Arts and culture
Spiedie Festival and Balloon Rally
The Spiedie Fest brings together about 100,000 people to celebrate local culture, launch a hot air balloon rally, and yes, serve up lots of spiedies. The name of the food is from the Italian word for "skewer", appropriate as the dish was invented/adapted by Italian immigrants who settled here in the early 20th century. There are also many arts, crafts, live music, and all the other sorts of things you'd expect at a big fair.
Anderson Center for the Performing Arts
Consisting of three individual theaters Osterhout Concert Theater, Chamber Hall, and Watters Theater, The Anderson Center provides a world-class venue for any size performance that may come to the region. The Center strives to bring in a variety of international performances in keeping with the universities multicultural perspective, however, it also hosts many local and national performances.
Tri-Cities Opera
Founded in 1949, the Tri-Cities Opera delivers three major opera productions each year at the Forum Theater as well as a number of shorter productions at its Clinton Street location.
First Fridays
35 to 45 downtown venues provide gallery hopping, art openings, music and theater shows to fine dining and entertainment on the first Friday of each month.
Blues on the Bridge
Blues festival held annually on the historic South Washington St Bridge in mid September. 180 or so bands will perform along with food and crafts vendors.
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena and the Forum Theater
Binghamton's two largest indoor venues are managed by the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Arena hosts numerous traveling productions and music concerts. It is also the home venue of the local professional ice hockey team, the Binghamton Senators. The Forum is a restored vaudeville house and hosts the Tri Cities Opera, popular music productions of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and Broadway Theater League shows.
Rod Serling Video Festival
State wide film contest for would-be directors in grades k-12. Film entries are screened at the Helen Foley Theatre in Binghamton, and aired publicly on WSKG Public Television Station
Otsiningo Powwow
A festival showcasing native peoples of the Americas, particularly the Haudenosaunee Iroquois heritage of upstate New York. The park itself was the site of an 18th century Haudenosaunee village.
First Night
Nationally recognized arts and culture celebration to bring in the new year. City buses provide transportation to events scattered around the city through-out the evening. At midnight a massive bonfire is lit outside The Arena.
Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra
Lead by Jose-Luis Novo, the Binghamton Philharmonic produces a classical and chamber music series at the Anderson Center for Performing Arts and a popular music series at the Forum Theater downtown.
Sporting events and recreation
Chris Thater Memorial Races
Premier cycling and running event held in honor drunk driving victim, Chris Thater. Traditionally falls on the last weekend of August
Dick's Sporting Goods Open
Formerly the BC Open, it is now a stop on the PGA Tournament of Champions.
Binghamton Mets Baseball Team
AA minor league team. Feeder for New York Mets.
Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger
Men's Challenger tennis tournament held over 9 days a few weeks prior to the US Open. Challengers are Pro Circuit tennis players from around the world.
Binghamton Senators Hockey Club
Professional hockey team of Binghamton area.
STOP-DWI Tournament of Champions
One of the top high school softball tournaments in the country. Heavily visited by college softball coaches.
STOP-DWI Holiday Classic
World famous high school basketball tournament held during the Christmas season. Host some of the best teams from across the nation.
World Youth Classic
American Legion youth baseball tournament featuring world-class Legion baseball teams held annually in July
Movies
Art Mission
Independent, not-for profit theater with two screens. Housed in a former rail depot.
Cinema Saver
Regal Cinemas
First run. 12 screens with surround sound.
Lowes Town Square
First run. 9 screens.
Museums and education
Kopernik Observatory and Science Center
The Kopernik Observatory bills itself as "the best-sited and best equipped public observatory in the Northeast United States for over 25 years". During the warmer half of the year, it offers regular educational programming and observation every Friday evening.
Phelps Mansion Museum
A well-preserved and maintained example of Binghamton architecture in the guilded age, the Phelps Mansion was the home of a successful local banker in the 1870s. It was designed by Isaac Perry, known for many locally significant historic landmarks as well as the New York State Capitol. Tours are available during regular hours or by appointment.
Roberson Museum and Science Center
Roberson Museum and Science Center engages people of all ages and backgrounds by providing community-relevant exhibitions and programs in art, history and science education. It hosts the Binghamton Visitor's Center, which is open daily, free of charge. The museum features a planetarium with regular shows for an extra $2 per person. The permanent exhibit on the region's role aviation and flight simulation is particularly good.
Bundy Arts and Victorian Museum
This museum is located in the former home of Harlow Bundy, who with his brother Willard, built up what eventually became the International Business Machines IBM corporation. The stated mission of the museum is to honor local entreprenuers, artists, and personalities by showcasing the fruits of their labor and the culture they influenced. The museum includes an extensive collection showcasing the Bundy Time Recording company with the clocks and punch-cards that became IBM's first major boon. Also features an eclectic collection of arts and antiques.
Discovery Center of the Southern Tier
The mission of The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier is to develop the intellectual, physical and emotional well-being of the children of the Southern Tier through participatory exhibits and programs. Everything is hands-on.
Ross Park Zoo
The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, is the nation's fifth oldest zoo in continual operation. In recent years the zoo has benefited from increased community investment and management, and you can see the care taken in its volunteer maintained gardens and well-kept if modest exhibits. It makes an enjoyable and educational half-day visit. Be sure to spend some time with the Golden Lion Tamarins. If you stay a while, you may hear the gray wolves howl at the sound of sirens from the occasional ambulance approaching nearby General Hospital. The antique carousel by the zoo entrance is, like all others in the area, open to the public free of charge.