Things to Do in Ithaca in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in Ithaca
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
47°F (9°C)
High Temp
29°F (-2°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March is when spring finally muscles in. Cayuga Lake sheds its winter coat in jagged sheets that crash and tilt like broken panes of glass. Grab a bench at Stewart Park and time the drama, locals have been logging the first crack-up since 1837.
- + Hotel rates fall 35-40% after Valentine's weekend and stay low until March 20th. Maple sugaring is in full swing, so follow your nose to Cornell's Arnot Forest and the surrounding farms for warm samples straight from the evaporator.
- + Cornell and Ithaca College empty out for spring break around mid-month. With the dorms silent, the Johnson Museum's 35,000-piece collection is yours alone, no backpack jostling or lecture-crowd chatter.
- + Restaurant Week spans the last two weeks of March. The 26-year-old Moosewood still signs on, plating their legendary vegetarian lasagna, while newcomers like Gola Osteria roll out three-course menus built from Finger Lakes produce and meats.
Considerations
- − Welcome to the real 'Ithaca is Gorges' mud season. Melting snow plus spring rain turns the Cascadilla Gorge trail into a brown luge track that will eat a pair of shoes in minutes.
- − Half the indie shops on the Commons keep winter hours, locking up at 6 PM sharp. The Saturday Farmers Market migrates into the Steamboat Landing warehouse where metal roofs turn every greeting into a shout.
- − Ithaca's downtown-to-Heights wind tunnels sharpen in March. A 1.6 km (1 mile) hike from Dewitt Mall to campus can feel like 5 km (3 miles) once the lake gusts start slapping you sideways.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March in Ithaca is still cold. Yet the longer days hint at spring. This month is for watching sap drip and for listening to writers. The local rhythm changes from winter quiet to early stirrings. People come out to tap maple trees and gather for literary readings. They use this in-between time before the full Finger Lakes summer. The event calendar shows this shift. Cayuga Nature Center holds its Maple Weekend in mid-March. The sweet smell of boiling sap fills the air. Kids watch clear liquid become amber syrup. Later, the Ithaca College Spring Writes Festival brings a literary energy to campus. The quiet focus of readings and workshops contrasts with outdoor activities. This duality defines Ithaca in March. You can taste the season's first sweetness and hear new stories begin.
Keuka Lake Winery Tour
guided_experienceTake a guided walk of vineyards and cellars on Keuka Lake's western shore. You will walk among dormant vines under a moody sky. Then step into warm tasting rooms. Sample strong reds and crisp whites straight from the producers. The experience links the stark late-winter landscape to the crafted warmth in your glass.
This tour gives you a close look at the distinctive wines from Keuka Lake's smaller family estates. It is far from the crowded trails.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy waterproof boots for the muddy, thawing vineyard paths in March.
Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour
foodThis tour follows the sunny southern shore of Seneca Lake. It visits celebrated wineries with striking architecture. You will hear glasses clink in modern tasting rooms. Taste the complex Rieslings and Cabernet Francs that thrive here. These wines often age well.
It is a curated trip through the dense concentration of excellent wineries on Seneca Lake's southern wine trail.
Insider tip: Focus your tasting notes on the Rieslings. This varietal shows the unique minerality of Seneca Lake's glacial soils.
Private Historic Walking Tour in Ithaca Cultural Landmarks
culturalThis private walk goes through Ithaca's heart. It starts in the historic DeWitt Park district and goes to the Cornell University campus. Feel the textured brick of 19th-century buildings. See the gothic arches of the oldest quadrangles. Hear tales of the industrialists, educators, and eccentrics who shaped the town.
A personalized narrative shows the layered history in Ithaca's streets and stonework. It connects the city's past to its present intellectual pulse.
Insider tip: Ask your guide to include the hidden courtyard and clock tower of Cornell's Andrew Dickson White Library. It is a quiet spot most visitors miss.
Wonderful Watkins Glen Scavenger Hunt
otherThis interactive game turns Watkins Glen into a puzzle. You will follow phone clues through steep hillside streets near the gorge. Search for architectural details, historical markers, and quirky business signs. All while hearing the distant rush of the Glen's waterfalls.
It changes a standard visit to a famous landmark into an engaging exploration of the charming village at its gateway.
Insider tip: Start the hunt at the village's central clock tower. The first clues are easiest to find from this hub.
Keuka Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodThis is a customizable journey around Keuka Lake's Y-shaped shores. You set the pace and focus. You might linger over a vertical tasting or hop between boutique producers. Travel in a limousine, discussing your preferences with a knowledgeable driver.
The complete flexibility to design your own itinerary makes this the best way to experience the personal wine culture of Keuka Lake.
Insider tip: Ask your driver to stop at a winery known for sparkling wines. The effervescence contrasts with the richer local reds.
Seneca Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodThis is a private tailored tour along Seneca Lake's eastern shore. It grants access to big flagships and small appointment-only vineyards. Taste bold Lemberger in a rustic barn. Sample elegant Chardonnay in a sleek lakeview facility. You will see the full spectrum.
The private bespoke nature allows for deep dives into cellar libraries and talks with winemakers. These are not available on standard group tours.
Insider tip: If you like strong reds, visit a vineyard that specializes in the rare peppery Blaufränkisch grape. It is a Seneca Lake specialty.
Where to Stay in Ithaca in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late March
Ithaca College Spring Writes Festival
The writing program's 15-year-old festival lands published authors on campus for free readings and workshops. March 20-22 usually brings three visiting writers who dissect craft in the Handwerker Gallery, past lineups have included Pulitzer winners.
Mid March
Maple Weekend at Cayuga Nature Center
For two days in mid-March, the center fires up traditional maple syrup gear using trees first tapped in the 1970s. Sip sap straight from the spout, it's startlingly watery, then watch the 40-to-1 boil-down that turns it into syrup. Kids queue for maple cotton candy spun on the spot.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Forget the Commons garage on Saturdays and Sundays. Slide into the Cascadilla Street lot behind GreenStar instead, half the price and a five-minute stroll to downtown.
The finest cup isn't on the Commons. Gimme! Coffee on State Street fires up at 6 AM, and locals line up for the macchiato before punching in.
March is the month when Cornell's Johnson Museum lifts the $5 fee for the 20th-floor observation deck. They drop the charge while the outdoor sculpture garden is buried in snow.
Ask for fish at Maxie's Supper Club on Tuesdays. That's when the truck rolls in from NYC's Fulton Fish Market, and the chef tucks the prime cuts aside for locals in the know.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't assume the Farmers Market stays outdoors year-round. March shifts it inside Steamboat Landing, and newcomers circle the Commons wondering where everyone went.
Wear sneakers to the Falls and you'll skate more than sightsee. Spray coats the viewing platforms with ice patches that flat soles can't bite.
Trying to book Restaurant Week tables through OpenTable? Many Ithaca places switch to phone-only reservations for the event.
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