Welcome to the quickest way to learn the week’s most exciting local events. This weekly event round-up is sponsored by The Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

1 – Community Arts Challenge

Date/Time: Fri., Jan. 27, 6:15 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts, 72 S. Main St., Homer, NY
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/321872294879677/
Description: Join the Cultural Council of Cortland County and the Center for the Arts of Homer for the grand opening of the Community Arts Challenge! The evening will include presentations of dance, music, and writing entries to the Arts Challenge, an exhibit of prizes in the fine arts, photography, artisan crafts, choreography, original music, and original writing categories. This is a fun event and a great way to show your support for artists of Cortland County. The art exhibit will be open until 2/19. Please call 749-4900 to arrange a visit.  Stop by and cast your vote for the "People's Choice" Art Award.

The Center for the Arts of Homer. Photo provided.

2 – Homer Winterfest

Date/Time: Fri., Jan. 27, and Sat., Jan. 28
Location: Various locations in Homer, NY
Link: https://cortlandvoice.com/2017/01/26/17th-annual-homer-winterfest/
Description: This year's festival will feature 33 different events including a chili cook-off at Hobeau's Fireside Grill, a snow sculpture contest, wine and cheese tasting, a wing-eating contest, a bonfire, a number of children's events and a parade on Main Street. Click here to download the Winterfest brochure and schedule of events.

The Homer Winterfest Parade, 2016 (Photo: Facebook)

3 – Local music at BRU 64

Date/Time: Fri., Jan. 27, 7 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 28, 7 p.m.
Location: BRU 64, 64 Main St, Cortland, NY
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1143199809124326/
Description: Chris Merkley and Stiv Morgan will take the stage Friday night at 7. Bru 64 will be tapping a keg of Maine Zoe. JimmyJohn McCabe of Old Boy records, along with Merkley, will jam Saturday starting at 7.

4 – See baseball legend Tommy John

Date/Time: Sat., Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m.
Location: Ramada Inn, 2 River St, Cortland
Link/Tickets: http://cortlandcrushbaseball.com/news/2016/10/21/cortland-crush-tommy-john-to-highlight-crush-hot-stove-dinner.aspx
Description: Tommy John, the former major league baseball player for whom a revolutionary ligament surgery was named, will be the keynote speaker at this year's Cortland Crush "Hot Stove" dinner.

Tommy John

5 – 'Girls Day Out' at SUNY Cortland

Date/Time: Sat., Jan. 28, 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Park Center, SUNY Cortland
Link: http://cortlandreddragons.com/news/2017/1/13/champions-cortland-hosting-girls-day-out-with-cortland-ywca-jan-28.aspx?path=champions
Description: The SUNY Cortland Athletics Department and the YWCA of Cortland, in conjunction with the National Girls & Women in Sports Day, will be hosting Girls' Day Out at SUNY Cortland's Bessie L. Park Class of 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center. Girls in grades 4-7 are invited for activities that include participation in gymnastics, dance, ice skating, as well as a health education component, with SUNY Cortland student-athletes, coaches and staff.