Looking for a fun event for the whole family? Oswego County’s biggest festival, Harborfest, returns July 24-27!
Harborfest is a summer tradition, a free festival held each summer since 1988. With more than 50,000 people in attendance each year, this popular event features live music from acclaimed bands and performers, fun carnival rides, delicious food from a variety of local vendors, and a spectacular fireworks display by the renowned Fireworks by Grucci.
Harborfest, photo by Austin DeMott
The festival is so large that it spans across multiple locations: Breitbeck Park, Cahill Pier Stage, the Midway Carnival, and East Park/Washington Square. Breitbeck Park acts as the headquarters of Harborfest, with the largest assortment of live music, food, local vendors, and activities happening there. Cahill Pier Stage and the Midway Carnival are both within walking distance of Breitbeck Park, while free trollies can take attendees downtown to East Park/Washington Square.
Harborfest officially kicks off with live music performances on the Breitbeck Park Constellation stage on Thursday evening. Live music, delicious meals, treats and drinks will be at Breitbeck Park throughout the entire festival.
On Friday, bring your children to participate in Harborfest’s annual Children’s Parade! Kids are welcome to come and create a mask to wear during the parade while they make new friends and memories. Participants should arrive at West Park/Franklin Square by 10 a.m. The parade begins there at 10:30 a.m. and travels along West Fifth Street to Lake Street and concludes at Breitbeck Park.
Fun begins at Cahill Pier and East Park/Washington Square on Friday and continues through Sunday! Both locations will have live music, and East Park will also have a variety of food and shopping vendors.
Midway Carnival, run by Dreamland Amusements, also offers days of family fun! Ride tickets can be purchased individually or as unlimited wristbands. Hours of operation are Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. Visitors should note that parent/guardian supervision is required at Midway Carnival for those age 17 and under.
Harborfest, photo by Austin DeMott
Live Music Schedule:
Thursday, July 24
Breitbeck Park:
6:30 p.m.: Ruby Shooz
8:15 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
8:45 p.m. Mike DelGuidice – co-sponsored by Eagle Beverage-Budweiser & Oswego Harbor Festivals
Friday, July 25
Cahill Pier Stage:
1:30 p.m.: Colleen Kattau Trio – sponsored by Community Bank
3:45 p.m.: Double V’s – sponsored by Community Bank
6 p.m.: Rydher – sponsored by Community Bank
East Park/Washington Square:
1:30 p.m.: Dam Dog – sponsored by Compass Federal Credit Union
3:45 p.m.: Stop Thinking – sponsored by Raby’s Ace Home Center
6 p.m.: Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys
8:15 p.m.: Chris Beard Band
Breitbeck Park:
5 p.m.: Chris Taylor & the Custom Taylor Band – sponsored by Oswego Quality Carpet
6:45 p.m.: Amanda Keeles
8:45 p.m.: Parmalee – co-sponsored by Alpha Generation, LLC, PAC & Associates of Oswego, and Oswego County Tourism
Saturday, July 26:
Cahill Pier Stage:
12:30 p.m.: See Through Faded – sponsored by Port City Family Medicine PC
2:15 p.m.: The Arcade – Musical Tribute to the 80’s – sponsored by Community Bank
4:15 p.m.: Little Queen – sponsored by Community Bank
6:15 p.m. Frostbit Blue – sponsored by Canale Insurance & Accounting
East Park/Washington Square:
1:15 p.m.: Heather Pierson Trio
3:30 p.m.: Prime Time Brass
5:45 p.m.: Chris Beard Band
8 p.m.: Triple Threat
Breitbeck Park:
1:45 p.m.: Diana Jacobs Band
3:45 p.m.: dangerous type – sponsored by Sherman Construction Inc.
5:45 p.m.: Letizia and the Z Band – sponsored by Harbor Eye Associates
7:45 p.m.: The Horn Dogs – sponsored by Century 21 Galloway Realty
9:30 p.m.: Spectacular Fireworks over Lake Ontario (Fireworks by Grucci) – sponsored by Pathfinder Bank
10 p.m.: ColdFront – sponsored by Harbor Eye Associates
Sunday, July 27:
Washington Square Park:
12:45 p.m.: Jess Novak Band
3 p.m.: Tan and Sober Gentlemen – sponsored by the Ancient Order of the Hibernians and Gibby’s Irish Pub
Breitbeck Park:
1:45 p.m.: Stan Colella Orchestra – sponsored by Laser Transit, LTD
4 p.m.: Mike Farrar and the Houserockers – sponsored by Raby’s Ace Home Center
5:45 p.m.: Urgent – Tribute to Foreigner – sponsored by RJ Caruso Accounting and T.J. Burke Lumber Co., Inc.
Harborfest, photo by Austin DeMott
New to Harborfest this year are Ski Extreme Productions’ water thrill shows! Sponsored by Integrated Power Services, shows take place in the harbor on the east side of Cahill Pier. They feature performers being launched six feet above the water, freestyle jet ski flips and spins, barefoot waterskiing with speeds up to 40 m.p.h., a human pyramid of skiers, a performer flying 70 feet in the air on a water jetpack, and more.
Water Show Schedule at Cahill Pier:
Friday, 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Saturday, 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Another attraction you won’t want to miss are helicopter rides by LX Helicopters. See Lake Ontario from a birds’ eye view! Helicopter rides cost $50 per person for a five-minute flight and are available from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
2025 Harborfest T-shirts are available for purchase. Wear them to the festival or bring them home as a souvenir! To get your Harborfest merch, visit https://www.valtigraphics.com/shop/harborfest.
Harborfest fireworks, photo by Kyle Hurley
Transportation:
Worried about finding parking at Harborfest? No problem! Throughout the festival, free trollies will continuously travel between Breitbeck Park, Midway Carnival/Cahill Pier, the Best Western Hotel, East Park/Washington Square, and the corner of West First Street and Bridge Street. Trollies will run from 5 to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday; and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. New for this year, attendees can also park for free at the Romney Field House lot along State Route 104 and take a free shuttle to Breitbeck Park and back. Shuttle Sponsors include All State Materials Group, Inc., Best Western & Clarion Hotel & Suites, Fulton Savings Bank, and Suburban Propane.
Harborfest fireworks, photo by Kyle Hurley
For more information about Harborfest, visit https://www.oswegoharborfest.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/oswegoharborfest.