NEWSLETTER
Corning, NY — Just about everyone knows the story of inventor Thomas Edison and his famous incandescent lamps. But what they don't often know is the role a small glass company played in helping Edison share light with the world. According to one account, Edison sent a representative to Corning in the search of a suitable glass container to hold the filament for his incandescent light. While in one of the Glass Works’ “most skillful shops,” the representative watched as gaffer,
James Lear, and his crew worked on creating a glass bulb. It appears these efforts were not meeting the representative’s needs, when he happened to glance over and see “a shop boy” draw a gather of molten glass from the furnace. According to the story, the boy playfully swung the blowpipe back and forth, then blew a glass bubble which the representative identified to be what he needed. “By 1880, Edison had designated Corning as his sole supplier of the glass bulbs he needed to bring light to the wider world.”
Now, every October, Corning celebrates light, glass, and the magic that surrounds us during The Days of Incandescence which this year runs from October 26th - October 28th and includes a special Cemetery Tour (Thursday 10/26), a Themed Libations Crawl (Friday 10/27), Guided Historic Walking Tours of Corning (actors dressed in 1880’s attire lead these popular tours), and a special Ghost Hunt (10/28).
On Saturday, October 28th, there’s the Days of Incandescence Celebration event in Riverfront Park from 4-8pm featuring live music, a community jack-o-lantern contest, horse and wagon rides, blacksmithing demos, juggling, vendors, food, a headless horseman, storytelling, and more. The Celebration event is an old-timey festival very much like a farm market celebrating Corning’s local history and, of course, Halloween.
This Year’s 3-Day Offerings will feature:
- Themed Farmer’s Market
10am-3pm
Riverfront Park in Corning
Thursday, October 26th
Everyone is encouraged to come in costume, a period piece from 1880 is even better.
Also featuring Live Music from 11am-1pm by Annie Ol’ Thyme.
*newsies will be handing out the special commemorative 1880 newspaper
- Guided Historic Walking Tours (special tours led by residents from 1880’s Corning)
Thursday, October 26th
6pm & 8pm
Saturday, October 28th
3pm & 7pm
*tours begin and ends in Centerway Square
**must register in advance, limited spots available
Register at: https://exploresteuben.ticketleap.com/
- Archibald’s Libation Crawl
Friday, October 27th
5-9pm
Adult-Friendly Event
Costumes Encouraged
Pick Up Commemorate Glass
12 Stops in Gaffer District
Local Beer, Wine and Spirit Samples
Listen to Tales from 1880 Corning Residents
Engage with sundry characters from Corning’s past, as local actors bring a bit of 1880
Corning to life with fun facts and more while you sample local wine and craft beverages
at various locations throughout the Historic Gaffer District.
**must register in advance, limited spots available
Register at: https://exploresteuben.ticketleap.com/days-of-incandescence-libations-crawl-2023/dates/Oct-27-2023_at_0500PM
- Story Stations
Saturday, October 28th
1-4pm
Kid-Friendly Event
History comes alive during this FREE family-friendly activity.
This interactive history activity is designed for family fun. Actors portraying five
residents from Corning’s past will be scattered throughout the Gaffer District and sharing
their stories. Pick up a Story Station activity card at any Story Station location. Visit all
five stations, collect a light bulb sticker at each station by engaging with the characters,
and turn in your bulbs for a special treat.
Story Station Locations:
Val Reep Fountain
Centerway Square
Centennial Sculpture
Little Joe Tower by Glassblower Sculpture
Riverfront Centennial Park
You can also enter to win a Days of Incandescence prize package once you've completed
all 5 Story Stations.
- Horse & Wagon Rides
Rides Leave Centerway Square in Front of Old World Café
3-7pm
Saturday, October 28th
Experience Corning from the Back of a Horse-Drawn Wagon
Small Fee
- Community Jack-o-Lantern Contest
Riverfront Park
5pm
Saturday, October 28th
Join us in making Corning Glow. Carve your pumpkins at home. Bring your pre-
carved pumpkins to Riverfront Park by 5pm. Light your pumpkins (LED lights only).
Prizes will be awarded for several categories. Take your Jack-o-Lantern home at the end
to enjoy during Halloween.
See contest rules and categories here:
https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/corningfingerlakes/DaysofIncandescence_Jack_O_Lantern_Lighting_Carving_Contest_Poster_2023_a6d03593-3fa6-4c6d-8f2a-0f06d06542fc.pdf
- The Days of Incandescence Celebration
Riverfront Park and Centerway Square
12-4pm
Saturday, October 28th
Horse and Wagon Rides (will run 3-7pm)
rides depart from Centerway Square in Front of Old World Café
Live Music - 4:00pm-5:00pm - Annie Ol’ Thyme
at Fountain in Riverfront Park
Storytelling - 5-5:45pm
Cathie Wiggs Spins Tales of the Past at Fountain in Riverfront Park
Live Juggling - 4-8pm
Nate the Great (Ithaca Circus Performer Juggling Sundry Items)
Headless Horseman - 5-8pm
Arrives 5pm at Fountain in Riverfront Park
Blacksmith Demo - 4-8pm (Leon and Casey from Cooley Blacksmith Shop)
Market Vendors
Kid’s Activity Stations
Food
Jack-o-Lantern Contest - 5:00pm
The community is invited to carve jack-o-lanterns at home, bring them to
the park where they will be illuminated helping make Corning GLOW
and sharing the light. There will be judging and prizes, then folks can take
their jack-o-lanterns home to have for Halloween.
- Awaken The Spirits Ghost Hunt
Not Too Spooky
Saturday, October 28th
7-10pm
Special 3-Hour Halloween Ghost Hunt
Engage With The Other Side
Investigators from Paranormal Association of the Southern Tier (P.A.S.T.) will lead Hunt
Must Register In Advance
Get Tickets Here:
Please note: The Ghosts of Glassmaking Cemetery Tour has sold out.
Thursday, October 26th
5:30-8:30pm
Nowhere else in the world will you find this story. Nowhere else in the world will you find the family-friendly spookiness of Halloween celebrated quite like The Days of Incandescence, a blend of historic fact and supernatural tale.
For more details and links to register for the Lobations Crawl, Guided Walking Tours and Ghost Hunt, visit DaysOfIncandescence.com.
Contact: Dave DeGolyer, Communications Director
Explore Steuben
1 West Market Street, Suite 201
(607) 426-5371 (cell)