Those of us who grew up around Binghamton, NY had an interesting childhood, as well as participated in a lot of similar activities. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember what it was like to be a kid from Binghamton.
1. You have ridden at least one of the county carousels.
One of the defining features of Binghamton is its many carousels! If you have never rode one of these in your time as a Broome kid you missed out. Our beautiful city has one of the biggest collections of antique carousels in the world!
Back when the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Factory was still in Binghamton, all carousel rides were made free! This is still true today. The Johnson family believed no child should have to pay out of pocket for the joy a carousel could bring.
If you have never rode one, now is the time to recapture your childhood and take a chance.
2. The Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally is one of your favorite events.
I have gone to the Spiedie Fest every year since I was very young. It always is my favorite event of the summer! Between eating delicious spiedies, seeing famous Disney stars and the great slushies, I loved this great annual event. One of my fondest memories was getting to hug the person who played Seth in the Twilight Series!
Not only did we go when we were young, we still go when we are old! I went only last year to an awesome concert featuring Christina Perri! The staff do a great job making the event worth the cost of the button to get in.
Oh, and I almost forgot... This festival is also a balloon rally! All three days (weather permitting) see a balloon launch, either in the morning or late at night. So many balloons go up, and there are even many chances to go up in them! We all have seen the balloons once in our lives... Someday I hope to go up in one!
3. Even if you do not like golf, you attend the Dick’s Open.
The Dick's Open is one of the most famous events that happens in our area. Plenty of master golfers come to compete for the large cash prize. As you can see in the above picture, this event is pretty well attended also.
I must say, though, most of the people I know go to the Dick's Open for the wicked concert.
In the past, Maroon 5 has taken the stage, and this year Florida Georgia Line played for a giant crowd!
What's great about the Open, though, is that it allows local artists to be the opening acts! Kolby Oakley, pictured below, is an artist from Whitney Point! I am a big fan of his, and I am happy to see him get the fame he deserves.
4. As a kid, you went to Finch Hollow Nature Center.
Whether you went on a field trip with your class or attended the Summer Nature Fun Camp, Finch Hollow Nature Center was the place to go! From the great games to the costumes and crafts, I cannot think of a time where I was happier.
Oh, and my dad is the naturalist there! He loves teaching about animals and nature, and his love for the topics themselves are also infinite. He really makes learning fun and I will always admire him for that.
5. You have been to at least one county park.
The entire county is covered in parks for the free enjoyment of anyone! Every single student in Broome County has probably been to these great attractions. This parks include swimming, fishing, boating, concession stands and camping! We all loved to play sharks and minnows in the water or try and catch the frogs in the numerous creeks feeding the lakes.
6. You go to funny annual events like “Boo at the Zoo.”
Binghamton is a great place to enjoy many family-friendly events. Two examples include "Boo at the Zoo" and "Canstruction!" The picture above is the canstruction design my team made this year, and all of the food used goes to the local food bank!
If you've ever been to "Boo at the Zoo," you know it is a great time! I went with a good friend when I was young, and I cannot believe how scared I got! We all went to great local events like these and showed our support of this area.
7. The Oakdale Mall and the Vestal Parkway are the only places to shop.
If you live near Binghamton, you know how scarce stores are... Johnson City and Vestal are really the best places to get what you need! Some of my favorite haunts include Old Navy, Forever 21, Hot Topic and Barnes and Noble! Which are your favorite stores?
8. Binghamton University and Broome Community College are where most of your classmates go after graduation.
As someone who will be going very far, far away for college, I am certainly going to miss some of my friends who are staying close. At the same time, almost everyone from the area stays close for college! For some, it is because it is cheaper. For others, it provides an option to get better and prepare for the future.
At the same time, students who desire to stay closer to home also go to Binghamton University! I know a ton of people who will be attending BU this fall, and I respect their decision as well. Binghamton University is a top-ranked overall school in New York.
9. Jones' Humdinger, Suzy-Q’s and the Scoop are the places to get ice cream.
If there is one thing New Yorkers love more than pizza... it is ice cream! These ice cream stores are known far and wide in Binghamton!
For me, all three of these stores bring back so many memories of school trips, outings with my grandpa and important moments in my life. Every big change involved getting ice cream at the Scoop or Sundae Shoppe. I hope you have had plenty of good memories at these ice cream stores as well!
10. You have to describe where you live (or lived) as the place an hour south of Syracuse, near the Pennsylvania border.
All of us know how hard it is to make others aware of where we live. Our city is one of the biggest in rural New York, yet no one really knows where it is! Constantly mentioning Syracuse in the description demotes our city, and I wish it were not so.
Despite this fact, Binghamton is a great place to live! There is always so much going on and plenty of action. I will always remember Binghamton as my home and hold all of the memories close to my heart.
