If you’re not already buzzing with excitement about fall festival season, you’re about to be! September is when our little slice of paradise truly comes alive. The leaves are starting their show, the air has that perfect crisp bite, and our local festivals are serving up everything that makes living here absolutely magical.
We’re talking authentic harvest traditions, incredible local artists, grape stomping that’ll make you laugh until your sides hurt, and craft beverage experiences that’ll remind you why people travel from all over the world to visit us. So grab your flannel, rally your crew, and let’s dive into what’s going to be an unforgettable fall along the ROC/FLX Craft Beverage Trail!
ROC/FLX Craft Bev Fest – August 28
Come to the Central on Main on August 28th to experience an exclusive VIP experience between 4:00pm-5:00pm. Meet the makers as you taste specially crafted beverages in a keepsake collectible glass. Receive a passport (value $250) to the ROC/FLX Craft Beverage Trail and have chances to WIN in drawings and giveaways. Tastings for purchase will be open to the general public between 5-8pm. VIP Tickets are limited so act fast! Live music from the Swooners Quartet from 6-8pm.
Casa Larga’s Purple Foot Festival – September 14
Real talk—if you’ve never done grape stomping at Casa Larga, you haven’t truly lived in the Finger Lakes! Their Purple Foot Festival on Sunday, September 14th (11am-5pm) is hands-down one of the most fun days you’ll have all year. Where else can you watch grown adults turn into giggling kids the second their feet hit the grapes?
But here’s what makes this festival absolutely brilliant, your ticket gets you EVERYTHING, from grape stomping, pie eating contests that are hilariously messy, vineyard wagon rides through those Instagram-worthy vines, to comprehensive tastings of Casa Larga’s award-winning wines, spirits, beer, and hard ciders. Kids under 21 get in free with adults, so bring the whole family!
New for 2025! They’re adding an animal menagerie (the kids will lose their minds), “The Purple Zone” for Bills game viewing (because let’s be real, we’re not missing Bills games), a toddler dash that’s going to be adorable, and – get this – a slushie tasting bar! Genius!
Naples Grape Festival 2025 – September 27-28
You know Naples, that gorgeous little valley that looks like it jumped right out of a postcard? Well, their annual Grape Festival is everything you love about small-town festivals but done RIGHT. We’re talking two full days of music that’ll have you dancing, local artisan crafts from people who actually live here (support your neighbors!), and food vendors serving up everything from classic fair favorites to specialty treats you won’t find anywhere else.
What we love most about Naples Grape Festival is how it captures that authentic community spirit. The proceeds support both the Naples Historical Society and Naples Rotary Club – so you’re literally partying for a good cause. Plus, they’ve got this amazing “All Things Naples” gift basket drawing worth $1,500 that will make you want to buy about fifty raffle tickets!
Plus, it’s where you’ll discover ROC/FLX Craft Beverage Trail members like Inspire Moore Winery and Arbor Hill Grapery, whose passion for crafting exceptional wines perfectly embodies the artisan spirit that makes Naples such a special place to explore.
The Purple Painted Lady Festival – September 20-21
Listen up, folks, because Trish (aka The Purple Painted Lady herself) is throwing what she calls “One Hell of a Good Time” in her front yard in Palmyra – and when I tell you this woman knows how to throw a party, I MEAN IT! We’re talking 14,000 people, 350 artists, 150 volunteers, 25 food trucks, 5 bands, and pure magic happening over two incredible days.
Saturday runs 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm, and for just $10 admission (kids 12 and under free!), you get access to what’s basically an artist wonderland. Last year’s festival helped send over 60 veterans on Honor Flight, imagine partying AND supporting our heroes at the same time!
The lineup is absolutely insane: Checks and Exes brings that Rochester garage rock energy Saturday morning, The Dean’s List (the Finger Lakes’ favorite party band!) rocks Saturday afternoon with classic and modern hits, and the Witchy Women of the Finger Lakes perform their mesmerizing choreography both days at 11am and 2pm. Trust me, you’ve never seen anything like it!
And can we talk about the heart behind this festival? Trish only invites “nice people” because she believes in creating magical energy, you can feel it the second you walk in. She’s all about supporting local artists who are “sharing their heart and soul,” and after attending, you’ll understand exactly what she means.
Oh, and did we mention our trail’s very own Arbor Hill Grapery and JD Wine Cellars will be beverage vendors?
The Purple Painted Lady Festival Website
Let’s Make This the Best Fall Festival Season Ever!
Friends, this is what living in the Finger Lakes is all about. We’ve got harvest traditions that connect us to generations before us, craft beverages that put us on the world map, artists who pour their souls into their work, and communities that know how to celebrate life properly.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or you’re new to our amazing region, these festivals offer something you can’t get anywhere else—authentic experiences created by people who genuinely care about preserving what makes this place special.
So mark your calendars, grab your friends, and get ready for a September that’s going to remind you why you love living here. The grapes are ready, the artists are set up, the bands are tuned up, and the craft beverage trail is waiting.
