Sports
Albany Conquest
Pepsi Arena
51 S Pearl St
Albany, NY 12207
518- 487-2222
Call for exact dates and times.
Admission charged
Arena football is back. The
Albany Conquest play their home games at the Pepsi Arena. The Conquest season
runs from April-July.
Albany River Rats
Pepsi Arena
51 S Pearl St
Albany, NY 12207
518-487-2244
Call for exact dates and times.
Admission charged
2004 marked the 10th Anniversary season of the
Capital Districts only professional hockey team, the Albany River Rats. The
Albany River Rats are the top minor affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.
Empire State Plaza
Outdoor Plaza
518-474-2418
Call for hours and conditions.
Admission charged
Seasonal outdoor skating rink.
Swinburne Rink and
Recreation Center
Clinton Ave, below Manning
Blvd.
Albany, NY
518-438-2406
Call for hours and conditions.
Admission charged
Outdoor rink.
Golf Courses
Call for fees and tee
times.
Mill Road Acres
30 Mill Rd, Latham, NY
518-785-54653
18 holes
Capital Hills at Albany
65 O’Neil Rd, Albany, NY
518-483-2208
18 holes
Stadium Golf Club, Inc.
33 3 Jackson Ave,
Schenectady, NY
518-374-9104
18 holes
Arts and
Entertainment
Empire State Performing
Arts Center
Madison Avenue at Swan
Street
Empire State Plaza
518-434-1845
Call for hours
Admission charged
Albany's
most visible performing arts space holds 880 and has a smaller hall for smaller
events. It hosts music, theater, and dance companies.
Capital Repertory
Company
111 North Pearl Street
Downtown
518-462-4534
Season: October-June
Admission charged
Albany's
most fearless theater company premieres new plays and playwrights as well as the
classics at this converted grocery store.
Albany Civic Theater
235 Second Avenue
518-462-1297
Call for hours
Admission charged
Four
productions every year are all this bijou theater can manage, but each run is
completely booked out well in advance. The building is a converted Victorian
firehouse with seating for just 50 people.
Palace Theatre
North Pearl Street
518-465-4663
Call for hours
Admission charged
This 1929
Art Deco movie theater was designed by architect John Eberson, and is a must for
any walking tour of the city.
Albany Berkshire Ballet
25 Monroe Street
518-426-0660
Call for hours
Admission charged
The Albany Berkshire Ballet
is nationally recognized for its versatility in performing both classical and
contemporary dance works with excellence. The company's classical repertory
rivals that of any large company performing today.
Lark Street
Central Square
518-434-6311
This street two blocks west
of Empire State Plaza is studded with diverse gift shops, collectibles and
antiques stores and cafes, mainly between Madison and Washington Streets. Lark
Street borders the comfortably yuppie borough of Central Square, with glorious
Victorian houses one after another, almost all by Albany architects like Ernest
Hoffman or Charles Nichols.
Nightlife in Albany
Lark Street
518/434-1217 ext, 409
(Albany Alive Events Line
Lark Street
and the surrounding streets are your best destinations for fun, with all manner
of choices. Just walk around here at night until you hear your kind of live
music: Pauly's Hotel at 337 Central Avenue (tel. 518/426-0828) or the Lionheart
Blues Cafe at 258 Lark (tel. 518/436-9530) for blues music; Bogie's at 297
Ontario (tel. 518.482-4368) or Valentine's at 17 New Scotland Avenue (tel.
518/432-6572) for rock or folk, QE2 at 12 Central Avenue for alternative or
house or dance music (tel. 518/434-2023)
Events
Early May
Albany Tulip Festival
Washington Park, Albany
518-434-2032
Admission free
One of Albany’s oldest and most highly
anticipated events is the annual Tulip Festival set in Albany’s beautiful
historic Washington Park. Each year, this traditional Albany event greets spring
with thousands of tulips blooming in a myriad of colors and varieties. Thousands
from across the Capital District Region and beyond come to Tulip Fest each May
to celebrate Albany’s rich Dutch heritage.
Tulip Fest features entertainment on 4 stages
including a Dance stage. The KidZone features crafts and family fun
entertainment, and Jazz Sunday is the perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day.
Don't miss the over 100 crafters, the fine arts show, Gardening Talks or the
vast array of food vendors.
June-August
Hudson River Way Walking
Tours
Albany Heritage Area
Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
518-434-0405
10am
Admission free
The Hudson River Way is a
pedestrian bridge that connects Albany’s historic downtown to the Hudson River,
allowing direct access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The bridge visually tells
the story of Albany’s history through a series of paintings, many depicting
historical artifacts discovered in various archeological excavations. The
paintings are done in 17th century trompe l’oeil style, which “trick the eye”
into believing it is seeing actual objects. Free parking in Visitors Center
parking area off Broadway via Spencer St.
Alive at Five
518-434-2032
Riverfront Park
Summer, Thursdays from 5pm
to 8pm
Admission free
The stage comes alive with
music from national, regional and local artists; each night plays host to a
different genre of music. The weekend kicks-off with an early start, as many of
Albany’s professionals, community members and families enjoy the diverse musical
talent presented during the series. The music is not the only form of
entertainment at Alive at Five as great crowd participation, dancing and people
watching all make for a unique blend of concert atmosphere and hometown block
party fun. Summer favorites such as ice-cold beer, fresh squeezed lemonade,
cotton candy and delicious BBQ from some of the areas favorite local vendors are
available for sale.
June-September
Guided Horse-drawn
Carriage Tours
Albany heritage Area
Visitors Center
25 Quackenbush Square
518-434-0405
Tours begin at 10am,
reservations recommended.
Admission charged.
Guided tours of historic
downtown Albany aboard a horse-drawn carriage.
August
GE's Albany Riverfest
Usually early August, call for exact date.
Albany Riverfront Park. Easy access using the
Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge. Park in any of the numerous downtown
garages and parking lots, and walk across the bridge.
518-434-2032
Noon - 9:00 pm
Admission Free
GE's Albany's Riverfest is a day long
celebration at the newly renovated Albany Riverfront Park. Music, food, and
children's activities make for the perfect family celebration on a summer day.
The Amphitheater boasts a stellar line-up of musical entertainment, the KidZone
has hands-on activities and a stage, and the evening ends with brilliant
fireworks. Food and beverages will be available to complete the perfect summer
family festival.
Family Movie Night
at Riverfront Park
518-434-2032, call for
specific nights.
Thursdays
6:30 pm Radio Disney show
8:00 pm – Movie
Admission free
Grab a blanket for a night under the stars for
a great family night at the movies! Food will be available for purchase, and
Radio Disney will host an awesome show prior to the movie.
Latin Fest
Usually held early August,
call for specific date.
Washington Park Parade
Grounds
518-434-2032
12:00 noon to 8:00 pm
Admission free
The Albany Latin Fest is a
family festival event that celebrates the contributions of Hispanics to the
cultural arts mosaic of American life. As the premier Hispanic cultural festival
event in the Capital District, the event has had one of the largest attendance
rates of any Hispanic festival in upstate New York. The Albany Latin Fest
features local and international Hispanic artists, children’s carnival rides, as
well as food and craft vendors representative of the diverse Hispanic cultures
from across the state.
Summer in the City Art
Fair
Call for exact dates.
Pine Street Park,
Broadway and Pine Street
518-434-2032
Wednesdays from 11:30 am to
1:30 pm
Admission free
Summer in the City Art Fair
features exhibits by local artists and musical entertainment. Artwork is
available for purchase.
September
The Albany Riverfront
Jazz Festival
Usually in early September,
call for exact date.
Albany Riverfront Park
Access the event via the
Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge at Broadway and Pine Street
518-434-2032
Noon to 7:00 pm
Admission free
The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival features
the hottest in regional and national jazz music, as well as tasty food and
beverages. Albany Riverfront Park provides the perfect setting for a great late
summer day on the banks of the Hudson River.
Lark Fest
On Lark Street
518-434-3861
Call for exact date and
time
Festival with music, food
and fun!
October
Columbus Day Parade and
Italian Festival
Usually held on a Sunday,
call for exact date.
Albany Riverfront Park
518-641-7518
1pm parade, 2-6 pm Festival
Admission free
Set in the beautiful fall colors of Washington Park, this festival showcases
the best of Italian music and food. The colorful parade features marching
bands, folk dances, a grand marshal and hundreds of participants. A festival at
the Lakehouse follows the Parade.
End of November-end of
December
Capital Holiday Lights
in the Park
Washington Park
Downtown Albany
518-434-2032; 800-456-7890
Opens at 6pm
Admission free
A dazzling drive-through
holiday light display with thousand of lights and more than 100 illuminated
scenes and displays creating a wonderland of winter fun. Most evenings, Santa
visits with the children at the end of the ride (call for information).
Refreshments are available. There are always plenty of surprise visits from
Frosty, Rudolph and other characters in this winter wonderland. Ends with
surprises and holiday treats in the Lakehouse.
New Year’s Eve
First Night Albany
Downtown Albany
518-434-2032
2:00 pm to midnight.
Fun for the entire family -- a great way to
celebrate New Year's Eve! The magic of this annual holiday
tradition is celebrated by the entire community! Hundreds of performers fill
dozens of indoor stages in Downtown Albany. The celebration features something
for everyone including dance, comedy, fireworks, live music, psychics, star
shows, and the famous conga line to ring in the New Year!
