Embrace the outdoors this weekend and try something new. There are plenty of festivals for food sampling, like Syracuse’s Middle Eastern Festival (back in person this year), Bavarian Festival near Utica with plenty of wursts and biers to keep you in good spirits, or a poetry festival outside the Everson Museum of Art in honor of the late Jackie Warren-Moore. You can also kayak for free around the Oswego Ports, or catch a cruise on Cayuga under the stars.
Know of an event you would like to see on this list? Email us at features@syracuse.com.
Mahfouz Abu-Manneh with the daily special: chicken musakhan. The 90th Anniversary of the St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival, July 11, 2019. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.comMichael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syr
Middle Eastern Festival
The St. Elias Middle Eastern Festival will return in person this weekend with food and a full line-up of events from Thursday to Sunday. There will be traditional Dabke dancing, an indoor marketplace, a kids area with games and delicious foods: shawerma, Gyro, rice pilaf, vegetables with tahini sauce, falafel, tabbouleh, Za’atar fries, pistachio ice cream and more. For more information, go to syracusemideastfest.com.
Where: St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4988 Onondaga Rd., Syracuse
When: Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
How much: Free to attend
Tommy James and the Shondells
American pop rock-psychedelic band Tommy James and the Shondells will perform at del Lago Resort & Casino on Friday at 8 p.m. The group is well known for their ’60s hits “Hanky Panky” and “Crimson and Clover,” and James’ songs have been covered by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett and Prince. Tickets for the show are $53 to $101 after fees and can be purchased through dellagoresort.showare.com. The show is open to 21 years old and up.
Where: The Vine at del Lago Resort, 1133 NY-414, Waterloo
When: Friday at 8 p.m.
How much: $53 to $101
Urban kayaking
On the Canals in partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation is hosting a number of waterway excursions this summer, including a free urban paddle event on Friday. Book a timeslot, head on over to Oswego (Port City of CNY) and hop into a kayak for a guided group tour of the ports. There are a couple of other upcoming events to keep your eye on as well, like guided birding tours by kayak through the Montezuma wetlands, lake boat tours and painting alongside the canal. Head to onthecanals.com for more information and to sign up for a slot.
Where: Port District of Oswego
When: Urban paddle on Friday at various times. Other events through the summer.
How much: Free
Jackie Warren-Moore in 2014 at the Landmark Theatre.Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com
Jackie Warren-Moore Poetry Festival
A monologues and poetry festival in honor of the late, great poet Jackie Warren-Moore will be held outside at the Everson Museum of Art on Sunday from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Bring chairs or a blanket and set up in the Everson courtyard for spoken word poetry, music and dance performances, and a video projection of Warren-Moore reading her poem, “Dear Martin.” The festival is free, or you can donate to The Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company. Head to theprpac.org for more information about the event.
Where: Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse
When: Sunday from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
How much: Free
Bavarian Fest
Utica Maennerchor will host Bavarian Fest in Marcy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend, complete with Edelweiss Schuhplattlers folk dancing, music by the Bavarian Brothers, imported biers, liverwurst, saurkraut, German craft vendors, games for kids, a gift basket raffle and a cake booth with Black Forest Cherry Torte. The festival is $5 (suggested donation) for adults and older kids, and free for kids 12 and under. Parking is free. For more information, go to uticamaennerchor.com.
Where: Utica Maennerchor, 5535 Flanagan Rd., Marcy
When: Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
How much: $5 suggested donation for those over 12 years old
Ali Siddiq
Stand-up comedian Ali Siddiq will roll into the Funny Bone Comedy Club in Syracuse on Friday and Saturday for four evening shows. In addition to comedy, Houston-based Siddiq is a public speaker and writer. He has appeared on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Live from Gotham, and was named Comedy Central’s “#1 Comic to Watch.” Tickets are $27 per person and can be purchased through syracuse.funnybone.com.
Where: Funny Bone Comedy Club, 10301 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse
When: Friday at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
How much: $27
Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Syracuse Nationals
Over 8,000 hot rods, classics and custom cars will roll into the NY State Fairgrounds this weekend for a three-day festival. There will be tons of beautiful cars to ogle, plus auctions, charity pinstriping, drag racing, a repair shop, a model car contest, a “back yard build-off,” live bands and fireworks. For the whole schedule of events and to buy tickets, go to syracusenationals.com. It’s $22 for adults after fees online or $25 at the gate, and $9 for kids 6 to 12 online or $10 at the gate. Kids 5 and under get in free.
Where: 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse
When: Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
How much: $22 for adults and $9 for kids 6 to 12. Day-of, it’s $25 for adults and $10 for kids.
Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest
On Thursday, CNY’s youngest artists will gather outside of the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute for the 12th annual sidewalk youth art contest. Kids will have 30 minutes to create their masterpieces in chalk, and then the Oneida County Youth Advisory Board will chose winners in age specific categories. Registration is at 10 a.m. and is open to kids from 5 to 18. Competition starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, go to ocgov.net. Chalk provided. Rain date is Friday.
Where: Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute, 10 Genesee St., Utica
When: Thursday. Registration is at 10 a.m., competition starts at 10:30 a.m.
How much: Free
Children of Eden
The Baldwinsville Theatre Guild will open their first show of the summer season this weekend on their home stage on Oswego Street. A cast and crew of 25 local youths will perform “Children of Eden,” Stephen Schwartz and John Caird’s musical about parents, children and Christian faith. Tickets are $29 for adults after fees and $25 for students and seniors. Head to baldwinsvilletheatreguild.org for more information about the show and to buy tickets.
Where: 64 Oswego St., Baldwinsville
When: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
How much: $29 for adults or $25 for students and seniors
Cayuga cruises
Discover Cayuga Lake has a bunch of cruises to choose from every weekend through the summer. There are Osprey eco-cruises from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. most Wednesdays through Sundays, sunset cruises on Thursdays through Saturdays, night sky cruises at 9:30 p.m. on Friday evenings and a few more options. Tickets are around $40 for adults for most cruises; kids prices vary. You can bring your own snacks. Head to discovercayugalake.org for more information.
Where: Various ports around Cayuga Lake
When: Summer weekends
How much: Around $40 for adults for most cruises.