There’s a lot to do around the Finger Lakes right now, and the weather’s been pretty amazing lately.

I asked what you liked to do the most this time of year around here and here’s what you had to say:

By far, the favorite response was walking, hiking, or driving around the area and enjoying the fall colors.

Also in the top responses was food and drink (no surprise!) - enjoying the apple cider, donuts, and wineries.

That sounds like the making of a good Saturday or Sunday to me!

Hop in the car, drive to another lake and enjoy the scenery along the way, go for a hike (if you need ideas, check out the list we have here), then stop for some apple cider donuts and a glass of wine.

🥾 TRAIL OF THE WEEK: Taughannock Falls - Gorge Trail

The Bulletin

Want to spread the word about your business, project, volunteer opportunity, or give a shout-out to 7,500+ friends in the Finger Lakes? Get in touch.

East Shore Roadhouse - East Shore Roadhouse is serving up comfort food and great value at the same time. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find hearty dishes, classic breakfasts, and regulars chatting over coffee — no pretense, just good food done right.

Atlas Bowl - Part retro bowling alley, part craft kitchen, and part community hangout — Atlas Bowl is good Finger Lakes fun. The menu goes well beyond bar food, with creative burgers, tacos, and cocktails worth the trip alone.

📅 EVENTS

Top Weekend Picks

1. History Happy Hour: Geneva in the 1960s @ Lake Drum Brewing

2. Fall Festival @ Clark Street Playground

3. Fall Fest at the Fairgrounds @ Chemung County Fairgrounds

Wednesday

• Cover Crop Field Day @ Cornell Leland Laboratory (Ithaca) – Explore 60+ cover crop plots and connect with local farmers at Cornell’s free field day and dinner.

• Thelma & Louise (1991) @ The Smith Opera House (Geneva) – Hit the road again with the iconic rebel duo Thelma & Louise on the big screen in Geneva.

• Amy Grant @ Crouse Hinds Theatre (Syracuse) – Six-time Grammy winner Amy Grant brings her timeless voice and uplifting hits to Syracuse’s Crouse Hinds Theatre.

• Kathleen Edwards @ Hangar Theatre (Ithaca) – Alt-country icon Kathleen Edwards brings her soulful new album, Billionaire, to the Hangar Theatre stage.

Thursday

• Modest Mouse @ State Theatre of Ithaca (Ithaca) – Alt-rock icons Modest Mouse light up the State Theatre with their signature raw energy and indie edge.

• History Happy Hour: Geneva in the 1960s @ Lake Drum Brewing (Geneva) – Sip craft beer and step back to the 1960s at Geneva’s nostalgic History Happy Hour.

• Trunk or Treat & Community Services Fair @ Southern Tier Independence Center (Binghamton) – A free, family-friendly Trunk or Treat with candy, costumes, and community resources in Binghamton.

• Exploring Vino & Fungi @ New York Kitchen (Canandaigua) – Sip and savor four Finger Lakes wines perfectly paired with gourmet mushroom bites at New York Kitchen.

• Winemakers Dinner Series – Weis Vineyards @ Main Deck Penn Yan (Penn Yan) – Celebrate the harvest season with an elegant five-course dinner paired with award-winning Weis Vineyards wines.

• Adult Filmmaking Class @ Auburn Public Theater (Auburn) – Learn to shoot, edit, and premiere your own short film in this six-week creative class for aspiring storytellers. (did you do a double-take on this title like I did?)

• Paint & Sip: Halloween Mugs @ Simple Roast Coffee (Auburn) – Sip, paint, and get spooky creating your own Halloween mug at this cozy Auburn paint night.

• The Legacy Laugh Room Presents: Albert Davis @ The Loom (Waverly) – Catch headliner Albert Davis for a night of sharp humor and good vibes at The Loom’s Legacy Laugh Room.

Friday

• The Cortland Curiosities Market @ The Vault Grand Venue on Main (Cortland) – Explore eerie art, oddities, and local spirits at Cortland’s hauntingly fun Curiosities Market inside The Vault.

• Murder and Mayhem: The Twilight Zone @ Yates County History Center (Penn Yan) – Step into the shadows of Yates County’s past at the Oliver House for an evening of true crime, mystery, and local legend.

• Jason Being & The Human Condition @ Abandon Brewing Company (Penn Yan) – Brewery views, golden-hour tunes, and good vibes with Jason Being & The Human Condition at Abandon.

• Trick-or-Trivia: Be Spellbound! @ The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier (Binghamton) – Costumes, cocktails, and clever clues collide at this Halloween-themed trivia fundraiser in Binghamton.

• October Open Mic Night @ Sulfur Books (Clifton Springs) – Share or listen to music, poetry, and stories in a warm, creative community night at Sulfur Books.

• Ithaca Concert Band Fall Concert: “50” @ Kulp Auditorium (Ithaca) – Celebrate 50 seasons of local music with a creative, free concert from the Ithaca Concert Band.

• “Olive and Mr. Seward” Dramatic Performance @ Seward House Museum (Auburn) – Step back in time with a moving historical drama about William H. Seward and his daughter, Olive, in Auburn.

• Rebel Reapers with Guests @ The Annex Theater (Bundy Museum) (Binghamton) – A high-energy night of local rock, art, and drinks at the Bundy Museum’s Annex Theater in Binghamton.

Saturday

• Fall Festival @ Newfield United Methodist Church (Newfield) – Shop crafts, taste baked goods, and savor fall flavors at Newfield’s cozy small-town festival.

• Annual Inlet Valley Jack-O-Lantern Night @ Grayhaven Motel (Ithaca) – Carve pumpkins, sip cider, and enjoy a cozy campfire movie night at Grayhaven’s annual fall fest.

• Insectapalooza! @ Cornell Dairy Bar (Ithaca) – Hands-on insect adventures, live critters, and family fun at Cornell’s free Insectapalooza festival.

• Pumpkin Paint & Sip for Families @ Community School of Music & Arts (Ithaca) – Create your own pumpkin masterpiece at this fun, family-friendly paint & sip at CSMA.

• YMCA 4th Annual Trunk or Treat @ YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County (Ithaca) – Costumes, candy, and community fun at the YMCA’s free family-friendly Trunk or Treat event.

• Haunted Happenings @ Tanglewood Nature Center (Elmira) – Hayrides, pumpkins, and costumes galore—Tanglewood’s Haunted Happenings brings festive fall fun for all.

• Adult Acting Intensive & Theatre Games @ Community School of Music and Arts (Ithaca) – Unleash your inner actor at CSMA’s immersive adult theatre intensive with Lynn Winters this fall.

• Plein Air Workshop @ Clark Reservation State Park (Jamesville) – Paint the autumn landscape en plein air at Clark Reservation’s scenic fall art workshop.

• Tompkins 4-H Fall Festival @ Tractor Supply Co. (Ithaca) – Celebrate community, crafts, and pups in action at Ithaca’s 4-H Fall Festival—fun for all ages.

• 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest @ Bernie Milton Pavilion (Ithaca) – Downtown Ithaca gets sweet with cupcakes, creativity, and community fun at the 10th annual bake-off.

• Fall Fest at the Fairgrounds @ Chemung County Fairgrounds (Horseheads) – Crafts, pumpkin chucking, live music, and fireworks—Horseheads’ Fall Fest is peak autumn fun.

• Oktoberfest @ Treleaven Wines (King Ferry) – Sip, savor, and celebrate the season with wine, music, and lakeside vibes at Treleaven’s Oktoberfest.

• Life-Size Clue @ Steele Memorial Library (Elmira) – Play detective in a life-size game of Clue at Elmira’s Steele Library—mystery, mischief, and laughs await.

• Fall Festival @ Clark Street Playground (Corning) – Pumpkins, food trucks, and fall fun—Corning’s free community festival brings color and cheer to the season.

• The Bride of Frankenstein @ Auburn Public Theater (Auburn) – Monsters, mayhem, and mad science—celebrate spooky season with a cult classic on the big screen.

• Trunk or Treat @ Downtown Penn Yan (Penn Yan) – Costumes, candy, and community fun light up downtown Penn Yan’s festive Trunk or Treat bash.

• Phantoms & Fantasies @ Corning Museum of Glass (Corning) – A spellbinding night of spooky symphonies and cinematic scores at Corning Museum of Glass.

• Annual Día de los Muertos Family Celebration @ The Rockwell Museum (Corning) – Celebrate life and culture with art, sugar skulls, and family fun at Corning’s Día de los Muertos celebration.

Sunday

• 41st Annual Fall Invitational: Beyond the Frame – Pushing the Boundaries of Photography @ Forge Cellars (Burdett) – Sip wine, enjoy live jazz, and explore boundary-pushing photography at Forge Cellars’ fall art reception.

• Ithaca Ballet Presents: WonderFall @ State Theatre of Ithaca (Ithaca) – A whimsical fall ballet featuring Alice in Wonderland and Carnival of the Animals at the State Theatre.

• The Evergreen Social Series: Vintage Clothing & Goods Market @ South Hill Cider (Ithaca) – Shop vintage, sip cider, and groove to DJ beats at South Hill’s laid-back Sunday market.

• Penn Yan Manor Trick or Treating @ Penn Yan Manor (Penn Yan) – Kids share Halloween smiles and candy at Penn Yan Manor’s sweet community trick-or-treat event.

• Sylvan Farm & Cidery Dinner with Chef Linnea Shumway @ Sylvan Farm Cidery (Penn Yan) – A fall farm-to-table feast with cider pairings and foraged flavors at Sylvan Farm in Penn Yan.

Recurring Events

• Limited Duration - click here 

• Trivia - click here

• Kid Friendly - click here

Got an event we should feature in the Finger Lakes Effect? Click the button below and add your event details!

Forks On The Road: Eats & Drinks

Date nights weren’t always about smoked lamb racks and fine dining. Years ago—when I was drowning in grad school deadlines—Adam and I made a deal: no matter how hectic life got, we’d give ourselves one night a week to reconnect. Just the two of us. One of us would plan a surprise date, and the other would simply show up and enjoy.

We called it our “date night,” and it became a lifeline. Sometimes it was as simple as a cozy home-cooked meal or a trip to one of our favorite pubs. Other times, we’d splurge on comedy shows, concerts, or host a last-minute bowling or trivia team with friends. It didn’t have to be fancy—just thoughtful. We've wandered trails, discovered roadside diners, attended lectures, and painted canvases along with a class.

And over time, that weekly ritual became something more: inspiration.

We found ourselves combing through local event calendars, trail maps, and winery listings in search of the next special evening. And we kept thinking: wouldn’t it be great if all that inspiration—food, trails, sunsets, trivia, music—were in one place?

And that's what the Finger Lakes Effect wants to help you do - a nudge for you to get out there too, whether you're wooing a partner, treating a friend, or just enjoying things on your own.

We hope this newsletter sparks an idea or two for your own weekly magic.

Your Turn: Tell Us About Your Night Out!

Adam and I have our rituals, but some of the best ideas come from you—the friends, foodies, romantics, and wanderers who read this newsletter.

So let’s share the love:

What’s been your favorite night out (or in)?

Was it a candlelit dinner or greasy fries after a hike?

A lakeside picnic? A trivia win?

A solo date that reminded you how much fun you are to hang out with?

Send us your favorite spots, memorable surprises, or dream plans you’ve yet to try.

Whether it’s fancy or simple, close to home or a full-blown getaway, we’d love to feature a few reader favorites in an upcoming issue (with your permission, of course).

Let’s build a little hub of inspiration together—for date nights, friend nights, solo nights, or whatever else brings you joy.

—Jeney, Forkin’ Local

See You Out There

Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect!

Adam Moody

Finger Lakes Effect