Events in Cortland, NY

Guided by Cornell Botanic Gardens staff, this monthly walk invites participants to notice the beauty and drama of the living landscape. As the group explores different garden paths, simple mindfulness practices help focus attention on the present, encouraging close observation of plant changes across the seasons. The walk takes place rain or shine. It is free to attend, with donations welcome, and no pre-registration is required. Instruction is provided by Sarah Fiorello, Interpretation Coordinator, and Kara Peet, Student and Public Education Coordinator. Meet at the Nevin Welcome Center.

Enjoy a Halloween party filled with a lively blend of blues, rock, rhythm, and soul. Costumes are welcome but not required, and appropriate clothing is expected. Look forward to festive energy and plenty of groove-friendly tunes.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is reimagined with the pulse of Jazz Age music in an adaptation directed by David Feldshuh for Cornell’s Department of Performing and Media Arts. A company of twenty-three powers the production, with fourteen actors alongside a singing chorus and dancers, and with jazz musician Mike Carbone performing live on saxophone and flute. Illyria appears as a dreamlike world inspired by the art of René Magritte, where identities shift, love defies expectation, and surprises abound. The revelry is edged by a sense of surrounding conflict, and the humor can turn sharp as pranks and public embarrassment test boundaries. The staging underscores the play’s blend of brightness and shadow, offering a portrait of human complexity that has engaged audiences for centuries. The performance takes place in the Kiplinger Theatre within the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts at Cornell University.

Set in the pavilion at Steamboat Landing, this open air Saturday market invites people to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and wander through favorite stalls. It showcases agriculture, art, and food that are grown, created, and cooked within 30 miles of the member built pavilion. Held outside each week, it offers a friendly way to experience a local marketplace.

The Dart Brothers take the stage for a Halloween night of spooky fun and high-energy rock at Bike Bar. Costumes are encouraged, with an emphasis on the weird and wonderful. Admission is free.

This monthly roundtable puts commissioner service into practice by bringing Scouting unit leaders together for practical support. Whether you are new to the role or a longtime Scouter, you can discover fresh program ideas, hear important policy and event updates, add supplemental training, and connect with peers who understand everyday challenges. The gathering is held in the Sprole Conference Room at Tompkins Cortland Community College. For easiest access, use the gym entrance on the far left, go to the back, then turn right to find the room on the right. Some other entrances involve stairs. The campus cafeteria offers dinner options for those arriving early.

Part of a four-event Professional Directions series in Room 220 at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts at Cornell University, this session spotlights casting director and Cornell alum Henry Russell Bergstein ’98. Joining virtually via Zoom, he shares how he entered the casting field, how he navigates the industry’s ups and downs, and practical advice for aspiring media makers, actors, and future casting professionals. Other installments in the series feature film and television editor Luke Pebler, documentarian and television director Rachel Raimist, Ph.D., and television critic Maureen “Mo” Ryan, with all guest speakers appearing online. Free and open to the public. No registration required.

The Cousins Maine Lobster truck returns to The Shops at Ithaca Mall in Ithaca with a tasty stop for lobster grilled cheese. Order right at the truck using cash or any major credit card, or choose contactless service through the Cousins Maine Lobster mobile app. When using the app, select Rochester, Syracuse, or Buffalo NY as your location. The app accepts orders only during operating hours, and at peak times ordering may be paused briefly to manage volume and maintain quality.

Part of the fall 2026 colloquium series from the Institute for German Cultural Studies, this installment features Ari Linden of the University of Kansas exploring partial automation and how it shapes indifference in Marx’s Grundrisse. The talk will be held in Klarman Hall, Room 155 at Cornell University. The series also spotlights Stefan Willer of Cornell on inheritance in contemporary literature, David Martyn of Macalester College on writing beyond linguistic boundaries, Thomas Wild of Bard College on Hannah Arendt’s approach to plurality, and Annie Pfeifer of Columbia University on Nietzsche as a spokesperson for Zarathustra. Admission is free and open to the public.

This pet loss support group meets at Danby Community Church and offers compassionate support for anyone experiencing a time of loss. Although the gathering takes place in a church, there is no religious requirement or tone, and each person’s beliefs are respected. Participants can find understanding alongside others with similar experiences who recognize the grieving process.

Explore intuitive readings with respected psychic and spiritual mediums at HomeTowne Studios and Conference Center Cortland. Have your aura photographed in full color, browse distinctive metaphysical goods from a range of vendors, and receive a complimentary gemstone with admission. Entry is $10, and attendees 16 and under are admitted free. Plan to bring cash, as vendor payment methods vary.

This informal meetup at Jillian's Drawers brings together members of the Ithaca Doula Collective with anyone curious about doula care. Attendees can connect with individual doulas, pose questions, and learn about the support doulas offer during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and other life transitions. Admission is free and the event welcomes all who are interested in doula support.

Step away from the routine for a quiet evening of reading at Hushed Haus, a serene club created for losing yourself in the worlds authors imagine. Shaped like a low-key happy hour for introverts, it centers on peaceful, shared quiet. Bring a favorite book and get comfortable. There are no assignments or required titles, just unhurried pages and snacks. This is the eleventh Hushed Haus gathering at the Haus of Hamilton.

Take a calming break with a mindful birding session at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. From the Visitor Center observatory, participants can enjoy a warm indoor setting with views of Sapsucker Woods Pond. Binoculars and seating are provided, and guests may drop in briefly or stay for the entire session. The experience begins with a short sensory warmup to connect with the natural surroundings, continues with quiet observation of the pond and its birdlife, and concludes with a brief reflection. By pairing birdwatching with simple mindfulness practices, this program encourages slowing down, sharpening observation and listening skills, and deepening appreciation for both birds and the present moment. No prior experience with birding or mindfulness is needed. This is a stationary activity designed with mobility needs in mind, with folding chairs and benches available. Accessibility features include six van-accessible parking spaces with curb-free access to paved areas. A wheelchair-accessible portable restroom is located in the parking lot, and an accessible all-gender and family restroom plus a water fountain are available inside the Visitor Center. Two wheelchairs are available for on-site use. Public transit service includes TCAT route 31, and paratransit options are available through Gadabout at 607-273-1878. Bike racks are located in the parking area. There is no cost to attend, everyone is welcome, and advance registration is not required.

This casual open mic takes place on the second Wednesday of each month and welcomes people to share songs, poems, jokes, or any creative piece they would like. There is no formal stage and no pressure, and a microphone is only used occasionally. The vibe is friendly and encouraging, with moments of group singing adding to the sense of community. The gathering is family friendly. It typically happens indoors, with the option to move outside when the weather is favorable. Well behaved dogs on leashes are permitted in outdoor areas, and the property is smoke free. Masks are not required for attendees or staff, whether inside or outside. Accessibility features include one accessible parking space in a gravel lot next to a paved sidewalk entrance, a built in ramp inside for reaching the upper and lower levels, and a portable ramp available on request for the restroom and outdoor space. The restroom includes grab bars behind and beside the toilet, a changing table, and space for a full 60 inch turning radius. For questions about the space or the event, please contact the store.

Stewart Copeland, world famous drummer and founder of The Police, presents his first American spoken word tour. A multiple Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and composer for films, video games, and operas, as well as a writer and filmmaker, he shares stories from The Police, Hollywood, and other adventures. The evening features conversation with photos and videos and concludes with a Q&A. Delivered in his funny, intelligent, sharp, and distinctive style, Have I Said Too Much? showcases a wide-ranging career.

Step into a speakeasy-themed murder mystery presented in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Enjoy a buffet featuring flapper-inspired fare and libations. A passphrase is required: “Chester sent me!” Attendance is limited to 65 guests, and the price is $80 per person. Choose your suspects wisely... survival is not promised.

Geoff Tate, a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum singer and songwriter, is known for spending over three decades guiding the progressive metal group Queensryche. With him at the forefront, the band moved more than 20 million albums worldwide and played shows in more than fifty countries.

The Groton NY High School Craft Show takes place at Groton Jr/Sr Parent Teacher Organization in Groton, NY and is expected to welcome roughly 8,000 visitors over the course of the event. Outdoor vendor spaces include access to electricity, and vendors should bring their own extension cords and power strips. Vendor passes will be provided at check-in, and a dedicated vendor parking area will be available on-site. For questions or confirmations, communicate directly with the event organizer at twistedbee.events@gmail.com and treat any other outreach claiming to represent this event with caution.

This hands-on workshop invites a couple, or a pregnant participant with someone from their birth team, to concentrate on preparing for labor and birth. It offers clear guidance on what to do when contractions begin, how to work with the body, and how to focus the mind through each phase. Together, participants practice a variety of positions for contractions, the breaks in between, and the moment of delivery. Partners receive specific, practical tips for how to be helpful throughout the process so everyone can feel prepared and empowered. Many participants choose to take this workshop during the final trimester of pregnancy.

DSP Shows and The State Theatre of Ithaca present Punch Brothers in concert at The State Theatre of Ithaca. This forward-looking string band is known for fleet-fingered musicianship and intricate arrangements. After the end of Nickel Creek, mandolinist Chris Thile formed the group in the late 2000s, and their sound blends bluegrass drive, classical sophistication, and jazz-like improvisation. Most of their Nonesuch releases have topped the Billboard Bluegrass chart and also made notable inroads on pop, rock, and folk charts. They gave their first performance at Carnegie Hall and were featured in the 2011 documentary How to Grow a Band. Their fifth album, All Ashore, won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album, followed by the 2022 tribute set Hell on Church Street. This show highlights virtuosic playing, tight ensemble work, and a cross-genre spirit from a supergroup in the roots music world.

Conversations about mortality take center stage at a Death Cafe hosted by the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County. Part of the global Death Cafe movement, it creates space for open discussion about death and dying over tea, coffee, and cake. There is no fixed agenda, and participants can engage in whatever way feels right to them. People with any perspective or experience are welcome. This is a conversation space, not a grief support group or counseling session. For more information, contact Jenny Miller at jmiller@mhatompkins.org or Jonathan Cook at jcook@mhatompkins.org.

Presented by DSP Shows and the State Theatre of Ithaca, The Wailin' Jennys bring the combined voices of Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Heather Masse. The trio began as a spontaneous collaboration among three solo artists at a small guitar shop in Winnipeg, then grew into an internationally recognized presence in folk music. Founding members Moody and Mehta, together with Masse, who resides in New York, continue to elevate their folk-roots sound with critically praised recordings and captivating live shows. NPR, reflecting on their appearance at the Newport Folk Festival, noted their seamless harmonies, confident leadership, and deep regard for traditional roots music. This performance highlights finely crafted songs, luminous three-part vocals, and a commitment to craft that has solidified their standing in folk and roots circles.

Eilen Jewell marks two decades on the road with an evening that looks back on a life of constant touring, deep gratitude, and unlikely adventures. With a nod to a line by Bob Dylan, she shares vivid memories of sharing stages with her heroes, meeting fans whose children bear her name, and building friendships through music in places that range from Auckland to the fringes of the Arctic Circle. The stories span performances in surprising settings too, from trains and boats to a tuxedoed Wall Street crowd and even a muddy musk ox farm, all told by a once lonely rambler from Idaho who found community along the way.

This event features live music.

Enjoy a Turkey Trot covering about 5.5 miles. The course is roughly half paved and half trail or grass, and shortcuts are permitted for anyone who wants to shorten the route.

Little Georgie and The Shuffling Hungarians appear at the Center for the Arts of Homer in Homer, NY for a rare live set. This venerable rock and soul orchestra features some of the finest musicians the 315 has to offer.

This annual holiday craft fair offers a straightforward way to finish holiday gift lists and take care of seasonal shopping.

This year’s Tully Craft Show takes place at Tully Junior Senior High School. Application materials have already been distributed and more than half of the available spaces are filled, with acceptance on a first come, first served basis. For additional information, email stacia.sterritt@tullyschools.org, as email is monitored more frequently than Facebook.

An afternoon of live holiday music brings together three Central New York acts at the Center for the Arts of Homer, all in support of Music for the Mission and its efforts to assist and advocate for people facing hunger and homelessness across the region. Rebels Without a Claus features Syracuse mainstays Edgar Pagan on bass, Christopher Ames on guitar and vocals, Bob Caraher on keys, and CV Abdallah on drums, joined by vocalist Dani Rocco, formerly of Avalon, and Joel Michael Herbert, a guitarist, keyboardist, and singer who, alongside Rocco, spent years working and recording in Nashville. Their set highlights contemporary renditions of familiar Christmas classics. Madd Daddy, the father daughter duo of Ted Walsh and Maddy Walsh, offers close harmonies and acoustic guitar on original material along with hard to find Americana covers, a collaboration they have shared around Central New York and the Finger Lakes since 2007. The Holidays, a Cortland area ensemble featuring Dan Austen, Steve Danaels, Samantha Danaels, Harry Norton, and Mike Starmer, completes the lineup. Last year’s concert raised more than $6,000 to help feed neighbors in need, and this edition continues that spirit of giving with music and raffles to boost fundraising.

Béla Fleck brings his My Bluegrass Heart project to the State Theatre of Ithaca, presented by DSP Shows and the State Theatre of Ithaca, with an ensemble featuring Michael Cleveland, Dominick Leslie, Jeff Partin, Mark Schatz, and Jake Stargel. A nineteen-time Grammy Award winner across genres from Country and Pop to Jazz, Classical, Instrumental, and World Music, Fleck returns to his roots with the Grammy-winning My Bluegrass Heart, the third chapter following Drive and The Bluegrass Sessions. Known for expanding the possibilities of the banjo, he has led Béla Fleck and The Flecktones, written concertos for symphony orchestra, traced the instrument’s African lineage in the documentary Throw Down Your Heart, and collaborated with Zakir Hussain, Rakesh Chaurasia, Edgar Meyer, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez, Abigail Washburn, Chick Corea, and Renée Fleming on The Fiddle and the Drum. Fiddler Michael Cleveland is a twelve-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year and a Grammy winner for Tall Fiddler, leading the band Flamekeeper and appearing on recordings with artists including Béla Fleck. Mandolinist Dominick Leslie is a two-time Grammy winner whose work spans projects such as Hawktail, Noam Pikelny & Friends, and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. Jeff Partin, a multi-instrumentalist celebrated for his dobro playing, has performed with Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, Mountain Heart, and Volume Five. Mark Schatz, a two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year, is also known for clawhammer banjo, percussive dance, and recordings with artists like Tony Rice, John Hartford, Claire Lynch, Nickel Creek, Sara Jarosz, and Béla Fleck. Guitarist Jake Stargel, a Georgia flatpicking champion and IBMA Momentum Award recipient, has toured and recorded with groups including Mountain Heart and Sierra Hull, alongside extensive Nashville studio work. This appearance showcases bluegrass performed by a decorated, multi-generational lineup rooted in tradition and shaped by wide-ranging musical exploration.

Settle into a peaceful, social reading session at the Haus of Hamilton, created for those who enjoy quiet company. Bring a favorite book and read alongside others in comfortable silence. There are no assignments or required titles, just the pleasure of getting lost in your own story with snacks available. Framed as an introvert-friendly happy hour, this gathering offers a welcoming sanctuary for book lovers.

Lez Zeppelin, an acclaimed all-female rock quartet personally endorsed by Jimmy Page, presents a special tribute marking 50 years of The Song Remains the Same. The band performs the entire soundtrack from beginning to end with a multimedia presentation inspired by the original film. Channeling the energy, virtuosity, and grand scale of Led Zeppelin’s 1973 Madison Square Garden shows, this experience brings a landmark chapter of rock to life for longtime followers and new listeners.

Cortland Music Venue presents a multi-artist concert featuring Small Town Titans, Scotty Austin, former frontman of Saving Abel, Bad Marriage featuring Tommy Skeoch of Tesla, Who on Earth, and more. This event is part of the Austin Entertainment Festival concert series.

Driftwood delivers an ever-evolving folk rock sound rooted in a partnership that began when founders Joe Kollar and Dan Forsyth made music as high schoolers in the basement of Kollar’s family home. The Upstate New York group now includes violinist Claire Byrne, bassist Joey Arcuri, and drummer Sam Fishman, and has built its following by winning new listeners on cross-country tours and performing for loyal crowds at Levon Helm’s Woodstock barn. Their latest release, December Last Call, feels like a return to their roots while still pushing their folk tradition forward.