Harborfest is a vibrant, free summer festival held at the end of July in Oswego, NY each year since 1988. This beloved community event, organized by a non-profit, features live music from more than two dozen bands and performers, delicious food, thrilling rides, and the biggest and best fireworks show in Upstate New York. More than 50,000 people attend each year.
Schedule of Events:
Breitbeck Park
Breitbeck Park comes alive during Harborfest. The park hosts a diverse variety of live music performances on its main stage. Food, arts and crafts, farmer’s market and business vendors line the park, making for great eating and excellent shopping. Support our vendors to help keep Harborfest free for you to attend!
Children take center stage on Friday, as the annual Children’s Parade ends at the park and kicks off a day of special performances and activities. The Midway Carnival and the Cahill Pier music stage are a short walk away. The park’s scenic location along the Oswego Marina, Harbor, and Great Lakes provides a beautiful backdrop for the festivities and a great place to watch the region’s biggest and best fireworks show. Breitbeck Park is the heart of Harborfest.
On the Breitbeck Park Constellation stage:
5:00 PM: Chris Taylor & the Custom Taylor Band – sponsored by Oswego Quality Carpet
6:45 PM: Amanda Keeles
8:45 PM: Parmalee – co-sponsored by Alpha Generation, LLC, PAC & Associates of Oswego and Oswego County Tourism
NEW: Water Thrills Show – sponsored by Integrated Power Services
Shows Friday in the harbor off Cahill Pier.
12:30, 3:00 and 5:15 p.m.
Children’s area (East end of Breitbeck Park) – Friday, July 25
Children’s Tent sponsored by Wayne Drug Co. Inc.
Noon & 2:00pm: Jared Campbell – sponsored by NBT Bank
11:00. 1:15 & 3:15pm: Diggery Dinosaur Show
Children’s Attractions
Friday:
-Monster Mural – sponsored by Glider Oil Company, Inc.
-10:30 a.m.: Pirates Themed Children’s Parade (West Park to Breitbeck Park)
-11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.: The REV Theater Co. presents Rumpelstiltskin: Unspun – sponsored by Children’s Board of Oswego, NY Inc.
-1:00 p.m.: Catskill Puppet Theater – sponsored by Rudys of Lake Ontario Inc.
-11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: G&G Animals – sponsored by Oswego County Youth Bureau
Friday – Sunday:
-Veranica’s Dancing Dogs
-The Shadow Players
Cahill Pier Stage
Schedule
1:30 PM: Colleen Kattau Trio – sponsored by Community Bank
3:45 PM: Double V’s – sponsored by Community Bank
6:00 PM: Rydher – sponsored by Community Bank
Food Vendor
NEW: Water Thrills Show
Shows Friday afternoons in the harbor off Cahill Pier.
12:30, 3:00 and 5:15 p.m.
Children’s Parade
Imagine your child’s face lighting up as they march down the streets of Oswego, a star in their own right, during Harborfest’s annual Children’s Parade! This isn’t just any parade – it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity and community, where kids become the main attraction. They can come to West Park/Franklin Square to make masks to wear as they march and see some of the larger-than-life characters who will march alongside them. It’s a chance to make lasting memories, connect with other families, and experience the thrill of being part of something truly special – a highlight of Harborfest that your child will cherish for years to come and the start of a day of activities and entertainment for young people at Novelis Breitbeck Park.
For 2025 this popular parade is Friday, July 25th . The parade will begin at West Park/Franklin Square at 10:30 AM and travel along West Fifth Street to Lake Street and will conclude in Novelis Breitbeck Park .
Parade participants should plan on arriving in West Park/Franklin Square by 10:00 AM.
East Park/Washington Square (Jazz & Blues)
Jazz and Blues Stage
1:30 PM: Dam Dog – sponsored by Compass Federal Credit Union
3:45 PM: Stop Thinking – sponsored by Raby’s Ace Home Center
6:00 PM: Jeffrey Broussard and The Creole Cowboys
8:15 PM: Chris Beard Band
Midway Carnival
On Lake Street in front of the Coast Guard Station.
Hours of Operation:
Friday – 11:00 AM – Midnight
Pricing:
Rides will be priced at 3, 4 and 5 tickets per ride.
Tickets are $1.50 each; 20 tickets for $30 and 50 tickets for $60.
Pre-event sale; 50 tickets for $45.
Water Show
Harborfest is proud to bring Ski Extreme Productions’ water thrills show to the 2025 edition of the festival.
The show, taking place in the harbor on the east side of Cahill Pier, features barefoot waterskiing with speeds up to 40 miles per hour, Sky Ski – a hydrofoil device launching the performer six feet above the water, freestyle water skiers being launched into the air from a ramp, high-horsepower freestyle jet ski flips and spins, a performer flying 70 feet in the air on a water jetpack, a human pyramid of skiers and more.
Shows take place three times daily on Friday:
12:30, 3:00 and 5:15 p.m.
Helicopter Rides
Helicopter rides return to Harborfest for 2025!
Soar high above Harborfest for five minutes and see the beauty of Lake Ontario and our amazing shoreline. Let FLX Helicopters show you Oswego as the birds see it! Rides are $50 per person for a five minute flight.
Schedule:
Friday, noon-9pm
Location:
Breitbeck Park - 91 Lake St, Oswego, NY 13126
William S. Cahill Pier - 39 Lake St, Oswego, NY 13126
Franklin Square - W Seneca St, Oswego, NY 13126
Washington Square - 25 E Oneida St, Oswego, NY 13126
