Any true Cornellian knows there’s more to our campus and surrounding town than prelims, the surprisingly large number of restaurants in a very small area, and Collegetown parties. And contrary to popular belief, there actually are some cool things to do in Ithaca. The coming of fall comes with several events and activities taking place on and off campus. Whether you don’t have prelims yet, or want to put off studying for them, these activities are a great way to get out in the Cornell and Ithaca community.
Movies on the Arts Quad: Saturday, September 23rd
Class Councils is hosting its annual movie night on the Arts Quad this Saturday, which is free and open to the whole community. There will be two showings: Moana at 7:00 p.m., and Beauty and the Beast at 9:00. The weather this weekend looks great for an outdoor movie night, so grab some friends, blankets, and popcorn and check it out!
Cayuga Sound Festival: Saturday, September 23rd
If music is more your thing, you are still in luck this weekend. Although it’s not quite on the level of something like Gov Ball, headliners include X Ambassadors. The event will take place in Stewart Park — also a great place to enjoy the late summer weather. For more info, check out Slope’s article.
Porchfest: Sunday, September 24th
Another music festival that’s structured a bit differently is also happening this weekend. Porchfest is an annual Ithaca event that takes place on –you guessed it– the porches in the neighborhood of Downtown Ithaca. Local musicians of a variety of genres play all day to showcase their talents. Certain streets will be closed throughout the day, so feel free to walk around and experience something totally ~Ithaca~.
Thursday Night Farmer’s Market: Thursday, September 28th
Everyone’s favorite Ithaca weekend outdoor activity isn’t only on weekends! The Farmer’s Market at Steamboat Landing is open every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. for a “Night Market,” but only during the summer months. This week is the last night market of the season, so stop by one final Thursday night to enjoy a wide variety of cuisines at a reasonable meal-time hour.
Apple Fest: September 29 – October 1
What says fall in Ithaca better than Apple Fest? In case you are a new resident of Ithaca or just have never heard of this highly anticipated and attended event, Apple Fest does not only sell a wide variety of apple-based products. In addition to apple cider, cider donuts, and apple sundaes, the festival offers Thai food, clothing and jewelry vendors, carnival games, and a mac and cheese truck. So if apples and fall vibes didn’t get your attention, I bet that did.
Modest Mouse at State Theater: Friday, October 6th
For a small town, Ithaca brings some pretty cool headliners. This is not the band’s first time in Ithaca either–they played at Barton Hall in 2015. While not everyone may have heard of this indie rock band, people you know probably have. So if you are sticking around Ithaca for Fall Break, or aren’t heading out till the weekend, tag along with friends to this chill, casual concert that has nothing to do with actual rodents.
Ithaca is a unique town, with quirks and traditions many of us probably haven’t gotten to really know. The community is special, and spending some time at local events can make us feel like more than just intelligent Ivy League students, but culturally knowledgeable as well.
