The Binghamton, New York area is a great place to live, work and play whether you’re joining WBNG‘s team for your first job or as a seasoned professional. The city is known as the Carousel Capital of the World and that’s just the beginning of what it has to offer for fun and recreation.
Root for your favorite team
Sports fans love their Binghamton Devils AHL hockey team and their Binghamton Rumble Ponies AA baseball team. The Binghamton University Bearcats and SUNY Broome Hornets also draw cheering crowds for their college sporting events. With New York City only a three-hour drive away, it’s also popular for people to take day trips to see the New York Giants, New York Jets, New York Yankees and New York Mets. Take a trip to Western New York and you’ll find the Buffalo Bills. You can also root for your favorite PGA Champion at the annual DICK’s Sporting Goods Open.
Enjoy great eats
Food-lovers will enjoy Binghamton’s wide range of restaurants, craft breweries and food-oriented events. The year-round Broome County Regional Farmers Market and Taste of New York feature locally-grown vegetables, meats, cheeses and beverages. Dozens of food festivals throughout the year include the Spiedie Fest & Balloon Rally, Oktoberfest, Binghamton Brewfest, Grecian Festival, Little Italy Endicott’s Carnivale di Venezia and the Binghamton Wingfest. The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is a favorite for tasting locally-made wines and ciders.
Celebrate the arts
If you’re into arts and entertainment, Binghamton is the place to be. The city offers the “First Friday” event on the first Friday of every month, which celebrates local artists. Binghamton is the birth place of Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. An archive at the Bundy Museum pays tribute to the Sci-Fi legend. The Roberson Museum and Science Center and Phelps Mansion are among local museums that highlight the region’s rich history as the Parlor City. The Broome County Forum Theatre and the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena draw music acts from around the world. The Forum is also a popular place to catch Off Broadway performances. For music-lovers, Blues on the Bridge and the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance are among the must-see events.
Enjoy your family
Parks in the Greater Binghamton Region offer a wide variety of family activities. Field trips to the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, Animal Adventure Park and the Discovery Center are always a lot of fun. Out of the remaining 150 wood-carved carousels in the U.S. and Canada, six are in the Binghamton region. During the summer months, the Broome County Fair is among many local carnivals that are great for making memories with your family. The Great New York State Fair is just an hour’s drive from Binghamton, in the town of Geddes near Syracuse. Greek Peak Mountain Resort offers skiing, tubing and a year-round indoor water park. Another activity for your to-do list in Binghamton is the LUMA Fest, which attracts thousands to downtown streets for a unique light show.
Live an active life
Active lifestyles fit right into living in Binghamton. The Vestal Rail Trail is a four-mile bike and running path that goes along the former Delaware-Lackawana & Western Railroad. Broome County Parks and the Chenango Valley State Park offer camping, swimming, boating and more. The Susquehanna and Chenango rivers are perfect for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. The city of Binghamton is home to a long list of running events including the Binghamton Bridge Run and the Parlor City 5K at July Fest. Binghamton is close to Ithaca which offers dozens of hiking trails around its waterfalls and beautiful gorges.
For those who enjoy slots and table games, Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols recently expanded to a Las Vegas-style gaming casino. There’s so much more to explore and enjoy in the Southern Tier of New York when you join the team at WBNG-TV.
