Top reasons to love New York

Cayuga County’s IGNITE community-engagement program hosts this annual cold-weather shindig, part of First Friday, which lights up downtown Auburn’s Exchange Street for one chilly March evening. Highlights include on-site ice sculpting, horse-drawn carriage rides, and live music from bands including Silver Queen Casket Company, Fresh Guac and Minority Report. Adults can down beer and wine while kids can get gratis hot chocolate and popcorn, as well as play games and get their faces painted inside Genesee Mall. Exchange St between Genesee and Lincoln Sts, Auburn, NY (315-252-7291, ignitethewinter.com). Mar 7 5–9:30pm; free.

The vines may be bare this time of year, but there’s still plenty to draw visitors to Long Island Wine Country, thanks to this seven-week music fest. See more than 100 live musical acts—including a few Grammy winners and nominees—at vineyard tasting rooms and other venues across the region. Called Jazz on the Vine in the past, the seventh iteration of the series has been expanded to include genres like blues, soul, rock and country, among others. Various locations, times and prices; visit liwinterfest.com for details. Through Mar 23 Fri–Sun; general admission $20, Day Hopper pass $30, Weekend Hopper pass $50, Festival Hopper pass $200.

To celebrate Mardi Gras, this western–New York ski resort goes for broke with two days of family-oriented happenings. Banish the winter blues with a scavenger hunt, a cookout, a balloon race and more on Saturday, culminating in a Mardi Gras parade through the nearby town of Ellicottville. On Sunday, start with a pancake breakfast, and stick around for a costume parade and Dummy Downhill, a ski race whose inanimate contestants are, well, dummies. If you want to really get in the spirit, each day has a costume theme: Don your finest vintage ski outfit on Saturday, and a bad sweater and sunglasses on Sunday. (Fingers crossed for actual sunshine.) Holiday Valley, 6557 Holiday Valley Rd between Deer Crossing and Valley Village Rds, Ellicottville, NY (716-699-2345, holidayvalley.com). Mar 8, 9; Sat starting 10am, Sun starting 9am. Free.

New York State is home to some of the finest maple syrup on the planet, and plenty of it. Over two weekends in March, more than 110 New York State maple-syrup makers open their production facilities to the public, giving enthusiasts plenty of chances to sample the sweet stuff. Attendees will get the chance to see how the sausage—er, syrup—is made, from sap boiling to the final product. Anybody else have a sudden craving for pancakes? Locations vary; visit mapleweekend.com for details. Mar 22, 23, 29, 30 10am–4pm; free.

The World Fishing Network named Roscoe, New York, the Ultimate Fishing Town in the United States, so it’s safe to say that this is where you want to be, come the first day of the season. Grab your rod and tackle, and join the Roscoe-Rockland Chamber of Commerce bright and early at legendary fishing hole Junction Pool, the provenance of the fabled Two-Headed Trout. Free refreshments will be available for all attendees. Junction Pool, Roscoe, NY (roscoeny.com). Apr 1 at 7am; free.

Celebrate the beginning of trout season at this annual Roscoe event, held at storied fly-fishing hub Junction Pool. This year’s “first cast” will be performed by country star and angling enthusiast Ryan Broshear (of “Let Your Redneck Out” fame). Refreshments will be on offer. Junction Pool, Roscoe, NY (roscoeny.com). Apr 5 at 7am; free.

Now in its 44th year, Cortland County’s annual celebration of all things maple kicks off the beginning of tree-tapping season. Events on offer include a pancake-eating contest (the record to beat is 35 flapjacks in 15 minutes), performances by live bands, horse-drawn wagon rides, syrup-making demonstrations and a craft show. The fest culminates in the crowning of Marathon’s Maple Queen. Marathon, NY (607-745-7710, maplefest.org). Apr 5 9am–5pm, Apr 6 9am–4pm. 

America’s largest one-day ProAm bike race takes place over 65 miles of diverse terrain in Washington County, just west of the Massachusetts border. The course begins and ends in the tiny town of Cambridge, New York, and takes cyclists on a scenic route down rugged roads, through farmland and under the region’s many covered bridges. Online registration—for either the main course or a 22-mile alternative—is open until April 2 at 9pm. Cambridge, NY (tourofthebattenkill.com). Apr 5, 6; registration $30–$150, active military and Wounded Warriors free.

Downtown Albany erupts in color each spring when more than 100,000 tulips bloom in early May. This weekend-long floral celebration falls at the same time as Mother’s Day, and there’s plenty for moms and kids (small or large) to enjoy. Be sure to drop by Saturday afternoon for the crowning of the Albany Tulip Queen, and Sunday for the presentation of the Mother of the Year award. Throughout both days, you can stroll among the blossoms and browse food-and-craft vendors; plus, check out music acts on stages throughout the park. Washington Park, Madison Ave between South Lake Ave and Willett St, Albany, NY (albanyevents.org). May 10, 11 11am–6pm; free.