Attractions in Chenango County!

For more than 40 years during Memorial Day weekend the stage is set for one of the best races in the country.  Thousands of spectators and over 3,000 competitors from across the United States and Canada come to Chenango County for this exciting event.  Professional, Olympic Hopefuls and Amateur Canoeists alike enjoy the fun and glory of this famous race weekend.  For those who will not be in the water there is plenty to do on land from games and rides to crafts, live bands, shopping and fireworks and food.  

If Basketball is more your style, check out the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in July.  "The Macker," held in Norwich, attracts basketball enthusiasts from ages seven to 64 each year.  Teams have been known to come from as far away as North Carolina, Georgia and California, as well as from throughout Central New York.  Main Street in Norwich is closed to traffic, and basketball courts and bleachers take center stage.  You'll see special competitions and some of the wildest basketball playing around.  Sponsored by the Norwich YMCA, this is truly a family event.  Don't miss "The Macker."

Also in July, Norwich Rotary hosts Family Fun Days and Balloon Fest.  A real Fourth of July tradition in Chenango County, the Balloon Fest gives recreational balloonists an opportunity to show off their sport, while spectators enjoy the sights of dozens of hot air balloons collected at the county fairgrounds in Norwich.  You'll find games, activities, music, and food as well as all those colorful, beautiful balloons.  Spend the day watching and learning about hot air balloons and taking part in the festivities.   Then, at dusk, watch the skies light up with a grand fireworks display.  What a way to cap off a good community Fourth of July celebration.

Seventy-six trombones is only a pittance compared to the massive Sherburne Pageant of Bands which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1999.  Held the first weekend in June in Sherburne, this spectacular event features high school bands from throughout Central New York competing in parade and field events.  It's a show of sight and sound not to be forgotten.

If you're a music lover, Chenango County has an array of cultural opportunities.  The newly refurbished Chenango Community Cultural Center in Norwich is an intimate theater and a unique gallery space.  Throughout the year, this is the site of band concerts, dance reviews, and theater productions, featuring local, regional and national talents.  The spacious, sunlit gallery hosts a new exhibit opening every month.  The center is operated by the Chenango Council of the Arts.

The Earlville Opera House offers a summer season of music, theater, and cultural events.   The opera house is a refurbished theater that first opened its doors in 1893.   Through the loving hands of caring citizens, it was restored and has been placed on the national Register of Historic Places.  From May to mid-September, it is the locale for art exhibits, dramatic performances and concerts from classical to Cajun.   The Earlville Opera House has a historical mystique that is enhanced by the arts and culture it shares with its visitors.  Come experience its ambiance with us.

In September, Chenango County offers a major event you won't find anywhere else in the world.  Colorscape Chenango is a celebration of the arts.  It was created by area artists and residents who believe the best we have to offer should be shared with today's young artists.  Join the thousands of visitors who come to Norwich each year to celebrate the arts with music, dance, entertainment, juried art exhibits and crafts, as well as the artwork of children and young adults.  Through the streets, you'll fnd hands-on artistic experiences in which you and your children can take part.  All activities and materials are supervised and are free of charge.  You'll find magic acts, train and boat rides, and a hundred other interesting activities during this special two-day festival.  Summer isn't over until you and your family have been to Colorscape Chenango.