Saturday's full moon is the Harvest Moon. It gets the name because it's the full moon closest to the equinox, and because it does something useful: it comes around sunset several nights in a row instead of rising later each night. That gave farmers a few extra evenings of light to finish bringing the crop in.
Which is a nice bit of timing, because of all that’s going on this weekend. The Naples Grape Festival runs Saturday and Sunday. The Apple Harvest Festival takes over the Ithaca Commons Friday through Sunday. And grapes are coming off the vines all around the lakes right now.
♨️ KEEP YOUR HEAD WARM ♨️
I’ve been out on a few early morning walks lately, and the temps are definitely cooling down. Creating a new logo for the Finger Lakes Effect using watercolor and featuring the amazing colors of the fall and our lakes has also been on my mind…
Not sure exactly how, but this combo made me think of beanies. Something warm, and customizable with a patch or logo right on it.
Want a Finger Lakes Effect beanie with custom fall logo?
🔆 QUICK HITS 🔆
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Hare Prix 10K in Watkins Glen was a hit - 118 runners, $500 in raffle prizes, tasty brunch from the Lucky Hare Marina kitchen, and a fun road start at the original Grand Prix start line. Didn’t make it? Join us next year!
Dinner Club for October was just scheduled. Look out Canandaigua!
The Bulletin
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Fillmore Glen State Park - Looking for some natural beauty? Well, thankfully we don’t have to go far and you’ve got your pick of parks in the Finger Lakes. If you haven’t been to Fillmore Glen in Moravia or it’s been a while, swing by and enjoy the trails, water, and leaves as they start to change this fall.
Either Oar - The Martin family's wine, whiskey and cheese bar on Seneca Lake in Hector, trades the standing tasting counter for a seat and pairing flights of wine, whiskey, cocktails or local cheese.
🔔 UPDATES 🔔
Sunrise: 6:54 AM
Moonrise: 5:41 PM
Air Quality: 21 GOOD
Sunset: 7:02 PM
Moonset: 4:32 AM
Pets: Nova, the shining star
📅 EVENTS 📅
Top Picks
44th Annual Apple Harvest Festival (Ithaca - Fri to Sun)
Naples Grape Festival (Naples - Sat & Sun)
Cozy Chapters Book Fair (Farmington - Sat)
Wednesday, September 23
Graham Nash - Live on Tour 2026 @ Smith Opera House (Geneva) — Legendary musician Graham Nash performs his iconic hits on his 2026 tour at this historic opera house.
Outdoor Storytime at the Community Garden (Penn Yan) — Join outdoor story time at the community garden featuring songs, books, and movement for young children.
Exhibition: Plein Air in Clifton Springs (Clifton Springs) — View forty-five plein air artists' paintings created outdoors with changing light at Main Street Arts' sixth annual exhibition.
Thursday, September 24
Louiston @ Danby Food and Drink (Ithaca) — Enjoy an outdoor acoustic concert of Americana folk-pop with Louiston, featuring sandwiches and beverages.
Hammer & Tongs: Van Doren's Ironworks (Ithaca) — Hear author Brad Edmondson read from his book about renowned blacksmith Durand Van Doren's fifty-year artistic career in Tompkins County.
Lunchtime Lecture Series: Immigration on the Erie Canal (Auburn) — Learn how immigrants shaped the Erie Canal's construction, operation, and culture from the Erie Canal Museum's director of education.
Meditation Made Simple: Finding Calm in Everyday Life (Watkins Glen) — Learn beginner-friendly meditation techniques and practical tools to reduce stress and find everyday calm.
Friday, September 25
360 Campfire Comedy Open Mic Night on the Cabana! (Elmira Heights) — Open mic comedy night hosted by Tim Andrus with featured performer Ryan Dolphin—all welcome to share laughs with free admission and refreshments.
Harvest Dinner at Fox Run Vineyards (Penn Yan) — Celebrate the harvest season with winemakers Craig Hosbach and Angie Lawler over exceptional food and wine at Fox Run Vineyards.
44th Annual Apple Harvest Festival (Ithaca) — Celebrate the harvest season with local farms, apple growers, cider, crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment throughout downtown, September 25-27.
Balloons on the Ridge: Hot Air Balloon Weekend (Lodi) — Experience hot air balloon rides, live music, and family fun during this inaugural hot air balloon weekend celebration. Admission is free, parking is $10, flights must be booked ahead.
Soul Benders Return to the Finger Lakes Cider House (Interlaken) — Soul Benders deliver powerful blues and soul originals with universal resonance at Finger Lakes Cider House for a five-dollar cover charge.
Hook & Sip: Happy Hour Specials (Hector) — Enjoy $2 off wine, cocktails, and charcuterie boards during happy hour at Either Oar.
Golden Hour Sippin’ Series (Lodi) — Relax with wine, cocktails, live entertainment, and sunset views over Seneca Lake at this musical series.
Art Guild Show: When Shapes Come Together Opening Reception (Penn Yan) — Explore diverse artistic mediums at the Penn Yan Art Guild's themed show celebrating creative shape compositions, with free admission, refreshments, and artist meet-and-greets.
Movie Nights & Moonlight Maze (Stanley) — Watch outdoor movies under the stars and navigate a moonlit corn maze for an unforgettable autumn adventure, September 25 - October 9.
Music & Wine Series 2026 (Penn Yan) — Experience live music amid the vineyards at Keuka Spring Vineyards for an evening of wine and entertainment.
Open Doors: Harvest Tours (Dundee) — Tour a working winery during harvest season to see grape processing, fermentation, and finished wines firsthand.
Saturday, September 26
Cozy Chapters Book Fair (Farmington) — Celebrate reading and writing at this free seasonal book fair featuring books, authors, and the magic of cozy autumn stories.
Naples Grape Festival (Naples) — Celebrate at this vibrant two-day festival featuring music, art, food vendors, wine tastings, and local beverages, September 26-27.
GrapeFest Reindeer Landing (Naples) — Meet baby reindeer and farm animals at this fun family experience during the Naples Grape Festival weekend, September 26-27.
Turn to Stone - a tribute to ELO (Canandaigua) — Experience Turn to Stone, an Electric Light Orchestra tribute with authentic 1970s-80s staging and deep-cut songs.
National Alpaca Farm Days 2026 at Shepherds Creek Alpacas (Trumansburg) — Meet and feed alpacas, enjoy crafts, and shop alpaca goods at this fun public farm day celebration, September 26-27.
Cast & Cords: Live Music Summer Series (Hector) — Enjoy live music twice monthly at this wine tasting bar featuring local performers, curated wines, cocktails, and local cheeses in a relaxed setting.
The Musicians' Baseball Club of Brooklyn (Cortland) — Experience a unique fusion of live music, silent film, and baseball history with this creative arts collective's signature show.
Free Fishing Days NYS (Statewide) — Fish for free without a license on this statewide day celebrating hunting and fishing traditions. All other regulations still apply.
Rock Band Seneca Jam at the Windmill Farm and Craft Market (Penn Yan) — Rock band Seneca Jam performs at Windmill Farm and Craft Market alongside shopping, dining, and craft beverage tastings.
Exhibition Opening Celebration! "Trashy Art" The Community Art Gallery (Elmira) — Explore the creative "Trashy Art" exhibition at Community Arts of Elmira with artist talks, family activities, and Tom Knight's puppet show.
Moonchot’s Thai Food Truck (Hammondsport) — Discover authentic Thai cuisine from Moonchot's food truck paired with craft cocktails in Hammondsport.
2026 Leaf Peeper Half Marathon (Cortland) — Challenge yourself with a 13.1-mile half marathon through scenic autumn scenery.
Dine in the 9s: Mia san Mia at Northville Arts Center (King Ferry) — Savor authentic Bavarian cuisine with wine pairings at this five-course prix fixe dinner experience.
Big Flats Community Days 5k (Big Flats) — Participate in this community 5K race at a local park.
Hazlitt Front Yard Fun @ Naples Grape Fest (Naples) — Enjoy wine tastings, live music, BBQ, and local cheese at Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars during the Naples Grape Festival celebration.
Leaf Peeping Cruise (Canandaigua) — Cruise Canandaigua Lake aboard The Canandaigua Lady while enjoying fall foliage and local history narration. Sailing September 26, then October 2, 7, and 11.
Sunday, September 27
Hector Harvest 5K (Hector) - Run or walk your way through Hector’s scenic hillside. Entries help raise funds for the Hector area Lions Club.
A Reading with Naomi L. Shank (Geneva) — Meet author Naomi L. Shank as she discusses her multigenerational tale spanning continents and cultures.
Hamilton Karaoke & Sing-Along Brunch (Auburn) — Step into Hamilton's world with structured karaoke where you sing every word alongside fellow fans.
Talkin' America 250! Schuyler County (Burdett) — Learn about war journals and historical perspectives from Schuyler County's past.
Annette Richards and David Yearsley present “Double Vision" (Ithaca) — Experience two organists performing on one organ with works by the Bach family, Soler, Mozart, and Rossini at Cornell's historic Sage Chapel.
Recurring Events
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Trivia - click here
Kid Friendly - click here
See you out there!
Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect.
Adam Moody
