NEWSLETTER
Say hello to 2026 in style in New York State by warming up with a variety of fun, exciting, and delicious events! Whether you want to take in a two-for-one show on Broadway, groove to the smooth sounds of jazz, dance the night away amid botanical beauty, revel in seasonal festivals, or simply embrace the great outdoors, New York State has must-dos for everyone! Photo Credit: @ianpoley on Instagram.
First Day Hikes (Every Region)
🗓️When: January 1
📍Where: Multiple locations across New York State
Start the new year in nature with a First Day Hike! All are invited to explore the great outdoors and beautiful wintry scenes of New York State parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, canal trails, and public lands on New Year’s Day. Choose from more than 100 hikes of varying lengths, experience levels, and settings including Olana, Letchworth, Allegany, Walkway Over the Hudson and Taughannock Falls. This family-friendly tradition is in its 15th year and only continues to grow. No matter where you are in New York, there is a First Day Hike for you. Register for events on the State Parks, DEC and Canals websites.
Polar Plunge into the New Year (NYC and Adirondacks)
🗓️When: January 1
📍Where: Brooklyn and Lake George
Credit: @coneyislandfun on Instagram
Kick off the new year with a splash and usher in the arrival of 2026 with a polar plunge! Take a dip into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean at the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge, a beloved Brooklyn tradition dating back to 1903. In Lake George, dash into the frosty waters during the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge at Shepard Park Beach before warming up at the after-party at Duffy’s Tavern. Both events are free to plunge, but Coney Island participants are encouraged to make a minimum donation of $30 to support local nonprofits.
Winter Jazz Fest (NYC)
🗓️When: January 8 -13
📍Where: Manhattan and Brooklyn
Get ready for a spectacular celebration of jazz at the 2026 Winter Jazzfest in New York City! This year's festival features an incredible lineup of artists, keynote speakers, and panel discussions, plus can’t miss Manhattan and Brooklyn marathons with jazz concerts filling multiple venues from 5pm to 3am.
FIS Freestyle World Cup (Adirondacks)
🗓️When: January 11-12
📍Where: Lake Placid
Kick off 2026 with a burst of excitement in Lake Placid as the FIS Freestyle World Cup returns to the Olympic Jumping Complex. Witness the high-flying spectacle of aerial skiing that captivates with athletes performing gravity-defying flips, spins, and twists in individual competitions for both men and women, as well as a mixed team event, showcasing a variety of talents and skills. Feel the energy as Olympic hopefuls soar above the crowd, music pumps through the snow, and fans gather for two days of adrenaline, celebration, and pure winter magic. Ticket prices vary.
Binghamton Pond Festival (Central New York)
🗓️When: Weekends, January 16–February 1
📍Where: Chenango Forks
Credit: @bingpondfest on Instagram
Come out for some winter fun and celebrate all things hockey at the Binghamton Pond Festival. Held at Chenango Valley State Park, it is one of the few outdoor hockey events using mechanical refrigeration, allowing for great ice in temperatures exceeding 50 degrees or in full sun. Catch thrilling tournaments, hockey trivia, free hockey lessons for kids, and even fireworks! Bring a camp chair, your four-legged friend on a leash, or some friends and get ready to have a great time. Free admission with a $20 suggested parking donation.
Ellicottville's Winter Blues Weekend (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
🗓️When: January 16–18
📍Where: Ellicottville
Credit: @visitellicottville on Instagram
With its unique collection of fine restaurants and cafes, quaint shops and galleries, antique shops and cozy lodging, the picturesque village of Ellicottville in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Shake off the winter blues as you enjoy some of the best blues bands in the region performing at over a dozen bars and restaurants. It’s a great way to keep warm on a cold winter weekend!
Salmon River Winter Festival (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
🗓️When: January 16–18
📍Where: Multiple locations in Oswego County
Step into a picture-perfect winter postcard at the Salmon River Winter Festival as you celebrate the best of winter fun with music, snowshoeing, horse drawn sleigh and wagon rides, and a cornhole tournament. Fill up with delicious food as more than a dozen restaurants and taverns compete in the festival’s Great Food Challenge to determine who’s got the best mac and cheese, chili, and wings! Free admission, but $5 for ballot to serve as a food judge in Mac & Cheese and the Wing challenges, and $10 for the Chili challenge on day of participation.
Winter Festival at Grafton Lakes State Park (Capital-Saratoga)
🗓️When: January 17
📍Where: Grafton
Credit: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Embrace the chill at Grafton Lakes State Park during the 41st Annual Winter Festival! Join snowshoe and kicksled adventures, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, meet Uncharted Wildlife's live animals, catch the park’s animal rehabber with her birds of prey, and savor delights from local food trucks. Other outdoor offerings include the popular snow bowling hill, snowball toss, and free snowmobile rides. The fun kicks off with a Polar Plunge, hosted by the Knights of Columbus, with a prize for the silliest costume.
Port Jefferson Ice Festival (Long Island)
🗓️When: Dates to be announced
📍Where: Port Jefferson
Witness the enchanting village of Port Jefferson transform into a magical wonderland, featuring intricate ice sculptures, dazzling light displays, and festive activities for all ages at this popular free event. You’ll enjoy ice carving demonstrations, live music performances, snowshoeing adventures, and delicious seasonal treats. The best part? Admission to the festival is free of charge, making it an accessible and fun way to celebrate the winter season.
Long Lake Winter Carnival (Adirondacks)
🗓️When: January 17
📍Where: Long Lake
Beat the winter blahs at the Long Lake Winter Carnival, offering a full day of frosty fun including ice craving demos, cardboard sled races, a coronation ceremony, and fireworks. Cheer on the Ladies Frying Pan Toss, Men’s Keg Toss, and the return of Broomball, plus enjoy free ice skating and sledding all day.
NYC Winter Outing (New York City)
🗓️When: January 20–February 12
📍Where: New York City
Credit: @msemilyisobel on Instagram
Trust us, you don't want to miss this. From January 20-February 12, you can score some of the best deals on dining, Broadway shows, tours, museums, and hotels with NYC Winter Outing. From new takes on established classics to star-studded modern masterpieces, enjoy the best of Broadway with 2-for-1 tickets to some of the biggest hits. Make it a dinner and a show kind of night by indulging in NYC Restaurant Week. Make the most of your visit and stay at one of the city's most celebrated hotels for NYC Hotel Week at a discount and get 2-for-1 tickets to tours, museums, and more during NYC Must-See Week. Booking starts January 7.
Albany Chefs' Food & Wine Festival: Wine & Dine for the Arts (Capital-Saratoga)
🗓️When: January 22–24
📍Where: Albany
Credit: @discoveralbany on Instagram
The annual Albany Chefs' Food & Wine Festival: Wine & Dine for the Arts is a three-day celebration that spotlights the capital city’s restaurants, chefs and their innovative cuisine, and educates consumers on healthy, sustainable agriculture. It also offers sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the not-for-profit arts community in Albany, raising nearly $1.8 million to date. Festival highlights include the Mayor’s Reception, Grand Tastings & Seminars, Slider Slam, and Grand Gala Disco Ball featuring a 5-course dinner at the Albany Capital Center.
Funky Ice Fest (Adirondacks)
🗓️When: January 23-24 & January 30-31
📍Where: Lake George
Courtesy of Kacey O'Brien at Warren County Tourism
It’s time to get down and get funky! Discover the beauty of winter, embrace the cold, and conquer the ice at the Funky Ice Festival, hosted at the Adirondack Pub & Brewery in Lake George. Browse a gallery of hand-carved ice sculptures, chill out with a hand-crafted cocktail or local beer at an ice bar, and bust a move under the disco ball to your favorite 70s funk hits. The event is family-friendly with plenty of games for the kids to enjoy.
The New York Sportsman’s Expo (Finger Lakes)
🗓️When: January 23–25
📍Where: Syracuse
The Expo Center of the New York State Fairgrounds will be the setting for The New York Sportsman's Expo, an exciting weekend of exhibits showcasing the latest in products, travel, and entertainment for hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Featuring over 200 vendors along with the largest indoor fishing catch-and-release trout pond in the Northeast, and the popular National Dock Dogs competition, the expo gives attendees direct access to manufacturers, retailers, outfitters, and charters from across the globe. Adults (ages 13 to 64) $15; Seniors, Military, Police & Children (ages 6-12) $13; Children (6 and under) free.
Jazz on the Mountain (Hudson Valley)
🗓️When: January 23-26
📍Where: New Paltz
Credit: @ianpoley on Instagram
Embrace the cool sounds and spirited jams as jazz legends and rising stars come together for three days of music magic and rich traditions at the iconic Mohonk Mountain House. This year’s festival features performances by Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Scott Robinson, Pete Malinverni’s “Invisible Cities Quintet,” Allan Harris, GRAMMY-winning saxophonist Kendric McCallister, and the Helen Sung Trio. Plus, don’t miss an illuminating talk by jazz historian and GRAMMY-nominated author Will Friedwald. Your Mohonk stay includes three meals daily, yoga, meditation, and fitness classes, afternoon tea and cookies in the Lake Lounge, an indoor heated pool with underwater music, and more! New Paltz; performances free with dinner or lodging reservations.
Long Island Winter Restaurant Week (Long Island)
🗓️When: January 25–February 1
📍Where: Multiple locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties
Credit: @bryan_blvd on Instagram
Enjoy eight days of delicious deals featuring a diverse selection of some of the finest food on the East Coast during Long Island Winter Restaurant Week. Each participating restaurant will offer its own unique three-course prix fixe meals for $29, $39, and $46 all night, every night they are open, except Saturday, when the offer is good until 7 p.m. As part of the promotion, restaurants will also be offering 2-course lunches for $24.
Catskills Pride Ski Weekend (Catskills)
🗓️When: January 31-February 1
📍Where: Highmount
Returning for a third year and taking place on January 31 and February 1, this lively two-day celebration at Belleayre Mountain brings together the LGBTQ+ community and allies for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding and shared pride in the great outdoors. The event features group ski lessons, guided mountain runs and a dazzling “Pride Glide” down the slopes. Attendees can also expect festive après-ski gatherings, themed parties and local dining experiences that showcase the welcoming spirit and energy of the Catskills.
Silent Disco at the Botanical Gardens (Greater Niagara)
🗓️When: January 30
📍Where: Buffalo
Credit: @highpeaks_ai on Instagram
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, dance, and botanical bliss at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens! Slip on your wireless headphones and throw on your favorite beats to create the perfect soundtrack as you stroll through the lush pathways, sip your favorite beverage from the Bubble Bar, and mingle with fellow music lovers in this unique setting that blends nature with nightlife. Enjoy a bar by Hartman’s Distilling and sodas by POPularity. Tickets are $40.
Hudson Valley WingFest 19 (Hudson Valley)
🗓️When: January 31
📍Where: Poughkeepsie
Credit: @millhousebrewingco on Instagram
Prepare your taste buds for a feast of the finest wings Hudson Valley has to offer. This year's festival is set to be the most flavorful and grandest yet, featuring more restaurants, food trucks, and caterers than ever before, all bringing their unique and delectable wing flavors to the table. Cast your vote for your favorite wing spot as they compete to win the coveted title of "King of the Wings"! You’ll also be treated to fantastic music from incredible bands, plus games, prizes, and more. Tickets starting at $35, plus taxes and fees.
Black Ski & Ride Weekend (Catskills)
🗓️When: January 31-February
📍Where: Hunter
Gather your crew and head to the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, aprés ski, and all out winter fun in a joyful celebration of diversity on the slopes. Enjoy a weekend of food, events, music and giveaways at Hunter Mountain’s annual Black Ski & Ride Weekend, celebrating culture, connection and winter sports in a vibrant community atmosphere.
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