July Folksmarch in Cato

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 9:00 AM. – 12:00 PM AND SUNDAY, JULY 14, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Civic Heritage Historical Society at 11256 South Street, Cato, NY 13033.

The Civic Heritage Historical Society will be our sign-in location this month. The center features historical exhibits for the Cayuga County towns of Cato, Ira, Victory and Conquest. Additional parking is available at Mott Park, which is right next to the center on Millard Ave. 

The route will consist mainly of village sidewalks with some rural roadways and some hilly areas. Leashed dogs are allowed, with owners doing any clean-up needed. 

Find out more in our July 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

June Walk with Nature

Saturday, June 8, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and Sunday, June 9, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMSterling Nature Center, 15730 Jensvold Rd., Sterling, NY 13156.

It has been a while, but happily we will be revisiting Sterling Nature Center this month. The Folksmarch sign-in table will be located at the brand-new visitor’s education building.

Along the lakeside trails, you can expect some breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, as well as lovely sights of birds, butterflies and flora on the woodland trails and meadows. This time of year is especially enjoyable as the Great Blue Heron rookery is taking place. The trails at SNC are well-groomed and of varying terrain and degrees of challenge, mostly easy to moderate. Depending on the amount of rain we have the week before our Folksmarch, some areas may be muddy. There are plenty of picnic tables for those who pack a lunch or snack to enjoy at this peaceful place. Don’t forget to bring binoculars to best observe the heron nests!

Find out more in our June 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

Mom Walk at Green Lakes

Saturday, May 11, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and Sunday, May 12, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Green Lakes State Park, 7900 Green Lakes Road, Fayetteville, NY 13066.

Usually, the May Folksmarch is held on the 3rd weekend of the month, but this year we decided that many Moms might enjoy celebrating their special day with a walk along the beautiful trails at this local treasure. Green Lakes has been one of the favorite locations for Folksmarchers since the very first event in October 1981.

As usual, walkers will have the option of walking around just Green Lake (1.9 mi) or also adding Round Lake (.9 mi) and other trails for those who want even more. 

Find out more in our May 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

April Folksmarch at Marcellus Park 

APRIL 13, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM AND APRIL 14, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Marcellus Park, 2443 Platt Road, Marcellus , NY 13108.

Our 5k Folksmarch will include a walk along the upper and lower park areas, a portion of Nine Mile Creek and several paths throughout the park to suit just about everyone’s distance goals. Some of the walkways are gravel, while some are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Find out more in our April 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

March Among the Animals

MARCH 9, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM AND MARCH 10, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Note the time change on Saturday due to facility operating hours) – Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park https://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Many of you will recall the 40th anniversary celebration we Folksmarchers enjoyed at the zoo in October 2021. Since then, the zoo has welcomed a new penguin, the birth of twin elephants and most recently 2 tiger cubs. These new arrivals join the other 900 animals that live at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. 

The zoo is open year-round with an outdoor groomed trail that takes in a view of hundreds of animals that reside there. If you are dedicated to doing the usual 5k Folksmarch, you could repeat the 0.75-mile walk in and outside the zoo, plus add a 0.25-mile jaunt around the upper parking lot where you will have a magnificent view of the city.

The usual Folksmarch fee of $4 will be in place, but entry to the zoo will be FREE for all Folksmarchers. Only on-duty service animals are permitted to visit the zoo.

PLEASE NOTE SATURDAY HOURS WILL BE 10:00 A.M. – NOON. The doors will open at 9:30 and we will be there for sign-in, but entry to the zoo is not until 10:00 a.m. Sunday hours will be as always: from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 

Still time to get your 2024 Annual Membership Pass ($40) or a Yearly Passport membership card ($10). The price for these has remained the same for 2024. The $40 Annual Membership Pass includes the Yearly Passport membership card (regularly $10) and the remaining 10-monthly walks ($4 per walk). That’s a savings of $10 per person!

Find out more in our March 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

A Walk for Mind & Body

FEBRUARY 10, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM AND FEBRUARY 11, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Village of Minoa.

Let’s hope this unusually mild winter is the case on the second weekend in February when we will be walking the village streets of Minoa. Jamie, the very accommodating owner of Northbound Mind & Body Shop has agreed to open her store during off hours for Folksmarchers to sign-in at the shop which is located at 116 North Main St., Minoa, NY 13166. 

The 5k +/- route we have planned will take Folksmarchers through the residential streets of Minoa, which is the smallest of the 3 villages in the Town of Manlius. It was once a prominent railroad community and was known as Manlius Station – a stop on the Syracuse/Utica Railroad line. Nowadays, this quaint historic neighborhood, with a population of about 3500, has seen some growth with several new retailers joining the business district. Leashed dogs are allowed on the walking route, but not inside the businesses

Find out more in our February 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

Start the New Year with a Walk

JANUARY 13, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM AND JANUARY 14, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Destiny USA, Syracuse, New York. Find a First Day Hike at a local NYS Park

Once again, we will hold our first Folksmarch of the year at the centrally located mall: Destiny USA. January weather is unpredictable in our area. We may have a relatively warm winter day for Folksmarchers to walk outside along the Inner Harbor and a portion of the Creek Walk which is a short distance from the mall entrance on Hiawatha Blvd. Others may choose to see what’s new inside the mall by walking the perimeter of the 4 retail floors in order to complete a 5k. 

Find out more in our January 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

A Holiday Walk for the History Books

DECEMBER 9, 9:00 AM-NOON AND DECEMBER 10, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Onondaga Historical Association, 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse.

‘Tis the season to enjoy a winter walk in Downtown Syracuse. Once again many of the businesses have decorated their windows with holiday themes for the 8th Annual Winter Wonderland Contest. Our route will pass by several displays and Folksmarchers will have an opportinity to vote for their favorite scene.

Find out more in our December 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.

A Central Village

NOVEMBER 11, 9:00 AM-NOON AND NOVEMBER 12, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Central Square.

The First Universalist Society of Central Square will be our sign-in location, there is an ample parking lot adjacent to the church. The walk includes a stop at the Central Square Station Museum to view their rolling stock in the train yard, a walk-through Crossroads Park and Goettel Park and the Central Square cemetery. This 5k walk is divided into three roughly equal parts for those who don’t want to walk 5k. There are sidewalks along all the roads and the parks are easy to navigate on grass and driveways.