217. Shakespeare In The Park

There’s excitement everywhere in Syracuse these days. So many fun things to do, so little time!

How are you planning on spending the last few weeks of summer?

Another fun little gem I found while researching for 365 Things Syracuse is Shakespeare in the Park.

Shakespeare in the Park is exactly what it sounds like…some really talented actors performing Shakespeare…in a park. Thornden park, to be specific.

This years production is of the comedy/romance, A Winter’s Tale. This is a free event in the park! Cool! The shows will be August 8-11 and August 15-18 starting at 5:30pm, Sunday shows starting at 2pm.

This sounds like a really cool way to incorporate the beautiful scenery of Thornden Park, the arts and the community. I will definitely be checking this out!

Tip: This event is held in the ampitheater section at Thornden Park, bring your own seats if you don’t want to sit on rocks or grass!

location: Thornden Park the park is located between Ostrom Avenue, Madison Street, and South Beech Street

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