338. Lights on the Lake

We’re almost done with the year, and it wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Onondaga Lake Park in the winter time!

Lights on the lake is a tradition here in Syracuse.  When it opens, cars are lined down the parkway to get a glimpse at the old and new light displays!

It’s really fun, and if you’re new to Syracuse or you’ve been here for what feels like a million winters, Lights on the Lake is something that everyone goes to at least once.

One of my favorite things to do is to go to Onondaga Lake Parkway during the day and walk through all the funny light displays. They aren’t turned on, which makes it even better. On January 4 from 11-midnight they’ve got a “run through” where you can run on the parkway while they’re all lit up!

It’s open from November 21-Jan 12 from 5-10pm $10 per car

Tip: Cash Only!

288. Trail of Terror

Fright Week is here, and it’s in full swing! So many frightening things to do in October, not enough time!

The Trail of Terror is exactly that…terrifying. You could be walking on the “trail” and someone might jump out at you, and you might pee your pants with fear…I’m just sayin…

When you see a sign that says “Enter at Your Own Risk” you know they mean business. Like, you can’t go if you’re pregnant!

It’s held at the Syracuse Kickball Park, right by Sharkey’s on Route 57.

Questions? Check out their website for more information.

Open Fridays 7-11pm
Open Saturdays & Sundays 7-10pm

Tip: It’s $7 per person, CASH ONLY.

location: Syracuse kickball park  7192 Oswego Road

270. Cosmic Bowling

I don’t go bowling often, but when I do I always have a really great time! Whenever you’re thinking, “Oh, there’s nothing to do in this town!” don’t forget the fun stuff like bowling!

Each Friday and Saturday Night, Flamingo Bowl in Liverpool offers Cosmic Bowling. From 10:30-2am the regular bowling alley lights dim and the blacklights shine…they play current music and it’s a heck of a good time!

For $16 you get unlimited bowling and free shoes!

And for the 21+ crowd, there are 2 for 1 drink specials at the Bar Friday nights during Cosmic Bowling!

Tip: Reservations are recommended but not required.

location: Flamingo Bowl 7239 Oswego Road Liverpool NY

265. Run Of The Dead

Today marks 100 days left in 2013! How are you going to make the next 100 days matter?! How about a Zombie run!

Are you a zombie or a vampire person?

If you’re a zombie person this one if for you! There’s a 5k put on by the Syracuse Sports Association that you can participate in!

It’s a team event though, so gather some other zombie lovin friends! The actual event is not until October 19th, however, spots for teams are filling up fast so I thought maybe now would be a great time to mention it…

Here’s how it works.

Gather some friends
Register your team (here) It’s $65 per member
Show up for a part 5k part obstacle course/mud run and avoid getting your “health flags” taken by zombies!
For more details visit the website!

Tip: If you’re not into the 5k/obstacle course thing, and you’re still a huge fan of being a zombie…you can always BECOME one!)

location: 7192 Oswego Road, Liverpool NY

195. Antiquefest

There’s a huge trend in refurbishing old furniture these days.

It seems as though the older we get, the more we long for nostalgia and antique things. Which is kind of cool.

I know it’s always been a trend, but all over blogs and website people are utilizing old furniture and making them statement pieces in their homes.

I’m on the lookout for a mirrored chest and an old bar cart…keep your eyes open, and if you find one tweet to me @syracuse365!

July 19-21 the Antiquefest at Longbranch Park 9am-5pm (part of that awesome park in Liverpool that throws awesome concerts & events…) will showcase some of the finest old pieces of furniture and knick knacks.

For $7 you gain admission to view (and possibly purchase) some of the greatest antiques to roll through CNY…and trust me, I’ll be there…maybe even wearing a “vintage” fanny pack!

Tip: There’s a lot of construction on 370…plan accordingly!

location: Longbranch Park

193. Onondaga Lake Park

I love the parkway.

Simple as that. It’s perfect for outdoor activities.

When I was younger my friends and I would strap on our Rollerblades and skate the length of the parkway a few times, it was where I qualified for my black belt back in 1997…loonnggg time ago, it’s where high school teams meet to row crew, it’s where I go to get in a good solo run, it’s where people enjoy some light spectaculars in the winter… it’s an all around fantastic spot, I’m shocked I haven’t featured it yet.

There is so much to do there, You can rent bikes and boats, you can ride your own bike, jog or run, you can stop at one of the many food truck vendors and get a bite to eat. You can bring a skateboard or a trick bike and play at the skate park (!!!), play Irish road bowling or bocce ball, You can play some archery, you can go to a music festival, you can sign up for a color run, there’s a butterfly park and even a museum…endless options at Onondaga Lake Park.

One of my favorite events this park holds is every Sunday. They close down Onondaga Lake Parkway on Sunday’s from 9am to noon and allow bikers, runners, walkers, joggers, etc… to enjoy an extra 2 miles of fun along the Onondaga Lake shore. It’s actually really cool!

Admission is free, as well as parking. Stop by The Retreat or Cobblestone after an afternoon at the park for a cool drink, or even Heid’s!

There’s also lots of free parking around the park, just watch out for that construction off of 370.

Tip: Here’s a map of Onondaga Lake Park that outlines all of the fun activities at the park!

Hours change when the seasons change:
April-October: 6am-sunset plus 1/2 hour
November-March: 6am-sunset

 

169. Longbranch Jam

Music festivals are fun. You can enjoy live music, try some beers, have some food, hang out with friends, enjoy the summer air…lots of reasons to enjoy outdoor concerts.

Especially when the music is great.

This year will be the inaugural year for the Longbranch Jam, held Sunday June 23rd at Longbranch Park. For $22 here, or at Dinosaur BBQ or Sound Garden or $30 at the door, you get an admission ticket, which will cover the live music by some of the greatest local bands and national acts…including Los Blancos & Rusted Root!

Doors open at 1, with The Shakdown followed by an all day event of live music ending with Rusted Root taking the stage at 8pm.

I know I’m always saying things like, “guys…go to this!” or “guys, this is going to be awesome…” But, I truly believe this event will be really really awesome. Long Branch Park has a long standing history of holding large events, and it’s the perfect spot for a celebration of summer, community and fun. There will be food & beer available for purchase along with local vendors…you’re guaranteed to turn this sunday into a Sunday Funday if you attend this event.

Tip: Parking is free! They’ve also added some other friendly tips here.

location: Longbranch Park

155. The Corporate Challenge

I learned of the Corporate Challenge last year when it was too late to register for the event…I saw plenty of local friends posting all over Facebook about how they’re participating with their work friends in the Corporate Challenge.

I was intrigued by the idea of this. It’s a 3 1/2 mile race, using collective times of all team members as a means of winning. While last year was my 1st year hearing about this, did you know the Corporate Challenge is 31 years old? This will be the 31st year of the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge here in Syracuse…hey, that’s pretty neat!

This year, more than 8000 runners & walkers from 300 local businesses are expected to participate…if that isn’t the definition of a community event, I don’t know what is! I decided to post this early (the actual race is on June 18th) because Registration is still open for this event and if your company is still interested in registering you’ve got a few days left (registration closes Friday).

Tip: If you’re not participating in the Corporate Challenge and you commute through the village of Liverpool, I suggest finding an alternative route…last year traffic on Old Liverpool Road was backed up for miles.

location: Onondaga Lake Parkway

154. Liverpool Concert Series

When I lived in Austin, each and every Wednesday throughout the summer, thousands of people throughout the city would gather in the park for Blues On The Green. Even on the hottest of days, Blues On The Green would be a refreshing taste of summer in hot Texas.

As we all know, it can get pretty hot here as well. Comparable to the Texas heat, the humidity here never seems to quit. But, leaving the house is an important part of being able to enjoy summer time here in Syracuse. The city and surrounding towns have done a great job of accommodating the scorching temps by arranging evening events.

The Liverpool Concert Series is one of these events. Throughout the summer, on various dates (mostly Monday & Wednesday with an occasional Sunday) Johnson Park in Liverpool, hosts a series of concerts from 7-9pm. Once the sweltering heat has subsided and dusk is upon us, the music will light up the night with local acts.

This is a really fun event, and would be great to go to with a bunch of friends and family.

Tip: This event is free to attend, bring chairs and blankets to sit on.

location: Johnson Park, Liverpool (Corner of Oswego & Vine St)

150. Wegmans Good Dog Park

Is there anything better than taking your dog to the park to play with other pups?

I think not.

With nice weather brings lots of people to parks and recreational places, and with them they bring their dogs…but finally, the dogs are the ones with all the attention and playtime is on their time.

The Wegmans Good Dog Park is one of the only parks in Syracuse that is specifically designed with the dog in mind. It’s 40,000 square feet of dog playground heaven.  Dogs are allowed within the fenced in space without a leash to run up obstacles and play with their dog friends. This is a really great park to take your dog to…especially if it can play nice with other dogs!

There are a few rules associated with the park, such as:

• Your dog may not be in heat, sick, have parasites or be younger than four months old.
• Dogs must have tags and up-to-date on shots and a valid license.
• No food allowed in the dog park.

For more information on the rules of the park, click here.

Tip: Don’t forget to clean up after your pet, there are stations located throughout just in case you forget some bags!

location: 49 Cold Springs Trail, Liverpool, NY