5 Things To Do this Weekend in the Greater Binghamton Area

Weather in the Greater Binghamton area for the most part has been pretty good.  While friends of mine across the country are sweltering from heat, drought or flooding, considering these weather extremes, we've been pretty fortunate.

That's great news for Binghamton area festivals and outdoor concerts, including the king of festivals, this weekend's 3-day Spiediefest and Balloon Rally at Otsiningo Park.

This weekend is heating up with a lot of activity, beginning Friday with the kickoff of the 30th Annual Spiediefest and Balloon Rally, with a plethora of music of every virtually every genre, magnificent hot air balloons, antique cars and of course, plenty of tasty pork and chicken Spiedies. Sunday's 2pm HAWK concert features Cole Swindell, Kristian Bush of Sugarland and local favorites from Norwich, HAWK Hitmaker Challenge winner and "American Idol" contestant Kaitlyn Jackson and singer-songwriter Cassidy Lynn. This 3 day festival is great family fun.

If you're craving some local produce and locally made products, you can catch 2 Farmer's Markets on Saturday.  The Greene Farmer's Market is on South Chenango Street in the Great American parking lot, located in the Village of Greene from 8-3; the Vestal Farmer's Market is Saturday 9am-1pm in the Vestal Public Library parking lot.  Due to the Spidiefest at Otsiningo Park, this weekend's Binghamton Farmer's Market is taking the weekend off.

With this Friday being a "First Friday," downtown Binghamton will be humming with the "First Friday" Art Walk, in the art district of downtown Binghamton on State Street.

The boys of Summer are home this weekend.  You can catch a Binghamton Mets game all weekend with games Friday and Saturday at 7:05pm and Sunday at 6:35pm.  The Friday and Sunday night games feature fireworks.

Book lovers can pick up some good reads all day Saturday at the Broome County Library in downtown Binghamton.  Book prices range from 25 cents to $1 for hardbacks.