July in the Finger Lakes region is absolute magic. The weather is (mostly) spectacular, the deep glacial waters are finally warm enough for swimming, and our local community calendar is bursting at the seams with vibrant celebrations. If you are looking to fill your summer weekends with live outdoor music, local arts and crafts, and incredible regional food, our counties have you covered for the rest of the month.
Getting the kids out into the community is a wonderful way to break up the summer monotony, support local creators, and show your children the unique culture of upstate New York. Pack up the sunscreen, grab your lawn chairs, and make sure to mark these remaining July highlights on your family planner:
- Downtown Canandaigua Art & Music Festival: Taking over Main Street for a full weekend mid-month, this festival is a paradise for visual inspiration. Walk the street to see incredible artists, catch live music acts, and introduce the kids to handmade crafts. The street food options alone are worth the trip.
- The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance (Trumansburg): Located in the charming village of Trumansburg, this four-day late-July celebration is a legendary summer staple. Far from just a music festival for adults, GrassRoots features a dedicated Art Barn and an expansive Kids Area. Your little ones can participate in structured crafts, interactive workshops, youth performances, and a giant, colorful parade.
- Indigenous Music & Arts Festival at Ganondagan (Canandaigua): Happening during the final weekend of July, this is a beautiful, culturally rich event at the Ganondagan State Historic Site. It is a fantastic opportunity for families to experience traditional Haudenosaunee music, dance, storytelling, and world-class artwork, making history and culture come alive for your children.
- The Sterling Renaissance Festival (Sterling): Take a short, beautiful drive just north of the immediate lake region to step directly back in time to an English village from the year 1585. The festival is an absolute blast for kids, featuring interactive costumed characters, thrilling live jousting tournaments, stage comedy, and old-world treats. It runs every single weekend through the end of July.
- Hometown Volunteer Fireman’s Field Days: Never underestimate the simple, pure joy of a traditional hometown carnival. Throughout the rest of July, various volunteer fire departments across the Finger Lakes host their annual Field Days. These events are a nostalgic dream for kids, packed with classic carnival rides, midway games, parades featuring local marching bands, and legendary chicken barbecues.
The Bottom Line: The upstate summer season goes by in a beautiful flash.
You don’t need to do it all, just pick one or two big events to anchor your family calendar, and enjoy every single drop of this gorgeous July sunshine with the people you love most!