Step back in time to 1800s Corning with the incredible Days of Incandescence. This Halloween-time festival is unique to Corning, New York, as it blends the history of 1800s Corning and a local supernatural tale, The Legend of the Gathers. The stunning Gaffer District transforms with actors dressed in period costumes, flickering lanterns, and other seasonal decor. The ambiance that is created with all these elements makes Days of Incandescence one of the best festivals in New York and one of the best October celebrations in the USA.
I spent the weekend at the Days of Incandescence, exploring Corning, New York, and had a wonderful time. I’ve been gushing about this festival ever since; it has fast become one of my favorite festivals!
Let’s dive into what makes Days of Incandescence so worthwhile to visit!
This blog post is sponsored by Explore Steuben. However, my opinions are, as always, my own.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase a product or book a stay through these links at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents
About the Days of Incandescence
The Days of Incandescence is a Halloween-time festival in Corning, New York. However, this is not your typical Halloween celebration. While there are fun, festive elements, including pumpkins and headless horsemen, Days of Incandescence celebrates a local supernatural tale, The Legend of the Gathers.
The Legend of the Gathers is a story about a mysterious Corning boy who blew the glass bubble for Thomas Edison’s first incandescent lightbulb. Days of Incandescence ties in this legend while sharing its local history, which made a significant impact. This story and event are unique to Corning, New York, and you won’t find any event quite like it anywhere else in the world.
Days of Incandescence is a weekend-long celebration with various festive activities. Both the actors and visitors alike are dressed in 1800s-themed costumes! This old-timey celebration has an incredible atmosphere and is a fun and festive way to celebrate the season.
Days of Incandescence Overview
Where is Days of Incandescence
Days of Incandescence is held in Corning, New York. Specifically, it is held in Corning’s Gaffer District. You’ll find most activities in Centerway Square, along Market Street, and Riverfront Park.
Corning, New York, is in the southern portion of the Finger Lakes region.
When is the Days of Incandescence Festival Weekend
Days of Incandescence is held during the last weekend of October. The 2024 dates are from Thursday, October 24th– Saturday, October 26th.
Highlights of Days of Incandescence
Cemetery Tour
The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and Heritage Village presents this cemetery tour. This hyper-niche history cemetery tour allows you to learn about 1800s Corning, showcasing people who shaped the town and lumber history. This tour not only focuses on big names in the area but also delves into the people history books don’t typically cover—the women at the time. These specific women were an integral part of life in that period.
This cemetery tour also delves into the design elements of gravestones found in the cemeteries around Corning. While learning about this local history is fascinating, walking through these historic cemeteries at night is also a perfect spooky-season activity. After visiting several cemeteries, the evening ends with a nightcap at the historic Benjamin Patterson Inn’s Tavern.
The theme for the cemetery tour tends to change yearly, so it is always worth checking out.
Alternatively, there is a historic walking tour in Coning on Thursday night, alas, I cannot be in two places at once.
Archibald’s Libations Crawl
Indulge in a bit of adult trick-or-treating at Archibald’s Libations Crawl. The Libations Crawl allows partakers to try local libations from various stops along Market Street. There are twelve stops in shops and bars, where you can try wine, beer, and spirits from the region. This is a great way to try local beverages while browsing the shops in the Gaffer District.
Yet, what makes Archibald’s Libations Crawl so unique is that there are costumed residents telling tales from Corning’s past at each stop. These actors dressed in costumes share bits of history at each stop. It was such a fun way to learn about the local history, and the actors were so engaging that you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy the stories.
Be sure to purchase tickets in advance (21+). Check-in for the libations crawl, which is in Centerway Square. At check-in, you’ll receive a souvenir drink glass that will be used for tastings, as well as a map with all the participating venues. Before heading off, listen to the old-timey tunes of Annie Ol Thym in Centerway Square.
Phantoms of the Light
Phantoms of the Light is a classical music performance celebrating the Days of Incandescence. This music was written by local musician Russel Anthony, inspired by the local tale, The Legend of the Gathers. The pieces encompassing Phantoms of the Light tell a compelling story, bringing the story of The Legend of the Gathers to life with music.
The ensemble also played several songs perfectly aligned with the spooky season to get people into the festive spirit. Don’t be intimidated by classical music; this free musical performance is great for the whole family. You’ll likely recognize some of the familiar Halloween tunes.
Story Stations
If you are under 21 or did not get the chance to attend Archibald’s Libations Crawl, you can still hear the stories from the costumed residents of Corning’s past. Actors are scattered around the Gaffer District, sharing their characters’ stories from Corning’s history. This is a free, family-friendly activity. You can get a story card from any of the stations, which will show you where all the stations are located.
Pumpkin Carving
Take a seat in Centerway Square to watch world-famous pumpkin carver Eric Jones in action. It is incredible what he can create with pumpkins. It is truly an art form! Eric Jones was featured in Food Network’s Outrageous Pumpkins and Halloween Wars (he won the latter in 2022).
I enjoyed watching the intricate pumpkin carving process before heading to the Days of Incandescence Celebration. Be sure to return to Centerway Square later in the evening to see the finished product. The pumpkin carvings are amazing!
Days of Incandescence Celebration
The main event of Days of Incandescence is the celebration on Saturday evening. The Days of Incandescence Celebration is an old-timey, family-friendly festival jam-packed with activities and entertainment. Every detail of the festival is spot on, from the canopy of lights in Riverside Park, the jack o’lanterns lining the walkways, and everyone dressed in period costumes. This is a Halloween festival in New York State that you don’t want to miss.
These are the highlights of the festival:
Horse and Wagon Rides
Horse and wagon rides are available for a small fee. The rides depart from Centerway Square and take passengers up and down Market Street. This is a great way to see the Gaffer District from a unique perspective and is a fun seasonal activity.
Old-Timey Games and Activities
Kids will love the Gilded Age games, such as hoop and stick and quotis. But when the kids aren’t playing, be sure to try your hand at these old-timey games that you’ve likely never played before. There are also kids activities such as butter churning, face painting, and more.
Headless Horsemen
To add to the spooky fun, this festival has a headless horseman. The headless horseman can be found jaunted around Riverfront Park, where the main festivities are.
Entertainment
There’s a wide array of entertainment at the Days of Incandescence Celebration. Live music by Silver Lining, a traditional Irish and Scottish folk band, welcomes you into the festival. You can watch a blacksmith demonstration, which fits into the 1800s theme of this event quite well.
Exciting acts include a live juggler, street magician, and even a fire artist! There is truly something new to discover at every corner of this festival.
Story Time
Listen to festive tales in the story area, including haunted happenings, Halloween lore, and the local Legend of the Gatherers. With the flickering lantern light and costumed storyteller, these stories are extremely engaging.
Market Vendors + Food
In addition to the thematic activities, market vendors and stalls sell treats at the Days of Incandescence Celebration. You’ll find vendors selling everything from glass pumpkins to pixie gardens. There are food trucks to grab a bite to eat or a sweet treat, including ice cream (Dippity Do Dahs) and baked goods (Scratch Bakery). Be sure to grab an apple cider from one of the stalls, which is the perfect fall beverage.
Should you Wear a Costume to the Festival?
Yes! You should absolutely wear a costume if you want! Costumes are encouraged but not required. However, it adds to the fun if you don your best 1800s garb to embrace this festival. People dressed up for Archibald’s Libations Crawl and the Days of Incandescence Celebration.
There were people dressed in old-timey costumes and regular clothing, so you won’t feel left out whichever you decide.
Other Things to do in/around Corning
If you’re in town for the weekend for Days of Incandescence, you should take the opportunity to discover more of what this area has to offer. There is so much to experience around Corning, New York! Most of the events are held in the evenings, you’ll have the days to explore Corning and the surrounding region. Here are some of the best things to do while you’re in town:
- Visit the Corning Museum of Glass – A visit to the Corning Museum of Glass is a must when in Corning, New York. This museum is dedicated to the art, history, and science of glass and is one of the best museums in New York State. Be sure to check out the glass-making workshops, which include glass blowing and flameworking. Don’t miss the museum’s new exhibit, Collidoscope.
- Make Your Own Glass Studio- While you do a glass-making workshop at the Corning Museum of Glass, if you’d prefer a more intimate setting, go to Make Your Own Glass Studio. I did the glass blowing to make a glass pumpkin here!
- Go Horseback Riding- Horseback riding at Mountain Rose Farm is a great way to experience this region’s scenic beauty while enjoying a fun and relaxing activity. I did the Beginner Trail Ride and had such a wonderful time. The beautiful fall foliage made this trail ride even more memorable. There are intermediate and advanced rides if you have prior riding experience and want something more exhilarating.
- Ride on a Glider Plane- If you’re looking for a unique activity, I couldn’t recommend riding on a glider plane at Harris Hill Soaring enough! A glider is an unpowered aircraft that glides through the air. This thrilling flying experience allows you to get a bird’ s-eye view of the beautiful landscape below.
Places to Eat in Corning
Corning, New York, has some great restaurants. There’s a wide array of options to choose from. Here are some recommendations for places to eat in Corning:
- Aniello’s Pizzaria – Great pizza and garlic knots! This casual restaurant is perfect if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat before/during the festival.
- Nickel’s Pit BBQ – The food here was delicious! There are great sandwiches, and I loved the pulled pork nachos. This is a great place to eat something heartier.
- Old World Cafe- This is the perfect place to grab lunch. There are plenty of sandwiches on the menu, and the interior of this cafe is so charming.
- Hand + Foot- If you’re looking for a trendier restaurant, I highly recommend Hand + Foot. It offers options such as Poke and Bahn mi. Plus, the wine, beer, and cocktail menu is incredible.
Where to Stay
Radisson Hotel Corning
The Radisson Hotel Corning is located at the end of Market Street in the Gaffer District, making it walkable to all the shops and restaurants in Corning. This is an ideal hotel, location-wise, especially when visiting for the Days of Incandescence. It was great to be able to walk to and from all the festivities.
Halloween Festival in Corning: Wrap-up
Days of Incandescence is truly a spectacular festival. The jack-o-lantern-lined walkways and 1800s costumes make it undeniably atmospheric. There are so many fun activities and events to partake in. You must keep this festival on your radar when planning October getaways in New York.
For more travel inspiration, check out these posts:
❤️ Things to do in Corning NY: The Ultimate Corning Travel Guide
💎 Why the Corning Museum of Glass is the Coolest Museum in New York
🌊 Stony Brook State Park: Hiking the Gorge Trail
For more PA travel, check out my New York section!
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