In Syracuse, we don’t measure summer in days.
We measure it in bites and sips.
From May to September, Central New York turns into a nonstop buffet of cultures, cuisines and live music.
You could spend your weekends sunburned on a boat or stuck in traffic on your way to the lake. Or you could join thousands of your neighbors in Clinton Square, the Inner Harbor or your local church parking lot — plastic fork in hand, mouth full of something grilled, fried or slathered in tzatziki.
Here’s your guide to the ultimate summer smorgasbord, one festival at a time. Come hungry.
Guests try crawfish for the first time during the 2019 Syracuse Crawfish Festival in Clinton Square.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.
When & where: May 3, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Syracuse’s Clinton Square
Cost: Free
The menu: Mudbugs, jambalaya, po’ boys and just enough hot sauce to make you sweat through your T-shirt. This Cajun throwdown brings a little Louisiana heat to the heart of Syracuse. Live music and big steamy pots of crawfish are the main attractions.
Wing prep for Meier’s Creek at the Battle of the Wings in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor this weekend. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: May 16-17 at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor
Cost: $5
The menu: It’s the ultimate chicken showdown. Local bars and restaurants go beak-to-beak slinging their best wings, whether they’re drenched in Buffalo sauce, honey BBQ or some crazy recipe with a name like “Grandpa’s Napalm.” We all get to vote for the wing king.
Food Truck Battle at the State Fairgrounds on Saturday. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: May 16-17 at Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds
Cost: Pre-sale general admission $5, week-of general admission $10. Children 12 and under free.
The menu: More than 50 food trucks from across the Northeast descend on Syracuse like a delicious convoy. Lobster rolls fighting with pierogi next to gourmet grilled cheese. It’s pandemonium.
Wash it all down with local brews and live music. Just be sure to wear your stretchy pants.
Chefs at the St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival in Syracuse react to the flames of pan-seared Saganaki (fried Greek cheese) in Syracuse on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Katrina Tulloch)This is CNY
When & where: June 5-8 at St. Sophia’s Church, 325 Waring Road, Syracuse
Cost: Free
The menu: Gyros spinning on the spit, baklava stacked like golden bricks, and the irresistible scent of grilled lamb in the air. Don’t be surprised if you start dancing. Opa!
Ahmad Zatar of Pita Dream dishes out a gyro over rice at the 2023 Taste of Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) Charlie MillerCharlie Miller
When & where: June 6-7, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in and around downtown Syracuse’s Clinton Square.
Cost: Free
The menu: This is the big daddy of them all. More than 100 vendors serve cheap samples alongside full-size favorites. It’s the best way to eat your way through the city without maxing out your credit card.
Pro tip from an amateur: Start early and pace yourself.
Who Want Smoke BBQ serves its smoke pork and other flame-kissed soul food. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: June 13-14 in Clinton Square, downtown Syracuse.
Cost: Free
The menu: The downtown air fills with the aroma of ribs on the grill, catfish in the fryer and peach cobbler cooling in the shade. You can thank Henry’s Hen House, Who Want Smoke and Johnny G’s for all that food.
It’s a feast that honors history, family and the flavors passed down through generations.
Kielbasa was a featured treat during the Syracuse Polish Festival in Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY, Friday June 22, 2018. Scott Schild | [email protected]Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.
When & where: June 20-22
Cost: Free
The menu: Pierogi, kielbasa and Gołąbki rule this menu. Add in some cold beer and a live polka band, and suddenly you’re dancing with someone’s grandmother and loving it. Na zdrowie!
The annual Middle Eastern festival at St. Elias Orthodox Christian Church began Thursday afternoon and runs through Sunday. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: July 10-13 at St. Elias Orthodox Church, 4988 Onondaga Road, Syracuse
Cost: Free
The menu: Shawarma sliced to order, warm pita fresh off the grill and homemade hummus so good you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. There’s also music, dancing and a bustling marketplace.
Syracuse Ukrainian Festival at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Syracuse, N.Y., Friday July 29, 2022.
Scott Schild | [email protected]
Scott Schild | [email protected]
When & where: July 25-26 at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 207 Tompkins St., Syracuse
Cost: Free
The menu: Syracuse’s Tipperary Hill neighborhood gives up its corned beef and green beer for cabbage rolls, potato pancakes and pyrohy. (Don’t worry, they still sell beer. It’s just not green.)
Grilling up some lamb skewers at the Macedonian Ethnic Festival on Onondaga Hill. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: Aug. 1-3 at St. George Macedonian Orthodox Church, 5083 Onondaga Road, Syracuse
Cost: Free
The menu: You’ll be greeted from the parking lot with live dancing and traditional music. Then comes grilled meats, stuffed peppers, flaky pastries and strong Balkan coffee. This festival will make you feel like you’ve flown overseas.
The Milano sandwich at It’s A Utica Thing at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: Aug. 20-Sept. 1 at the New York State Fairgrounds
Cost: Daily admission is $8 for adults. Children 12 and under and seniors 65 and older get in free
The menu: This is a 13-day festival of deep-fried everything. You can also climb a mountain of sausage sandwiches while chomping on giant turkey legs and guzzling chocolate milk for 25 cents. And don’t forget the wine slushies. You already know the drill.
Domenick Brancato serves up one of his homemade Italian Ices at Italian Fest in downtown Syracuse. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])
When & where: Sept. 12-14 in front of City Hall, downtown Syracuse
Cost: Free
The menu: Pasta, pizza, cannoli, repeat. This fest brings old-school family recipes out into the open air. If your Nonna’s cooking had a festival with a neighborhood band out back, this would be it.
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Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun throughout Central New York — no freebies, no favors, just honest eats. You can call or text him at (315) 382-1984 or email [email protected]. Follow @HoosierCuse on Instagram and X, and sign up for his Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
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