Binghamton knows how to do a summer weekend, and a lot of the best stuff is free or nearly so. Here are three ways to spend a Saturday with the family.
1. Spend the day at a county fair
You can't get more Southern Tier than a county fair, and there's one nearly every week of August. The Broome County Fair in Whitney Point (July 28 to August 2) is the local headliner, running since 1871, with a Main Street kick-off parade, nightly grandstand action like tractor pulls and a rodeo, and a midway that's been a fixture here for close to 50 years. If your weekend lands later in the month, the Chenango County Fair in Norwich (August 12 to 16) and the Delaware County Fair in Walton (August 17 to 22) both bring harness racing, livestock, and full midways within an easy drive.
Find a fair near you at FindYourFair.com.
2. Ride the carousels
Binghamton isn't called the Carousel Capital of the World for nothing. The area is home to six beautifully restored antique carousels, and here's the best part: the rides are free, a tradition that goes back to the man who donated them nearly a century ago with one rule, that no one should ever be charged. Ross Park and Recreation Park are easy places to start. It's a slice of history the kids will just think is fun.
3. Visit the Ross Park Zoo
Right next to the Ross Park carousel sits the Ross Park Zoo, the fifth-oldest zoo in the country. It's walkable, shady, and a very manageable size for young kids, with everything from snow leopards to wolves to a barnyard area. Pair it with a carousel ride and you've got an easy, affordable morning.
One great Southern Tier weekend
Three stops, and a Saturday the kids will remember. Start with a fair while they're still running, then chase it with a free carousel ride. Find the fair nearest you at FindYourFair.com.