Looking for something different to do this summer? Check out some of these niche events
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The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here and that means an abundance of festivals, outdoor concerts and county fairs.
If you are looking for something that's a bit of a departure from standard fare, there are also events across the region that are quirky, offbeat, or just a little different.
Here's a sampling of niche events for people looking for a change of pace.
Eliot Ness Fest
Legendary lawman Eliot Ness, leader of a team of federal agents known as "Untouchables" who helped clean up corruption and organized crime in Chicago and other big cities during Prohibition, spent his later years living in Coudersport, Potter County.
The annual festival celebrates the life and achievements of Ness, who was instrumental in taking down infamous Chicago crime boss Al Capone. It will also pay tribute to other law enforcement professionals.
The event will take place July 14-16 at various locations around Coudersport, and will bring back the popular “Eliot Ness vs. Al Capone” scenario. The festival will also feature a speakeasy beer garden, a community picnic, games, live music, a parade and other activities.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in period costumes.
For more information, go to eliotnessfest.com, or facebook.com/eliotnessfest.
Windsor Corn Festival & Tractor Show
Windsor Partnership & Friends is sponsoring its fifth annual Corn Festival & Tractor Show from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at Klumpp Park in the Village of Windsor.
The event is about all things corn — popcorn, roasted corn, kettle corn, corn chowder.
In addition to corn and other food, the festival will highlight agriculture, including tractor and farm displays, a corn husking competition, Miller's Farm calf pen, hay wagon rides and a tractor parade.
There will also be live music, face painting, craft and food vendors, and games for kids of all ages.
Admission is free, but organizers welcome nonperishable goods for donation to Windsor's human development food pantry.
For more information, email Contact@WindsorPartners.org.
Wellsboro Comic Con
Following a successful inaugural event in 2022, Wellsboro Comic Con returns in August as an annual town-wide festival celebrating comic arts and creativity.
This year's event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 12 and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 13 at five venues around Wellsboro.
The lineup of talent includes “Lego Flash” voice actor Charlie Schlatter; Darth Vader, TMNT, and Godzilla artist Adam Gorham; former Simpsons producer and writer Larry Doyle; New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake; and Spider-Man, Star Wars and Secret Identity Author Alex Segura, among others.
Overall, there will be more than 100 creators and vendors, along with a wide variety of free activities — including arts and crafts, games, a comedy show for kids, and a photo booth, open to everyone. A cosplay contest will be held both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
For tickets and more information, go to www.wellsborocomiccon.com.
Touch-a-Truck
Many children enjoy playing with toy trucks, but an August event in Towanda will enable kids and their families to see a variety of trucks up close.
The second Touch-a-Truck event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at the Bradford County Airport, 415 Airport Road in Towanda.
Touch-a-Truck events take place all over the country, and participants in the Towanda event will have an opportunity to touch firetrucks, tow trucks, ambulances, and other large vehicles, and learn more about the people who drive those vehicles, according to organizer Irene Radigan.
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The event will feature a fly-in pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Various vendors will be on hand, and WAVR Choice 102 radio will broadcast from the event.
Admission to Touch-a-Truck is free. For more information, contact Radigan at 607-269-6536 or Irene@Radiganmedia.com.
Canaseraga Fall Harvest Festival
While this event celebrates fall, technically it will still be summer when it takes place.
And while the fall festival offers much of the standard festival fare — a car show, music and other entertainment, hot air balloons and various vendors, among other attractions — one event in particular stands out as different.
That's the "Hairy Women of Klipnocky" competition based on a local legend. Anyone can participate, female or not, as long as they present themselves as a "hairy woman."
Participants can sing, dance, juggle, whatever they choose, as long as it's family-friendly, according to organizers.
Performances will be judged by audience applause after all participants have finished, and cash prizes will be awarded.
The Canaserega Fall Harvest Festival will take place Sept. 16 and 17 at the Canaseraga Village Park. For more information, go to canaseragafestival.com.
Farm + Apiary Open House
Bespoke Apothecary, 300 Sullivan Crest Road in Elmira (near Newtown Battlefield State Park), will host its seventh annual Farm + Apiary Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 26.
Bespoke Apothecary is a permaculture farm that grows various organic fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, along with free-range chickens and honey bees, according to its website.
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Various vendors will be on-site, and live music will be provided by Chasing Rabbits. Parking will be available at the Lowman Flea Market on county Route 60, with shuttles running to and from the farm throughout the day.
For more information, go to facebook.com/bespokeapothecaryatddf.
Carousel and Band Organ Rally
Broome County Rotary clubs will sponsor the inaugural carousel and band organ rally July 22 and 23 at two parks in the Town of Union.
The carousel festival will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22 at CFJ Park, and will feature vendors and entertainment, a Civil War reenactment, National Carousel Association and Carousel Modelers and Miniatures Association.
The band organ rally will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Highland Park, and will also offer food and entertainment, along with crank organ concerts at 2 and 4 p.m. each day.
The rally will also include a carousel circuit, featuring rides at five participating local carousels, which will be open their normal operating hours.
The free events will also honor local celebrities, including Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling.
For more information, contact the Town of Union parks and recreation department at 607-786-2970.
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Check out these unique events an easy drive from the Southern Tier
