Special Events

Here are upcoming events at the Dryden Center for Community (see below for events that have already happened to get an idea of what is happening at the DCC):

Upcoming events:

Ithaca Suzuki Music Education Studio Recital

  • June 20 (Saturday) 1-2:30pm - Come hear the violin and viola students of Drake, one of the co-directors of Ithaca Suzuki Music Education. From the beginning Twinklers to advanced students, this is a great opportunity to learn about the Suzuki Method for string instrument instruction and be inspired by the young musicians. In the Performance Space.

Author Event with Protagonist Books & Coffee

  • June 28 (Sunday) 3-5pm, in the Performance Space and Community Room - Join authors Jennifer Dugan and Becky Albertalli as they visit the Finger Lakes area and sit down for a discussion about their books and writing, in particular the recent release of Jennifer Dugan's new novel, Girls Like Us, the highly anticipated sequel to Some Girls Do. The authors will take questions and follow the event with a signing so be sure to drop in!

Family Health Network Mobile Medical Unit

The FHN Mobile Medical Unit will be at the Dryden Center for Community on Wednesdays in July and August from 8am-4pm. More information coming soon on how you can schedule your appointment.

Repair Cafe

Events in 2026:

  • March 28 (Saturday) 2pm-4pm - Steeple Social and Open Doors Day, here at the DCC

  • April 11 (Saturday) 10am-5pm - Knit for Food, in collaboration with Connected Stitches, Community Room at the DCC

  • April 18 (Saturday) 10am-1pm - Dryden Repair Cafe, Community Room at the DCC

  • April 19 (Sunday) 1pm-3pm - The Dryden Recreation & Youth Commission and Tompkins County Youth Services Department are holding a community conversation about recreation, youth development programs, and well-being in Dryden.

  • April 21 (Tuesday) 6pm-7:30pm - Unpacking Abuse Myths: An event hosted by Protagonist Books & Coffee, Performance Space at the DCC

  • April 25 (Saturday) 11am-1pm - Community Connections, an opportunity for community members in Dryden and surrounding areas to connect with local nonprofits, service organizations, town groups, and sports teams, as participants or as volunteers. This event is organized by Kiwanis Club of Dryden and Rotary Club of Dryden.

Sing-a-long for Sanity

  • May 16 (Saturday) 6-9pm - Sing-along for Sanity Musician and activist Shira Evergreen will be bringing her guitar and her voice to lead a community sing-a-long in the Community Room with the theme of "Collective Power". There will be an eclectic mix of songs from Tracy Chapman to Chappell Roan, Cat Stevens to Cat Power, there’s something for everyone! All ages welcome! Doors open at 5:30pm.

FLAIR Open Sew

  • May 17 (Sunday) 12-4pm - FLAIR Open Sew is an opportunity to create in community. Bring knitting, bring mending, bring a shirt you want to try to sew. Organizer Heather Scott will provide the peanut M &M's and the joie de vivre.

Benefit Concert for the DCC Scholarship Fund

  • May 22 (Friday) 5-10pm, in the Performance Space - Choose-your-own-donation (suggested donation is $10-20) for our first showcase of local bands. Stop on in for everything from acoustic sets to electronica. Refreshments will be available. The showcase will include Wise Bones, Second Spring, Space Duzzt, Worm Collective, Sarah Noell, Spud Bugs, Bobby DuVet, and Marine Park!

Jan Nigro in Concert

  • May 23 (Saturday) 7-8:30pm, doors open at 6:30, in the Performance Space - Everything from Beatles, Everly Brothers, Carol King , Motown and various other artists and genres. Jan will also talk about and do a couple of tunes of his sister, the late great singer songwriter Laura Nyro. He'll also take requests from the audience! Suggested donation of $20 per person.

Sex Trivia with Protagonist Books & Coffee

  • June 5 (Friday) 6-9pm, in the Community Room - Start off Pride Month with this adults-only trivia night. Test your knowledge, win prizes and learn a few things. This is an event hosted by Protagonist Books & Coffee here at the DCC. Planned Parenthood will have an information table, there will be books for sale, as well as drinks and snacks.

Queermunity Pride Potluck

  • June 7 (Sunday) 12-4pm - Bring a dish to share and your ideas! Let's get together, celebrate and set the stage for a year of inclusive, fun events. We will be meeting in the Community Room. This is a family-friendly event open to those identifying as LGBTQ+ and allies.

Fridays @ The Center

  • June 12 (Friday) - Four bands will be featured at our new monthly concert series: Wise Bones, Nancy Babich, How's the Soup, and Tochi Ezidiegwu. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7pm. Suggested donation is $10. There will be snacks available for purchase, including ice cream novelties from You Scream Ice Cream.

Dairy Day

  • June 13 (Saturday) - Stop in at the DCC before the Dairy Day parade to get a tour of our building, learn about programs, and find out how you can get involved! Our doors will be open from 8 - 9:30am.

Events in 2025:

  • September 6 (Saturday) 10am-2pm - Freeville Harvest Festival, Freeville Elementary School front lawn, 43 Main St, Freeville

  • September 6 (Saturday) 12am-2pm - Community Connections Event, Hopshire Farm & Brewery, 1771 Dryden Rd, Freeville

  • September 12 and 13 (Friday and Saturday) 1-9pm - Fundraiser at the Dryden Creamery, 62 W. Main St, Dryden

  • September 20 (Saturday) 10-3pm - Join us at the Homestead Heritage Fair, 14 North St, Dryden. Someone from the Dryden Center for Community will be at a table at the Southworth Homestead to answer questions from 10am-3pm.

  • Starting Septmber 27 - Giggly Gourds are available at Bigsby Market. Show your support for the Dryden Center for Community by purchasing an adorable, whimsical gourd pal with 100% of proceeds going to the DCC.

  • October 4 (Saturday) 10am-2pm - Repair Cafe, Dryden Fire Hall. Look for our table at this community event sponsored by the Dryden Climate Action Committee. This is the sort of event that could happen on a regular basis at the new Dryden Center for Community.

  • October 15 (Wednesday) 12pm - Lunchtime Learning at the Southworth Library, 24 W. Main St, Dryden. We will be having a panel discussion with plenty of opportunities for questions at this free event at the library.