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Mohawk Valley Almanac for May 2026
Holidays and Observances in May
May 1 May Day; Law Day; International Labor Day; Beltane (Cross Quarter Day)
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month begin
May 2 Kentucky Derby
May 5 Cinco de Mayo
May 8 Truman Day (Missouri)
May 10 Mother’s Day; Rogation Sunday
May 14 Ascension Day
May 16 Armed Forces Day
May 22 National Maritime Day
May 19 Victoria Day (Canada)
May 24 Whitsunday-Pentecost
May 25 Memorial Day (Observed)
May 31 Orthodox Pentecost; Trinity Sunday
May is a late spring month that occasionally has frost, but depending on where one lives in the region, that is more common in the North Country. The last frost of the season for most in the area is mid-May, though frost sensitive plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, and beans are a bit risky to plant prior to Memorial Day late in the month. However, many root crops and greens can be planted in the first half of the month. Days can be cool to occasionally hot. Memorial Day is on the last Monday of the month and marks the unofficial start of the summer season. 
Indigenous peoples in northeastern North America often called the full Moon in May the Full Flower Moon, as many wildflowers of the forests come into bloom in late April and May. For the cultivated flower garden, May is a continuation of daffodils and tulips of April, followed by iris, fragrant lilacs, and late in the month, softball-sized blooms of peonies in white, yellow, and various shades of red to pink.
May is one of the more pleasant months of the year with sunset after 8 p.m. and warmer temperatures. Outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, fishing, hiking, bicycling, running, camping, and gardening all fairly common. With the Boilermaker Road Race of July coming up, many runners begin or expand their training in May.
May is generally pleasant temperatures before the hotter and more humid days of June to August and our short summer season. However, warmer temperatures bring more insects and ticks, especially in grassy areas. When gardening or camping, one should carefully examine body and clothing after activities for ticks. Bug repellent may be especially useful in limiting mosquito bites, or in the north country black flies, which decline significantly after 3-5 days of hot weather in the 80s.
With the warmer weather, many farmers’ markets in the area begin or expand their regional services. Generally weekly and lasting until October, most markets begin in May, though some don’t start until June. Those who like fresh produce, these markets are an excellent way to support local farmers of their produce, meats, honey and jams, and local arts and crafts. Utica has the Oneida County Farmers Market at Union Station on Saturdays May 23 to October 31, and at Chancellor Park on Elizabeth Street late June to October. Other regional are listed here.
Farmers’ Markets in Herkimer County
Fridays: Old Forge 1-5 p.m. starts June 19)
Saturdays: Dolgeville 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starts May 9; Little Falls 8-12 Noon starts May 9; Frankfort 9-12 Noon starts June 27; Richfield Springs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starts June 20
Farmers’ Markets in Madison County
Tuesdays: Chittenango 4-7:30 p.m. starts June 9; MCHS in Oneida, starts June 9.
Saturdays: Cazenovia 9 a.m.-2 p.m., starts May 2; Hamilton 8 a.m.-1 p.m., starts May 2.
Farmers’ Markets in Oneida County In Utica as noted above
Mondays: Whitesboro, 2-7 p.m. starts June 1.
Wednesdays: Oriskany, 2-7 p.m. starts June 3; Rome, 2-6 p.m. starts May 27; Vernon Center 2-6 p.m. starts June 4.
Thursdays: Boonville, noon-5 p.m. starts in June; Clinton, 10a.m.-4 p.m. starts June 4; Vienna, 2-6 p.m.
In the Night Skies
Rising / Setting times and Phases of Moon for May 2026
May 1 Full Flower Moon rises at 8:28 P.M. Sets 5:26 P.M.
May 9 Last Quarter Moon Rises 2:08 A.M, SE. Sets 12:01 P.M. SW
May 16 New Moon Rises 4:56 A.M. NE Sets 8:46 P.M. NW
May 23 First Quarter 12:49 A.M. E Sets 1:50 A.M. W
May 31 Full Blue Moon Rises 9:27 P.M. Sets 5:03 A.M. SW
Sunrise / Sunset and Moonrise / Moonset times and Planets Visible
On May 1 also known as Cross-Quarter Day Beltane
Sunrise 5:53 A.M. Sunset 8:02 P.M.
Full Flower Moon rises at 8:28 P.M. Set 5:26 P.M.
Mercury. Rises 5:30 A.M. Brilliant, morning in the east
Venus. Sets 10.28 P.M. Brilliant in the Southwest
Mars Rises 5:02 A.M. Very bright in the east
Jupiter Sets 1:21 A.M. Brilliant in the west
Saturn Rises 4:52 A.M. Very bright in the east
Uranus Sets 9:37 P.M. binoculars recommended, in the northwest
Neptune Rises 4:35 A.M. telescope recommended, in the east
Venus is to right of Jupiter in the southwest about 8:15-8:30 P.M. for many evenings early in the month. On May 1, there is a triangular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter with the blue star Sirius. On the 18th to the 20th, the Moon is in conjunction with Venus, then between Venus and Jupiter, and then above Jupiter in the western sky shortly after sunset. On the 30th, the Moon is to the right of the red supergiant star Antares of Scorpio.
