Utica’s First Ever Summer Fest Is This Weekend

With today being the first official day of summer, it only makes sense that the city of Utica host it's first ever Summer Fest kicking off today.

The event is free to attend and opened tonight at 4:30 p.m. It's being held all weekend through Sunday until 8 p.m. on Genesee Street in downtown Utica, near the Utica State Office Building.

With fun activities for the whole family, Summer Fest is the event you want to be at this weekend. Featuring live music, food and beverage from around the Utica area, as well as street performers and so much more, there's something for everyone to enjoy. You'll also have an awesome time celebrating everything that Utica has to offer!

Here's something cool too: not only is the event free, but if you attend you could win $500 each day! According to their website, this is what you have to do.

Thursday, June 21, First day of Summer and First day of Utica Summer Fest! Celebrate the Summer Solstice in your best themed attire.  The best dressed voted by crowd popularity walks away with $500 from The Event Co.

 

Friday, June 22 we celebrate with the Killabrew Saloonon their over 40 years in business!!  Bring it back forty years and come to Utica Summer Fest in your most colorful dressed 70's attire and for your chance to win $500 from The Killabrew Saloon!

 

Saturday, June 23: In celebration of that Margaritaville feeling, Utica Summer Fest welcomes The Boat Drunks to the stage, and CNY Sealcoating and Concrete is calling all Parrot Heads. CNY Sealcoating and Concrete is giving away $500 and will help the crowd judge who the best Parrot Head on the block is!

Entertainment throughout the weekend will be provided by St. Paul's Baptist Church Choir, Funk Evolution, Utica Dancenter, numerous Street Artists, Jimmy Vivino and his BlueSoul Rockers, MoJoTo and Monk Rowe.

For the kids, the Fidelis Care's Kid Zone has games and activities to let them have a little bit of fun. The Utica Zoo mobile will give them the opportunity to interact with some wildlife, plus so much more.

As far as food and beverages go, you can look forward to the Beer and Wine Garden, with a portion of the proceeds made from drinks at Summer Fest to be given to the American Cancer Society. Many local food trucks will be there as well.

You can also stop by and visit the Veteran's Outreach Center, the League of Women Voters, the Utica Public Library, the Mohawk Valley Blues Society, and some other local businesses and organizations.

Keep in mind, from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Genesee Street will be closed to regular traffic from Elizabeth Street to Blandina Street, and Devereux Street will be closed as well. Those streets will be pedestrian-only zones during festival hours according to WKTV.

For more information, visit their website at uticasummerfest.com.

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