Rock Bands, Redneck Games, and Mardi Gras Beads — All in One Camping Trip?

If you're the type who picks a campground based on "is there anything to actually do this weekend," August is going to be a good month for you.

Four weekends. Four completely different vibes. A different band (or DJ) every single Saturday night. And somehow, a golf cart parade thrown in the middle of it. This is the kind of stretch that makes people start calling this one of the better campgrounds with live music in the Finger Lakes — not because we said so, but because the calendar backs it up.

Here's the full breakdown: what's happening each weekend, who's playing, what to bring, and a few things you should know before you book.

Week One: Classic Rock Weekend (August 7–9)

This one's the low-key kickoff — easy energy, good music, and a weekend that doesn't try too hard to be anything other than fun. Friday night starts with a bonfire and s'mores, which is honestly the right way to ease into any themed camping weekend. Saturday picks up with a kids' rock-painting craft in the afternoon, then the usual pool party with a DJ, games, and prizes before Adult Swim kicks in later.

The headliner Saturday night is Midnight Storm, playing a classic rock set. If you're waterfront and want the music to carry across the water while you sit by your own site, this is a good weekend to just post up and listen.

Week Two: Redneck Games & Prom (August 14–16)

This is the weekend people talk about for the rest of the season. Saturday at noon, it's six games, one winner — the details of which games change things up enough that regulars still show up not entirely sure what they're walking into. That's kind of the point.

What do I need for the Redneck Games? Honestly, the campground tends to keep the specifics close to the vest until the day of — it's part of the fun. The safest move is to lean into the theme with your costume (Saturday night's costume contest doubles as your shot at the Redneck Awards) and check in at the office or with staff that weekend if you want a heads-up on what to bring. Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a little messy is never a bad call.

Saturday night, Jackfire plays a country set, followed by the Adult Costume Contest and the Redneck Awards. Friday night's bingo (proceeds to the local VFD) is a nice quieter way to start the weekend before things ramp up.

Week Three: Mardi Gras Weekend (August 21–23)

This is the weekend with the golf cart parade, and it's become one of the more photographed themed camping weekends on-site. At 1pm Saturday, the parade rolls through — decorated golf carts, candy, beads, the whole New Orleans treatment. If you don't have a golf cart, there's a hayride running alongside it, so nobody's left out.

Can I decorate a rental golf cart for the parade? The campground does offer golf cart rentals on-site, and plenty of guests use rentals during their stay. That said, we don't have a published policy either way on decorating a rented cart specifically for the parade — if that's your plan, it's worth a quick call to the office ahead of time just to confirm before you show up with balloons and streamers.

Saturday night's band is Tink Bennett & Tailor Made, playing a rock/country set — a solid match for a weekend that's part costume party, part concert.

Week Four: Rock-Out Weekend (August 28–30)

Is Rock-Out a live band or a DJ? Good question, and worth clearing up: Rock-Out is a DJ weekend, not a live band. Rockin Randy takes over Saturday night, so if you're specifically chasing a live band lineup, this is the one weekend in the stretch where the entertainment format shifts.

That doesn't mean it's a quiet one, though. There's a Craft & Flea Market running through the campground most of Saturday afternoon, plus a bounce house for the kids and the usual pool party rhythm. It's a good weekend to browse, relax, and let the DJ carry the night instead of a full band setup.

What's RiverBucks, and What Can You Actually Use It For?

If you're new here, RiverBucks is the in-house currency you'll hear mentioned constantly during costume contests and site-decorating competitions. Win a contest, earn RiverBucks — it's the campground's way of turning "just dressing up for fun" into something with a little more payoff. Across these four August weekends alone, there are multiple chances to win some, between the Saturday night costume contests and whatever surprise categories pop up along the way.

Beyond the Campground: Wildlife Refuge and Wine Country

Not every hour of your trip needs to be scheduled around a pool party.

What's the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, and can you visit it from here? Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge sits close enough to make for an easy half-day trip — it's a well-known birding spot, and bald eagle sightings aren't unusual if you're patient. If mornings are quieter for your crew, it's a nice contrast to the louder evening entertainment back at the campground.

Are there wineries nearby? Yes — the Cayuga Wine Trail runs through the region, so if part of your group wants a slower afternoon while the kids are at pool games or crafts, that's a realistic option to build into the trip.

Planning Your August Trip

Do these weekends sell out, and how far ahead should I book? We don't have official sell-out numbers to point to here, but themed camping weekends during peak summer — especially ones with a parade or a full events lineup like these — tend to fill up faster than a quiet weekend would. If you already know which weekend you want, booking sooner rather than later is the safer bet.

Is there a price difference for event weekends vs. regular weekends? Site rates are generally structured around weekday vs. weekend pricing rather than a separate "event weekend" tier, but it's worth confirming current rates directly before you book, since pricing can shift season to season.

Four Weekends, One Very Full Month

Whether you're coming for the classic rock set, the Redneck Games bragging rights, the Mardi Gras parade, or just to see what a DJ-led Rock-Out weekend looks like, August is stacked enough that picking just one weekend is going to be the hard part.

If you're weighing which weekend fits your group best — or want to lock in a waterfront site before the calendar fills up — reach out and we'll help you figure out the right one.

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