We love Jimmy Fallon here in New York City.
He was born in Bay Ridge, records his beloved The Tonight Show right in the heart of Rockefeller Center, and is even a die-hard Knicks fan through and through.
While Fallon grew up in Saugerties, a small Hudson Valley town that shaped his upstate roots, very few people realize just how well he knows the rest of New York State — including one special canal town he keeps coming back to purely for the “vibes.”
That town is Fairport, NY.
Tucked along the Erie Canal just outside Rochester in Western New York, Fairport is a walkable, waterfront village built around slow-moving water and an even slower pace. Canal boats glide past Main Street, live music spills out of Irish pubs, and locals treat celebrity sightings with a shrug and a smile.
Fallon doesn’t live here, and he’s not flashy about his visits.
He shows up quietly once or twice a year, usually around late winter or early spring, grabs a drink, jumps onstage with a band, hugs a few locals — and then blends right back into the crowd.
And that low-key, “everyone’s just hanging out” energy is exactly what makes Fairport such a standout escape — not just for Jimmy Fallon, but for anyone looking to experience a different side of New York.
Why Jimmy Fallon keeps returning to Fairport
Fallon doesn’t own a home in Fairport, but his connection to the village runs surprisingly deep.
His ties trace back to Damien Mulconry, owner of Mulconry’s Irish Pub, whom Fallon befriended years ago while both were living in NYC.
Since then, Fairport has become a recurring stop on Fallon’s travel, calendar, especially around early March when St. Patrick’s Day energy starts building.
When he visits, he doesn’t hide either!
Fallon has been known to pop behind the bar, pour drinks for surprised patrons, take photos with locals, and hop on stage with live bands — sometimes covering Radiohead, other times belting out Irish classics.
Just last March local outlet WHEC ran into Fallon in the pub, where he mentioned why he loves Fairport because people are “nice and normal.” They grab a quick photo, say hello, and let him get back to hanging out.
That low-key attitude says everything about the town.
Where Fallon hangs out (and where you should too)
Of course Mulconry’s Irish Pub & Restaurant is ground zero, but there’s plenty of his favorite spots clustered right where Fairport shines brightest.
Start at the classic Irish pub on Main Street where live music nights feel more like a community hang than a performance, and thank us later. This is where Fallon is most often spotted — and where he’s most likely to grab a mic if a band is playing.
Just across the street sits Iron Smoke Distillery, a Fairport-founded whiskey brand with a tasting room that feels equal parts industrial, musical, and local. Fallon has stopped in here multiple times too, sipping whiskey, chatting with staff, and soaking up the atmosphere.
Between stops, stroll the canal. Boats slide through the village, cyclists roll past on the Erie Canalway Trail, and the water reflects brick buildings and string lights as the sun dips.
Why Fairport is worth the trip (even without a celebrity)
Don’t get it twisted — Fairport’s appeal doesn’t hinge on a famous face. Its real magic is the setting.
Widely known as the “Crown Jewel of the Erie Canal,” the village grew up around the water in the 1800s, and that history still shapes everything from the architecture to the pace of life.
The canal runs straight through town, turning the waterfront into a natural gathering space rather than something to drive past.
Walk or bike the Erie Canalway Trail, which cuts through the village and connects to parks and scenic stretches beyond town. If you want to experience Fairport from the water, hop aboard the Colonial Belle for a narrated canal cruise that passes through locks and under historic bridges.
For a quick history lesson, the Fairport Museum explains the town’s canal-era roots and how it earned its name after a traveler once called it a “fair port.”
And yes — there’s excellent ice cream during the summer (when we recommend going most).
Moonlight Creamery is a must for canal-side wandering, especially on warm evenings when the village feels like it’s collectively exhaling.
When to visit & how to get there
Fairport shines year-round, but summer is peak season. So bookmark this for later.
June brings Fairport Canal Days, one of the most beloved canal festivals in the Northeast, while August’s Fairport Music Festival fills the village with multiple stages and waterfront crowds.
Winter, meanwhile, turns Fairport into a snow-dusted postcard, complete with a glowing lift bridge and frozen canal.
From NYC, it’s about a five-hour drive — or an Amtrak ride to Rochester followed by a short Uber.
Either way, the payoff is the same and worth a visit to see why someone like Jimmy Fallon keeps coming back.