Summer is the main season, with Hall of Fame induction weekend in late July as the undisputed peak. Rooms book out months in advance for induction weekend, and the village can feel overrun. If you want to see the Hall of Fame without the crowds, a weekday in June or early September is far more pleasant.
Fall is the other good season: the foliage around Otsego Lake in October is spectacular, the Fly Creek Cider Mill is in full operation, and tourist numbers drop off sharply after Labor Day. The village essentially hibernates from November through April — several restaurants and shops close for the off-season — but the museums remain open year-round.