Farm to Fork Experiences
Ithaca can be whatever you want it to be, a relaxing oasis in the rolling hillside, or a colorful and adventurous city to explore. From u-pick and family friendly experiences, to live music and spectacular culinary experiences, Ithaca has the vibe you’re looking for. Summer time is a perfect time to refreshing yourself: expand your taste buds, pick your own food, or wake up in a farm cottage all your own. With more restaurants per capita than NYC, numerous wineries/cideries/breweries, artisan cheese makers, local butcher shops, and an underlying foodie culture, Ithaca is ideal for those who want a new taste of life.
Farm-to-Fork Ithaca Experiences
Featured Events:
Bite of Ithaca - June 17-22, 2019
Open Farm Days - August 10-11, 2019
Farm to Fork Fondo - August 9-10, 2019
Cider Week + Apple Harvest Festival - September 27 - October 6, 2019
Special offer! $10 off a round trip OurBus ticket from NYC to Ithaca: purchase your ticket through OurBus, now through December 2019, enter coupon code VISITITHACA10
Special Events:
Redbyrd Orchard Cider
June 7 - Tasting at Cellar D'or
June 22 - Tastings with the Cidermaker (special taste of '18 Vernal Cloudsplitter)
July 13 - Tastings with the Cidermaker (special vertical tasting of Celeste Sur Lie 2013, 2014, 2014, 2014/2015)
July 20 - Summer Orchard Walk with orchardist and cidermaker
August 24 - Tastings with the Cidermaker (special vertical tasting of Cloudsplitter 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Lively Run Goat Dairy
Come visit the farm, taste the artisan cheeses, get a tour and eat some cheesecake on the porch. Make sure to come in the spring to play with their mischievous goat kids!
June 22, June 20, August 17, September 21, October 12 – Meet the Cheesemaker Tour
During this 2-hour tour, meet Lively Run’s head cheesemaker, Pete Messmer and see our cheese-making room and aging room where our cheese is produced and aged. After you explore the cheese room, you will visit our goats. See how our high-quality cheese is made safely and humanely and take the opportunity to ask the cheesemaker any questions you have about the goats and our cheeses.
The tour will end with a delicious cheese tasting for each guest that includes specialty cheeses, fruit and jam pairings, and vertical tastings that show the taste difference of the same cheese in different aging stages.
All tours include a free piece of cheese for you to take home.
Hazelnut Kitchen
August 13 - Plowbreak Farm Dinner (vegetarian)
September 1 - Sheldrake Point Dinner
December 10 - Dr. Konstantin Frank Wine Dinner
Hopshire Farm & Brewery
June 15 - Hopshire's 6th Birthday Party
June 16 - Father's Day Brunch
June 21 - Friday Night Music: Julia Felice and the Whisky Crises
June 28 - Friday Night Music: Ted Walsh & Unreal City
July 5 - Friday Night Music: Sandbox
July 12 - Friday Night Music: Noon 15
July 26 - Friday Night Music: Encore
August 16 - Friday Night Music: Erin and the Backwoods Blues Project
September 6 - Friday Night Music: Kitestring
September 13 - Friday Night Music: The Small Kings
September 20 - Friday Night Music: Viva Mayhem
Finger Lakes Cheese Festival
Bringing together the best in Finger Lakes produced cheeses from the members of the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance as well as the best in homemade jams/jellies, syrups, baked goods, local fruits & vegetables, handcrafted wood pieces and more. Featuring Wine, Beer and Cider tastings, pairings and cooking demos. Live music all day, tons of food for every palate. Add to that the ambiance of the farm, self-guided tours, hay rides, games for the kids and you have a fun family event!
Saturday, July 27, 10AM-5PM at Sunset Valley Creamery
Bet the Farm Winery
Join the BTF team on Big Blue's lawn for afternoons of wine, food, games, relaxation and a gorgeous view of the Cayuga Lake valley: $4/glass of wine, 10% off bottles, 30% off baguettes, cheese, snacks, etc. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
Every Friday 4-7PM until September
Ithaca Beer Co.
June 14 – Grassroots IPA Release Party
June 19 - Summer Music Series: Paul Cataldo
June 20 - Farmer StorySlam: Tales from the Field
June 23 - Mudder Earth 5K Mud Run
June 26 - Summer Music Series: Dapper Dan
August 3 - Summer Music Series: Jan Eylanbekov
Wellspring Forest Farm School
June 14-16 – Growing a Woodland Farm & Homestead
August 16-18 – Silvopasture in Practice
September 20-22 – Fungi Foraging and Cultivation
Coltivare Cooking Classes
June 21 - Robert Mondavi Wine Pairing Dinner
July 13 – Cooking Class: Baking Made Easy
August 10 – Cooking Class: Campfire Cooking
October 3 – Cider Pairing Dinner
Cornell Botanic Gardens
June 21 – Summer Solstice in the Herb Garden
Varick Winery
June 29-30 -15th Annual Cherry Festival
Foundry
June 20 - Fermentation Workshop
June 26 - Oxymels
June 30 - Tincture Workshop
July 14 - Herbal Oils and Balms
July 17 - How to Brew Your Own Kombucha
September 8 - Tree Ring Print Workshop
Regularly open, available and fun:
Ithaca Farmers Market
Named Zagat's #4 Must-Visit Farmer's Market
Open Saturdays (9am-3pm) in April
Saturday and Sundays (10am-3pm) in May
Ithaca is Foodies Culinary Tours
Named USA Today's #4 Best Food Tour in North America
May-October – Downtown Ithaca Food Tour
Experience! The Finger Lakes
Tours galore! A variety of wine and craft beverage tours showcasing the bounty of the region, along with sightseeing tours, group packages (glamping, boating, family, and more), and private events such as sommelier tastings.
Eve's Cidery
Join us for a private in-depth tasting in the cider barn. The appointment lasts for about 1 hour and you can expect your host to pour a range of ciders, discuss farming and production methods and give a tour of the working cidery.
Gourdlandia
Gourds grown, dried and crafted on the land. Carve scenic images, fun patterns or cute characters into your gourd...from lamps to vases, dollhouses, nightlights and more, visitors to Gourdlandia are delighted at what can emerge from a gourd. Check their calendar or call for availability.
Trying to fully immerse yourself? Stay at one of our farm cottages, B&Bs and glamping options.
