A Festival for the City of Ithaca, Curated by
WHAT IS CAYUGA SOUND?
On a brisk weekend in upstate New York this fall, multi-platinum selling rock band X Ambassadors will return to their hometown of Ithaca, NY to host an outdoor concert and city wide weekend festival for the people that made them who they are. The band broke out in 2015 with their critically acclaimed album VHS, and global smash singles “Renegades”, “Unsteady”, and “Jungle”.
CAYUGA SOUND will come to Stewart Park on Saturday, September 23rd, along with a series of local events, talks, and activations on the days leading up to the weekend. X Ambassadors have curated an eclectic lineup representing the diverse music they listened to as youth, crossing all genre boundaries in taste.
Two stages will be set in the park, with a mix of national touring acts, friends of the band, and world class talent from the city of Ithaca. The festival plans to celebrate local businesses as well as support local nonprofits.
Stay tuned for news on pre and post-show parties happening around town at The Haunt, The Dock, and more. See you in Ithaca!
Other events announced in coming months including Friday night shows at the Haunt and The Dock, SaturdayAfterparties, Talks/seminars and more...
General Admission
Amenities Include:
- Ticket to Stewart Park on Saturday, September 23rd
- Access to all stages
- Access to all food and bars (separately priced)
VIP
Amenities Include:
- Exclusive Friday night dinner at Ithaca Beer, with acoustic performance by X Ambassadors
- Admission to Friday night shows at The Haunt/
The Dock - Limited edition Cayuga Sound t-shirt
- Limited edition tote bag with Ithaca goodies!
- Exclusive VIP bar and viewing area
- VIP reserved parking
- VIP exclusive bathrooms
- Private entrance lane for entry
PARTNERS
WE SUPPORT THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS
THE FLAVOR OF ITHACA
We are proud to be highlighting some of our favorite art food and drinks of Ithaca.
Music
An eclectic lineup of artists curated by X Ambassadors, featuring many friends of the band, national touring acts, and some of Ithaca's favorite hometown artists.
Food
Cayuga Sound will highlight chefs and local food from all across the region - check our instgram for the full food vendor lineup!
Libations
Ithaca Beer has created the perfect beer for a Fall festival in Ithaca, The Cayuga Sounder IPA!
STEWART PARK, ITHACA
Cayuga Sound Festival Map
Stewart Park is a great place to relax and socialize on the southeastern shore of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, New York. Originally a trolley park in the 1890s, the City of Ithaca has owned and maintained Stewart Park since 1921. The Park is enjoyed steadily by Ithacans and visitors alike.
Stewart Park offers plenty of green space as well as a playground, a large pavilion, benches, barbecue stands, picnic tables, fishing spots, tennis courts and a seasonal carousel. The Park is a popular place for all kinds of gatherings: festivals, family barbecues, volleyball games, dances, and more. It’s a also a great place to watch the sun go down and just enjoy nature. Stewart Park is close to Ithaca Youth Bureau and the Visitors Center and is accessible on foot or by bike via the Cayuga Waterfront Trail as well as by car and the #13 and #13X TCAT bus. (taken from friendsofstewartpark.org)
FOOD & DRINK
We are proud to be featuring the following food vendors at Cayuga Sound!
FRIDAY NIGHT PARTIES
Official Cayuga Sound Festival Pre-Party @ The Dock (415 Old Taughannock Boulevard, 7pm)
DSP & Ithaca Underground will be taking over The Dock to showcase some of Ithaca’s most exctiing local talent. Headlined by Namarah and also featuring The Miserable Genius, No Comply, Tender Cruncher, and Beau Mahadev. VIP ticket holders will receive free entry to this event, others can purchase tickets here.
Official Cayuga Sound Festival Pre-Party @ The Haunt (702 Willow Ave, 8pm)
The Haunt will host it’s own Official Cayuga Sound Pre-Party, featuring performances by Jukebox the Ghost, local favorites The Blind Spots and Brooklyn’s own Mail the Horse. VIP ticket holders will receive free entry to this event, others can purchase tickets here.
CAYUGA SOUND TALK SERIES
On Friday September 22nd we will be hosting a talk series at The Ithaca Marriott Downtown, accessible with proof of Cayuga Sound Festival ticket purchase or a valid student ID. These talks will be first come first serve, with limited seating.
10:30am - 11:30am - Live Music and It’s Impact on the World
This panel will focus on how Live Music can impact the world for positive change. Panelists include X Ambassadors’ manager and Cayuga Sound co-founder Seth Kallen, John Legend’s manager and social impact thought leader Ty Stiklorious, Ithaca's very own Dan Smalls from DSP Shows, and Tanner Watt from Reverb, Cayuga Sound’s environmental partner.
12:00pm - 1:00pm - From Ithaca to the Billboard Charts - The X Ambassadors Story
Joining us will be Ithaca’s own Sam and Casey Harris, along with DSP Shows founder Dan Smalls, discussing the band’s history, getting their start in Ithaca, and their whirlwind few years rising to the top of the charts around the world. Moderating the panel will be X Ambassadors longtime manager, Seth Kallen of This Fiction.
Getting There
Ithaca is an easy drive from most cities in the Northeastern United States, as well as several major cities in Canada including Toronto and Montreal.
Hotels
We are very excited to be working with Hotels for Hope. Click here for a full list of participating hotels
Learn More
Transportation
The festival will be easily accessible through parking lots at the nearby high school, shuttle services, by bike or by walking the waterfront trail from lots near The Haunt and The Ithaca Farmers Market.
