Annual & SPECIAL Events
There’s so much to do in downtown Auburn- with live music options galore. For even more info, visit the event listings on our Facebook page.
First Fridays March - December
Monthly, museums, breweries, restaurants & shops host open houses with free live music, art exhibits & refreshments. Downtown BID venues can include Café 108, Evolve CBD, Moondog’s Lounge, Moro’s Table, Next Chapter Brewpub, Prison City North Street Brewery, Reuse Refuge, Seward House Museum, Shepherd’s Brewing Co., Underground Bottle Shop & more!
Brave Brews March 7 - 8
Join Auburn’s City-wide celebration of women in craft beverage with a weekend of special events, live entertainment, programs & more. First Friday tour the historic & cultural sites, breweries and restaurants for themed art exhibits, music and food and beverage specials.
Visit the website.
Fire & Ice Fest @ Prison City North Brewery
Saturday, March 8 from 4 – 8PM the festival features women in craft beverage tastings, vending, food trucks, live music, plus performers, games, ice bar & sculptures, bonfire & fireworks. Visit the website.
City & BID Memorial Day Celebration
Monday, May 26 @ 11AM - 2PM
Holiday parade @ 11AM, followed by Veteran’s Memorial Park wreath laying ceremony. Market Street food truck rodeo & grilling by the Knights of Columbus; plus craft beer beverage vending. Downbeat Percussion & local band performance under the Market Street Park band shell 12:30 - 2:30PM. Duck Derby starts at 1PM. Visit the Facebook event.
Music on the Mall May – September @ 7 - 10PM
Enjoy free outdoor live music one Friday a month under the State Street Bandshell. Open container waiver; bring friends. Rain location is Moondog’s Lounge. Visit the Facebook page and website.
Auburn’s PRIDE Celebration
The City, Equal Rights Heritage Center, and Auburn’s Historic & Cultural Sites Commission organizations present LGBTQIA events, programs & activities. Visit the website.
Juneteenth Celebration
Join a City celebration honoring the legacy of freedom with activities, music, live entertainment & programming at Auburn’s historic & cultural sites and Booker T. Washington Community Center. Visit the website.
Downtown Auburn Saturday Market @ ERHC
June 28 - August 30 @ 9AM - 1PM
The goal of the Downtown Auburn Saturday Market at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center is to create opportunity for entreprenuers and small businesses to thrive, educate the public about the impact of buying local, and provide a community-building experience in an accessible location. This event is produced in partnership with the Taste NY Market/Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, the Downtown Auburn BID, and the City of Auburn. (There is no market held on Saturday, July 5, due to the holiday weekend.)
The Market features live music, children’s activities & entertainment, food & beverage producers, artisans, crafters, and more. Applications are open; vending is free. The market runs rain or shine, with two hour free parking in the City Garage upper levels.
Vend for Free @ ERHC
Be a part of the Downtown Auburn Saturday Market at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center.
Artisan vendor application
Food & beverage vendor application
For more info call 315.258-9820, or email Courtney Rae Kasper courtney@equalrightsheritage.com. Visit the website. Visit the Facebook page.
City Summer Concert Series
June 24 – August 12
Free live music 6 - 8:30PM, come enjoy the fun on Tuesdays @ Hoopes Park, Wednesdays in State Street Event Plaza 5:30 - 7:30PM, and Music on the Malls monthly on Fridays 7 - 10PM. Visit the website.
City Summer Movie Series July 7 - August 18
Monday Movie Mania happens weekly in various parks & playgrounds. BYO blankets, chairs & popcorn. Family-friendly movies begin @ 8:30PM/dark. Visit the website.
Founder's Day Festival August 8 - 9
Friday night, kick-off the weekend with Music on the Mall on State Street and the YMCA-WEIU Downtown Mile @ 7PM. Saturday, attend the City’s annual celebration featuring 4 bands on the Genesee Street showmobile stage. Visit the website. Visit the Facebook page.
CNY TomatoFest September 6
Friday night, kick-off the weekend with Music on the Mall on State Street. Saturday, come downtown 11AM - 7PM for a family fun Genesee Street festival with vendors, live music, family fun & more. TomatoFest Board & volunteers continue to raise funds and collect food donations to benefit the local food pantries. Visit the Facebook page and website.
A.T. Walley Italian Fest September 13
@ 11AM - 9PM
Walley’s patio & State Street Event Plaza entertainment starts at 1PM with Uncle Louis Variety Comedy Show. At 2:30PM compete in the meatball eating contest. Winner receives $500 to their charity of choice. From 3 – 6PM listen to music by The Dean’s List, and 6 – 9PM by the Diana Jacobs Band. Lunch menu features steak & cheese, Italian sausage, eggplant sandwiches & meatballs. Plus Italian pastries - cannoli, creme puffs, eclairs & fried dough. Visit the Facebook page.
Prison City Riot Run September 20
This event is presented by Prison City Pub & Brewery and Great American Brewery Runs. Event is a 5K run with awards, prizes and after party with games and music in the band shell. Visit the Facebook page.
Gobble ‘n Go October 18
This fundraising event is presented by Auburn Education Foundation with planning support from BID. From 1 - 6PM, enjoy food tasting at downtown eateries, breweries and shops, plus more fun at the Knights of Columbus last stop party from 4:30 - 6PM with a dinner buffet, raffles & Gobble Rock prizes. A trolley runs from 1 - 4PM on continuous loop. Visit the website.
Small Business Saturday, November 30
Shop local and support your downtown businesses. Find unique holiday experiences, discounts, deals & specials at Adonia Salon & Spa; Atelier/Creative Studio; A.T. Walley; Auburn Bagel Company; Auburn Public Theater; Café 108; Café Kubal; Combgrown Mead; Evolve CBD; Hairlooms; Moondog's Lounge; Moro’s Table; Next Chapter Brewpub; NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center; Parkers 129; Petal Haus FLX; Prison City Brewing; Regenerations; Reuse Refuge; Roast & Toast; Sam’s Shoe Service; Shep’s Brewing Co.; Speno Music; and Taste NY Market. Click here for details.
Holiday Parade & City Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 30 at 5PM
Genesee Street & NYS ERHC Courtyard
Ring in the holidays downtown with family and friends. The 37th annual Holiday Parade & float competition starts at 5PM followed by visits with Mr. & Mrs. Claus at the City's Tree Lighting Ceremony in the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center courtyard. Before the parade, enjoy family fun at the NYS ERHC from 2 - 5PM. Entertainment includes Bob Piorun Trio with Julie Howard; Royal Promises Productions Snow Queen & Snow Princess; Jeff the Magic Man; and 4-H family crafts. After the parade, enjoy performances by Genesee Street Voices, and AHS Band and Connie Fredericks-Malone. Parade participation form. Visit the Facebook event.
Holiday Traditions Sunday, December 8
Start at the Equal Rights Heritage Center then tour Auburn’s historic & cultural sites, museums & churches for free exhibits, musical performances, programs & refreshments from Noon - 5PM. Visit the website.
A.T. Walley's Santa Con Saturday, December 21
At 5PM come dressed in a holiday theme, and join a pub crawl that starts at Walley’s and makes various bar stops with snacks & drink specials. Event ends at Walley’s with DJ music at 8PM, suggested $15 donation to benefit a local charity. Visit the website.
