Columbus Day Weekend 2026 Near Cooperstown: What’s On, October 9–11

If there were ever a weekend to lean into fall, this is it. Local schools have a four-day weekend for Columbus Day, plenty of workplaces give Monday off, and the leaves are turning. The Cooperstown area has a full calendar from Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. Here is what is on, and how to fit it around a stay in Herkimer, about 30 minutes north of Cooperstown.

Friday, October 9

Firepit Friday at Brewery Ommegang

6 p.m. · Ommegang Tap House, near Cooperstown

Ease into the long weekend at the Tap House with Ommegang’s own beer, dinner from the brewery food truck and live music. This week the stage belongs to Uncle Shake, who describe their sound as “Vaudeville Grunge.”

Saturday, October 10

Cooperstown Repair Café

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. · Cooperstown Farmers’ Market

Bring something broken and leave with it working. Volunteer Repair Coaches help you troubleshoot and fix it yourself. This month they are taking jewelry, small appliances and lamps. There may be a small charge for materials.

SUNY Oneonta Fall Craft Fair

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. · Hunt Union Ballroom, SUNY Oneonta

The college’s annual fall fair brings local and regional artisans under one roof: jewelry, pottery, candles, textiles, home décor and a good head start on holiday gifts, all from small makers.

Glow Maze at Fly Creek Corn Maze

6 p.m. · Fly Creek, just outside Cooperstown · $10 per person

The corn maze is open all weekend in daylight, but Saturday night is the one to catch. After dark the Glow Maze lights up with blacklights, glowing clues and glow sticks. Wear white or neon and you become part of the show.

Haunted Lantern Tours at Fenimore Farm

Six tours between 5:30 and 8 p.m. · Fenimore Farm and Country Village, Cooperstown

See the historic village after dark on a lantern-lit walk, with ghost stories along the way. Tours run 45 to 60 minutes in small groups, so it is worth checking availability before you set out.

Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11

Scarecrow Village and Tractor Fest

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days · Fenimore Farm and Country Village, Cooperstown

Fall at Fenimore Farm means Tractor Fest. More than 60 tractors from area clubs and organizations fill the grounds, with demonstrations, wagon rides, cider pressing, children’s activities, live music and food. Saturday has the Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull; Sunday brings the Tractor Parade. Tractor Fest is included with regular museum admission.

Sunday, October 11

Afternoon Tea with a Twist at The Otesaga

3 to 5 p.m. · The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown

Wind the weekend down slowly. The Otesaga pairs a curated tea list, French press coffee, espresso and lattes with a menu that goes well past the usual tea sandwich. It runs on select Sundays only, which makes this one worth planning around.

One way to do the weekend from Herkimer

• Friday: check in, then drive down for Firepit Friday at Ommegang.
• Saturday: breakfast, then the Repair Café or the Oneonta craft fair in the morning, Tractor Fest in the afternoon, and either the Glow Maze or a lantern tour after dark.
• Sunday: the Tractor Parade, then tea at The Otesaga.
• Monday: if you have the holiday, stay Sunday night too and take the scenic way home through the color.

Where to stay

Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast is a historic home in Herkimer, about 30 minutes from Cooperstown, with four en-suite rooms and a made-to-order breakfast every morning. All four rooms are dog-friendly; check each event’s own pet policy before bringing your dog along. Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest of the autumn, so check availability online or call (315) 982-5004 to see what is still open, Sunday night included.

Planning further into the season? See everything happening in Central New York this October, our fall foliage guide to the Mohawk Valley, and why guests heading to Cooperstown choose a bed and breakfast near Cooperstown.

Times and prices come from each organizer and can change, so check with the venue before you go.