April in New York State blooms with events catering to just about every taste and interest. From the serene thrill of trout season opening in pristine lakes and streams to vibrant flower festivals celebrating the arrival of spring, there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s getting to meet comic book artists and writers, savoring exquisite wines, or watching kites soar high above a beach, this April promises unforgettable experiences across the state! Check out our calendar for a full list of events. Photo Credit: @urban_bedouin on Instagram.
🗓️When: April 1, 2026
📍Where: Statewide
April marks the beginning of trout season, offering a fantastic selection of trout to anglers fishing the state’s clean, clear lakes and streams. You’ll find brown trout in the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and Catskill reservoirs. Rainbow trout occur in many New York lakes and tributaries of the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes. Brook trout are found in hundreds of lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks and scattered in cool, clear streams across the state. Fishing enthusiasts from near and far are invited to the Tri-County Trout Derby in Arcade, NY (April 18-19, 2026) to try their luck at catching 400 tagged trout swimming the Cattaraugus Creek. Catch a tagged fish and it could be worth $25 to $1,000!
Know Before You Go: Get detailed fishing regulation and license information for the waters you intend to fish. Stocking information, along with fishing regulations, maps, and access information is available in The Tackle Box feature of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s HuntFishNY app. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows users to access information when cell coverage isn’t available. Fishing license required.
Spring into a Flower Festival (Multiple Regions)
🗓️When: Multiple Dates
📍Where: Statewide
Credit: @mikerechterphotography on Instagram
Spring has sprung in New York State and what better way to celebrate than at a colorful flower festival! In New York City, wander through the New York Botanical Garden and marvel at the stunning displays atThe Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle (through April 26, 2026).
Discover enchanting blooms at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Garden’s Spring Flower Exhibit (March 20-April 13), step back in time in the Hudson Valley at Lyndhurst Mansion forLyndhurst Flower House and Market (April 18-19), and take in the seasonal splendor at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival (April 25-26).
Get a taste of Holland and tiptoe your way through the tulips at the Meadowbrook Farm’s Spring Fling Flower Walk in the Catskills (April 25-26), Mohonk Tulip Festival in the Hudson Valley (April 27-May 11), Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden Tulip Festival on Long Island (opening in April), and Kelder’s Farm’s Tulip Festival, kicking off in late April. Each event offers a unique celebration of nature’s beauty, sure to leave you captivated and inspired! Prices and locations vary.
Raise a Glass at a Wine Festival (Multiple Regions)
🗓️When: Multiple Dates
📍Where: Albany and Syracuse
Credit: Thousand Islands Winery
Raise your glass to New York’s vibrant wine scene at can’t-miss festivals this April! On April 11, head to the Capital Wine Festival at the Albany Capital Center for unlimited samples of New York wines and spirits, a Paint and Sip session, dancing, games, food, and fun. On April 19, head over to the Syracuse Wine Festival at The Oncenter Convention Center, featuring unlimited food and drink samples, paint and sip fun, a DJ, photobooth, and board games for a laid-back vibe. Designated driver tickets available at all events. Prices vary.
🗓️When: Multiple Dates
📍Where: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens
Credit: @twogurls_oneplate on Instagram
Savor the flavors of the world right in the heart of New York City. Smorgasburg, dubbed by the New York Times as “The Woodstock of Eating,” will pop up Fridays in the World Trade Center, Saturdays at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg, and Sundays at Prospect Park. Foodies can indulge in a diverse array of delectable delights, from fragrant Ethiopian stews and Hawaii-style street comforts to explosive pani puri and potato puff poutine. Queens Night Market also returns in the spring to Flushing Meadows Corona Park with jerk chicken, Pakistani paratha rolls, Native American fry bread, Dutch stroopwafels and dozens more food vendors dishing out plates capped at $6 in a festive environment.
🗓️When: April 3-4, 2026
📍Where: Binghamton
Celebrate spring at the zoo in Binghamton! Try your hand at the Bunny Ear Ring Toss and Spring Chick Plinko for prizes and candy, find colorful eggs in a scavenger hunt, take photos with E. Bunny, and of course, say hi to all the animals like red pandas, snow leopards, African penguins, and more! Admission is $10 for visitors 3 and up; children 2 and under free.
🗓️When: April 3-12, 2026
📍Where: Manhattan
Rev your engine—the New York International Auto Show is back at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center! From exotic supercars to cutting-edge concepts, explore over 750 vehicles across four floors of exhibits, get behind the wheel at the new Toyota Experience outdoor test track and enjoy steep climbs and off-road obstacles at Camp Jeep’s thrill ride, and catch a sneak peek of “Drifter,” a new film by Sung Kang, known for his role as Han in “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. The Family Fun Zone has a Kids EV Test Track and No Limit Ninjas Obstacle Course delivering fun for all ages. Tickets range from $8 to $48.
🗓️When: April 10-11, 2026
📍Where: Lafargeville
Feel the energy as Thunder in the Thousand Islands roars into Can-Am Speedway with high-powered dirt-track racing, kicking off the Super DIRTcar Series season. Hear the roar of the engines and see dirt flying as you get close to the racing action and enjoy the thrill of competition.
🗓️When: April 10-12, 2026
📍Where: Poughkeepsie
Come together for a celebration of ink, art, and culture in Poughkeepsie as over 200 top tattoo artists from around the world showcase their unique styles and talents. Enjoy live tattooing, explore diverse techniques, and even get inked by industry pros. Beyond tattoos, enjoy live entertainment, contests, and an eclectic marketplace with artisanal products and tattoo gear. Families are welcome—kids under 12 get in free! Whether you’re a tattoo enthusiast, looking to get inked, or are up for a unique weekend, this is the place to be.Tickets: $25 1-day pass, $65 3-day pass, $85 VIP pass.
🗓️When: April 11, 2026
📍Where: Woodstock
While the Woodstock Bookfest is on hiatus for 2026, the signature (often sold-out) Story Slam is still on for a high-energy night of creative storytelling at the Woodstock Playhouse. Similar to a poetry slam, 20 storytellers will have four minutes to tell their story that must include the line, “I should have said…” as they face three judges and a gong that sounds if they go off-theme or over time. The event promises a “night of merriment and poignancy, profanity and thoughtfulness.” Ticket prices range from $30 to $35 with a $5 handling and processing fee.
🗓️When: April 11, 2026
📍Where: Watkins Glen
Credit: @fingerlakestourism on Instagram
Get ready for a day filled with excitement, camaraderie, and the chance to experience one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world at Opening Day Weekend at Watkins Glen International! This annual event lets you take your own vehicle for a spin on the historic 3.45-mile Grand Prix circuit. Enjoy three laps around the track, with more available for purchase, all benefitting the Racing and Community Enrichment (R.A.C.E.) Foundation. Arrive early, follow the guidelines, and make the most of this unforgettable racing experience! $24 per car in advance (ticket fees included); groups of 10 or more must reserve a spot in advance.
🗓️When: April 17-19, 2026
📍Where: Various Locations, Chautauqua County, NY
Raise a toast to America’s 250th birthday in Lake Erie Wine Country during this special all-American weekend. Make memories as you enjoy wine and food pairings that celebrate America. Three-day tickets are $45; Two-day tickets (Friday and Sunday only) are $35; and mocktail tickets are $20. Two or three day wine tasting ticket holders will get a keepsake wine glass.
🗓️When: April 17-19, 2026
📍Where: Statewide
Credit: @spotlightsojourns on Instagram
Want to give back this Earth Day? Canal Clean Sweep, sponsored by the NYS Canal Corporation, is a beloved annual tradition that brings together thousands of volunteers in cleaning up more than 100 locations along New York’s storied canals and greenways. Want to get involved? Organize a cleanup or sign up for a free event on the Canal Clean Sweep map. Rally your friends, family, and colleagues to volunteer at cleanup sites across the state!
🗓️When: April 23, 2026-May 10, 2026
📍Where: Manhattan, NY
Credit: @qiu001 on Instagram
Celebrate spring in New York City with thousands of stunning plants, flowers, and trees at the annual Macy’s Flower Show in Herald Square! This year’s theme is Homegrown, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary expressed through flowers, fiber and timeless handicrafts, transforming the flagship store into one of the most colorful destinations in the city. Cost: Admission is free.
🗓️When: April 24, 2026
📍Where: Phoenicia
Spend a day on Slide Mountain taking a guided 6.7-roundtrip hike up the tallest peak in the Catskills. Learn about the namesakes of the historic Curtis–Ormsbee Trail, explore the significance of the Catskills’ iconic 3,500-foot elevation marker signs and why this elevation holds such an important place in regional hiking history. Expect a steady climb on this challenging and rewarding hike that offers stunning summit views (weather permitting), and rich natural and cultural history. Free admission with a suggested donation of $10. Registration is required.
ITHACON (Finger Lakes)
🗓️When: April 25-26, 2026
📍Where: Ithaca
Celebrate all things comic books in Ithaca! Meet renowned comic book artists and writers, explore diverse exhibitors, and join panels on superhero storytelling and pop culture trends. Enjoy cosplay contests, family-friendly fun, and shop for comics, collectibles, and original art. Tickets range from $5 to $25.
🗓️When: April 25, 2026
📍Where: Garrison
Credit: @boscobelhg on Instagram
Join in on a celebration of sustainability and community at the Boscobel House and Gardens, a restored 19th-century Federal-style museum overlooking Hudson River and West Point with a Neoclassical mansion and 68 acres of gardens and trails. Shop local goods, enjoy scenic hikes, picnic on the Great Lawn, and explore the budding landscape. Admission to the grounds, Visitor Center, and Exhibition Galleries is free, thanks to generous support. Learn about climate solutions, pollinator gardens, composting, zero waste, electric vehicles, and more from local organizations.
🗓️When: April 25, 2026 (Rain Date: April 26, 2026)
📍Where: North Babylon
Credit: Marta Zielinska
Head out to Overlook Beach for a free fun-filled day of kite flying, entertainment, and community spirit! Witness professional kite flyers and bring (or buy) your own kite to join in the fun and feel the wind lift your kite high above the beach. Kids can enjoy a sweet treat during the candy drop. The day will also feature a bubble maker, food trucks, artisan market, live entertainment and more!
🗓️When: April 25, 2026
📍Where: Glens Falls
Photo courtesy of Jaynie Ellis, Lake George Area/Warren County Tourism Department
Have a finger lickin’ good time at the annual Glens Falls Wing Fest! Sample the city’s best chicken wings as local restaurants compete for your vote for Best Wings, Best Visitor, Best Rookie, and Best Meatless Entree. Enjoy three hours of delicious wing tasting, leading up to an awards ceremony featuring live music. Things get even spicier with the festival’s popular wing eating contest! There will also be lawn games and a bounce house.
🗓️When: April 26, 2026-May 3, 2026
📍Where: Nassau and Suffolk counties
Credit: Marta Zielinska
Embark on a culinary adventure where food lovers from far and wide come to indulge in the best of Long Island’s culinary scene! Delight in a feast for the senses, offering specially curated prix-fixe menus at an array of restaurants, from cozy waterfront bistros to elegant fine dining establishments. Savor the freshest seafood, decadent desserts, and creative local cuisine crafted by talented chefs who put Long Island on the foodie map. Bon appétit! Various locations; $24 for a two-course lunch, and $29, $39, or $46 for a three-course dinner. Prices include appetizer, entrée, and dessert (beverages, tax, and gratuity are not included). Prix-fixe dinners on Saturday typically only available until 7 p.m.
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