Wine, Food, Art and Music: A Finger Lakes Celebration of America the Beautiful
Rolling vineyards, glacial lakes, and charming small towns filled with artists and makers have long made the Finger Lakes region a destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and creative culture. This summer, that distinctly Finger Lakes character comes to life at the Geneva Music Festival, themed America the Beautiful: Finger Lakes Edition. From wine, food, and visual arts, the Festival offers a taste of the Finger Lakes’ creative landscape in one place.
Below, you’ll find each concert alongside the local makers and experiences festival attendees can discover this summer, organized by category. Because many performances feature multiple local partners, some concerts appear in more than one category.
Taste of the Finger Lakes: Local Wineries
Few places capture the beauty of the region quite like its vineyards. The Finger Lakes have been praised as America’s “Best Wine Region” multiple times (USA Today), and one of the “World’s Top 10 Wine Destinations” (VinePair). Several of the most renowned Finger Lakes wineries will be pouring at the festival’s performances, offering audience members a chance to experience the flavors that have made the region a nationally recognized wine destination.
- Invoke at Ravines Winery — May 19
- Jeremy Denk featuring Keuka Lake Vineyards — May 21
- Inheritances (GMF Artists-in-Residence) featuring Airy Acres — May 22
- E Pluribus Unum (GMF Artists-in-Residence) featuring Billsboro — June 4 & 5
- Pursuit of Happiness (GMF Artists-in-Residence) featuring Hermann J. Wiemer — June 12
Small-Batch & Handmade: Food & Craft
From handcrafted chocolates to small-batch cheese, local artisans offer a multitude of unique handcrafted goods to the Finger Lakes community. A selection of these artisans will be showcased at the festival, giving visitors a chance to sample the region’s hand-crafted creativity. Here are some of the featured artisans, with more to be announced as the festival nears.
- Jeremy Denk — featuring Staving Artist Woodwork — May 21
- Fred Hersch Trio — May 30
- Eighth Blackbird — featuring Speccs Chocolate — June 11
Creative Landscape: Visual Artists
The Finger Lakes’ stunning landscapes inspire painters, photographers, and visual artists. At select performances, visitors can see the work of some of the artists whose art reflects the lakes, small towns, and vineyards that define the Finger Lakes.
- Jeremy Denk — featuring Elizabeth Lincourt (exhibition) — May 21
- The Sounds of Revolution (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — featuring Ron Boehner (exhibition) — May 28 & 29
- Fred Hersch Trio — featuring Ron Boehner (exhibition) — May 30
- E Pluribus Unum (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — featuring Robin McCondichie (exhibition) — June 4 & 5
- Collide — featuring Robin McCondichie (exhibition) — June 6
- Eighth Blackbird — featuring Steve Duprey (exhibition) — June 11
- The Pursuit of Happiness (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — featuring Steve Duprey (exhibition) — June 12
The Festival Stage: Live Music
While the wineries, makers, and visual artists showcase the region’s ingenuity, the festival’s centerpiece is its extraordinary music. Now in its 16th season, the Geneva Music Festival’s 2026 lineup includes classical, jazz, bluegrass, and Americana music, performed by Grammy winners, world-renowned musicians, and award-winning guest artists from some of the world’s biggest stages. Here are the performances you won’t want to miss.
- Invoke — Genre-crossing music blending bluegrass, folk, and classical traditions. Limited tickets remain. — May 19
- Jeremy Denk — One of America’s most celebrated pianists — May 21
- Inheritances (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — May 22 & 23
- Special Event: Musical Mixology — food and specialty cocktails included — May 27
- The Sounds of Revolution (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — May 28 & 29
- Fred Hersch Trio — 17-time Grammy-nominated jazz ensemble. Sold out. — May 30
- E Pluribus Unum (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — June 4 & 5
- Eighth Blackbird — Grammy-winning new music ensemble — June 11
- The Pursuit of Happiness (GMF Artists-in-Residence) — June 12
- Mark & Maggie O’Connor — Grammy-winners and masterful fiddle duo — June 14
The Geneva Music Festival’s full season includes 10 concerts over four weeks from May 19 to June 14. Ticket information can be found at genevamusicfestival.com.
