Elmira
Around Elmira
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New York · 81k people
Elmira
Locals say Chemung Valley · “Queen City”
A river town wrapped in autumn hills
Autumn MapleChemung River Blue
Welcome to the Chemung Valley, where the river runs through town and the hills are just a short drive away. Whether you're here for the soaring, the history, or just the friendly small-town vibe, you'll find a place to call home. Come say hi at the farmers market or catch a ballgame at Dunn Field.
Clubs for Elmira
No clubs for Elmira yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Elmira. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Elmira. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Arnot Art Museum Regional art collection in a historic mansion.
- Chemung Valley History Museum Local history exhibits.
- National Soaring Museum Aviation and gliding history.
- Newtown Battlefield State Park Revolutionary War battlefield with trails.
- Dunn Field Historic home of the Elmira Pioneers.
- Chemung River Trail Scenic riverfront walking and biking path.
- Outdoors Walk the Chemung River Trail
- Outdoors Hike the hills at Tanglewood
- With kids Visit the Arnot Art Museum
- With kids See a Pioneers game at Dunn Field
- Evenings Catch a show at the Clemens Center
- Evenings Grab a drink at a downtown pub
- Locals love Riverfront parks
- Locals love Hometown diners
Through the year
- Chemung County Fair August Annual fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Harris Hill Soaring Festival Summer Glider exhibitions and activities at the soaring capital.
- Elmira Street Painting Festival Summer Chalk art on the streets of downtown Elmira.
- Elmira Riverfest Summer Riverfront celebration with music, food, and family fun.
- Elmira Summer Concert Series Summer Weekly outdoor concerts in local parks.
Elmira has a four-season climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall, especially for riverfront walks and hill hikes. Winter brings snow for sledding and skiing nearby, while summer has festivals and outdoor concerts. Best: Late spring through early fall for riverfront walks and hill hikes.
Talk like a local
- “The Valley”
- The Chemung Valley region.
- “Shuh-mung”
- Local pronunciation of Chemung.
- “Spiedie”
- The local marinated meat sandwich.
- “The Flats”
- Big Flats.
Getaways
- Corning Visit the Corning Museum of Glass and the Gaffer District.
- Ithaca Explore the gorges and Cornell's campus.
- Binghamton Check out the carousel and the riverfront.
- Seneca Falls See the Women's Rights National Historical Park.
Local flavour
Rooting for Buffalo Bills (NFL), New York Yankees (MLB), Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Spiedie Marinated meat skewers, a Southern Tier staple
- Finger Lakes wine Local vineyards produce Riesling and other varietals
- Salt potatoes Boiled in salted water, a Central New York classic
- Grape pie A Finger Lakes dessert specialty
Where people go
- Small-town main streets Historic storefronts and community feel
- Riverfront parks Walking paths along the Chemung River
- Hiking trails in the hills Rolling hills and forested ridges
- Vineyards Part of the Finger Lakes wine region
- Diners Classic American roadside diners
Heritage and traditions
Elmira takes pride in its literary legacy as Mark Twain's summer home, its pioneering role in women's education, and its status as a national hub for gliding and soaring.
This time of year in Elmira
- Apple picking and cider donuts Fall Orchards welcome visitors in the fall.
Say it like a local: “pop” — soda
Festivals
- Mark Twain Birthday Celebration November Commemorates Twain's life at Woodlawn Cemetery each November.
- Juneteenth Celebration June Parade and festival celebrating African American freedom and culture.
- Horseheads Depot Day September Celebrates the historic railroad depot with food, music, and history.
- Big Flats Community Day August Local food, crafts, and music in a small-town setting.
- Elmira Heights Firemen's Carnival July Classic carnival with rides, games, and firefighter demonstrations.
- Southport Summer Concert Series Summer Free outdoor concerts in the park during summer evenings.
Landmarks with a story
- Woodlawn Cemetery Historic cemetery, burial site of Mark Twain and his family.
- Elmira College Founded in 1855, first college to grant degrees to women equal to men.
- Elmira Prison Camp site Civil War prison camp, now a memorial with interpretive markers.
- Quarry Farm Mark Twain's summer home, where he wrote many works.
- Chemung Canal Historic canal that connected the region to the Erie Canal.
Food traditions
- Pierogies Polish dumplings, often served at church suppers and festivals.
- Kielbasa Polish sausage, grilled at summer gatherings and cookouts.
- Italian sausage and peppers From the Italian community, served at festivals and family dinners.
- Friday fish fries During Lent, churches and fire halls host fish dinners.
- Maple syrup Local sugar shacks in the surrounding hills produce syrup in early spring.
Music and arts
- Elmira Symphony Orchestra Performs classical concerts throughout the year.
- Clemens Center for the Performing Arts Hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and community events.
- Community theater Several local groups perform plays and musicals.
- Literary tradition Mark Twain's legacy inspires local writing workshops and events.
A little history
- 1779 Battle of Newtown
- 1855 Elmira College founded, pioneering women's education
- 1864 Elmira Prison Camp holds Confederate prisoners
- 1870s Mark Twain summers at Quarry Farm, writing many works
- 1930s Harris Hill becomes a center for gliding
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Summer baseball at Dunn Field
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Tanglewood
- Outdoors Canoeing the Chemung River
- With kids Play at Wisner Park
- With kids Swim at the city pool
Locals speak with a mild Upstate New York accent, often saying 'pop' for soda and using 'yous' as a plural 'you'.
Only here
- The Mark Twain Study is the only octagonal study in the world.
- Harris Hill is one of the premier gliding sites in the US.
- Elmira College was the first to grant degrees to women equal to men.
- Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place of Mark Twain and his family.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'pop' for soda.
- Be prepared for snowy winters; invest in a good snow shovel.
- Check out the Mark Twain Study and Woodlawn Cemetery.
- Try a spiedie sandwich at a local diner.
- Attend a church supper for authentic local food.
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Part of Corning area
Nearby
Every areaCorningNew YorkWhere glass meets the Finger LakesSayrePennsylvaniaWhere the river bends and the ridges roll on.Pennsylvania WildsPennsylvaniaWhere the forest meets the starsIthacaNew YorkWhere gorges meet good vibes.Watkins GlenNew YorkWhere the gorge meets the lake.BinghamtonNew YorkA carousel of charmCortlandNew YorkCrown of the hills, heart of the harvest.Seneca FallsNew YorkWhere history meets the lake
Elmira, NY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.