Bright peak and near-peak foliage will be arriving this weekend in many areas of the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and Greater Niagara regions, as well as some remaining areas of the Central Leatherstocking, Catskills, Capital-Saratoga, Chautauqua-Allegheny and Adirondacks regions, according to observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism�s I�NY� program.

In the Finger Lakes, look for peak foliage in Syracuse, in Onondaga County, where 75 percent of the leaves are expected to have changed color by the weekend, with average-to-bright red, yellow, orange and brown leaves predominating. Also look for peak colors in Rochester, in Monroe County, where maple trees are showing the most color change, brilliance and variation, especially the red maples. Other predominate colors are yellow, gold, russet and brown. Peak foliage is also projected for Steuben County and parts of Chemung and Cortland counties. Most other counties in the region will be between near peak and peak this weekend, including Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates counties.

Peak foliage will also arrive in the lower Hudson Valley region. Highland, in Ulster County, projects peak foliage with 75 percent color change and bright, beautiful shades of orange, red and yellow.

Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess County, is also expecting to be peak this weekend, with 75 percent color change and very bright orange, yellow and red leaves. Colors are coming on strong in the southern part of the region, where foliage spotters at Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland County expect near-peak conditions with up to 75 percent color change highlighted by orange, red, yellow and purple leaves of average brilliance. To the north, Columbia County expects to be just past peak with bright golden yellow, deep red, and orange leaves.

In the Greater Niagara region, you will find peak conditions in Buffalo, in Erie County, where golden yellow is becoming the predominating color, while plenty of shades of red are still prevalent. Genesee County expects to be near peak, with 70 percent color change and bright orange, red and yellow leaves. Orleans County also projects near-peak foliage. Niagara County is a little past peak, but some beautiful yellow, orange and red leaves remain. Wyoming County is also just past peak, with bright green, red and orange leaves.

In the Central-Leatherstocking region, peak foliage arrives this weekend in Utica, in Oneida County, which is expecting 90 percent color change, and plenty of very brilliant orange and yellow leaves. In Schoharie County, foliage will be just past peak, with 90 percent color change. Also expecting to be just past peak are Montgomery, Broome and Oneida counties. In the Catskills, peak foliage is projected around the town of Catskill, in Green County, with a variation of very bright colored leaves. Kingston, in Ulster County, projects past-peak foliage with plenty of red, yellow and orange leaves remaining. Delaware County will also be past peak, with orange, gold and green leaves of average brilliance.

Foliage is the Capital-Saratoga region will be mostly past peak, although some areas of bright peak foliage may be found in and around Schenectady County. Predominating colors there are red, gold, yellow and orange. In Albany County, in Voorheesville, expect to find just past peak foliage with 90-100 percent color change and bright leaves, especially on the maple trees. In Rensselaer County, Grafton Lakes State Park, in Grafton, projects more than 95 percent color change and just-past-peak foliage, as leaf droppage increases with the colder weather. However, plenty of colorful leaves remain.

Peak foliage makes its way to the eastern part of the Chautauqua-Allegheny region this weekend, with Belmont, in Allegany County, projecting 100 percent color change and bright red, orange and yellow leaves. And although overall conditions are past peak in Allegany State Park, the changing hardwoods are now just coming into full color, with orange, yellow, red, gold and green leaves predominating. Expect to find peak foliage in the Lake Champlain area of the Adirondacks region in Essex County, with 80-100 percent color change and predominating orange and yellow leaves highlighted by occasional sparks of red. Lake George, in Warren County, is past peak, but still expects plenty of colorful leaves for the weekend. Other areas of the region are past peak. The Thousand Islands region is past peak; however some good colors remain in areas along Lake Ontario, including Alexandria Bay.

On Long Island, foliage is approaching peak conditions. Nassau and western Suffolk counties expect 60 percent color change with bright red, purple, orange and yellow leaves. The Hamptons report mid-point to near-peak conditions with orange, yellow and green leaves. In New York City, on Staten Island�s Clay Pit Ponds State Park, foliage spotters expect up to 35 percent color change with bright yellow and red leaves.

Each week during fall, I�NY� issues reports detailing the progression of colorful fall foliage across the New York based upon information filed by the State�s officially designated �leaf peepers.�

These fall foliage spotters are instructed on how to rate foliage color in their areas, citing conditions such as brilliance, percentage of leaves changed, predominating colors and stages (just beginning, near peak, peak and past peak). I�NY� compiles its weekly reports based upon information called in by the spotters. It is estimated that about 20 percent of travel activity in the state occurs during September, October and November.

The following is a partial listing of upcoming fall events taking place around the state. For a complete listing of events, fall color progression map, scenic views, leaf guide and more, visit the I�NY� Web site at www.iloveny.com.

ADIRONDACKS Autumn Leaves: Glens Falls Chronicle Book Fair, Glens Falls, N.Y. � Oct. 24; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; free admission; Queensbury Hotel; (518) 792-1126.

Community Play Reading, North Creek, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 7 p.m.; free admission; Tannery Pond Community Center; (518) 494-5280; ourtowntheatergroup.org.

Fright Fest, Lake George, N.Y. � Weekends through Oct. 31; Saturday, noon-10 p.m., Sunday, noon-8 p.m.; call for prices; Rt. 9; (518) 792-3500; www.sixflags.com.

Gallery Opening, Raparius, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 6 p.m.; free admission; Scenic Outlook Studios, 494-5367; scenicoutlookstudios.com.

Capital-saratoga Pick Your Own Apples, Raspberries and Pumpkins, Altamont, N.Y. � Daily, through October; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; free admission; Indian Ladder Farms, 342 Altamont Rd.; (518) 765-2956; www.indianladderfarms.com.

Pumpkin Festival, Altamont, N.Y. � Oct. 23-24; noon-6 p.m.; $5 per child; Indian Ladder Orchards; (518) 765-2956; www.indianladderfarms.com.

CATSKILLS Fall Foliage Rides along the East Branch, Arkville, N.Y. � Oct. 23-24; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $6 for children ages 3-12; children under 3 ride for free; Delaware & Ulster Rail Ride; (800) 225-4132.

Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted House, Ulster Park, N.Y. � Weekends through Oct. 31; dusk, call for prices and reservations (required); Rt. 9W; (845) 339-2666.

Leaf Peeper Cruises, Kingston, N.Y. � Oct. 22-24; 2:30-4:30 p.m.; call for reservations and prices; Hudson River Cruises on Rondout Waterfront; (800) 843-7472.

Sidney Craft Show, Sidney, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; free admission; Downtown River Street; (607) 563-1749. CENTRAL-LEATHERSTOCKING Blackledge Woodwind Quintet, Canajoharie, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 7 p.m.; $2.50; Van Alstyne Homestead, Moyer Street; (518) 673-2314.

Erie Canal�s 179th Birthday Bash, Fort Hunter, N.Y. � Oct. 24; 1-4 p.m.; free admission; Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site Visitor Center; 9518) 829-7516.

James Reams & the Barnstormers~Bluegrass Band, Bainbridge, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 8 p.m.; call for prices; The Jerichol Arts Town Hall Theatre; (607) 967-7228.

Treaty Day, Rome, N.Y. � Oct. 23; call for times and prices; Fort Stanwix; (315) 336-2090.

CHAUTAUQUA-ALLEGHENY Petting Zoo, Scio, N.Y. � Oct. 22-24; 11 a.m.-dusk; free admission; Club Boomers, Rt. 19; (585) 593-7506; http://www.club-boomers.com.

FINGER LAKES Haunted House & Trail of Terror, Elmira, N.Y. � Fridays and Saturdays, through Oct. 24; dusk to 10 p.m.; house $6, trail $6; Bradley Farms, Maple Avenue; (607) 732-0561.

Second Annual Valentown Spooktacular!, Victor, N.Y. � Oct. 23, 30, and 31; call for times; $2 children 6-12, $5 ages 13 and up; free for children under 6 and adults over 75; Valentown Museum, 7377 Valentown Square; (585) 749-7951 or (585) 924-4170; www.valentown.org.

The Great Zoo Boo, Syracuse, N.Y. � Oct. 22-23, 29-30; 6-8:30 p.m.; $4, under 3 free; Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park; (315) 435-8511; www.RosamondGiffordZoo.org.

Zoo Boo, Rochester, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; zoo admission required; Seneca Park Zoo; (585) 336-7200. GREATER NIAGARA Fright Fest, Darien Center, N.Y. � Oct. 22-24; 4 -11:30 p.m.; park admission; Six Flags Darien Lake, 9993 Allegheny Rd.; (585) 599-4641.

Halloween Haunted House, Arcade, N.Y. � Oct. 23-24; call for times and prices; Arcade and Attica Railroad; (585) 492-3100.

Holiday Hollow, Pembroke, N.Y. � Saturdays and Sundays through October; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; $7; 1410 Main Rd.; (585) 762-8160.

The Light and The Darkness, Batavia, N.Y. � Oct. 22; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; call for prices; Genesee County Office for the Aging, 2 Bank St.; (585) 343-9313.

HUDSON VALLEY Fall Legends Historic House Tours, Beacon, N.Y. � Oct. 24; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; $25; Mount Gulian Historic Site, 145 Sterling St.; (845) 831-8172.

Iroquois Indian Festival, Rhinebeck, N.Y. � Oct. 23-24; 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; $6; Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rt. 9; (845) 876-4001; www.dutchessfair.com.

Oktoberfest 2004, Bear Mountain, N.Y. � Oct. 23-24; noon-6 p.m.; free admission, $6 parking/car; Bear Mountain State Park; (845) 786-2731.

The Great Pumpkin Party, Hudson, N.Y. � Oct. 23; noon-4 p.m.; call for prices; Olana State Historic Site, Route 9G; (518) 828-0135; www.olana.org.

Long Island Annual Harvest Festival, Aquebogue, N.Y. � Weekends through Oct. 31; noon-5 p.m.; free admission; Palmer Vineyards; (631) 722-WINE.

Cemetery Spirit Tour, Setauket, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 5:15 p.m.; $15 adults (no children under 12); tour leaves Setauket Presbyterian Church parking lot; (631) 751-3730, ext. 31.

Fall Freshwater Fishing and Children�s Festival, Hempstead, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; $3 adults, $6 parking; Hempstead Lake State Park; (631) 669-1000.

Hamptons International Film Festival, East Hampton, with additional venues in Sag Harbor, Southampton and Montauk, N.Y. � Oct. 20-24; call for film and event schedule, prices; (866) HIFF-TIX; www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

NEW YORK CITY Halloween Crafts, Staten Island, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 10:30 a.m.-noon; free admission; Clay Pit Ponds State Park; (718) 967-1976.

THOUSAND ISLANDS SEAWAY Concert: Blue Rodeo, Potsdam, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 7:30 p.m.; call for prices; Maxcy Hall, SUNY Potsdam; (315) 267-2277; www.potsdam.edu/cps.

Haunted House, Sackets Harbor, N.Y. � Oct. 21-23 and 28-30; call for times and prices; Town of Sackets Harbor; (315) 646-2321; www.sacketsharborny.com

Ogdensburg Command Performances Presents Circo Comedia, Ogdensburg, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 7:45 p.m.; tickets $13, $21, $25 and $29; Ogdensburg Free Academy Auditorium; (315) 393-2625.

Zoo Boo, Watertown, N.Y. � Oct. 23; 11 a.m.; $2; New York State Living Museum at Thompson Park; (315) 782-6180, ext. 15; www.nyslivingmuseum.org.

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Media Contact: Scott Flaherty +1 (518) 292-5131 sflaherty@empire.state.ny.us