal Cheese Open House – 10/9-10/10/2010

In recent years, the Finger Lakes region has become increasingly known for its exceptional cheeses.  On Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10, visit the cheesemakers’ Open House and discover why!

Discover why the Finger Lakes region is becoming known for its cheeses!

Many of the region’s best artisanal cheesemakers will celebrate fall with an open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.  You’ll have an opportunity to enjoy sampling the unique taste of regional hand-crafted cheeses with  flavors ranging from traditional English cheddar and colby, to Dutch gouda, cheese curds and soft cheeses.  All are produced with milk from farm family dairy cows, sheep or goats.

Participating cheesemakers this year include: Keeley’s Cheese Co. in King Ferry;  Engelbert Farms in Nichols; and Wake Robin Farm in Jordan.

Lively Run Goat Dairy
8978 County Road 142, Interlaken, NY
607-532-4647
Lively Run Goat Dairy is home to many goats including, Alpine, Nubian, and Saanen, as well as cross breeds. Their cheeses contain no preservatives, or artificial additives. Their Chevre is made in the traditional French style, in small logs, plain or herbed. The Cayuga Blue has been featured in many national publications and their Greek-style Feta has a devoted following.

Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Company LLC
5491 Bergen Road, Trumansburg, NY 14886
607-387-3108
Using fresh, wholesome raw milk from their farm, this cheese company crafts aged Gouda-style cheeses by hand. Their flagship cheeses are the Gouda-like “Schuyler” and its natural-rinded cousin, the Gruyere-style “Red Meck.” Herb- and seed-infused wheels and a beer-soaked cheese are also available.Cowlick Farm

Side Hill Acres Dairy Goat Farm & Cheese Plant
79 Spencer Rd., Candor, NY 13743
This dairy produces award-winning hormone-free, hand-crafted fresh and aged cheese products made from the family’s herd of 157 goats.  Plain chevre and cheese with assorted herbs; feta logs, crumbled feta.

Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery
1853 Black Rock Road, King Ferry, NY 13801 
(315) 364-3581
Producers of Kefir Cheese, an artisanal raw milk cheese made with a mother culture of kefir grains and milk from grass-fed Irish Dexter house cows. The cheese is then aged for 60+ days for rich flavor.

Sunset View Creamery
4970 County Road 14, Odessa, NY 14869
607-594-2095
Family-owned Hoffarm’s Dairy has raised registered Holsteins and Ayrshires since 1905. Sunset View Creamery offers variety of cheese curds, pressed cheeses, and gift baskets.

Muranda Cheese Company
3075 Route 96, Waterloo, NY
(315) 539-1103
Bold full-flavor British colby cheddar cheeses in traditional and garlic cheddar, made from the milk of the Muranda family’s registered Holstein cows.

Northland Sheep Dairy (at the Ithaca Farmers Market)
West Buffalo and North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY
(607) 849-4442
Creamy textured, rustic mountain cheeses including Folie Bergere (nutty, washed curd cheese) and Bergere bleue (creamy Roquefort-style blue) hand-made in small batches from 100% grass-fed Dorset/Texel/East Friesian cross-bred sheep. 

Engelbert Farms

182 Sunnyside Road
Nichols, NY 13812
(607) 699-3775

A certified organic farm raising dairy, beef, veal, and pork on their 600 acre farm in Nichols, NY on the Pennsylvania border. Sixteen varieties of cheddar, gouda, swiss, jack and mozzarella cheeses, sold via their new farm store and at several retail outlets.

Also Keeley’s Cheese Co. in King Ferry; . Wake Robin Farm in Jordan.

For more information about these farms, CLICK HERE for a printable brochure with map, courtesy of Finger Lakes Wine Country.

There is no charge to visit participating  dairies and no reservations are required. 

When you discover you love Finger Lakes artisanal cheese, visit The New York State Farmstead Artisan Cheesemakers Guild for a list of additional dairies that produce fine New York State hand-crafted cheeses.

 

25 Favorite Finger Lakes Activities for Fall

Updated for 2010

The Rochester and Finger Lakes region is rich in things to do year ’round, but especially in the Fall.  Below, I list 25 of my favorite things to do during the Autumn Season.  I invite you to share yours!

 

Hurd Orchards offers bounty from the earth - flowers, fruits and more

 

1. Fall Sky Rides at Bristol Mountain Resort – Canandaigua, NY. Sat. & Sun., 9/25-10/31  Noon to 4 p.m. Open Columbus Day.
2. Hot Apple Pie after Apple Picking at Hurds Orchards – Holley, NY- Sat. & Sun. in September & October. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Take in the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail – Throughout Finger Lakes – Check with individual Farm for schedule.
4. Explore the Corn Maze at Longacres Farms – Macedon, NY – Weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last ticket sold). Open Columbus Day.
5. Glass Harvest and Glass Pumpkin blowing at Corning Museum of Glass – Corning, NY – Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
6. Fall Mansion Mysteries at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion – Canandaigua, NY – 7-9 p.m. October 23 & 23, 29 & 30. Reserve Early!
7. Pick your own pumpkins or apples throughout the Finger Lakes – Confirm dates & time with individual farms.
8. RMSC Cumming Nature Center – Naples, NY – Trails open Wed-Friday 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m, Sat. & Sun 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
9. Wild Wings Birds of Prey Facility at Mendon Ponds – Honeyoe Falls – Daily from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., except Wednesday & Thursday.
10. Visit Sweet Expressions for chocolates in the shapes of Fall and Halloween Candy – Canandaigua – Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
11. Take a cooking or wine class at the New York Wine and Culinary Center – Canandaigua.  Check website for class schedule.
12. Catch an Art Film at The Little Theatre – Rochester.  See Movie listings for schedule.
13. Stop by Artizanns for gifts from the Finger Lakes – Naples.  Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m,, Sun. Noon – 5 p.m.
14. Shopping at Waterloo Premium Outlets – Waterloo – Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Check special holiday hours.
15. Catch a show at Auburn Public Theatre – Auburn – See performance schedule.
16. Take a Fall Foliage Cruise in the Finger Lakes – See individual cruise line for schedule.
17. Visit Genesee Country Village & Museum for “Spirits of the Past“ – Mumford – Oct. 15&16, 22&23, 29 & 30, 6-9 p.m.
18. Hike  and leaf peep in Letchworth State Park – Entrances at Perry, Castile, Portageville and Mt. Morris – Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
19. Catch some of the terrific performances at the newly-renovated Nazareth College Arts Center – See specific shows for schedule.
20. Take in a historic Ghost Walk by the Landmark Society of Western New York – Rochester – October 22& 23, 29 & 30, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
21. Shop at Schoen Place and Northfield Commons – Pittsford – Individual Store and Restaurant Hours.
22. Stop by the Lazy Acre Alpacas 10th Annual Open House for a farm tour and demonstrations – Bloomfield. Oct. 9 & 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
23. Have lunch, brunch or dinner at Simply Crepes – Rochester, Pittsford and Canandaigua – Open for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
24. Catch a show at the Bristol Valley Theater – Naples – See website for schedule.
25. Visit the Canandaigua, Cayuga, Keuka or Seneca Lake Wine Trails to savor the season sipping fruits from the vine.