The Beat

The Empire State has become a world-renowned destination for farm-based, small-batch craft beverages utilizing local ingredients to enhance everything from ales and ciders to spirits and meads

NEW YORK - April 16, 2018 – New York State’s craft beverage industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with unique and imaginative offerings being produced statewide. New York State now has more than 400 breweries alone, the highest number since 1876. Nationwide, New York State ranks first for number of hard cider producers, second in craft distillers, third in breweries and fourth in wineries. Capitalizing on the growing interest, craft beverage producers are building tasting rooms and offering tours, inviting the public to visit their operations and sample their beverages.

April 14 & 15 at Va Va Bloom

Auburn, NY - The 2018 Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail will kick-off on April 14 & 15 at the Va Va Bloom Garden Show at Dickman Farms, 13 Archie Street, Auburn from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.  Join us for a weekend that will be blooming with inspirational flowers, workshops, seminars and an awesome farmers market featuring over 50 local artisans, wineries, breweries & more!  Stop by the Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail table for free tastings as well as a complimentary tote bag and spatula for the first 50 guests each day. Pick up the 2018 Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail brochure and pass to all the participating sites so you can start planning your own personal tasting tour! …

23 creatively styled table settings, tablescapes, and floral arrangements  inspired by popular movies on view in the historic mansion; accompanying film series at the Dryden Theatre

Rochester, N.Y., April 2, 2018—The George Eastman Museum has announced that its popular Eastman Entertains: At the Movies, will be on view from Tuesday, May 8, through Sunday, May 20. For two weeks only, a spectacular array of creatively styled table settings and floral arrangements inspired by popular motion pictures—including My Fair Lady, A League of Their Own, Steel Magnolias, and The Goonies—will be displayed throughout the mansion of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman.

Seneca Falls, NY –  Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls is seeking Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs).  We have positions in visitor services, facilities and maintenance, interpretation and education, and administration.

Mumford, Mar. 20, 2018— Not everyone gets out of town for spring break. Parents looking to offer video-game-free fun this April now have new Spring Break Camp options.

Building on the popularity of its summer camp programs, Genesee Country Village & Museum introduces a new Spring Break Camp, April 2-6, which includes busing from Rochester and is offered for children ages 6-9 and 10-15.

At the museum’s 175-acre Genesee Country Nature Center, youngsters can enjoy hikes, games, crafts and plenty of time to explore the world around them.

Nine Days, 300+ Shows, 20 Venues, 94 Free Events 

Rochester, NY—March 20, 2018—Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) producers John Nugent and Marc Iacona today announced the complete lineup for the festival’s 17^th Edition. The nine-day festival returns to Rochester June 22 to June 30 presenting more than 1500 artists from around the world in 300-plus shows at 20 venues.

The 2018 Festival is presented in three series — the Club Pass series with 214 shows, the headliner series of six shows and 94 free shows and events all held in Rochester’s East End Cultural and Entertainment District. …

Corning, NY, March 15, 2018—The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) today announced the schedule for GlassBarge, which will offer free public glassmaking demonstrations at each scheduled stop during its four-month tour, launching on May 17 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It will then travel north on the Hudson, then westward along the Erie Canal before making its way to the Finger Lakes. It will stop at ports in Yonkers, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Albany, Little Falls, Sylvan Beach, Baldwinsville, Fairport, Lockport, Buffalo, Medina, Brockport, Pittsford, Seneca Falls, and Watkins Glen. A ceremonial last leg of the trip will take place by land, concluding in Corning with a community-wide celebration on September 22.

Lake Ontario Wine Trail, Williamson, NY -- The Lake Ontario Wine Trail is hosting their first and most popular event for 2018.  The 8^th annual “Roll Out The Barrels” event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 7^th and 8^th from 11am – 6pm. Guests will enjoy special access to pre-released or newly released wines, spirits and ciders before they hit the tasting room shelves.

Canandaigua, N.Y. – This weekend marks the beginning of Maple Weekend throughout New York State, and the maple farms in Ontario County are getting ready to welcome visitors to their sugar houses.

Maple Weekend, which is March 17 & 18 and March 24 & 25, is sponsored by the NYS Maple Producers Association. During Maple Weekend, maple farms will welcome visitors to their farms to educate people first-hand about how maple syrup and other related products are made. Many farms also have pancake breakfasts and other tastings throughout the weekend as well.

Pittsford, N.Y. - Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council is delighted to announce its hire of Lisa Burns in the role of Executive Director.

The Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council (FLRTC) is an organization comprised of the 14 Official County Tourism Promotion Agencies of the Finger Lakes Vacation Region whose mission is to maximize the economic impact of tourism in the region.

The Executive Director will facilitate organizational priorities and implement strategies as outlined in the 2016 FLRTC Destination Market Analysis and Strategic Marketing Plan. The plan was funded by a grant awarded to the FLRTC by Empire State Development and the New York State Division of Tourism, under Governor Andrew Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Council initiative.