Special Events

Wisner Market, our signature summer event, is held on Thursdays from 10am until 2pm in Wisner Park in Downtown Elmira. Over 30 vendors offer a variety of products for sale, including fresh produce, cut flowers, candles, art, and crafts. Lunch is served throughout the park during the Market, which features specialties from many well-loved Elmira restaurants. Not-for-profit organizations are welcome to offer information to the over 1,000 weekly visitors, and entertainment is presented at each Market.

All market participants, including farmers, crafters, food service vendors, not-for-profit organizations and entertainers, are licensed by EDD and follow a rigorous application and jury process.

For more information about Wisner Market, click here for the Wisner Market page.

Celebrate Downtown is held annually on the Friday following Thanksgiving, and kicks off the downtown district's holiday season. Held immediately after the Community Bank Holiday Parade, the event is always free to the public. In the past, Celebrate Downtown has offered free family skate parties with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the First Arena, tree lighting and carol singing parties, Breakfasts with Santa, and winter fireworks.


Downtown CleanUp and Operation Green Streets are special events that address improvement to the downtown Environment. The CleanUp is held on the Saturday before Mother's Day, and is a great community service project. Our Green Streets program encourages adoption of downtown sites and provides plants and expertise. Both environmental projects are great volunteer opportunities for you, your family, or your community group. For more information and to volunteer, see the Environment section.

Holiday Window Painting
On November 23rd at 12:00PM, Elmira Downtown Development will host the 2nd Annual Holiday Window Painting Project for the downtown district. EDD is seeking local organizations, schools, families, and any community member who would like to participate into turning our downtown into a work of art for the holidays.

Please join EDD in this fun filled event –there’s a window for everyone. Come prepared with fabulous creative ideas. EDD will provide the supplies, pizza and hot chocolate…. And DRESS warmly. Again, EDD welcomes all groups, organizations, family and friends to brighten up our downtown windows with holiday scenes.

To participate, complete the Volunteer form before and mail or fax it back to EDD.

Download the Holiday Paint Program Volunteer Form

The annual YMCA Duck Race benefits the Chemung County YMCA.  Contact the Y to get a duck and cheer it on as it floats along the mini-Chemung River in downtown's Mark Twain Riverfront Park.



In October, Chemung Canal Trust Company presents Fall Fest. This family-oriented day of music, food, crafts and fun takes over Chemung Canal Plaza on a beautiful upstate New York autumn Saturday.

Elmira Downtown Development offers its expertise in planning to private partners in presenting special events. Collaboration with presenting partners means that events are coordinated and cross-marketed; as experts, we bring needed tools to businesses as they organize festivals, parties, concerts, races and grand openings. All assistance is provided free of charge to businesses in the downtown district. To join forces with EDD, or to get questions answered and doors opened, email the Executive Director.