This weekend is absolutely packed with festivities, music and theater. First off, Syracuse’s Juneteenth Festival will get started on Friday on East Washington Street, with Polish Festival next door on Clinton Square. There’s the NYS Blues Festival at the fairgrounds and Reggae Fest in Ithaca, plus “Festapaloozathon” with Milky Chance at Paper Mill Island. The Doobie Brothers will finally make it to Syracuse for their 50th Anniversary Tour after two years of postponements (So, 52nd, really). The “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” in Ithaca will serve up the drama alongside “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at Redhouse Theatre and “The Most Beautiful Home... Maybe” at Syracuse Stage. If none of that tickles your fancy, now’s a good time to tour the region’s gorgeous waterfalls.
Know of an event you would like to see on this list? Email us at features@syracuse.com.
An African drumming and dance group from Southwest Community Center make their way down South Salina Street during the Syracuse Juneteenth parade on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Kate Collins | kcollins@syracuse.com
Juneteenth
Syracuse will finally see its 32nd Juneteenth Festival after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two-day festival will kick off on Friday, June 17, with a noon flag raising ceremony and continue into Saturday with a parade. The festival will take over the 200 block of East Washington Street in front of City Hall with performers, games for children and families, pageants and memorial events. Food vendors including Who Want Smoke BBQ, Henry’s Hen House, Pascarella’s Catering & Bakery and Jonny B’s BBQ will join other vendors. For more information about the day, go to syracusejuneteenth.org.
Where: 200 block of E. Washington St., Syracuse
When: Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
How much: Free
Polish Festival
Polish Festival is also this weekend, from Friday to Sunday on Clinton Square. There will lots of Polish food, beer, music, arts and crafts, and dance, plus the popular annual pierogi eating contest on Sunday at 2 p.m., for which contestants have three minutes to eat as many pierogi as they can. A dance group from Canada will perform alongside regional acts like The John Stevens Polka Band, Salt City Brass Band, Simone Band and more. Go to polishscholarship.org for the full line-up of events.
Where: Clinton Square, Syracuse
When: Friday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
How much: Free
Festapaloozathon
German rock band Milky Chance will headline “Festapaloozathon” at Paper Mill Island Amphitheater in Baldwinsville on Friday. The band’s first single, “Stolen Dance,” hit the charts in 2013, and the band has since toured all over Europe and the U.S. from House of Blues to Coachella. Milky Chance will be joined by Boston-based funk band Ripe, psychadelic hip-hop artist The Kaleidoscope Kid, and The Voice star and Syracuse-based singer Gary Carpentier. General admission tickets are $47 after fees and can be purchased through creativeconcerts.com.
Where: 136 Spensieri Ave., Baldwinsville
When: Friday at 6 p.m.
How much: $47
The 2019 NYS Blues Festival was held in Clinton Square. This year's event will be at the New York State Fairgrounds. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
NYS Blues Festival
Three days of jazz and blues will fill the New York State Fairgrounds this weekend for the 30th annual NYS Blues Festival. Regional and national acts like Nate Gross, Jocelyn & Chris, UNiTY Street Band, The Kingsnakes, The Carolyn Kelly Blues Band and Brownskin Band will play at Chevy Court. The festival is free for general admission. VIP tickets starting at $100 will get you artist meet-and-greets and catered meals. Parking is $10 for cars and $5 for motorcycles. Go to nybluesfest.com for more information and a full line-up of events.
Where: 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse
When: Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
How much: Free
The Doobie Brothers
Classic rock band The Doobie Brothers will swing through Syracuse on Sunday as part of their 50th Anniversary Tour. The Doobie Brothers have been releasing hits like “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’” and “Black Water” since they formed in California in the ‘70s. Their Syracuse concert was postponed from July 5, 2020 to August 8, 2021 and again rescheduled. Original tickets will be honored. Tickets are $49 and up after fees. For more information and to buy tickets, go to asmsyracuse.com.
Where: St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse
When: Sunday at 7 p.m.
How much: $49 and up
School Girls
It’s opening weekend for “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” at Ithaca’s Hangar Theatre’s outdoor stage. The play follows the Aburi Girls Boarding School’s queen bee, Paulina, in her campaign to win the 1986 Miss Ghana pageant, which is on track until newcomer Ericka shows up and threatens to steal the show. The play will run from Wednesday to Sunday, then through the next week. Tickets are $35 to $49 after fees. Go to hangartheatre.org for more information and to buy tickets.
Where: 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca
When: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
How much: $35 to $49
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Fred Grandy as Lawrence Jameson and Richard Barth as Freddy Benson which will run at Redhouse Arts Center June 10-19. Photo by Genevieve Fridley
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Redhouse Theatre will head into its final showings of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” this weekend. The comedic musical is based on the 1988 eponymous film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, in which two swindlers are pitted against each other in a contest to see who can con a young heiress out of $50,000. See our review of the “neat, sweet and trustworthy” performance at Syracuse.com. The show will run Thursday through Sunday; tickets are $37 after fees. Go to theredhouse.org for more information and to buy tickets.
Where: 400 S. Salina St., Syracuse
When: Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
How much: $37
Ithaca Reggae Fest
The 4th annual Ithaca Reggae Fest will return to Stewart Park on Friday and Saturday. Giac Jumpers, DJ Double Tiger, Ononkwa and Mad Professor will perform on Friday, then Root Shock, Jonnygo Figure, Sim Redmond Band and others will fill the stage on Saturday. There will be yoga on Saturday morning followed by a breakfast and tea ceremony, plus more ceremonies and a drum circle. Friday is free. Saturday tickets are $25 in advance after fees, or $35 day-of. Children 15 and under get in free. Head to ithacareggaefest.com for more information.
Where: Stewart Park, James L Gibbs Dr., Ithaca
When: Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
How much: Friday is free. Saturday tickets are $25 in advance, $35 day-of and free for kids 15 and under
The Most Beautiful Home... Maybe
Los Angeles-based artist group “Mark-n-sparks” — Mark Valdez and ashley sparks — will bring a performance piece about housing insecurity to Syracuse Stage this weekend. “The Most Beautiful Home... Maybe” was developed from conversations with housing advocates, activists, developers and government workers and presents a future where everyone has a home. Tickets are free and showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Head to syracusestage.org for venue details. Go to themostbeautifulhome.com for more details about the show.
Where: 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse
When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
How much: Free
Crazy Daisies Flower Farm near Marcellus, 2020. Photo by Katrina Tulloch Katrina Tulloch
Summer Art Market
Head to Crazy Daisies on Saturday for a summer art market with over thirty vendors, who will set up their tables between the plants in the greenhouse. There will be pottery, jewelry, henna, apparel, pendulum readings, pet portraits and more, plus brunch foods, small plates, sweet treats, beer, wine and cocktails. Kid Roscoe will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market will pack up at 4 p.m., but you can stick around to hear Bitter Creek Band play from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Go to crazydaisiesflowers.com for more details.
Where: 4693 Kasson Rd., Syracuse
When: Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How much: Free
Reno Collier
Comedian Reno Collier will perform at the Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant this weekend. In 2005 and 2006, Collier headlined the “Comics on Duty” tour for American troops stationed in Iraq. He’s a regular on the Bob & Tom radio show and Country Music Television, and has performed at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival and the Montreal Comedy Festival. He’ll perform on Friday evening and twice on Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person. Go to syracuse.funnybone.com for more information and to buy tickets.
Where: 10301 Destiny USA Dr., Syracuse
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
How much: $15
Cycle in the City
The Creating Healthy Schools and Communities in Onondaga County program will host a Father’s Day bike ride through Syracuse. Meet at the Creekwalk Trailhead next to the Museum of Science and Technology in Armory Square at 9 a.m. The ride will be a flat 11.6 miles and will end back at Armory Square. Afterwards there will be an informal option for a longer ride. Go to mapmyride.com for the route or go to meetup.com for more information. Helmets are required and anyone 12 or under must be accompanied by an adult.
Where: Creekwalk Trailhead on W. Jefferson St. in Armory Square
When: Sunday at 9 a.m.
How much: Free