Whether locals or out-of-towners, events mean business for CNY
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
The positive economic effects of special events may be deceiving. For example, the Oswego PRO AM Fishing Tournament may seem like a simple three days of fishing. However, the economic ripple travels far from where the sinker plops into the water.
Consider that there’s the purchase of the fishing license, equipment, bait, apparel, boat rental, launch fees and fuel.
Some of these may be purchased elsewhere, but while anglers participate in the PRO AM, “they spend tourist dollars at restaurants in Oswego,” said Chris Kenyon as an example. Kenyon is a lifelong outdoorsman and outdoor recreation writer. Kenyon also provides fishing reports on contract for the Wayne County Department of Tourism.
He added that many people who participate in the PRO AM stay for a week and pay for lodging and docking fees, as well as for entertainment in the Oswego area beyond the tournament.
The following top events draw thousands to the area and stimulate the local economy in their wake.
• NYS Fair, Syracuse (https://nysfair.ny.gov) — draws over 900,000 people for all 13 days (932,699 attended the fair last year). Live stage entertainment, animal exhibits and competitions, circus, petting zoo, butter sculpture, street performers, cultural appreciation exhibits, midway, food and vendors spill across 375 acres for non-stop action. The New York State Fair is frequently ranked among the nation’s top state fairs for its scope and variety.
• Harborfest, Oswego (www.oswegoharborfest.com) — 75,000; More than 30 music performances and attractions, vendors, midway and fireworks display draw crowds to this event annually.
• Syracuse International Jazz Fest (https://syracusejazzfest.com) — 16,500; five days. A variety of venues host a bevy of popular local and international jazz artists.
• Taste of Syracuse (www.tasteofsyracuse.com) — 200,000; two days. Samples of local restaurants’ foods, three stages of live music and local vendors kick off summer at this event that stretches from Clinton Square to the Chase Building downtown.
• New York State Blues Festival, Syracuse (www.nysbluesfest.com) — 20,000; three days. Twenty acts take to Chevy Stage at the New York State Fairgrounds.
• Syracuse Winterfest (https://syracusewinterfest.com) — 100,000; 10 days. Dozens of activities and events indoors and outdoors entertain the crowds, including cookoffs, games, entertainment and fireworks.
• Polish Festival, Syracuse (https://polishscholarship.org three days) and St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival, Syracuse (https://www.syracusegreekfest.com four days) — attendance unclear. These family-friendly events focus on the food, music, clothing, customs and other traditional aspects of two of Syracuse’s most vibrant cultural communities.
• Syracuse Nationals (www.syracusenationals.com) — 86,000; three days. As the largest car show in the Northeast, this event attracts auto exhibitors and vendors from across the country for competitions, entertainment and food. Participants in the show display more than 8,000 gleaming hotrods.
• Renaissance Festival, Sterling (www.sterlingfestival.com) — attendance unclear; 14 days. Visitors immerse themselves in a “Renaissance-styled theme park” of 35 acres boasting 12 entertainment stages, jousts and duels, costumed hosts, craft vendors and period food, such as roasted turkey legs. The weekends feature different themes and special events that celebrate life in 1585.
An event that doesn’t bring too many people to the region is the Oswego PRO/AM Fishing Tournament (www.oswegoproam.com) — it draws approximately 200 during its three days. Professional and amateur participants form teams to compete for cash prizes and glory while fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout. The economic impact of the event, however, is significant
