Things to Do in Ithaca in September
September weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
September Weather in Ithaca
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
75°F (24°C)
High Temp
58°F (14°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is September Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + September hands you the final warm swims of the year, Cayuga Lake still sits at 21°C (70°F) through mid-month, warm enough to drift on an inflatable while the first red maples ignite along the western shore.
- + Cornell students are back yet not yet drowning in midterms, so Collegetown bars still have patio seats at happy hour and the Cornell Dairy Bar's salted caramel ice cream doesn't vanish until 8pm instead of 5.
- + Wine harvest begins in the Finger Lakes, you can pluck grapes straight off the vine at Thirsty Owl or King Ferry, then watch crews press chardonnay in barns that smell like honey and fermentation tanks.
- + Hotel rates drop 25-30% after Labor Day while the weather stays warm enough for morning hikes to Ithaca Falls, September hands you peak-season beauty without peak-season pricing.
Considerations
- − Evenings turn crisp fast, by 7pm you'll want a fleece for the Commons, and that outdoor table under string lights loses charm when you're shivering through your cider.
- − Fall foliage hasn't peaked yet, the hillsides are still mostly green with early hints of color, so if you're here specifically for leaf-peeping, you'll be a week or two early.
- − Some seasonal businesses close after Labor Day, the Stewart Park paddleboard rental shuts down, and the Ithaca Farmers Market thins out as farmers focus on harvest instead of tourists.
Best Activities in September
Top things to do during your visit
September in Ithaca is busy and purposeful. It sits between summer's warmth and fall's crisp arrival. Days are often generous, with sunshine through canopies just starting to change color. The harvest meets renewed academic energy as students return to the hilltop campuses. Everyone goes outdoors. They use the trails before leaf-peepers descend and linger on patios in the cool evening. The main event is the Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival downtown in late September. The Commons transforms. The air smells of cider donuts and kettle corn. Folk music and laughter mix by the fountain. It is a communal celebration of local bounty. A time for both reflection and festivity.
Keuka Lake Winery Tour
guided_experienceThe Keuka Lake Winery Tour follows the scenic bluffs of one of the Finger Lakes. Vineyards run down slopes to clear, blue water. You will taste crisp Rieslings and complex reds in small tasting rooms. Feel the cool lake breeze. Vintners explain the distinct minerality of their slopes. This guided experience links the wine in your glass directly to the rocky soil and microclimate. You can see both from the winery porch.
It has a curated start to the elegant, often smaller-scale producers defining Keuka Lake wine.
Insider tip: Request a seat on the lake-facing side of the vehicle for clear views of the water between vineyards.
Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour
foodThe Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour explores the deep, warm corridor of Seneca Lake. This area is known for bold Cabernet Francs and aromatic Gewürztraminers. You will hear glasses clink in busy tasting rooms. See the wide vista of New York's deepest lake from vineyard patios. That large body of water influences the grapes. The tour mixes established names and newer, passionate operations along a well-traveled wine trail.
This tour provides an efficient, flavorful survey of the powerhouse wineries behind Seneca Lake's reputation.
Insider tip: Wear layers. The temperature can shift between a sunny vineyard and a cool, stone-walled cellar full of barrels.
Private Historic Walking Tour in Ithaca Cultural Landmarks
culturalThe Private Historic Walking Tour in Ithaca Cultural Landmarks goes beyond the gorges. It traces the intellectual and social currents that shaped the town. You will stand before ornate brick facades in DeWitt Park. Hear stories of founding figures. See architectural echoes of its past as a center for innovation and radical thought. Your guide's narrative makes the paved streets feel like pages from a local history book.
This personalized walk reveals the ambition, ideology, and community etched into Ithaca's downtown core.
Insider tip: Start at the History Center in Tompkins County. Examine old maps and photographs for context before you see the landmarks.
Wonderful Watkins Glen Scavenger Hunt
otherThe Wonderful Watkins Glen Scavenger Hunt turns the famous gorge into an interactive puzzle. It leads you past roaring cataracts and under dripping stone bridges in Watkins Glen State Park. You will feel mist from Rainbow Falls. Hear the constant rush of water echo between narrow shale walls. Solve clues tied to the geology and history of the glen. This activity engages both mind and senses on the stone path.
It makes a spectacular natural walk into a playful, engaging adventure for groups or families.
Insider tip: Download the required app and any materials fully before entering the park. Cellular service is unreliable in the deep gorge.
This month: The stone gorge paths in Watkins Glen State Park stay open through September. Go early to avoid late-season tourist crowds.
Keuka Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodThe Keuka Lake Wine Tour - Customizable lets you design a day around your palate. Seek a dry rosé or a late-harvest dessert wine. You will smell oak from aging barrels in a cellar. Taste fresh juice at a family-run farm winery. Travel winding roads that offer sudden, impressive glimpses of Keuka Lake's slender form. Your driver handles the route. You absorb the views and flavors.
This tour delivers a personal, adaptable wine experience on the quieter Keuka Lake circuit.
Insider tip: Discuss your preferences in detail when booking. Some smaller Keuka Lake vineyards need advance notice for groups but offer very personal tastings.
Seneca Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodThe Seneca Lake Wine Tour - Customizable puts the vast Seneca Lake wine trail in your hands. Choose from strong reds to sparkling wines. Feel the energy of a large, modern tasting room. Compare it to the quiet charm of a rustic barn setting. The lake's shimmering surface is a constant backdrop between vine rows. This tailored journey spends time at wineries matching your specific interests.
It offers freedom to explore the varied styles and scales of winemaking on Seneca Lake's shores.
Insider tip: If you like newer, experimental varietals, ask your coordinator to include a stop at a younger winery on the east side of the lake.
Where to Stay in Ithaca in September
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for September travellers.
September Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late September
Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival
Downtown closes to traffic for three days of cider donuts, apple pies, and folk music. The smell of kettle corn drifts down Cayuga Street while kids bob for apples in the Commons fountain.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Local secret: the Stewart Park playground has free parking and a path that leads to the best sunset view over Cayuga Lake, bring takeout from the West End food trucks.
September Tuesdays at Ithaca Beer Company, they release their harvest ale made with local hops, and the patio stays warm enough to drink outside until 8pm.
Cornell's campus orchards open for apple picking on weekends, ask at the Cornell Store downtown for directions to the unsignposted entrance off Route 366.
Skip the Commons parking garage during Farmers Market Saturdays, park at the Triphammer Mall and take the 20-minute walk along the gorge trail instead.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming September means fall colors, foliage doesn't peak until mid-October, so you'll see mostly green with hints of red instead of the Instagram-famous hills.
Booking lakefront accommodations without checking if they're open past Labor Day, some close for the season and won't tell you until you arrive.
Wearing shorts for evening activities, that 24°C (75°F) afternoon drops fast, and you'll be the tourist shivering in the Ithaca Beer Company line.
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