We’re zooming into more summer fun this week — pun intended! This week brings us the largest car show in the Northeast, the perfect excuse to indulge in a cool treat (National Ice Cream Day!), and even a World Cup final. There’s plenty to fill up your calendar.
An important note: Due to the air quality alerts in our area, some events may be postponed. Please check event websites for the most up to date information!
In this week’s article, you’ll find:
🍦 A sweet celebration — July is National Ice Cream Month, and Sunday, July 19th is National Ice Cream Day! We’ve got you covered with a guide to local shops to visit and a homemade recipe to try.
🚗 Rev your engines — the Syracuse Nationals roll into the NYS Fairgrounds July 16–18 for the largest car show in the Northeast.
⚽ A historic finish — watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19th at 3:00 p.m. ET, at some of our favorite local eateries and breweries in CNY.
📚 Last call for the Book Crawl — the CNY Book Crawl wraps up July 19th, but there’s still time to get your stamps in & discover a new favorite book store!
🛼 Budget-friendly family fun — Skate in the Square rolls on all month in Clinton Square offering fun for the whole family. Or make it a date night at the Adult Roller Skate Night taking place on Friday, July 17.
Scroll down for this week’s full lineup of events, plus more helpful articles and resources from the Family Times website.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day
July is National Ice Cream Month, and Sunday, July 19th marks National Ice Cream Day. Below you’ll find some sweet ways to celebrate!
🎉 Syracuse Mets — National Ice Cream Day & Scooch’s Birthday
📍 NBT Bank Stadium, Syracuse
📍 NBT Bank Stadium, Syracuse
📅 Sunday, July 19 | 1:05 PM
Don’t miss this exciting game day — it’s also Kids Eat Free Family Sunday, and kids get to run the bases after the game.
🍨 Make Your Own Ice Cream!
Skip the store run and whip up a batch of homemade blueberry ice cream instead — a fun, simple recipe the whole family can make together.
Skip the store run and whip up a batch of homemade blueberry ice cream instead — a fun, simple recipe the whole family can make together.
Visit a Local Ice Cream Shop
🍦 Big Dip Ice Cream
📍 216 N. Main St., North Syracuse, NY
📍 216 N. Main St., North Syracuse, NY
🍦 Bev’s Dairy Treat
📍 60 Co. Rte. 89, Oswego, NY
📍 60 Co. Rte. 89, Oswego, NY
🍦 Gannon’s Ice Cream
📍 1525 Valley Drive (Syracuse) & 4800 McDonald Rd #6 (Onondaga Hill), Syracuse, NY
📍 1525 Valley Drive (Syracuse) & 4800 McDonald Rd #6 (Onondaga Hill), Syracuse, NY
🍦 The Ice Cream Stand
📍 200 W. Water St., Syracuse, NY
📍 200 W. Water St., Syracuse, NY
🍦 Vicky’s Tasty Treats
📍 680 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool, NY
📍 680 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool, NY
Want the full list? Check out our complete guide to CNY ice cream shops for even more spots to try this summer!
Can’t Miss Events
📚 Last Chance: CNY Book Crawl
📍 Participating book shops across CNY
📍 Participating book shops across CNY
📅 Now through Sunday, July 19
Time’s almost up to complete your stamp card! Visit participating bookshops around the region for the CNY Book Crawl before it wraps up this weekend.
Time’s almost up to complete your stamp card! Visit participating bookshops around the region for the CNY Book Crawl before it wraps up this weekend.
🚗 Syracuse Nationals Car Show
📍 NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
📍 NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
📅 Thursday–Saturday, July 16–18
Calling all car enthusiasts — the largest car show in the Northeast rolls back into Syracuse for another epic weekend at the NYS Fairgrounds! Browse thousands of show-stopping vehicles, enjoy live music and great food, and catch a photo op with celebrity guests including Rust Bros stars Mike Hall and Avery Shoaf. Cap off the weekend with fireworks on Saturday night. Children 12 and under get in free!
Calling all car enthusiasts — the largest car show in the Northeast rolls back into Syracuse for another epic weekend at the NYS Fairgrounds! Browse thousands of show-stopping vehicles, enjoy live music and great food, and catch a photo op with celebrity guests including Rust Bros stars Mike Hall and Avery Shoaf. Cap off the weekend with fireworks on Saturday night. Children 12 and under get in free!
⛸️ Rollerskating in Clinton Square
📍 Clinton Square, Syracuse
📍 Clinton Square, Syracuse
📅 Ongoing through July
Skate rentals for Skate in the Square continue this month: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 5–8 p.m. Fridays. There’s also an Adult Skate for community members 18+ on Friday, July 17!
Skate rentals for Skate in the Square continue this month: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 5–8 p.m. Fridays. There’s also an Adult Skate for community members 18+ on Friday, July 17!
Looking for more to do near you? Visit our events calendar to discover more upcoming events! Easily find activities, festivals, concerts, and more based on date, location, and mile radius.
Family Fun on a Budget
📍 Destiny USA, Syracuse
📅 Now –August 18
Weekly Tuesday fun with afternoons filled with free activities for children under 12.
📍 Locations across CNY
📅 Open now through the summer
Cool off at one of CNY’s many public pools and spray parks this season.
💙 Big Hearts Big Fun Day
📍 Clay Town Park, 4821 Wetzel Road, Liverpool
📍 Clay Town Park, 4821 Wetzel Road, Liverpool
📅 Sunday, July 19
A FREE all-abilities event and resource fair.
A FREE all-abilities event and resource fair.
Looking for more budget-friendly options? Check out our full guide on family fun that won’t break the bank!
Library Corner
Free, fun, and always a great time — your local library is one of CNY’s best-kept secrets for family programming. Here’s a sample of what’s happening this week:
😀 World Emoji Day
📍 Utica Public Library
📍 Utica Public Library
📅 Thursday, July 16
🎩 Magic Show With the Great & Powerful Dave
📍 NOPL Brewerton
📍 NOPL Brewerton
📅 Thursday, July 16
💦 Splash Party
📍 Kirkland Town Library, Clinton
📍 Kirkland Town Library, Clinton
📅 Friday, July 17
🔬 Family Together Time with the STEMsters
📍 Manlius Library
📍 Manlius Library
📅 Wednesday, July 22
For the Grown-Ups
Because parents deserve a night (or day!) out too!
⚽ Catch the World Cup Finals
📍Wolf’s Biergarten
📍Wolf’s Biergarten
📅 Sunday, July 19 | Match Kicks Off at 3:00 p.m. ET
Head to a local watch party to catch the 2026 World Cup Final with fellow fans — a great excuse for a grown-ups’ day out.
Head to a local watch party to catch the 2026 World Cup Final with fellow fans — a great excuse for a grown-ups’ day out.
🧘 Onondaga Lake Park Unplugged Series for Adults
📍 Onondaga Lake Park
🧘 July 16 – Guided meditation with Blue Moon Apothecary & Wellness Center
📖 July 23 – Open session: Bring a book, journal, craft project, or sketchbook
📚 July 30 – Explore the Liverpool Library Bookmobile
Geared toward adults but open to all.
📍 Onondaga Lake Park
🧘 July 16 – Guided meditation with Blue Moon Apothecary & Wellness Center
📖 July 23 – Open session: Bring a book, journal, craft project, or sketchbook
📚 July 30 – Explore the Liverpool Library Bookmobile
Geared toward adults but open to all.
⛸️ Rollerskating in Clinton Square: Adult Skate Night (18+)
📍 Clinton Square, Syracuse
📍 Clinton Square, Syracuse
📅 Friday, July 17
Make it a good old fashioned date night and have some fun at the roller rink set up for a limited time in Clinton Square! Afterwards, hit a spot in Downtown Syracuse for dinner to complete the night.
Check out our events calendar to search more events near you!
Upcoming Events
🎡 NYS Fair tickets are now on sale!
Get your tickets early for the Great New York State Fair, returning to the fairgrounds on August 26 with rides, food, concerts, and family fun for all ages.
Get your tickets early for the Great New York State Fair, returning to the fairgrounds on August 26 with rides, food, concerts, and family fun for all ages.
📍 Oswego, NY
📅 July 23–26
This free four-day lakefront festival brings headliners John Waite, Ashley Cooke, and Lanie Gardner to the shores of Lake Ontario, capped off with a Saturday fireworks display.
This free four-day lakefront festival brings headliners John Waite, Ashley Cooke, and Lanie Gardner to the shores of Lake Ontario, capped off with a Saturday fireworks display.
📍 Clift Park, Skaneateles
📅 July 24–26
A Finger Lakes summer tradition, this juried show brings dozens of beautifully restored antique and classic boats to the Skaneateles waterfront.
📍 Dance Centre North
📅 Tuesday, July 28
For ages 4 to 6 years old, a fun class that introduces the basics of ballet in a nurturing setting!
More Family Resources
💧 Waterfalls to Explore in CNY
Beat the summer heat with a visit to one of Central New York’s stunning waterfalls. This roundup highlights family-friendly spots perfect for a scenic hike or a refreshing photo op.
Read more
Beat the summer heat with a visit to one of Central New York’s stunning waterfalls. This roundup highlights family-friendly spots perfect for a scenic hike or a refreshing photo op.
Read more
🩱 Best Splashpads & Kiddie Pools for Toddlers
Beat the heat with our curated list of the best splash pads and kiddie pools for little ones.
🫐 Go Blueberry Picking at Reeves Farms
Head to Baldwinsville’s Reeves Farms for pick-your-own blueberries!
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