The annual Memorial Day parade has been a point of community pride in Oneonta, but empty planters downtown have had a lackluster appearance.
Complaints about the vacant garden plots caught the attention of Susan Lettis, a member of the Oneonta Federated Garden Club. She said while the club remains committed to filling 36 downtown planters with annuals on June 2, those flowers would be too fragile to plant before the parade.
EASTER BUNNY—10 a.m. to noon. Bring the kids down to visit with the Easter Bunny, enter a coloring contest, get adorable pictures, take home some goodies (while supplies last), and enter to win an Easter basket raffle. Held by Destination Oneonta at Foothills Performing Arts and Civics Center, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
HOLIDAY PARADE—5 p.m. Get into your holiday finery and welcome Santa Claus to Oneonta at the holiday parade. Followed by tree lighting and other holiday festivities. Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
ONEONTA TREE LIGHTING—5:30-7:30 p.m. Celebrate the lighting of the Onoenta Christmas Tree (at 6 p.m.). Includes horsedrawn carriage rides, Nutcraker Dancers in the windows of downtown businesses, and much more. Muller Plaza, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta.com/holiday-fun
SANTA VISIT—5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring the kids to visit Santa and tell him what they want most this Christmas. Santa’s Cottage, Muller Plaza, Oneonta. (607) 376-7599 or visit destinationoneonta.com/holiday-fun
BE AN ANGEL – The community is invited to adopt a family and then find Christmas gifts for each of the children listed. Gifts are due unwrapped and without tags to either the office of The Freeman’s Journal at 21 Railroad Ave. in Cooperstown, or at the Salvation Army Church at 25 River St. in Oneonta. Visit allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ for details
On Saturday, September 10, about a dozen SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick students joined several community volunteers in a long-overdue clean-up of the triangle at the intersection of Main Street and Lettis Highway in the City of Oneonta.
“The city’s lack of funds and staffing had put the maintenance of this entrance to Oneonta on a backburner,” Mark Drnek, Mayor of Oneonta, said. “But a local resident, Wendy Slicer, saw an opportunity to engage the community in an effort that would not only benefit the appearance of this important downtown plot, but also enlist the assistance of students from both colleges in collaboration.”
CONTRADANCE RETURNS – 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Rejoin your friends for a fun social dance with the Otsego Dance Society. Will feature music by Erik House & Friends and Peter Blue will be the caller. Suggested donation, $8/adult. New location at Cornfield Hall, 655 Co. Rd. 26, Fly Creek. Visit otsegodancesociety.weebly.com
EASTER BUNNY – 10 a.m. – Noon. Bring the kids out to celebrate spring and meet with the Easter Bunny. Take pictures, enter to win an Easter Basket, enter the coloring contest, and each kids brings home a goodie bag. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-376-7599 or visit www.destinationoneonta.com/calendar
TREE LIGHTING – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join the Oneonta community for fun evening of holiday activities, carriage rides, and the lighting of the 2021 Community Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. Muller Plaza, Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-2941 visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
HOLIDAY PARADE – 10 – 11 a.m. Santa arrives to his cottage with a fun, Home For The Holidays Parade. Line up at 9 a.m. on Elm St. Parade proceeds down Main Street, Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.destinationoneonta.com/calendar
CHRISTMAS – Be an Angel. Sign up to give the gift of Christmas to local families in need with this years Angel Tree Program. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ for details.
TRICK OR TREAT – Noon. Kids are invited to join Destination Oneonta to trick or treat at participating businesses and then be wowed by the Ghoulies and Ghosties of the Halloween Parade. Main Street, Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
VIRTUAL TOUR – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Get the family together to explore the exhibit ‘Believe in Yourself: What We Learned From Arthur.’ See original illustrations spanning the career of Marc Brown, the creator of the Arthur Adventure Book series which became the popular television show ‘Arthur.’ See his pencil drawings, learn about the storyboarding process, and see clips from an interview. Free, registration required. Suggested donation, $10. Presented by The Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
HARVEST PARTY – Noon – 6 p.m. Join Destination Oneonta for free celebration of all things autumn. Includes themed activities, treats, games, and vendors of all sorts. Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
ART OPENING – 4 – 6 p.m. Celebrate the 3rd entry in the ongoing art series ‘High Alert, Artists Speak Out on social justice.’ This time enjoy a preview of a 2021 in-progress documentary on the creation of a 9000 sq. ft. mural in NJ and works by 5 of the muralists will be on display on the walls. All welcome. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Rd., Cooperstown. 607-547-5327 or visit www.facebook.com/TheArtGarageCooperstown/
Despite significant delays because of COVID, the Memorial Day parade in Oneonta is set to continue on Monday, May 31, as scheduled, following the traditional route.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Foothills Performing Arts Center, go down Main Street and end in Neahwa Park, for a somber memorial service.
The city of Oneonta is still looking for parade entries to join the lineup at 9 a.m. at Foothills PAC. Community groups, sports teams, veterans groups, faith organizations and clubs are welcome.
The parade is held in partnership with Destination Oneonta.
SPRING CLEANING – Collect litter around the city of Oneonta to give the city a spring pick-me-up. Each full bag gets a raffle ticket for gift certificates to Latte Lounge and Nina’s Pizza. Kings Kakery will also be providing treats to those who drop of full bags (first come, first serve). Bags can be dropped at 56 Center St., Oneonta. 607-432-2941 or visit www.facebook.com/DestinationOneonta/
AUDUBON SOCIETY – 10 a.m. – Noon. Get your questions in Q&A session with the Delaware-Otsego Audubon society board members. Topics on everything from the society in general to birding to effects of lead ammunition. Presented as part of OCCA’s online Earth Festival. 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/earth-festival/
Santa Claus arrived in Oneonta today to pick up letters and say hello to the kids of Oneonta, explaining that this year, visits will be virtual, rather than face-to-face visits at his Muller Plaza cottage as they have been in previous years. “Santa can’t get sick,” he assured viewers. “But I want you to keep wearing your mask.” Kids can sign up for a one-on-one Zoom chat with Santa, or drop off letters at his cottage, which will be read and responded to by his elves. (Photo Credit: Destination Oneonta)
