You ever drive through Upstate New York in September and feel like every single town has a "festival" that’s basically just three food trucks and a bounce house? I get it. It’s a lot of the same. But then you hit the village of Jordan. It’s this tiny spot—maybe 1,300 people—tucked right between Syracuse and Auburn. If you aren't looking for it, you’ll blow right past the turn for the Erie Canal.
But for three days every September, this village explodes. The Jordan NY Fall Festival isn't some corporate-sponsored, polished event with $20 parking. It’s gritty. It’s loud. And honestly, it’s one of the few places left where the "community" part isn't just a marketing slogan.
Why Everyone Obsesses Over the Grease Pole
If you want to know what makes this place different, you have to look at the grease pole. Most festivals have a ferris wheel. Jordan has a 28-foot-tall wooden pole covered in thick, nasty axle grease.
It sounds weird because it is.
Back in the 90s, a couple of locals—David Young and Brian Wheeler—saw something similar at a woodsmen event in the Adirondacks. They figured, "Hey, Jordan needs this." Now, it’s the main event. Teams of five people basically form a human ladder, slipping and sliding in the sludge, trying to reach the top. The "bottom man" is usually some massive dude who can only wear a weight-lifting belt for support. Everyone else? They’re just trying not to faceplant into the dirt.
🔗 Read more: City Map of Christchurch New Zealand: What Most People Get Wrong
There’s actual money on the line too. In 2024, the prizes for the teams that made it up the fastest totaled $1,000. Plus, if you’re the first to the very tip, you get to snag cash literally stapled to the wood. It’s chaotic. It’s messy. And the crowd goes absolutely nuts when someone finally touches the top.
The Tragedy That Built a Pool
The Jordan NY Fall Festival actually started because of a localized disaster. This wasn't some planned tourist attraction. In 1946, the original plan was to raise money for an ice skating rink in Canal Park. They were going to do a "junk auction" to fund it.
Then a young girl drowned in a nearby reservoir.
That changed everything. Dr. Whitley and the other village leaders realized a skating rink was a luxury, but a community pool where kids could actually learn to swim was a necessity. They pivoted. The rink never happened, but the Jordan Memorial Pool did. Every penny raised from the festival since then—and they aim for about $50,000 in profit every year—goes to the Jordan Community Council. That money keeps the pool running, stocks the food bank, and funds the "JET" van for seniors.
💡 You might also like: Ilum Experience Home: What Most People Get Wrong About Staying in Palermo Hollywood
When you buy a blooming onion here, you’re literally paying for a local kid’s swimming lessons or a senior's ride to the doctor.
What You’re Actually Doing (Besides Watching the Pole)
The festival grounds are packed. It’s a juried show, which is a fancy way of saying they don't just let anyone with a 3D printer and a dream set up a tent. They split the vendors into two main areas:
- The Arts & Crafts Tent: This is where you find the "one-of-a-kind" stuff. Think handmade jewelry, paintings, and woodwork.
- The Merchant Tent: More of the "buy and sell" vibe—manufactured goods or imports.
Usually, the music kicks off on Friday night. In 2024, we had the Bare Melt Band on Friday, the Bri & Me Duo on Saturday, and the Lock 52 Jazz Band closed things out on Sunday. It’s a local vibe. You aren't going to see Taylor Swift, but you will see a bunch of people who actually know how to play their instruments while you eat a Polish platter.
Speaking of food, it's classic fair fare but better. Carson’s Tavern usually handles a lot of the heavy lifting with burgers and hot dogs. You’ll find the standard stuff—ice cream, fried dough, and way too much sugar.
📖 Related: Anderson California Explained: Why This Shasta County Hub is More Than a Pit Stop
The 5K and the Canal Path
If you’re the type of person who needs to "earn" your fried dough, there’s usually a 5K Run/Walk. What’s cool about this route is that it actually takes you along a section of the historic Erie Canal Tow Path.
You start on Foote Street, run past the festival grounds, and then hit the dirt path by the water. It’s flat, fast, and gives you a good look at the old canal infrastructure that basically built this part of the state. It’s a $20 or $25 entry fee depending on when you sign up, and the money goes right back into those community programs I mentioned.
Surviving the Weekend: Logistics
- Admission: It’s free. You don't pay to get in.
- Parking: There’s on-site parking, but it gets tight. Honestly, just look for the signs and be patient.
- Dates: It’s almost always the third weekend in September. For 2024, it was September 20-22.
- The Kids: There’s a "Kids Grease Pole Cross" too. It’s lower to the ground and significantly safer, but it lets the little ones feel like they’re part of the tradition without the 28-foot drop.
The "Next Generation" Problem
One thing people don't talk about is that this whole thing is run by about 400 volunteers. The village is worried. The current volunteer base is aging out, and there’s a noticeable gap in people between 25 and 40 years old helping out. If you go, and you see someone in a volunteer shirt looking tired, maybe say thanks. Without those 400 people, the pool closes and the food pantry takes a hit.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit
If you're coming from Syracuse, it's a straight shot out Route 5. If you're coming from the Thruway, take the Weedsport exit and head east.
- Arrive early on Saturday if you want a decent spot for the Grease Pole climb. It usually happens in the early afternoon (the adult climb was at 1 PM in 2024), but the area around the pole gets packed way before that.
- Bring cash. Some vendors take cards now, but you’re in a village of 1,300 people in Upstate New York. Don't be that person holding up the line for a $5 burger because you’re waiting for a signal on your Square reader.
- Walk the Canal. Even if you aren't running the 5K, the trail is right there. It’s a beautiful walk in the fall, especially when the leaves are just starting to turn.
- Check the local schedule. The Village of Jordan website usually posts the specific entertainment lineup and any changes to the Grease Pole rules about a month before the event.
The Jordan NY Fall Festival is basically the heartbeat of that town. It’s not the biggest fair in New York—it’s not even the biggest one in Onondaga County—but it’s the one that feels the most real. You aren't a "guest"; you're just someone who showed up to help them fund their pool for another year.