Attractions

For Oswegonians, the year provides a constant flow of special events that change with the seasons. For many in Oswego, the highlight of the year is our huge summertime party HARBORFEST. Comprised of three and a half days of non-stop entertainment, Harborfest brings many top performers to the city to perform for free. The Harborfest party goes out with a bang every year with it's world famous Grucci fireworks. This awesome pyrotechnics display brings an estimated 200,000 spectators to the Port City. July 24– July 27, 2008.

Harborfest isn't the only highlight of the summer, however; June gives us the annual blessing of the fleet. In July, the City throws another party with it's Independence Day Parade, The Pro Bass Fishing Tournament, and there are a number of regattas throughout the summer.

Oswego is also an annual Port of Call for the U.S. Navy's Great Lakes Cruise. Fall brings the Oswego Speedway's International Classic Weekend, the weekly Thursday night Farmer's Market, where local farmers and craftsmen can sell their fresh crops, baked goods, and crafts, and The Great Pumpkin Festival in October atWashington Square.

For a look at the exact dates and times for this year's Coming Events, Check out Oswego County's Calendar of Events Page.

On the first Sunday in July over 30,000 spectators line Bridge St. to see the annual Independence Day Parade. The crowd is entertained for over an hour and a half as over 100 groups travel down the mile and a quarter parade route. Later that evening, citizens can attend a fireworks show to round out their Independence Day weekend. For more information call; the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce at (315) 343- 7681.

Every Thursday, from June 1 - October 25, the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce sponsors a FARMER'S MARKET , where over five dozen vendors line the streets of historic downtown Oswego to peddle their hand-crafted wares. Shoppers can choose from a variety of items, from home-grown fruits and vegetables to hand made crafts to fresh baked delights. Street performers, jugglers, and musicians are standard fare as are demonstrations from several local youth organizations. For more information call; the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce at (315) 343- 7681.
The Pro Bass Fishing Tournament should be returning to Oswego again in July 2008.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL , held the first Saturday in October in Washington Square, celebrates the designation of Oswego as one of twenty international weigh-in sites for pumpkin growers competing in the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. Growers from Oswego, and throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and Canada will be traveling to Oswego to compete. In 1996, the Commonwealth weighed in the first ever ONE THOUSAND POUND PUMPKIN. Oswego's winners included a 752 pound pumpkin, a 731 pound squash, and a 107 pound watermelon. In addition to its record-breaking veggies, pumpkinfest features live music, arts and crafts vendors and demonstrations, pumpkin carving lessons, ghost stories told by City Historian Rosemary Nesbitt, scarecrow building and pumpkin carving contests, a mini farmer's market, and a wide variety of hearty foods.

For more information call; the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce at (315) 343- 7681.

Photo 1 courtesy of Harborfest.  Photo 2 courtesy of G.O.C.C.