Three Festivals. Two Weekends. One Very Good Reason to Explore the Butternut Valley.

What if your next late-summer adventure started with a pair of running shoes, picked up a bicycle somewhere along the way, stopped for food and live music, wandered through an outdoor sculpture park and ended under the stars?

Welcome to Butternut Valley Days 2026.

Taking place over the final two weekends of August, this new celebration brings together communities and organizations across Otsego County’s Butternut Valley for three days filled with live music, outdoor recreation, food, art and family-friendly activities.

You can run. You can ride. You can dance. You can do yoga. You can browse local vendors. You can admire giant sculptures. You can watch a movie outside.

Or you can simply find a comfortable spot, listen to some music and wonder why you haven’t spent more time exploring this beautiful corner of Upstate New York.

One Celebration, Three Communities

Butternut Valley Days grew out of something wonderfully simple: several organizations throughout the Valley were already planning events around the same two weekends. Rather than compete for attention, they decided to connect them.

“When we found out that several community partners were planning festivals during the same two weekends, we saw an opportunity to bring them together under one banner,” said Cassandra Miller, executive director of the Butternut Valley Alliance.

“Butternut Valley Days highlights events presented by organizations across the Valley and encourages people to explore everything our communities have to offer throughout August.”

The result is a celebration stretching from Garrattsville to Morris to Gilbertsville, giving visitors a reason to follow the festivities—and perhaps discover a few new favorite places along the way.

Saturday, August 22: Run, Ride and Stay for the Music

The celebration begins Saturday morning at Butternuts Beer & Ale in Garrattsville.

The inaugural Hellbender 5K Cross-Country Run takes place from 9:30 to 11 a.m., following a course through New Lisbon and Garrattsville.

At 11 a.m., cyclists roll out for the Butternut Valley Gravel Grinder, a scenic ride through the Valley’s hills. Participants can choose between 16- and 48-mile routes. The ride is scheduled to conclude around 1 p.m.

Then it is time to trade the cardio for cold beverages and live music.

The free BVA Summer Festival runs from 1 to 6 p.m. at Butternuts Beer & Ale. The community celebration includes live music, food and beverages, local vendors and family activities.

Scheduled performers include Killdeer Trio, Barnyard Saints, Hard Job and Kathook. Activities announced for the festival include the Utica Zoomobile, New York Wildlife Rescue Center, Native American artifacts, face painting, a bounce house and artisan vendors.

In other words, this is one of those events where “we’ll just stop by for an hour” could very easily become your entire afternoon.

The day concludes in Morris with a free Outdoor Movie Night presented by Butternut Valley Alliance and Student Voices, Student Choices.

The movie is scheduled from 8 to 10:30 p.m. at Morris Central School, located at 65 West Main Street. Bring something comfortable for sitting outside and settle in for a movie under the stars.

Not a bad Saturday.

Sunday, August 23: Morris Turns Up the Volume

The next morning, head to Morris for the inaugural Morris Music Festival, presented by The Gatehouse Coffee Shop & Mercantile.

The free festival runs from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., bringing a full day of live music, food, coffee, yoga and community activities to downtown Morris.

The day begins with Yoga with Alyx at 8:30 a.m., followed by live performances throughout the day.

The announced musical lineup includes John Houshmand, Blue Stone Orchard, Liam Herbert, Andrew Carrington, Trio Afinado, Khalil Jade, The Hardy Brothers, Carl & Jack, Jimi Hendrix Trio, Yana King, Shira & Healing Love Water and Yolanda Bush.

Grab a coffee. Find something to eat. Wander around Morris. Listen to a performer you may already love—or discover someone you have never heard before.

That is part of the fun.

Saturday, August 29: Art and Music Meet in Gilbertsville

One week later, Butternut Valley Days wraps up in one of the region’s most unusual settings.

The free GEM Music & Arts Festival takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. at GEM Sculpture Park, located at 12 Commons Drive in Gilbertsville.

The festival celebrates the 10th anniversary of Gilbertsville Expressive Movement and brings live music into a 14-acre outdoor park filled with large-scale sculpture.

The Jimi Hendrix Jazz Trio headlines the musical lineup, joined by Half A Pow, Riffle | Jade | Herbert and Dani Delwyn & The Kelvin Crows.

Beyond the music, visitors can explore artisan vendors, food offerings, a cruise-in car show, face painting, a juggler and the sculpture park itself.

Gates open at 3 p.m., rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free parking and a water station will be available.

Because honestly, live music surrounded by massive outdoor sculptures is not exactly your average Saturday afternoon.

More Than a Festival

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Butternut Valley Days is not any single performance, race or activity.

It is the collaboration behind it.

The Butternut Valley Alliance is working with Central New York Cycling, Morris Central School, The Gatehouse, GEM Sculpture Park and other community partners to connect events that might otherwise have stood alone.

Together, they become something bigger: an invitation to explore.

Sometimes discovering Upstate New York means visiting the major attractions everyone already knows. Other times, it means turning down a road you have never traveled, spending an afternoon in a small village and finding yourself wondering, “How did I not know this was here?”

So pick a day.

Or better yet, follow the entire celebration.

Start in Garrattsville. Continue to Morris. Finish among the sculptures in Gilbertsville.

Butternut Valley Days might just introduce you to a whole new corner of Otsego County.

Event schedules may be subject to change. Visit the Butternut Valley Alliance and individual host organizations for registration information and the latest details.