Author: Courtney Kless

The first Festival of Trees was held on Dec. 4, 1985.It started as (and continues to be) a fundraiser for the Everson Museum of Art. That first year, there were 47 decorated trees and $27,000 was raised. It was so successful, the museum decided to turn it into an annual tradition.This year’s festival will be held from Dec. 2-16.“It’s always been a popular event in the city because of the displays,” said Liz Herrick, the Members Council chair. “You can spend time with a best friend, you can spend time with your family, or you can enjoy being there by…

Families from around Central New York – and beyond – will soon head to Liverpool for Lights on the Lake. Here are some things you can do while you’re in town. Parks Onondaga Lake Park Dubbed “The Central Park of Central New York,” Onondaga Lake Park just may be Liverpool’s most popular attraction. And there’s a lot for families to do there: walking trails, pickleball courts, a skate park, and a boundless playground, to name a few. The park is also home to the Salt Museum, which chronicles Syracuse’s rich salt mining history (it is open seasonally from May to…

The holiday season is almost here! And there are plenty of ways to celebrate around Central New York. One event you won’t want to miss is Dickens Christmas, which is marking a milestone this year. It was created three decades ago by some of the merchants in downtown Skaneateles. “We’ve always been a big summer destination, and they were essentially also trying to sell us as a winter and holiday destination,” said Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “After they did it for a year or two, they were kind of overwhelmed because it was…

Known as “Adirondack Base Camp,” Old Forge offers family-friendly activities year-round, but fall is one of the best times to visit. Museums and Arts Centers Goodsell Museum Start with a stop at the Goodsell Museum. The Victorian house dates back to the 19th Century and includes six rooms of exhibits about local history – plus a carriage barn and a restored ice house. Where: 2993 Main St. More information: webbhistory.org. View Arts Center If you like art, you won’t want to miss View. Several exhibits will be on display this fall, including SAQA presents byCONTRAST and Who, What, Wear – Conceptual…

Please Note: You or your photographer will need to contact some of these places ahead of time. Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards: Nothing says fall quite like a visit to an apple orchard. Take some photos amongst Beak & Skiff’s 300,000 trees, then stick around to pick your own. Where: 2708 Lords Hill Road, Lafayette. More information: beakandskiff.com. Beaver Lake Nature Center: Beaver Lake Nature Center’s nine trails wind through wetlands, forests, meadows, a bog, and more – the photo opportunities are endless! Where: 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. More information: beaverlakenaturecenter.org. Franklin Square Park: If you’re looking for a more urban setting,…

Would you like to see a Broadway show right here in Central New York?Well, you’re in luck! The 2023/24 Broadway in Syracuse season will feature Tony Award-winning musicals, movie adaptations, and more – all touring from New York City.“There’s nothing like seeing something live in the theatre,” said Tina Niles, NAC Entertainment/Famous Artists Broadway in Syracuse. “You’re sharing that experience with 2,000 other people, watching something come to life on stage.”The Famous Artists Broadway Theater Series was founded by Murray Bernthal more than six decades ago. For 20 years, he partnered with Tony Award-winning producer Albert Nocciolino, bringing productions like…

Central New York is home to many festivals – and one of them is marking a milestone this month. Festa Italiana returns to downtown Syracuse from Sept. 15-17. “I would like to thank your readers who have supported us during our 25 years,” said President Ginnie Lostumbo. “We couldn’t do it without them.” Held in front of Syracuse City Hall, at the corner of Washington and Montgomery Streets, Festa Italiana is exactly what it sounds like – a celebration of Italian culture. And there is a variety of things to do there: live music, demonstrations, Italian lessons, a bocce tournament,…

1. Can you tell me a little about your current role? I am the director of education at Syracuse Stage. That means I work with our team to foster the education programs that we run as an organization. A lot of our education programs are shows that tour out into schools. We have the Children’s Tour in the fall, and that’s for elementary-aged students. We have our Backstory Program, which is for middle school students and tours in February and March, and our Theatre for the Very Young series, which is shows specifically for kids under the age of 5.…

Did you know Cortland is called the “Crown City” because it sits on a plain where seven valleys meet? There, you’ll find a nature center, a theatre, and a Guinness World Record holder. Museums and Historical Sites CNY Living History Center Explore not one, but three, museums at the CNY Living History Center; each covers a different historical topic: the Brockway Museum (Brockway trucks); the Homeville Museum (military items, local history, model trains); and Tractors of Yesteryear (agricultural history). The admission fee covers all of them. Where: 4386 US Route-11. More information: cnylivinghistory.org. 1890 House Museum As you may have…

Since its founding in 1974, Syracuse Stage has presented more than 300 shows. And there have been many changes during that time. “We have certainly grown in capacity and the scope of our work,” said Artistic Director Robert Hupp. “One of the through lines of our 50 years is our partnership with the Syracuse University Department of Drama…That part of our work has grown and expanded to include co-productions that we do at the holiday time. The inclusion of new work in almost every season is certainly part of that evolution. In the last three years, two of the productions…