Your Visit

Getting Here

Glimmerglass Festival’s Alice Busch Opera Theater is located at 7300 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326, eight miles north of the historic village of Cooperstown.

We highly recommend traveling by car. Due to our rural setting, public transportation is hard to find. A car will most likely be needed even if you travel through Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse or Utica. A listing of transportation options appears below.

Parking

General parking is located across the street from the theater. Handicapped parking is available on the same side of the street as the theater, and golf cart shuttles travel from the handicapped parking area to the front of the theater.

ENJOYING CENTRAL NEW YORK’S WEATHER

Summers in Central New York are beautiful, with daytime temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees. Night time temperatures can drop into the 50s and 60s, and rain showers have been known to make several appearances during the summer months.

The Alice Busch Opera Theater’s unique design features retractable panels to provide fresh air before performances and during intermission, when weather permits. We encourage you to dress for the ambient outdoor temperature, bring a light jacket or sweater for evening performances and consider arming yourself with a small umbrella.

DRESS FOR YOUR COMFORT, AND ENJOY THE SHOW

One of the great things about The Glimmerglass Festival is there is no dress code. The theater is not climate-controlled. Days can be hot and evenings may be cool, so we suggest you dress for the weather. A pair of jeans is perfectly acceptable in the Alice Busch Opera Theater, and the same goes for that dress or suit you’ve been dying to wear.

Above all, we want you to be comfortable.

MEALS DELIVERED BY THE HORNED DORSET

New for 2024, The Horned Dorset Inn now offers a selection of delicious, fresh, and seasonal hot and cold meals to enjoy before most shows! Your order will be ready for pick up on the Glimmerglass campus starting 90 minutes before performances. Enjoy your meal at one of the picnic benches on the grounds. Refreshments to compliment your meal will be available at the Festival’s Marketplace Bistro, including fine wines amd local craft beers. Order up to one week before your visit. Meals will not be available for purchase on the day event.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR HORNED DORSET MEAL!

RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS TO SATISFY EVERY TASTE

The area is also home to many outstanding restaurants. From excellent soups and sandwiches to high-end dining, the area features something for everyone. Whether you need a quick meal between shows or a fine dining destination, try some of these local establishments. 

Restaurants organized by proximity to The Glimmerglass Festival.

A UNIQUE DESTINATION

Cooperstown is a wonderful and unique travel destination. The village is set on the nine mile, pristine Otsego Lake, referred to as “Glimmerglass” in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Leatherstocking Tales. A one-stoplight village, the area is a step back in time, with historic buildings, a charming Main Street and quaint bed & breakfasts.

Try antiquing in the many shops or barns nestled in the countryside or have a taste of local fare – think maple syrup and organic produce – at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market or one of the plentiful roadside stands. Unwind with an afternoon at one of the local spas, like Spring House Spa, after visiting the local art galleries: The Cooperstown Art Association and Smithy Center for the Arts.

MUSEUMS

Stroll through some of Fenimore Art Museum’s exhibitions, some of which relate to our season. Hyde Hall, the historic landmark, is a short drive from the Festival and offers tours of the neoclassic country mansion and stunning views of Otsego Lake. Or, take the family to The Farmers’ Museum and experience 19th-century rural and village life firsthand through demonstrations and interpretive exhibits. The area is also home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, where Glimmerglass Young Artists perform baseball-related concerts in August, The Arkell Museum, the Russian History Museum and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.

BEVERAGE TRAIL

Once the hops-growing capital of North America, Cooperstown now boasts several breweries, a winery and a historic cider mill. Take the Cooperstown Beverage Trail and visit and tour Bear Pond Winery; Brewery Ommegang, the official brewery of The Glimmerglass Festival; Cooperstown Brewing Company; and Fly Creek Cider Mill.

HIKING

There are many hiking opportunities in the Central New York area. Close to The Glimmerglass Festival, discover the many scenic trails in Glimmerglass State Park, which range from one-half to two miles long. A little more than five miles north of The Glimmerglass Festival, discover the Robert Woodruff Nature Center, with trails leading to small waterfalls.

Arnold Lake State Forest in Hartwick and Milford lie on New York State and Otesgo County lands surrounding Arnold Lake. The main trail is a five-and-a-half mile loop. The 1,293 acres of R. Milton Hick Memorial State Forest in nearby Roseboom include all stages of the cycle of forest management for viewing. The Lordsland Preserve, also in Roseboom, is a private, 80-acre parcel owned by The Nature Conservancy and features two trails offering a wide range of plants.

Contact the Otsego County Conservation Association for more information at www.occainfo.org.

MORE ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION:

For visitor information and to plan your trip to Cooperstown, visit www.ThisIsCooperstown.com, the official website of Cooperstown, New York. www.ThisIsCooperstown.com provides visitor resources including lodging packages, recreation, events, online coupons, trip planning maps and more. Additional information on Cooperstown may be found at the Cooperstown Chamber website.

Accessibility

The Glimmerglass Festival works to assure sure all our patrons are satisfied. Please feel free to let the Box Office know your needs in advance.

• General parking is located across the street from the theater. Handicapped parking is available on the same side of the street as the theater, and golf cart shuttles travel from the handicapped parking area to the front of the theater.
• The first level of the theater is ADA compliant. Please be aware there is no elevator to the second level of the theater.
• Assisted listening devices are complimentary and may be picked up at the Audience Services Desk at the front of the theater one hour prior to the performance. Headphones, earbuds and neck loops are offered to connect to our receivers.
• Supertitles with English translations are provided for all subscription-based operas. The lyrics for musicals are also projected above the stage.
• Large-print program books are available upon request.
• Booster seats are available at the theater and obtained by asking an usher upon entering the theater.
• Family and handicapped-accessible bathrooms are available.
• Service animals are welcome in the theater.
• Interpreters and braille programs are available if requested in advance. Please contact the Box Office at (607) 547-2255 at least three weeks in advance of your visit.