If you love onions, you won't have to travel outside of New York State to find yourself in the Onion Capital of the world.

Elba is a village in Genesee County with a population of 676 at the 2010 census. Elba claims to be the "Onion Capital of the World."

Torrey Farms, one of the largest farms in New York, is located in Elba with about 8,000 acres (32 km2). They also own about 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of muckland in Potter, New York, where they grow a large number of onions."

Torrey Farms is one of the largest vegetable-crop farm operations in New York. The farm grows mainly specialty vegetable crops, such as sweet corn, onions, carrots, cabbage, squash, cucumbers, and potatoes.

Elba hosts its annual "Onion Festival" generally on the first weekend of August. For 2022, we haven't been able to confirm this festival will still be going on. Through COVID, the festival hasn't been held. When it does get held, the festival draws the vast majority of Elba residents as well as people from neighboring towns in Genesee County, and some from all over New York.

Among the events for the weekend are the Fireman's Parade, Kiddie Parade, raffling of a car, and the crowning of an "Onion Queen". According to USA Today, the Onion Queen contest crowns a senior high school the queen of the tuber on Saturday night. All profits from the festival go towards the funding of the Elba Fire Department.

First created in 1937 as the Volunteer Fire Department Field Day, the Elba Onion Festival has drawn crowds of several thousand. You can read more on the history online here.

22 Tasty New York Food Festivals to Sample This Summer

Here are 22 great Upstate New York food festivals to put on your road trip calendar for for all of 2025. . From corn to garlic, and wings to spiedies, and from wine to craft breweries, the spotlight shines bright on Upstate New York's native food and beverage history all wrapped up in fun family festivals all year long.. Of course there are many more than the 22 listed here, so if yo know of a great Upstate food festival, please visit our Facebook page and give it a shout out!

Gallery Credit: Chuck DImperio

READ MORE: 12 of the Most Epic, Awesome Ice Cream Cones in New York State

Upstate New York's roadside ice cream stands are cranking up for the hot summer months. Here are a dozen of the best ice cream cones you can find in the region. Also....there is a place on this list that claims to make "the largest ice cream cone in New York." Check it out!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

16 Mouthwatering New York Cupcakeries That Will Make You Smile!

If you think the variety of flavors one can put into a cupcake are almost endless, you are right. June is National Cupcake Month and this post highlights 16 awesome cupcakeries to go and celebrate at in Upstate New York.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

31 Outstanding Upstate New York Breweries, Big and Small!

The craft beer brewery explosion has now landed on Upstate New York with a "boom." From big city downtown locations, to rural "off the grid" in-the-woods breweries, these are some of the best of the best in Upstate New York.

It has been amazing watching the evolution of the craft beer offerings in Upstate New York over the last, say ten years. What started out as small family-run "ice houses" tucked away in rural areas, places where you could meet up with your buddies and enjoyed some home brewed beer, is now completely changed.

The beer making process is so sophisticated now, the varieties offered are many, most places have great food or food truck offerings, and the craft breweries are now some of the most popular places to enjoy live entertainment.

All 31 on this list are worthy of a stop and a sip from all of our readers!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

 

More From Lite 98.7