2023 Founders Day

Founders Day Poster 2023
Founders Day Poster 2023

Mark your calendar for Founders Day 2024 - August 10, 2024!


CELEBRATE FOUNDER'S DAY 2023

Click here to view and download the 2023 Founders Day Weekend Media Release.


Saturday, August 12, 2023
Founder’s Day - Downtown - featuring
antique and classic car cruise-in;
live music, block party with downtown restaurants and merchants!


Public Notice Regarding Temporary Street Closures for the 2023 Founders Day & Great Race Weekend

For Immediate Release May 2, 2023

Founders Day Will Be Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Auburn

The City of Auburn is pleased to announce the annual history-themed Founders Day Festival will return to a summer packed with outdoor fun in downtown Auburn and at the City’s historic and cultural sites.

Founders Day events will happen throughout the City with some taking place on Genesee Street, State Street and Exchange Street in the center of downtown featuring various live band & dance performances, a classic car cruise-in, educational displays, and food & beverage vending.  Other events will take place at historic and cultural sites throughout the City making Saturday, August 12, 2023 a day you will want plans to make the City of Auburn be your destination.

“Founders Day is a day for everyone to celebrate Auburn and the City is happy to have the festivities back this summer, we look forward to a summer with lots of events and activities and Founders Day is always a fan favorite,” stated Mayor Michael D. Quill.

Some highlights of the 2023 Founders Day line-up include the following:

  • History on Wheels Antique & Classic Auto Cruise-in featuring classic oldies music with Goodtime Charlie’s Mobile Entertainment on Genesee Street.
  • Entertainment and activities including shows by Nate the Great from 11am – 1pm, Genesee Street Voices at 12 pm and the Witchy Women of the Finger Lakes at 1:30pm.
  • Concerts with music acts including Gold Dust Gypsies 2-4pm; Glass Image 4-6pm; and, Dirtroad Ruckus 6-9pm.
  • Events and activities at historic and cultural sites including a Summer Arts Festival with Finger Lakes Arts Council at the Willard Memorial Chapel; Historic Trolley Rides hosted by the Seward House Museum and National Park Service; and, Saturday Market vendors at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center featuring music with Total Recall from 10am – 1pm and children’s entertainment with Jeff the Magic Man from 9am – 12pm noon.
  • A public art volunteer installation of a mirror mosaic mural will be hosted by the Auburn Downtown BID for installation on the south wall of the Auburn Public Theater from 10AM – 2PM.
  • There will be several additional Founders Day details and participants announced between now and closer to the date of the event.  Follow the Founders Day facebook page www.facebook.com/auburnnyfoundersday and webpage www.auburnny.gov/foundersday  for details.

Founders Day 2023 is sponsored by the City of Auburn with funding support from the City of Auburn’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.  Mayor Quill and members of City Council have allocated City of Auburn ARPA funds to support Founders Day 2023 with a goal of boosting the event’s recovery from the pandemic and in an effort to boost the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry in Auburn.  Additional sponsorship is being provided by The Hilton Garden Inn of 78 State Street, Auburn.  If you would like to become a 2023 Founders Day sponsor contact Kim Bauso, City Parks and Recreation at phone  315.255.4737, email kbauso@auburnny.gov.

For more Founders Day information contact Jesse Kline, Assistant Director of the Auburn BID at phone 315.252-7874, email jesse@auburndowntown.org; or, Kim Bauso, City Parks and Recreation at phone  315.255.4737, email kbauso@auburnny.gov.  For more historic & cultural sites and Saturday Market information contact Courtney Kasper, Visitor Experience Manager of the Equal Rights Heritage Center at phone 315.258.9820, email courtney@auburndowntown.org.  For mor information on the History on Wheels car Cruise-in contact Jack Hardy at 315.253.2615.