Autumn Times 2012 Calendar

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 21-23

Oktoberfest. The 52nd annual celebration mixes German food, music and culture. The weekend features the music of Kat Tale and Kate, Under the Gun and the Adam Barthalt Band. Friday and Saturday, noon-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Central New York Regional Market, 2100 Park St. Free. 437-8746; germanamericanscny.com.

Sept. 22-23

Sportsmen’s Days. No just for men, but for women, boys and girls too, this annual event introduces attendees to wild game and fish cooking demonstrations, coyote calling demonstrations, tanning, fire starting and survival, taxidermy demonstrations, and birds of prey and retriever dog demos. It is one of the largest celebrations of National Hunting and Fishing Day in New York state. Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery, 1672 Route 321, Elbridge. $5/car. 689-9367.

Sept. 23

Westcott Street Cultural Fair. A celebration of the cultural diversity of the Westcott area, featuring food, music, dance and visual arts. Westcott business district at the intersection of Westcott Street and Harvard Place. Noon-6:30 p.m. Free. 703-6848; westcottfair.org

Sept. 29-30

Fall Fest in Skaneateles. Local merchants will be having specials, refreshments and sales. Scarecrow making ($10 per scarecrow), boat cruises and more. Throughout Skaneateles. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. skaneateles.com

Sept. 29

Syracuse Stage Open House. Backstage tours, free performances, ticket raffles, food and drink. All events are free. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St. 443-8603.

Sept. 30

Festival of Races. The annual family-fitness event includes a men’s 5K run (8:50 a.m.), women’s 5K run (9:50 a.m.) and fitness runs/community walks (10:45 a.m.), and the money you spend goes to any charity on the list, anywhere from the Alzheimer’s Association to Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Syracuse University’s Lampe Athletic Complex, Comstock Avenue and East Colvin Street. Free parking. $5-$30. 446-6285; festivalofraces.com.

Sept. 30

Fall Festival. Kickball, children’s games, pumpkin decorating, entertainment and the debut of Irish road bowling at the fourth annual festival in Marcellus. Noon-4 p.m. Free admission and parking. Marcellus Park, 2449 Platt Road, Marcellus. marcellusny.com.

Sept. 28-30

Apple Harvest Festival. Come make crafts, eat snacks and enjoy children’s activities during the 30th annual three-day event. Friday, noon-6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Downtown Ithaca on the Commons. Free. (607) 277-8679; downtownithaca.com.

OCTOBER

Oct. 3-7

Super DIRT Week. Triple 20s and Twin 20s go under the Friday Night Lights for part of the 41st annual modifieds race week. Opens Wednesday at noon, then daily at 8 a.m. Grandstand, New York State Fairgrounds. (877) 395-8606. For ticket and schedule information, visit superdirtweekonline.com.

Oct. 5

SU Football. Pittsburgh visits for a 7 p.m. contest. Carrier Dome, SU campus, 900 Irving Ave. $25-$115/adults; $20/12 and younger. (888) DOME-TIX; suathletics.com.

Oct. 6-7

Great Cortland Pumpkinfest. Pumpkins and fun! 5K run/walk, snacks, entertainment, hay rides and antique tractors. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Courthouse Park, Church Street, Cortland. Free; fees for the race. (607) 753-8463; cortlandpumpkinfest.org.

Oct. 6-7

LaFayette Apple Festival. Gather for family fun to enjoy arts and crafts from more than 500 crafters, rides and great food. Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Apple Run, a one-mile fun run (free) and 5K or 15K race ($20 in advance) takes place Oct. 7. Festival tickets: $3/advance at the LaFayette McDonald’s; Bailey’s ice cream stand on Route 11 in Nedrow; or Empire Tractor, 2700 Erie Blvd. E.; $4/at the gate; free/children 12 and younger. 677-3300; lafayetteapplefest.org.

Oct. 6-7, 13-14

Greater Ithaca Art Trail. Self-guided tours through artists’ studios around the county. Free. 11 a.m-5 p.m. For more information and trail maps, visit arttrail.com or call (607) 273-5072.

Oct. 13

Harvest Folklore and Cemetery Storytelling Festival. Costumes are encouraged at this folklore fest and cemetery storytelling (nothing spooky so bring the younger ones) in advance of Halloween. Sponsored by the town of Clay. Noon-4 p.m. at Clay Park Central, 4821 Wetzel Road, Liverpool. Free. 652-3800, Ext. 137.

Oct. 20-21

CNY Woodcarving Show & Sale Onondaga Wood Carvers and Beaver Lake present the area’s best carvers. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $3/parking. 638-2519.

Oct. 19

SU Football. The Orange will try to tackle Connecticut at 8 p.m. Carrier Dome, SU campus, 900 Irving Ave. $25-$115/adults; $20/12 and younger. (888) DOME-TIX; suathletics.com.

Oct. 25-28

An Enchanted Beaver Lake. Venture through the darkness with only the luminosity of more than 1,000 jack-o’-lanterns. Enjoy magic shows, storytelling, fortunetelling and more. Food will also be sold. $3/person; free/ages 3 and under; $5/parking. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. 638-2519.

Oct. 26-28

Country Folk Art Craft Fair. In this 30th annual fair, artists from North America will present different themed art, including handcrafted furniture, jewelry and wearable art. Horticulture Building, State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd. Friday, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 pm.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $6. (248) 634-4151; countryfolkart.com.

Oct. 19-20, 26-27 

The Great Zoo Boo. Enjoy some kooky, not spooky, fun with clowns, friendly witches and scarecrows, and a train depot at the zoo’s annual pre-Halloween Party. 6-8:30 p.m. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place. There will be trick-or-treating on Halloween. $6/members; $7/non-members; $8/door, $6/person for groups of more than 20, free/ages 2 and under. 435-8511; rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Oct. 20-21 

Salt City Autumn Antiques Show and Antiquarian Book Fair. More than 250 selected dealers present their collections, while offering consultations about the historic art. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Center of Progress Building, State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd. Free parking. $7/daily admission; $8/VIP weekend pass; free/ages 12 and under. 824-2462. 

NOVEMBER

Nov. 3-4

Central New York Model Train Fair. National Railway Historical Society’s local chapter presents the 37th annual fair, one of the largest model train fairs in the Northeast. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibit Center, State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd. $8/adults; free/children 15 and younger. cnynrhs.org. 

Nov. 10

SU Football. The Orange attempts some payback against Louisville, at a kickoff time to be announced. Carrier Dome, SU campus, 900 Irving Ave. $25-$115/adults; $20/12 and under. (888) DOME-TIX; suathletics.com.

Nov. 18

Jingle Bell 5K Run. Grab your Santa hat, then walk, jog or run your way to curing arthritis in the Jingle Bell Run for the National Arthritis Foundation. Registration at 8:30 a.m., run at 10 a.m. Long Branch Park, Longbranch Road, Liverpool. Registration: $20 by Oct. 19, $25 after Oct. 19, $30 on day of event. (800) 870-1771; jbrsyracuseny.kintera.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

Downtown Farmers Market. Get fresh fruit and veggies, along with household goods, crafts and much more from more than 50 farmers and dealers. Tuesdays until Oct. 9, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Clinton Square. Free. 422-8284; downtownsyracuse.com.

Fall Harvest Celebration. Through Dec. 21. With live music and entertainment on the weekends, work through a corn maze and pick your own pumpkins and Christmas trees. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free, with limited activities. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Critz Farms, Route 13, Cazenovia. $7/adults, $5/seniors, free/under 2. Each admission includes season pass. $30 limit per car. 662-3355. 

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Enjoy fall-themed activities such as a cider fest (Oct. 13-14), easy holiday entertaining (Oct. 27-28), and pure New York maple syrup (Nov. 4). Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., until Dec. 23. Admission is free to the mill, 288 Goose St., Fly Creek. Additional charges for special events. (607) 547-9692; flycreekcidermill.com. 

Wolf Oak Acres. Through Oct. 28. Autumn activities galore at this Madison County spot. Corn maze, wagon rides, gem mining, kiddie corral, concessions and more. Special themed weekends include farm days, sportsmen’s weekends, balloons and bounty, scout and school weekend, farm olympics and Halloween. Open Sept. 22-23, 29-30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and all October weekends, Fridays, 4-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $8.50/person, free for children under 36 inches, group rates available. 762-3090; wolfoakacres.com.