Music, Fire, and Comfort Food 🍲

Highlights for January 23 - 25: Get out and about before that storm blows in! Hammondsport's Frost & Fire, South East Seneca's Annual Cook-Off, dueling pianos, and tributes to MLK and Elton John!

TOP 5

THIS WEEKEND

South East Seneca’s
4th Annual Cook-Off
Fri & Sat 12:00 - 5:00 PM both days
Various locations

Join us as 18 Seneca Lake establishments compete for the prestigious South East Seneca Cook-Off trophy! Each stop offers a unique chowder, chili or comfort food. At the end you will be the judge and vote on this years winners.

Ticket Price: $65 per person

Each ticket includes:
A sample of chowder, chili, or comfort food at each location
A tasting of wine, beer, spirits at each location

How it Works:
Enjoy visiting participating wineries, breweries, restaurants and tap houses along Seneca Lake. Taste, savor, and vote for your favorite dish at your final stop!

This is a self led traveling event, where each location will stamp your ticket and provide a sample of their cook-off dish along with their craft beverage sampling. At the end you will cast your vote.

FRIDAY

Dueling Pianos Show
7:00 PM
LECOM Event Center
Elmira

Sing-alongs. Requests. Comedy.

No two shows are ever the same.

Grab tickets now:

SATURDAY

Frost & Fire
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Hammondsport Fire Dept

Join us for Frost & Fire, a cozy, community-filled afternoon where stories are shared, music drifts through the room, and winter fun is waiting around every corner.

From a lively Chili Cook-Off, hot cocoa & popcorn, and live music, to family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a glowing outdoor bonfire, there truly is something for everyone—young and old alike.

A Keuka Roots Signature Event, in collaboration with the Greater Hammondsport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bundle up, bring your friends, and come warm your hands—and your heart—with us.

Bennie & The Rest - Tribute to Elton John
7:30 PM
Hangar Theatre, Ithaca

The Hangar’s In-Flight Series is proud to bring BENNIE AND THE REST, an exciting concert experience in tribute to Elton John, to the Hangar stage!

In this special evening of piano, stories and Elton John hits, singer, piano player, and actor Jason Ostrowski – along with a band of skilled musicians – takes you on a journey through the musical hits of Sir Elton John. A dynamic performer and musician, Ostrowski captures the very essence of Elton John in this tribute to the legendary artist, which includes hits such as “Tiny Dancer”, “I’m Still Standing”, and “Rocket Man”. Kenny Passarelli, Elton’s former bassist of the famed 1975 Dodger Stadium shows marveled “Jason captures the energy, the musicality, the look! Watching him perform reminded me of being on stage with Elton!”

Tickets: $35

SUNDAY

Annual MLK Celebration
4:00 PM
Ford Hall, Ithaca College

For more than 20 years, the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, and Dance has honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through this annual musical tribute celebrating his life, leadership, and enduring influence.

The theme of this 2026 concert, Fanfare for the Common Man, explores the profound impact of Dr. King’s life and work on the ongoing struggle for social justice, human rights, and collective humanity.

For more info, go to either dorothycottonjubileesingers.org or ithaca.edu.

PLUS

Urban Sketchers at CMoG’s Studio, Rockin’ the 80’s at Brick in Corning, BINGO, ice skating and so much great live music, like always! Check out all of the events at the link below (and remember to check with the original event hosts for latest updates & cancellations):

Just how much of a local are you?

It seems like one of the best ways to out-local another local is to boast about living through a severe weather event and whoever’s history goes back the farthest wins. Remember the polar vortex of 2012? Pshaw you should have gone through the blizzard of ‘93! And of course, if you lived through the Flood of ‘72, not much else trumps that.

So, ahead of this first big storm of the season, may your homes stay toasty & warm, may your shovels be strong, and may your beverages of choice flow freely! Stay safe out there! And if the conditions are right, I better see at least one person skiing down the street at some point!

Reminders

Always check with the original event host for updates and cancellations.

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Have fun!