The Beat

Make a summer escape to the Empire State as new music festivals, museums and outdoor attractions  welcome visitors, while new lodging and dining provide comfort for every type of trip 

New York, NY (May 18, 2023) – The summer travel season is one of the most popular times to explore new places and events, and New York State is poised to welcome travelers this year with outdoor experiences and festivals that make any summer getaway shine. Let the shimmer of a lakeside campsite, the luster of a renovated retro motor lodge, the polished performers of a music festival, or the sparkling glassware in a new restaurant or brewery light the way to a fun-filled summer. …

Search for New President Started

Utica, NY, May 16, 2023 — Oneida County Tourism (OCT) announces the departure of Kelly Blazosky, president of the organization, effective June 30, 2023.

Blazosky has been with Oneida County Tourism for 14 years, overseeing all staff, managing the organization's daily affairs, and establishing an effective organizational structure to achieve goals. She is leaving her position due to the expansion and relocation of her family's company. Oneida County Tourism has a residency requirement as a condition of employment for the president of the organization.

Cooperstown, NY – Hyde Hall opens its doors on May 27^th with a season full of events, tours, concerts, and new victories to share. The historic site completed significant projects during the winter months that advance restoration efforts, increase what the museum can offer to the public, and further help diverse audiences explore, appreciate, and understand history. 

Request For Coverage – Photo, Video & Interview Opportunities

Oneida County, N.Y. – Oneida County Tourism (OCT) will announce the launch of the Oneida County Mural Trail, featuring colorful murals created by local and visiting artists located across the county.

Scheduled for May 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.

Utica, N.Y. – Despite its importance in our nation's history, there are relatively few depictions of the early years of the Erie Canal. Steve Boerner is a graphic artist from Spencerport New York, who took an interest in the history of the canal and combined historical research with twenty-first-century technology to create beautiful illustrations of early scenes on the canal. Steve will discuss his artwork, research, and work process at the Oneida County History Center Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m.

Cooperstown, N.Y. - The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival will open its 25th anniversary season with a performance by the highly acclaimed Ying Quartet on Sunday, May 7 at 4pm at Christ Episcopal Church.

The quartet will present a program entitled ‘American Made’, opening with Barber’s Quartet in B minor -- from which his famously moving Adagio movement is drawn -- and continuing with works by Jennifer Higdon and Billy Childs that draw on American roots and bebop music traditions. The program concludes with Quartet No. 13 in G major by Dvorak, a European composer who helped define the American musical voice.

Howes Cave, NY--The Iroquois Museum will be holding the opening reception for the featured exhibition on May 6, 2023 from 1 to 4 pm.  This year’s exhibition is titled Oil & Water: Works by Ernest Smith, Jesse Cornplanter, and James Beaver from the Iroquois Museum collection. The exhibit showcases 3 early Haudenosaunee artists and the impact of the Seneca Arts Project (part of the WPA Indian Arts Project) in the context of cultural assimilation and revitalization.

World's Top Women's Hockey Players Will Compete in the Mohawk Valley in Spring 2024

Prestigious International Competition Returns to New York After 30 Years

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Utica was selected as the host city for the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship, tentatively slated for April 4-14, 2024. USA Hockey will host the event in conjunction with the Upper Mohawk Valley Memorial Auditorium Authority and the Adirondack Bank Center and the Utica University Nexus Center. The IIHF World Women's Championship is the premier international tournament in women's ice hockey. Utica will welcome ten international teams, 350 players, 30,000 local spectators and 20,000 overnight spectators to the Mohawk Valley.

April 11-15, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Utica, N.Y. - In celebration of spring and Easter the History Center is hosting a drop-in potato stamp workshop April 11-15, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. In this fun event, kids ages 6–12 will use potatoes to make easy and appealing stamp designs that they can use to make festive cards. Stop in to view Maria Proctor's Easter card collection, which will be on exhibit to inspire your artistic creation.