F.L.X. Summer Fest (Finger Lakes Wine Festival)

The F.L.X. Summer Fest returns to Watkins Glen, New York, from July 10 through July 20, 2026, transforming this storied village at the southern tip of Seneca Lake into eleven days of celebration honoring the Finger Lakes region’s distinctive character. Against the backdrop of the deepest of New York’s eleven glacially carved lakes, the festival weaves together live music, artisan markets, culinary showcases, and community gatherings that capture the relaxed yet vibrant spirit of this remarkable corner of upstate New York. The opening Friday evening sets the tone with a community gathering along the waterfront, followed by a full Saturday of interactive craft workshops, regional food and drink tastings, and performances by local musicians. The festival culminates Sunday morning with a leisurely lakeside breakfast and a 5K fun run that winds through town before participants disperse to explore on their own terms.

What makes a visit during the festival particularly rewarding is the opportunity to extend your stay and discover the layers of experience this region offers. Watkins Glen State Park, accessible directly from Main Street, delivers one of the most extraordinary gorge walks in the northeastern United States, where nineteen waterfalls cascade over two hundred feet of ancient cliffs across a two-mile trail of stone steps, tunnels, and mist-shrouded passages. The Gorge Trail passes through Cavern Cascade itself, allowing visitors to walk beneath and behind waterfalls in a setting that earned the park third place among six thousand state parks nationwide in a USA Today reader poll. For those traveling with dogs, the rim trails remain open to leashed companions and offer dramatic overlooks above the gorge.

The festival’s timing aligns beautifully with the height of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail season, when the region’s twenty-eight member wineries welcome visitors to taste cool-climate Rieslings, Cabernet Francs, Pinot Noirs, and distinctive sparkling wines that have earned the Finger Lakes genuine international recognition. Glenora Wine Cellars, the first winery established on Seneca Lake, remains a favorite for its sweeping views and elegant tasting room, while smaller producers like Boundary Breaks and Lamoreaux Landing offer intimate experiences with winemakers who know every vine on their hillside properties.

When hunger calls between festival events, Watkins Glen’s dining scene reflects the region’s farm-to-table ethos with genuine warmth. Graft Wine + Cider Bar downtown pairs locally sourced small plates with an exceptional regional beverage program, while Nickel’s Pit BBQ serves smoky brisket and burnt ends on an outdoor patio that fills quickly on summer evenings. For Italian comfort food, Jerlando’s Ristorante delivers hand-tossed pizzas and classic pasta dishes in a room painted with countryside murals, and Thai Elephants has earned a devoted following for its drunken noodles and green curry. Breakfast seekers should arrive early at Curly’s Family Restaurant near the state park entrance or make the pilgrimage to Art & Nancy’s for cheesesteaks and hearty morning plates that locals protect as their own secret.

Beyond the gorge and the vineyards, the area rewards exploration. Captain Bill’s offers dinner cruises on Seneca Lake as the sun drops behind the western hills, while Farm Sanctuary provides tours of its 275-acre refuge for rescued animals just west of town. The Catharine Valley Trail beckons cyclists and walkers, and Shequaga Falls in nearby Montour Falls offers another dramatic cascade without the crowds. The historic Watkins Glen International racetrack, whose checkerboard crosswalks downtown commemorate the village’s road racing heritage, hosts events throughout the summer for motorsports enthusiasts.

Whether you come for the festival’s opening night energy, the Sunday morning fun run, or simply the excuse to immerse yourself in one of New York’s most beautiful lakeside regions during the warmest month of summer, the F.L.X. Summer Fest delivers a genuine sense of place. Book a vacation rental on Lake.com and settle into the rhythm of Seneca Lake, where the days stretch long, the wines pour generously, and the waterfalls never stop flowing.