The City of Auburn proudly presents their annual historic-themed festival to add to a summer packed with outdoor fun in downtown Auburn. Main events will take place on Genesee Street & State Street featuring various live band & dance performances, a classic car cruise-in, educational displays, and mobile food & beverage vending. Founder’s Day event sponsors include The Citizen and auburnpub.com, Hilton Garden Inn, the Duke Company and Finger Lakes News Radio.
There are also additional historic tours, exhibits, programs and events happening at various historic & cultural sites in the city. To learn more visit https://www.facebook.com/equalrightsheritage.
Thursday, August 11 Live Music @ Carriage House Theater
Kick off Founder's Day weekend at the Carriage House Theater from 6 - 9PM, with live music by Tangled Roots with special guest, blues legend Pete McMahon. Patrons are asked to make a $5 cover donation to benefit the Cayuga Museum.
Friday, August 12
Ribbon Cutting @ State Street Public Plaza
At 3PM view site & street improvements including pavement treatments, retaining walls, ornamental piers, lighting, landscaping & site amenities. This project was part funded by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
Music on the Mall This popular summer concert series returns to State Street band shell after several years. Come enjoy music by Psychedelic Sushi performing from 7 – 10PM. The rain location for Music on the Mall is Moondog’s Lounge, also where the band Count Blastula will be performing afterward from 10PM on, inside on the purple stage.
Saturday, August 13
FLAACA Antique Cars: History on Wheels The Annual Finger Lakes Region Antique Automobile Association (FLAACA) Antique Car Cruise-In features hundreds of classic & antique cars of all makes and models presented on Genesee Street. The show runs from 10AM – 3PM, with DJ music provided by Good Time Charlie’s Mobile Entertainment.
Vendors
Combined to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, participating food & beverage vendors include A.T. Walley, Real Pit BBQ, Leo’s Donut Factory, Next Chapter Brewpub, Parker’s Bar & Grille, Poppy’s Ice Cream Truck, and Shepherds Brewing Co. They will be serving up adult beverages, plus ice cream, sweets & grilled summer favorites.
A.T. Walley
Purchase chicken BBQ dinners with ½ a drunken chicken, pulled pork sliders, street corn & salt potatoes. To pre-order by August 9, call 315.282-7314 with pick-up from 10AM on. They are also serving 20 oz. summer sippers.
Next Chapter Brewpub
The Brewpub & outdoor patio space will be open extended hours from 11AM – 9PM. They will serve brunch and offer food and drink specials. Staff will also have a beverage tent set up near the Showmobile on Genesee Street from 5 – 9PM.
Parker’s Grille & Tap House Parker’s will have an outdoor bar setup in their patio space to serve domestic beers, seltzers, craft cans and wine slushies. The kitchen will offer Turkey Club and Chicken Caesar ready-to-go cold wraps with chips.
Shepherds Brewing Co.
Shep’s will be grilling Hoffman hots, burgers and sausage & peppers, plus pouring craft beer, wine, cider, seltzers and wine slushies inside.
Information Displays
Auburn Doubledays Meet staff and Booster members from the collegiate summer baseball team that play at historic Falcon Park, and the team mascot Abner Doubleday, named after a Civil War hero from Auburn.
Catering for the Homeless Crystal Wolfe is a local author with 5 published books, and the founder of this nonprofit organization providing food to the hungry. She will be selling her books and providing info about her cause.
Let’s Color Auburn’s History
Purchase copies and color pages from Let’s Color Auburn’s History a book created by local artists Kevin Burke & Amanda Tallcot. This book has 20 designs of people & places that's fun for any age to complete.
Finger Lakes News Radio Classic Hits 99.3 will be broadcasting live from the event from 11AM - 1PM. Come visit with radio station staff for giveaways.
Moscato & Associates, Inc. Shawn Daly will provide information and education about Excellus Health Insurance, Medicare Solutions and employee benefits for small businesses.
Planet Fitness – Auburn Learn more about this fitness center located in the Grant Avenue Plaza.
Entertainment Schedule Main acts will perform on the Showmobile Stage on Genesee Street near the Dill/William Street intersection facing east, between Shepherd’s Brewing Co. and Thirsty Pug Craft Beer.
Cayuga Cut-Ups Noon – 2PM demo in front of the Showmobile Stage
AMP 2 - 4PM live music on the Showmobile Stage
The Hot Club of Buffalo 4 - 6PM live music in State Street Bandshell
Ruby Shooz 6 - 9PM live music on the Showmobile Stage
Cayuga Cut-Ups Square Dance Club Come join a demonstration with live call-outs, performed by this social dance club based out of the Weedsport area.
AMP
Listen to this young emerging band, performing an entertaining and eclectic mix of classic rock, funk, and jazz along with a bit of modern/alternative rock. Band members include Bob Bartolotta, Jackson Masters, Errol Fern and Kevin Shea; they are based out of Camillus and founded in 2017.
The Hot Club of Buffalo Hot Club is a 4-piece gypsy jazz band from Buffalo, NY. The group adds some modern twists to traditional gypsy swing. Riffs from Bach, Jimi Hendrix and Steely Dan are as common as quotes from gypsy legend Django Reinhardt. Plus, dance-friendly world music, like Bossa Nova, Choro and Rhumba are a part of every show.
The style was created in the 1930s by the legendary 2-fingered guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Gypsy Jazz blends American big band swing with exotic European Gypsy sounds. The music is performed entirely on acoustic instruments. The rhythm guitar takes the place of a drum set. The guitars, strings, and even the picks are specially chosen to get that unique gypsy sound.
Ruby Shooz Come dance with NY’s classic 50’s and 60’s rock ‘n roll show band that guarantees a memorable and fun occasion is had by all. Hula hoops and dance contests make the audience the stars of the show. Plus, 50's and 60's trivia bring back nostalgia for the older folks, and educates the youth on a bygone era.
Summer Festival of the Creative Arts @ Willard Memorial Chapel This year, Founder’s Day will be complimented with an outdoor music & arts festival at the historic Willard Memorial Chapel. From 10AM – 4PM take a free tour to learn about Georgiana and Caroline Willard, the sisters & founders of the “Tiffany Treasure of the Finger Lakes.”
Included in the event is the Finger Lakes Art Council’s Summer Festival of the Creative Arts. Dozens of artisans and craft vendors will be outside on the south lawn with a wide variety of hand-crafted items for purchase, plus silent auction items. Shop local artisans’ creations while surrounded by FLAC’s life-size Auburn Historical Figures.
For live entertainment, Loren Barrigar will be performing outside from 2 – 4PM, weather permitted. Outdoor food vendors include Mooney’s BBQ, Silver Street Kettle Corn Co., XL Cookie Company, Muzzi’s D’Italia Ice, plus pizza & cotton candy will be available. Inside the Chapel, Sew What! will be open 10AM – 3PM and will present their handmade Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Quilt Raffle. If you haven’t been, the shop’s stocked to the brim with craft supplies galore, to use for many artistic endeavors.
With the Great Race happening on Sunday, August 14th, and the band Mere Mortals performing post awards ceremony, Auburn will be at its very best offering a weekend filled with history, art, music, outdoor recreation and treasures to discover.
For more info please call 315.255-4737 or visit the Founder’s Day Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/auburnnyfoundersday/.
