United States · month by month
Ithaca food calendar
What is in season in Ithaca, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Ithaca
A hard monthThe best of January: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Ithaca
A hard monthThe best of February: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Ithaca
The best of March: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-OffMarch 7 2026
About 40 chilis on the Commons.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Ithaca
The best of April: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Ithaca
Shoulder seasonThe best of May: A sundae, Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing.
Eat it now
- A sundaesummer afternoons
At Purity, the Cornell Dairy Bar or Sweet Melissa's.
May–Sep - Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Plan around
- Cornell and Ithaca College graduationsmid May
Restaurants book up; Moosewood takes graduation reservations.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Ithaca
Peak seasonThe best of June: A sundae, Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Cornell chicken barbecues.
Eat it now
- A sundaesummer afternoons
At Purity, the Cornell Dairy Bar or Sweet Melissa's.
May–Sep - Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Cornell chicken barbecuessummer weekends
Fire company and club fundraisers grill Bob Baker's recipe.
Jun–Aug - Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Ithaca
Peak seasonThe best of July: A sundae, Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Cornell chicken barbecues.
Eat it now
- A sundaesummer afternoons
At Purity, the Cornell Dairy Bar or Sweet Melissa's.
May–Sep - Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Cornell chicken barbecuessummer weekends
Fire company and club fundraisers grill Bob Baker's recipe.
Jun–Aug - Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Ithaca
Peak seasonThe best of August: A sundae, Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Cornell chicken barbecues.
Eat it now
- A sundaesummer afternoons
At Purity, the Cornell Dairy Bar or Sweet Melissa's.
May–Sep - Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Cornell chicken barbecuessummer weekends
Fire company and club fundraisers grill Bob Baker's recipe.
Jun–Aug - Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Ithaca
Peak seasonThe best of September: A sundae, Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake and Apple Harvest Festival.
In season
- Apples and cider
At the market and the Apple Harvest Festival.
Sep–Oct
Eat it now
- A sundaesummer afternoons
At Purity, the Cornell Dairy Bar or Sweet Melissa's.
May–Sep - Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Apple Harvest FestivalSept 25-27 2026
Downtown, free, with a pie contest.
- Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Ithaca
Shoulder seasonThe best of October: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake, Apples and cider, Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing.
In season
- Apples and cider
At the market and the Apple Harvest Festival.
Sep–Oct
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
On the calendar
- Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat LandingSaturdays
Outdoors 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October in 2026; Sundays from May.
Apr–Oct
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Ithaca
The best of November: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Ithaca
The best of December: Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lake.
Eat it now
- Riesling tastings on Cayuga Lakeweekend afternoons
Wineries on both shores; Heart & Hands takes reservations online.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.