🎃 Got your Halloween outfit figured out yet? The clock’s ticking — and there are tons of Halloween events popping up all over the Finger Lakes this week and beyond.

Over the past 6 months I’ve heard from a few readers that it might be helpful to see events a bit further out — not just the coming weekend.

I’m thinking of putting together a low-cost monthly “VIP edition” that looks ahead one month (plus a quarterly version that peeks three months out with some fun bonuses).

Would that interest you? 👇

The Bulletin

Want to spread the word about your business, project, volunteer opportunity, or give a shout-out to 7,600+ friends in the Finger Lakes? Get in touch.

Prison City Brewery - If you’re into award-winning craft beer with serious local character, Prison City Brewing deserves a spot on your Finger Lakes crawl. They’ve built a reputation that stretches far beyond Auburn.

Finger Lakes Unique - If you love finding one-of-a-kind, locally made gifts, Finger Lakes Unique is worth the stop. This downtown Corning shop brings together more than 100 artisans from across the region.

📅 EVENTS

Top Weekend Picks

1. Halloweekend @ Ross Park Zoo

2. Halloween in Downtown @ Ithaca Commons

3. Salt City Books & Brews @ Talking Cursive Brewing Co.

Wednesday

• Pumpkin Paint & Sip @ The Rumour Mill (Phelps) – Sip, paint, and get festive with a cozy night of pumpkin art and fall fun at The Rumour Mill.

• Cousins Maine Lobster @ Tractor Supply Penn Yan (Penn Yan) – Get your lobster fix as the famous Cousins Maine Lobster truck pops up for one tasty day in Penn Yan.

• Bodies, Brains & Asylums @ Lodi Whittier Library (Lodi) – Uncover dark Finger Lakes history in a chilling Halloween talk on murder, madness, and the Willard Asylum.

• Salt City Books & Brews @ Talking Cursive Brewing Co. (Syracuse) – Grab a pint, meet new friends, and dive into a good book at Talking Cursive’s relaxed Books & Brews club.

• Butcher & Brewer Dinner Series @ Main Deck (Tunnel Bar) (Penn Yan) – A gourmet night of craft beer pairings and farm-fresh meats at Main Deck’s Butcher & Brewer dinner.

• Bobby Jo Valentine @ Centenary-Chenango Street United Methodist Church (Binghamton) – A heart-opening night of soulful folk/pop and hope-filled storytelling with Bobby Jo Valentine.

• Spooky Drop-In Crafting @ 11 Lakes Market (Corning) – Drop in for hands-on Halloween crafts and creative fun for all ages at 11 Lakes Market in Corning.

Thursday

• Brewhouse Blues Jam @ Hopshire Farm & Brewery (Freeville) – Soulful blues, cold craft beer, and open jams light up Hopshire’s cozy brewery vibe every 4th Thursday.

• Rev Ezra @ South Hill Cider (Ithaca) – Acoustic folk, craft cider, and sunset vibes await at South Hill Cider with the soulful sounds of Rev Ezra.

• Tiny House Open House @ Hammerstone School (Trumansburg) – Tour two tiny homes, see smart design and sustainable builds, and support community skills training.

• Master Class: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwiches & Brioche Rolls @ New York Kitchen (Canandaigua) – Fry, bake, and feast at New York Kitchen’s hands-on class mastering the perfect fried chicken sandwich.

• Mediterranean Tapas Wine Party @ Treleaven Wines (King Ferry) – Savor Mediterranean small plates and local wines at Treleaven’s cozy Tapas Wine Party in King Ferry.

• Visiting Film/Video Artists & Speakers Series: Ross Meckfessel @ Binghamton University (Binghamton) – Explore poetic 16mm film and modern life with artist Ross Meckfessel at Binghamton University’s free screening.

Friday

• Delta Blues with Gerard Burke @ Garrett’s Brewing Company (Trumansburg) – Kick back with a craft brew and soulful Delta blues as Gerard Burke sets the Friday vibe in Trumansburg.

• Halloween in Downtown @ Ithaca Commons (Ithaca) – Trick-or-treat fun, dog costumes, and spooky downtown vibes bring Halloween magic to the Ithaca Commons.

• WRFI Square Dance @ Stone Bend Farm (Newfield) – Dance under the lights at Stone Bend Farm—live folk, local food, and community fun with WRFI Radio.

• Opening Reception: Testimony by Julie Waltz-Stalker @ The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (Corning) – Meet artist Julie Waltz-Stalker at the Testimony opening—an evocative exhibit of healing and self-revelation.

• Haunted History Mansion Tours @ Roberson Museum and Science Center (Binghamton) – Explore ghostly tales and Gilded Age glamour on Roberson Mansion’s Haunted History Tours — through Oct 24.

• Spooky Paranormal Investigation @ The Mansion on James (Syracuse) – Join a real ghost hunt through The Mansion on James with the Lost Souls team for a chilling night of discovery.

• The Tarps @ Hopshire Farm & Brewery (Freeville) – Classic rock, craft brews, and good vibes—The Tarps bring live music energy to Hopshire Farm & Brewery.

• Spirit Night @ The Octagon House (Camillus) – Experience real ghost hunting at the haunted Octagon House during a chilling night of paranormal exploration.

• 4th Annual Wicked Wisner Trunk or Treat @ Wisner Park (Elmira) – Family fun, costumes, and candy galore at Elmira’s Wicked Wisner Trunk-or-Treat community Halloween bash.

• Harvest Dinner @ Fox Run Vineyards (Penn Yan) – Savor seasonal dishes and estate wines at Fox Run’s elegant Harvest Dinner overlooking Seneca Lake.

• Specialty Tour: Death Rites & Victorian Mourning Culture @ Seward House Museum (Auburn) – Explore Victorian death rites and mourning traditions in this immersive, candlelit tour at Seward House.

• Magic Beyond Imagination @ Cider Mill Stage (Endicott) – Be amazed by Kozmo and Ryan Bliss in a world-class magic show full of laughter and wonder.

• Not Dead Yet! – John Cleese and The Holy Grail at 50 @ The Oncenter (Syracuse) – Celebrate 50 years of The Holy Grail with John Cleese in a live night of laughter and Monty Python magic.

• 360 Karaoke + Open Mic Night! @ 360 Pronoia (Elmira Heights) – A free night of karaoke, open mic, and community art — plus a joyful HarVEST Sing performance in Elmira Heights.

• Los Straitjackets @ Center for the Arts of Homer (Homer) – Masked surf-rock legends Los Straitjackets bring high-energy instrumental vibes to Homer’s Center for the Arts.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary @ The Smith Opera House (Geneva) – Celebrate 50 years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with an interactive screening at The Smith Opera House.

Saturday

• Haunted Wine Walk @ Hosmer Winery (Ovid) – Sip, savor, and get spooky with wine pairings, tarot, and live music at Hosmer Winery’s Haunted Wine Walk.

• John Brown’s Body, The Campbell Brothers & Motherwort @ State Theatre of Ithaca (Ithaca) – Reggae icons, gospel steel, and folk-punk fire unite for one unforgettable night at the State Theatre.

• The Ghost Affair @ Miles Wine Cellars (Himrod) – Sip, shop & celebrate spooky season at The Ghost Affair — Miles Wine Cellars’ haunted harvest event on Seneca Lake.

• Spooktacular @ Inspiration Hall (Syracuse) – Enjoy spooky symphonic favorites & kid-friendly Halloween fun at Symphoria’s Spooktacular concert in Syracuse.

• Haunted Wine Walk @ Hosmer Estate Winery (Ovid) – Enjoy wine, food, live music & spooky fun at Hosmer Winery’s Haunted Wine Walk weekend in Ovid.

• 12th Anniversary Party @ Abandon Brewing Company (Penn Yan) – Celebrate 12 years of craft brews, music & lakeside views at Abandon Brewing’s anniversary bash in Penn Yan.

• Greene Library Fall Festival @ Moore Memorial Library (Greene) – Family-friendly fall fun with crafts, games, music & pumpkin painting at Moore Memorial Library in Greene.

• Hallo-WINE Sips & Spooky Science @ New York Kitchen (Canandaigua) – Sip eerie wines and learn the spooky science of Halloween legends at New York Kitchen’s Hallo-WINE class.

• Syracuse Halloween Bar Crawl @ Wolff’s Biergarten (Syracuse) – Join the Halloween bar crawl madness in Syracuse—costumes, cocktails, and spooky fun all night long!

• Evil Circus Halloween Party @ Prison City North Street Brewery (Auburn) – Join the Evil Circus Halloween Party at Prison City—live music, brews, and spooky fun under the big top!

• 5th Annual Halloween Bash @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards (LaFayette) – Dance, sip, and scare at Beak & Skiff’s 5th Annual Halloween Bash—music, cocktails, and cash prizes!

• Grimm Sum: Witch’s Garden @ Northville Arts Center (King Ferry) – Savor a bewitching night of culinary magic at Grimm Sum’s Witch’s Garden tasting event.

• Halloweekend @ Ross Park Zoo (Binghamton) – Dress up and celebrate a wild Halloweekend at Ross Park Zoo—games, treats, and “scary” animals!

Sunday

• Bolero & Baile: Día de los Muertos Edition @ Stone Bend Farm (Newfield) – Dance, celebrate, and savor a colorful Día de los Muertos night of Bolero, Bachata, and joy at Stone Bend Farm.

• Studio Schweinfurth: Felting a Floral Arrangement with Mallory Zondag @ Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center (Auburn) – Craft your own felted floral art in a two-day workshop with fiber artist Mallory Zondag.

• Spooky Science @ Sciencenter (Ithaca) – Dress up and discover spooky experiments at the Sciencenter’s free family science day!

• Local Foods Education @ Binghamton Farmers Market (Recreation Park) (Binghamton) – Learn about local food, earn $10 to shop, and support Binghamton’s farmers market community!

• Opening Reception: The Alchemist’s Press by Daniel Rothenberg @ The Gallery at South Hill (Ithaca) – Discover Daniel Rothenberg’s fusion of printmaking and photography at The Alchemist’s Press opening.

• In This Moment: Black Mass Tour @ Landmark Theatre (Syracuse) – Feel the intensity of In This Moment’s Black Mass Tour live in Syracuse with Dayseeker & more!

• The Vampire Circus @ Broome Arena Forum (Binghamton) – Step into The Vampire Circus — a haunting Cirque-style spectacle of acrobatics, illusion & undead allure!

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!

See You Out There

Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect!

Adam Moody

Finger Lakes Effect