The 11th Annual Wildflower Festival is May 24 at Union Square Park
From HPG,
Hornell, NY — Hornell Partners for Growth (HPG), in collaboration with the City of Hornell, local businesses, and generous community sponsors, is proud to announce the official launch of the 2025 Hornell Festival Season — a yearlong lineup of free, family-friendly events that celebrate community, creativity, and connection.
Wildflower Festival Kicks Off the Season – May 24, 2025
The season begins with the 11th Annual Wildflower Festival on Friday, May 24, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Union Square Park. Enjoy music by DJ Truth, shop from over 70 local craft & food vendors, Kids can enjoy free face painting and airbrush tattoos from Badger & Butterfly Studios, a bounce house, and arts & crafts.
Thursdays at the Square: Live Music & Themed Community Nights
Back by popular demand, Thursdays at the Square returns to Union Square Park with live entertainment and a rotating theme each week. Music kicks off at 6:00 PM unless otherwise noted; vendors set up at 5pm.
- June 26 – Hornell Alumni Night with Shepard Pi; we are excited to invite all Alumni to this kickoff event! Not able to make it in person, listen in G.O.A.T 96.3-97.1-98.3-98.7 as they join us for a two-hour live show!
- July 10 – Senior Citizen Night with 78 RPM Big Band; reserved seating available for senior facilities who reach out to HPG requesting seating
- July 17 – Peace, Love & Adoption with Chris Cahill (5–6 PM) and High Pines (7–9 PM); featuring area animal shelters and Child foster programs
- July 24 – Veterans Night with White River Band; nonprofits serving veterans encouraged to request a free vendor spot
- July 31 – Feed the Community Night with Seneca Jam; free meals provided in partnership with Fresh Start Church and Fidelis Care. We invite the community to bring canned & dry foods for donations to the church pantry.
- August 7 – Maple City Rocks with Fatfinger, featuring fun kids’ rock-themed arts & crafts
- August 14 – Boogie Through the Decades with Dave Weaver as Elvis (5–6 PM) and Jokers & Thieves (7–9 PM)
- August 21 – Discover Hornell Night with Hard Luck Rangers; promoting the Discover Hornell App
- August 28 – Kids Night Finale with DJ Truth, Punch & Judy Puppet Show, and free face painting & airbrush tattoos
July 4th Celebration: Parade, Park Fun, and Fireworks
The community’s biggest summer celebration takes place on Thursday, July 4:
- 12:00 PM: The Annual Parade kicks off downtown. Participants (floats, vehicles, fire trucks, bands, and kids on bikes) should line up at the Community Bank parking lot by 11:45 AM. A featured performance by Down Beat Percussion, the official drumline of the Buffalo Bills, will energize the crowd.
- Prizes will be awarded for Best Float, Marching Group, Vehicle, and Crowd Favorite.
- 1:00–10:00 PM: Head to Veterans Memorial Park for a full day of fun:
- Entertainment by DJ Bushie
- Food and craft vendors
- Free activities for all ages, including bounce houses, obstacle courses, toddler zones, and thrill rides like the Ninja Wall, Ultimate Ninja Course, Melt Down, and Euro Bungy (activities close at 7:00 PM)
- A free Bubble Train Shuttle will transport guests across the park
- The night ends with a 30-minute fireworks spectacular, sponsored by HPG businesses, the City of Hornell, and community partners
Fall Fun at the 6th Annual Maple City Fall Festival – October 11
On Friday, October 11, the fun continues downtown from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM with:
- Over 150 vendors
- A free Kids Zone featuring bounce houses and obstacle courses
- A high-energy live concert by Hall Pass 80’s, covering pop, rock, and New Wave hits from Duran Duran, Prince, Depeche Mode, and more
Holiday Magic Returns: Hornell for the Holidays – November 29
The season concludes with Hornell for the Holidays on Saturday, November 29:
- Celebrate Shop Local Saturday with downtown sales and promotions
- 5:00 PM Parade featuring Santa Claus, who will light the official HPG Christmas Tree upon arrival
- DJ Truth keeps spirits bright as Santa welcomes families to his Cottage for free visits and small gifts for children (while supplies last)
- Santa’s Cottage will also be open on select Saturdays and Thursdays in December (dates to be announced)
Hornell’s Festival Season is a celebration of community spirit, made possible by the support of local businesses and sponsors. For full details on these and other upcoming events, visit the events section of our Facebook page or download the Discover Hornell App. Vendor looking for more information on how to set up at any event can reach out to the HPG office. Additionally, we would like to highlight that the Steuben County Destination Development Grant program, awarded to Hornell Partners for Growth from the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau (Explore Steuben) and approved by the Steuben County Legislature has made all of these events possible.
Any student who needs to fulfill community service requirements is encouraged to reach out to Hornell Partners for Growth (HPG) for available volunteer opportunities. Any of these community events throughout the year are available for volunteers. Volunteering with HPG is a great way to earn service hours while contributing to local events, gaining experience, and making a positive impact in the Hornell community. Interested students can contact HPG by emailing hornellpartners@gmail.com or calling (607) 324-9786.
Interested in sponsoring an event? Contact HPG at hornellpartners@gmail.com.
Download the Discover Hornell App:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/discover-hornell/id1563954758
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.visitwidget.hornellny
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