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 8 - 10
Join Auburn’s City-wide celebration of women in craft beverage with a weekend of special events, live entertainment, programs & more.
Visit the website.
Fire & Ice Fest @ Prison City North Brewery
Saturday, March 9 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.
Harriet Tubman Day March 10 @ ERHC
The 4PM reception at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center will feature special guests, live music by SingTrece, official proclamations, commemorative souvenirs, and more to celebrate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman Davis. Followed by a 5PM panel discussion at Auburn Public Theater hosted by the Harriet Tubman Boosters focused on "Passing the Torch: Honoring Harriet Tubman's Legacy for Another Generation." Visit the Facebook event.
City & BID Memorial Day Celebration
Monday, May 27 @ 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. Performances are May 24: Syd Irving & the Mojo; June 14: The Frank White Experience w/s/g Jessica Brown of Root Shock; July 12: Some Ska Band; August 9: Motley Crouton; September 6: Steven Cali Band. Open container waiver; bring friends. Rain location is Moondog’s Lounge. Visit the Facebook page and website.
Auburn’s June PRIDE Celebration
The City, Equal Rights Heritage Center, and Historic & Cultural Sites Commission organizations present LGBTQIA events, programs & activities. The celebration kicks off on June 1 at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center’s Pride Rally + Queer Market. This year features a family friendly drag show at 12:30PM in the courtyard, plus official City of Auburn Pride Month proclamations. Support local vendors from the LGBTQIA+ community and other community supporters for the Queer Market 9AM - 1PM. At 7PM, come to a PRIDE Drag Show at Auburn Public Theater, filled with fabulous performances and dazzling costumes.
Westminster Presbyterian Church’s hosts an annual Interfaith LGBTQ+ Pride Service. In addition, knitted rainbow wraps are installed at various sites provided by the Schweinfurth Art Center. Visit the Facebook page and 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 29 - August 31 @ 9AM - 1PM
The goal of the Downtown Auburn Saturday Market at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center is to support existing businesses, while creating opportunity for 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 Auburn Downtown BID, and the City of Auburn. (There is no market held on Saturday, July 6, due to the holiday weekend.)
This year’s event will feature 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 on-street parking and in the City Garage.
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
June 29 – Season Opening Day
July 13 – Bob Piorun Jazz Trio with Julie Howard & Michael Doyle
July 20 – Perform 4 Purpose & The REV Theatre’s The Boy Who Cried Wolf
July 27 – Acoustic Duo Jim Van Arsdale & Connie Patti
August 3 – Sweet Treat Trail Takeover ft. Lock 52 Jazz Band
August 10 – City of Auburn Founder’s Day
August 17 – Honky-Tonk Hindooz
August 24 – Women’s Equality Day ft. Jess Novak & Colleen Kattau
August 31 – Michael Houston & guitarist Dave Kuykendall
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 25 – August 13
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 8 - August 19
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 9 - 10
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. From 9AM on there’s an antique & classic car cruise-in, street festival, family fun & food vending. Visit the website. Visit the Facebook page.
CNY TomatoFest September 7
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 14
@ 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 21
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 19
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 on Small Business Saturday and support your downtown businesses. Find deals & specials at boutique retail shops, eateries, breweries & more. Participants include ATELIER Creative Studio; Evolve CBD; Hairlooms; The Liberty Store; Melody’s; Moondog's Lounge; Moro’s Table; Next Chapter Brewpub; NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center; Prison City North; Reuse Refuge; Sam’s Shoe Service; Shep’s Brewing Co.; Speno Music; and Taste NY Market. Visit the Facebook event.
Holiday Parade & City Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 30 at 5PM
Genesee Street & City Hall
Ring in the holidays downtown with family & friends. The 37th annual Holiday Parade & float competition start at 5PM followed by visits with Mr. & Mrs. Claus at the City's Tree Lighting Ceremony in the NYS ERHC courtyard. Before the parade, enjoy family fun at the NYS ERHC from 2 - 5PM. Parade participation form. Visit the Facebook event.
A.T. Walley's Santa Con Saturday, December 7
At 4PM 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 live music, $10 donation to benefit a local charity.
Visit the website.
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.
