First-Ever Broome Arts Festival Coming to Downtown Binghamton

There's something incredible about holding a piece of art made by someone's own hands, not mass produced somewhere far away, but shaped, painted, or stitched by a real person with real talent. I've always loved supporting local artisans for exactly that reason, and this fall, Binghamton is giving all of us a whole street full of reasons to do just that.

State Street is about to look a little different this fall. The Broome County Arts Council is throwing its first-ever Broome Arts Festival on Saturday, September 19, and it's shaping up to be the kind of event that turns a regular downtown block into something worth wandering for an afternoon.

The festival also marks the Arts Council's 40th anniversary, and organizers are treating it like a milestone worth celebrating out loud. State Street will transform into an artists' market packed with local partners, live performances, food vendors, and activities for kids, including musical performances set up right in front of Atomic Tom's.

Broome Arts Festival Brings Local Artists to State Street

The festival's growing artist lineup gives a real sense of just how much creative talent is tucked into the Southern Tier. Painters, potters, jewelry makers, woodworkers, and fiber artists are all part of the mix, many of them working out of home studios scattered across Broome County and beyond. This is the kind of lineup that makes it easy to see exactly why buying local matters; every piece has a name, a story, and a set of hands behind it.

Sauliha-Bano Mitchell brings henna artistry rooted in tradition, blending classic motifs with her own modern designs. Steve Plaisted, owner of The Rafters Wood Crafts, has spent more than three decades making handcrafted gifts before turning his cutting boards and woodcraft into a business. Tom Homa also contributes woodworking pieces to the lineup, while Marika Briggs turns logs into graceful, functional works, using wood donated by friends or found on her Danby property.

Fiber and textile artists also have a strong presence. Austin Geetter hand-sews and designs clothing from home, while Elliot Morelli-Wolfe creates one-of-a-kind crocheted dolls that blend traditional technique with freehand sculpting.

Broome County Nonprofits and Museums Join the Festival Lineup

The festival isn't just about individual artists. Several Broome County organizations are participating too, adding an educational and community layer to the event.

The Phelps Mansion Museum, housed in a Court Street building constructed in 1870, will bring its history alongside the art. Roberson Museum, which offers art, history, and science exhibits in Binghamton, is also on the list, along with Tri-Cities Opera Company, which trains aspiring opera singers through its Resident Artist Training Program.

VINES, the local group behind the Binghamton Urban Farm, rounds out the community organizations, bringing its youth employment program and food-growing mission to the festival.

Food Vendors and Live Performances Round Out the Festival

No festival is complete without food, and the Broome Arts Festival has vendors covering everything from coffee to Caribbean cuisine. Caribbean Patty World and Smokin Butcher Coffee Company are both confirmed, with Smokin Butcher roasting and bagging its coffee for festival-goers to take home.

Live music will fill State Street throughout the day, and a children's activities center is planned to keep younger visitors entertained while their families browse the artists' market.

A Growing List of Broome Arts Festival Vendors

Organizers describe the participant list as ongoing and evolving, so more artists, performers, and vendors are expected as the festival date approaches. If you love the idea of walking away with something one of a kind instead of something off a shelf, this is a festival worth putting on your calendar. The Broome County Arts Council's website has the complete and most current list of galleries and vendors.