Things to Do in Syracuse in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Syracuse
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Maple season begins - sugar houses open weekends starting mid-March with fresh maple syrup and pancake breakfasts for $12-18
- March Madness creates electric atmosphere - Syracuse Orange basketball draws huge crowds to downtown bars and Carrier Dome games
- Shoulder season pricing - hotel rates drop 30-40% compared to summer and fall peak seasons
- Longer daylight hours - sunrise moves from 6:45am to 6:05am through March, giving more time for outdoor activities
Considerations
- Unpredictable weather swings - temperatures can jump 20°C (36°F) in 24 hours, making packing and planning difficult
- Mud season affects hiking trails - many Finger Lakes trails become impassable with ankle-deep mud and snowmelt runoff
- Limited outdoor dining - most patios remain closed until April, restricting food scene experiences to indoor venues
Best Activities in March
Finger Lakes Wine Tours
March is ideal for wine touring as tasting rooms offer extended weekend hours but summer crowds haven't arrived. Many wineries begin barrel tastings and early spring releases. Indoor tastings are perfect for variable March weather, and vineyard views show dramatic winter-to-spring transitions.
Syracuse Basketball Game Experience
March is peak basketball season with Big East tournament games and March Madness. The Carrier Dome atmosphere is legendary with 30,000+ fans. Even if games sell out, downtown sports bars create an authentic Syracuse experience with massive crowds and local energy.
Maple Syrup Farm Tours
March is peak maple season when sugar houses fire up their evaporators. Many farms offer weekend tours showing sap collection and boiling processes, plus fresh pancake breakfasts. This is purely seasonal - only available February through early April when nighttime freezing and daytime thawing create perfect sap flow.
Indoor Cultural District Tours
March weather makes Syracuse's concentrated cultural district perfect for museum hopping. The Everson Museum, MOST science center, and Landmark Theatre are within 0.8 km (0.5 miles) of each other downtown. Indoor venues avoid weather concerns while offering world-class collections and rotating March exhibitions.
Destiny USA Shopping and Entertainment
One of America's largest malls becomes a weather refuge in unpredictable March. Beyond shopping, it offers indoor go-karting, escape rooms, comedy clubs, and 20+ restaurants. Perfect for families during March school breaks or couples avoiding outdoor weather uncertainty.
Historic Architecture Walking Tours
March offers ideal conditions for exploring Syracuse's architecture - cool enough for comfortable walking but early spring light showcases building details beautifully. The University Hill and downtown areas contain stunning examples of Romanesque Revival and Art Deco buildings. Shorter daylight hours suit 2-3 hour tours perfectly.
March Events & Festivals
Syracuse Basketball March Madness
The Orange's NCAA tournament run creates city-wide excitement with viewing parties, rally events, and packed sports bars. Even years without tournament berths feature intense regular season finale games and conference tournament action.
Central New York Maple Weekend
Two-weekend event when participating sugar houses across the region open for tours, demonstrations, and maple product sales. Over 30 participating farms within 80 km (50 miles) of Syracuse offer authentic maple syrup production experiences.