GENESEO, NY, May 26, 2023 - A celebration of harvest season featuring live music, craft whiskey and bourbon, and local culture, the inaugural Hoochenanny Whiskey Festival will
take place in the Village of Geneseo the weekend of October 20-21, 2023. From tastemakers and festivalgoers to foodies and adventurers, Hoochenanny brings together
locals and visitors for an elevated music festival experience promoting tourism to the Finger Lakes region as well as celebrating our state's craftsmanship and creative culture.
Hoochenanny Festival is the brainchild of Tommy Brunett of Iron Smoke Distillery and his vision to bring together music, whiskey, and culture to highlight the rich maker history of
the New York Finger Lakes. Anchored in high-level hospitality, education, and entertainment, the festival fuels the region’s hardworking people and attracts a variety of
creative makers.
"This inaugural festival will deliver a mix of craft beverages and live music that encapsulates the spirit of Livingston County," says Director of Livingston County Tourism,
Kelly Burns. Features of this festival include live music from both regional and national acts, exclusive tasting experiences from New York-based restaurants, distilleries,
wineries, breweries, and sundries, mixology seminars, speakeasies, a harvest market, and much more.
This two-day festival will start on Friday, October 20 with a VIP Party at the Wadsworth Homestead overlooking the scenic Genesee River Valley. The Wadsworth Homestead is
the only country manor estate in New York State that has been continually owned by the original family since 1804. On Saturday, October 21, the festival will continue at the
Geneseo Village Park located at the intersection of Main Street and 20A for a full day of live music, whiskey and bourbon tastings, and local cuisine.
Some of the most memorable festival experiences will be created by infusing bold beverage innovations with live music. Hoochenanny Whiskey Festival is embracing this
"spirit" with a spotlight on craft liquor, which has exploded in popularity over the last several years, by welcoming some of the most iconic whiskey and bourbon brands,
distillers, and connoisseurs to showcase over two days.
Tommy Brunett, the visionary of Hoochenanny Festival, adds, “Our plans to establish and grow this festival into a juggernaut for showcasing all that the region has to offer on a
global stage is the driving force for every aspect of this endeavor. We are extremely excited to bring this to the area in our inaugural year and beyond… we do love NY
indeed!”
The festival is expected to bring in around 4,000 fans with a significant economic impact on the Finger Lakes region. The producers of the Hoochenanny Whiskey Festival hope the
genre-spanning musical lineup, as well as the focus on craft liquor and harvest season, will attract not just locals but bring in people from out of town. "We want to continue to
help put Livingston County on the map for people from out of town who want to come here," notes Burns.
Grace Vesneske and Josh Holtzman of Twenty6 Productions and the Festival Managers say, "We are beyond excited to be a part of the Hoochenanny Festival team and bring
some great music and good times to the Village of Geneseo and the surrounding communities."
Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks on Hoochenanny.com, ranging in price from $30 to $350. Attendees must be 21 and over to consume alcohol at the festival, including
tastings. This event is supported by a grant awarded to Iron Smoke Whiskey by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the
Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
For more information on the Hoochenanny Whiskey Festival, visit Hoochenanny.com or contact Livingston County Tourism at (585) 243-7124. Stay up-to-date with the latest
news, events, and more by following Livingston County Tourism (Visit LivCo) on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Hoochenanny Festival: Hoochenanny Festival is the brainchild of Tommy Brunett of Iron Smoke and his vision to bring together music, whiskey, and culture to highlight the rich maker
culture in the New York Finger Lakes. A haven rooted in Americana where all are welcome to enjoy an immersive, unforgettable experience that nourishes the soul and quenches the thirst.
Anchored in high-level hospitality, education, and entertainment, the festival fuels the region’s hardworking people and attracts a culture of creative makers. From tastemakers and
festivalgoers to foodies and adventurers; Hoochenanny Festival is an oasis to experience our state's craft maker culture and the people who produce them.