Albany Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015
(Albany, New York - NY, USA)
Although there are all kinds of activities and festivals staged throughout the year in the capital of New York State, Albany is certainly at its busiest during the summer months. At this time of the year, the weather is at its best, meaning that more gatherings can be held outside, such as concerts, sporting events, parades and markets, a number of which take place at the Empire State Plaza, Washington Park and within the Corning Preserve of the Riverfront Park.
There are always plenty of things to do along Pearl Street, with its selection of lively bars. During the summer, this part of Albany is known for its late afternoon 'Alive at Five' concerts, which are held all through the summer on Thursdays, from June to the beginning of August, at the nearby Riverfront Park, right next to the Hudson River.
May is a busy month in Albany, with its Spring Market, Spring Brunch, Spring Fest and YMCA Run, as well as its Tulip Festival at Washington Park. More than 85,000 people now attend this event, coming to admire the colourful displays of thousands of tulips, and to celebrate the city's rich Dutch heritage.
Later on in the year, the African American Family Day Arts Festival in August, at the Empire State Plaza, is worth looking out for, as is the Port of Albany's Riverfront Jazz Festival each September, followed by the City Art Fair, the hugely popular Larkfest and the Upper Madison Street Fair.
Albany Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Albany Chefs' Food and Wine Festival - mid-January, based at the Hotel Albany and City Hall, with wine tasting, barista competitions and a grand gala, complete with six-course dinner.
February
- Russian Winter Festival - early February to early March, held at the Italian Community Center on Washington Avenue. The Winter Fest includes the chance to learn all about Russian culture, food, films, costumes and music, with lots of fun competitions and activities, exhibitions of art, piano recitals and forums.
March
- There are no significant events in Albany during the month of March.
April
- Move Music Festival - late April, with around 100 bands and acts performing at venues throughout Albany, giving much exposure to local and regional New York talent.
- Downtown Albany Restaurant Week - late April, held at restaurants all around the downtown district, where three-course meals are heavily discounted for the night as a special promotion.
- Annual Albany Children's Book Festival - late April at Academy Road, one of the region's top literary events, designed to stimulate and inspire the minds of the younger generation, with authors, illustrators and story reading, as well as a storybook parade, presentations and fun workshops.
May
- Albany Spring Market - early May, based at Quackenbush Square on a Wednesday evening, near the beginning of the month.
- Annual Spring Brunch - early May, in the Siek Campus Center, at the nearby Hudson Valley Community College.
- Albany YMCA Run / 3K Walk and Kids Fun Run - mid-May, races for all ages at the Riverfront Park.
- Albany Spring Fest - mid-May, with hip hop music at the Palace Theater on Clinton Avenue.
- Lupine Festival - mid-May, a chance to travel back to bygone days at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center on New Karner Road.
- Tulip Festival - mid-May, first held in the late 1940s and now boasting more than 100,000 tulips in bloom, at Washington Park. Events include the Royal Tulip Ball, the Tulip Queen Coronation, activities for children and the Mother of the Year award.
- St. Sophia Greek Festival - mid-May, at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church on Whitehall Road, with live Greek-themed music, dancing, food and costumes.
June
- Art on Lark - early June, a street art festival attracting artists, bands and street vendors, based around Lark Street.
- Capital Pride Parade and Festival - early June, with celebrations starting off in Washington Park at midday, with a procession along State Street, Lark Street and Madison Avenue, before returning to the park. Capital Pride lasts almost two-weeks and comprises a series of events and activities, such as the Kick-Off BBQ, a stage with live music and plenty of excuses to party hard. Close to 20,000 people now attend, with many coming dressed to impress.
- Freihofer's Run for Women - early June, a 3-mile / 5-km road race through the streets of Albany, first staged in 1978 and now drawing in excess of 4,000 women runners. Other events include the Community Walk and the shorter Junior Race for children.
- Alive at Five - early June to early August, held on Thursday evenings during the summer months, with free live music and tasty BBQ food at the Corning Preserve amphitheater in the Riverfront Park.
- RiverFest - mid-June, based on the Historic River Street of nearby Troy.
- Father's Day Concert - mid-June, live music and fireworks over the Hudson River, at the Riverfront Park.
- Juneteenth (Emancipation Day) - mid-June, celebrating the date when America's very last slaves were freed. Family themed events take place at Washington Park and commence with an official opening ceremony.
July
- 4th of July Celebrations - Independence Day fireworks, live music and partying at the Empire State Plaza on State Street. Albany always gets very crowded on this day, meaning that traffic congestion and parking problems can be expected if you don't arrive early.
- Shaker Summer Craft Fair - mid-July, hosted by the Shaker Heritage Society.
August
- African American Family Day Arts Festival - mid-August, staged at the Empire State Plaza / Washington Park every year since 1996.
- Altamont Fair - mid-August, week-long fun at the Altamont Fairgrounds, an agricultural-themed show with lots of entertainment.
- Albany LatinFest - late August, with live Latin-themed music and dance, along with Hispanic American-themed food, amusements for children and market stalls selling local handicrafts, drawing crowds of more than 10,000 people for this one-day event.
- Capital District Scottish Games - late August to early September, at the nearby Altamont Fairgrounds, roughly a 30-minute drive to the west of Albany. Bagpipes, traditional drumming bands, horses, kilts, Highland dancing and fairground rides can all be expected here, along with sporting Scottish-themed events, such as caber tossing, hammer throwing and sheaf tossing.
September
- Port of Albany's Riverfront Jazz Festival - early September, acclaimed jazz artists performing at the Riverfront Park's Corning Preserve amphitheater. Free admission ensures a large crowd.
- September in the City Art Fair - throughout September, local artists gather in Tricentennial Park on each Wednesday during this month, coming here to exhibit and sell their art works.
- Larkfest - mid-September, a sizeable street festival on Lark Street, lasting just one day and drawing crowds of close to 100,000 people. Visitors can expect live music, silent discos, children's entertainment (in the Kid's Zone), food stalls and visual arts. Lark Street is completely closed to traffic on this day.
- Upper Madison Street Fair - late September, with more than 2,000 people heading to the Upper Madison Avenue for a street party. Visitors can expect live music, activities for children, market stalls and plenty of food to go around.
October
- Downtown Albany Fall Car Show and Cruise-In - mid-October, a chance to enjoy some beautiful classic cars, based on North Pearl Street.
November
- Thanksgiving Day - late November, a nationwide public holiday celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of this month.
December
- Victorian Stroll Art and Craft Show - early December, held in nearby Troy, with more than 20,000 people usually attending.
- Albany Last Run 5K - mid-December, an established 3-mile / 5-km race through Washington Park, passing by the Capital Holiday Lights and including fireworks and a post-race party at the Empire State Plaza.