You'll discover Downtown Ithaca in a major way by visiting The Commons, Ithaca's award-winning center for commerce, attractions, entertainment, and so much more!


Take a walk along The Commons to find a one-of-kind shopping experience, a variety of restaurants, historic architecture, and more!

Located in the heart of downtown Ithaca, The Commons is a four-block pedestrian shopping area jam-packed with more than 100 independently owned and operated shops and boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, art galleries, service providers, street vendors, and entertainers.

A sample of offerings on the east end are independently owned and operated clothing boutiques including Benjamin Peters, and Petrune; gift shops like Sunny Days, Home Green Home and Mockingbird Paperie; American Crafts by Robbie Dein, One World Market; along with top-quality, name-brand footwear from Homegrown Skateshop; and stores that feature recycled items like Autumn Leaves Used Books. Plus, find gourmet foods on the Commons, as well as beverages from around the world at Cellar d’Or Wine and Cider Shop which offer tastings of their products, and The Cornell Store featuring all things Cornell University and selling Cornell Dairy cheese curds, ice cream and maple syrup. Plus, check out Ithaca Sheepskin which sells quality handcrafted, warm, cozy, and stylish sheepskin garments.

At the west end, you'll find brand name sporting gear at The Outdoor Store,  handcrafted jewelry and gifts at 15 STEPS along with high-quality, name-brand women's apparel at its neighboring shop, Breathe. Plus, you'll enjoy the fun toys at Alphabet Soup and brain teasers at the Brain Shoppe.

In addition, you'll find an array of dining options:

Upscale restaurants such as Simeons American Bistro, Thompson and Bleecker,  Mia Tapas Bar, and Monks on the Commons. 

Casual places like Casablanca Pizzeria and Tian Jin or Momo (both serve authentic dumplings, Sushi Osaka, Kimchi and Nothing Nowhere.

In addition, the Commons is lined with some of the city's most interesting and historic architectural facades and features the beautifully designed Raimondo DeVincentis Water Fountain, the newly constructed Bernie Milton Pavilion, the Sagan Planet Walk, a playground, and Commons is truly the centerpiece of Ithaca's engaging social and civic life.

Additional information about businesses on the Commons is available in our Seasonal Guide and in our business directory.

Some Annual Events on the Commons include...

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Apple Harvest Festival

The Annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival Presented by CFCU, is one of the region's premier Fall Events. The Apple Harvest Festival hosts plenty of apples, local produce, fresh baked goods, family entertainment at every turn, games, rides, prizes, and live performances on two stages. Apple Harvest Festival is a great introduction to the rich farm and artist community of Ithaca.

First-time visitors can witness a variety of wonderful local entertainment while also visiting the historical outdoor pedestrian shopping mall, The Ithaca Commons. The pedestrian mall is the epicenter of the festival and the gateway to a nostalgic journey to harvest season fun.

Ice and Lights Festival/Chowder Cook-Off

Ice and Lights features an impressive display of light, the ever-popular Glow Bar: an outdoor bar that illuminates Bank Alley, serving beer, wine, and hot cocoa, and, of course, Chowder Cook-Off!
Witness the nation’s finest ice carvers as they compete for thousands of dollars in prizes during three rounds of breathtaking competition in Downtown Ithaca.

Ice and Lights Festival-goers can stay warm by sampling over 20 different traditional, exotic, and gourmet chowders from local restaurants competing to be crowned our next Chowder Cup Champion! Sampling tickets are for sale in advance and on the day of downtown.

CFCU Summer Concert Series

The CFCU Summer Concert Series is a free outdoor concert series open to the public and held every Thursday evening the end of June through early September. This award-winning series features local and national acts performing music from various genres including jazz, blues, reggae, folk, hip-hop, pop, bluegrass, rock, and more!

The Downtown Ithaca Summer Concert Series has become a weekly summer tradition in the local community; Ithacans and tourists alike enjoy happening upon a vibrant downtown on a weekday evening. See you on the Commons!

Attendees can park in the Cayuga, Green or Seneca Street garages and walk to the Series. Parking is free in the garages after 8:00PM and free at street meters after 6:00PM. Both garages are equipped with accessible parking and elevators. Please contact the DIA office if you need special accommodation.

Summer and Winter Sidewalk Sales

Join us in Downtown Ithaca toward the end of January and end of July for the Winter and Summer Sale Weekends.

Shops all over downtown with have sidewalk sales and discount racks or tables inside stores over the weekend!

Look for Winter Sale or Summer Sale Weekend posters in storefront windows of participating stores to find great deals!

Attractions on the Commons

Visitors Center

110 N. Tioga Street, on the Ithaca Commons
Tompkins Center for History and Culture | (607) 273-7482

Whether you're looking for maps, sites to see, or events to attend, they've got you covered.  Whether you need directions, help planning for a visit, information about the vibrant arts scene, or just need help finding your favorite shop, they're the one stop for all things Ithaca. When you visit the Visitors Center in person, you'll find friendly staff, plenty of brochures for local sites and venues, visitors guides, plus maps and information for most of the major performing arts organizations in Tompkins County.

Downtown Visitors Center Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Special holiday hours may apply. Stop in or visit online at VisitIthaca.com or Ithacaevents.com.

The History Center in Tompkins County- Exhibit Hall (located inside the Tompkins Center for History and Culture)

110 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca Commons/Bank Alley
Tompkins Center for History and Culture | (607) 273-8284

The History Center in Tompkins County is a state of the art museum and research space highlighting the histories of Tompkins County and the Finger Lakes region. Learn about the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫˀ (Cayuga), the establishment of Cornell University, Ithaca College and the growth of local industry and agriculture. The History Center changes exhibits on an annual basis (Exhibits open in February and are on display through December each year), highlighting different stories and objects from our collections. Explore thehistorycenter.net/exhibit-hall for details on the current exhibit. We are located inside the Tompkins Center for History & Culture and admission is free! Discover unique events, guided tours, and hands on crafting workshops offered seasonally at  thehistorycenter.net/events.

Exhibit Hall Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Special Events & Holiday Hours can be found at thehistorycenter.net/events.

Research Library & Archives: By appointment. Contact: archives@thehistorycenter.net

Sagan Planet Walk

The Ithaca Science Center's Sagan Planet Walk is a walkable scale model of the Solar system. The model scales the entire Solar system— planet size and distances between them —down to one five billionth of its actual size. Consisting of 11 obelisks situated along a 1.18 km (0.73 mi) path through the streets of downtown Ithaca, the Planet Walk leads from the sun at Center Ithaca to Pluto at the Ithaca Science Center. Taking this tour is a wonderful way to learn about science and explore downtown.