Archive: Around Town

On August 14th Myers Park will fill up with people looking for good music, good food, events, and a good time.  But Lansing Harbor Festival is organized entirely by Lansing Community Council  volunteers who are busiest from January through August putting together the festival.  Each year there is a major new element, as well as tweaks to existing pieces, and this year is no exception.  This year's big new piece is a Fishing Derby competition.   The music, vendors, food, contests, and great day at the park will be better than ever in the festival's fourth year.

The bands are always the big draw for the festival, and this year has a stellar lineup.  Starting the day will be the Lansing High School Cabaret directed by Bob Keefe.  John Rawlins was last year's Z95.5's singing contest winner, and he'll be at Harbor Festival this year to perform.  The Rochester-based dance rock band Reporter, which features Lansing's School Superintendent Steve Grimm on bass, is on the bill, as is a repeat performance by the Po' Boys Brass Band, a New Orleans-style brass/funk/rock band.  Finishing the festival with the countrified pop-rock stylings of the Burns Sisters has become a tradition that will be maintained this year as well.


Last year the first annual Lighthouse 5K Run was a big hit, and it will be back this year.  Runners will compete in eight age groups ranging from children under 15 to 70+.  Prizes will be be awarded in each age group, and everyone who finishes the course will receive a ribbon.  Entry fees will help support the Lansing Varsity Cross Country Team.  This year Cayuga Foot Care will sponsor the breakfast for the runners.

The Fishing Derby will also require registration and an entry fee, 80% of which will be used for cash prizes for the winners.  Fishing enthusiasts can also sign up for the optional lunker pool.  Division A will rank lake trout 24 inches and larger.  Division B prizes will go for browns, rainbows and salmon 18 inches and more.  The Derby is being organized by Scott Bennett, and will run from 12:01am to 3pm.  Lansing Youth Services will host a kids version of the derby with non-cash prizes for winners.


Dave Vieser will take his fourth turn as master of ceremonies.  Vieser hosts WHCU's Morning News Watch with News Director Geoff Dunn.  A supporter and Harbor Festival enthusiast since it began, Vieser announces bands, events, introduces local personalities, and plays music in between band performances.  He also serves as a judge in the Baker Cup Chicken Barbecue Contest, which will be back for the fourth year in a row.

Another new event is a drum circle by One Heart Community Drumming.  They bring ten drums, and invite others to bring their own drums and join the circle.  Activities and events will run all day at the Kids Pavilion, and a huge array of local businesses and not-for-profits will line Vendors Row again this year.  The Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom will be back to offer a lake cruise, and the Fun Run and third annual sand castle contest will also be back.

The Lansing Community Council has been in existance for at least 55 years.  During that time it has regularly provided funding for the Lansing Recreation Department, Lansing Older Adult Program (LOAP),   Lansing Drop-In Program, Lansing Youth Services, emergency aid to local people in need, and funding to additional Lansing services, including the Lansing Community Library and the Lansing Central School District, when extra money is available.  This year the council led the campaign to raise more than $130,000 and scores of volunteers to build the new playground in Myers Park.


In 2007 the Community Council held the first Lansing Harbor Festival.  Last year the organization raised the money needed to reassemble the oldest log cabin in Tompkins and Cayuga Counties, which was built near the corner of Conlon and Searles Roads in Lansing by Thomas North 1791.  Plans to celebrate the completion of the log cabin are in the works for this year's Harbor Festival.

There are spaces open for vendors of all kinds, and the final lineup of vendors and events typically grows up to the last minute.  At only $50 for for-profit booths, and $25 for not-for-profits, Harbor Festival is the best deal going.  Organizers say they keep booth prices low to encourage local businesses and groups of all kinds to be more visible in the community.  While money raised in booths goes to the organizations and businesses selling there, some, like the Lansing Tops Market, donate the take back to the festival.  Festival organizers especially encourage not-for-profits to raise money in their booths.

Each of the summer festivals in the area have something different to offer.  Lansing Harbor Festival offers one of the area's most beautiful parks, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.  It is a mellower festival with plenty of room to enjoy the bands, events, and the day.  While contributions are encouraged, there is no charge to attend, which makes it an especially great way to enjoy the day and celebrate Lansing, the lake, and the surrounding area.

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