Goodbye 2018, hello 2019! It is going to be an exciting year for Albany County full of festivals, special events, exciting programming and more. From hosting the inaugural Aurora Games at the Times Union Center, to reviving the popular Hamilton in Albany programming, there are a lot of things to look forward to on the horizon. Keep reading for a sneak peek of the exciting things that are happening in Albany County in 2019! 

 

Discover Albany Visitors Center gift shop

Literary Legacy

Albany's heritage sites and cultural institutions are celebrating all things literary in 2019 including film, arts, books, and more! Albany was the home to many literary legends, such as our own William Kennedy and Gregory Maguire. Historically, the area also has ties to Herman Melville and Vladimir Nabokov. Learn about these fascinating literary tales and more throughout the year! In the Fall, the New York State Writers Institute will host the second annual Albany Book Festival. Plus, the Writers Institute consistently hosts wonderful speakers and film screenings throughout the year. Stay tuned for more announcements on literary programming for 2019. 

 

Ten Broeck Mansion

Prohibition Centennial

2019 marks the centennial of the passing of Prohibition in the United States. To celebrate this era of history, Albany will be re-telling the fascinating stories and tales of the city during Prohibition. Ten Broeck Mansion's programming theme for 2019 is "Speaking Easy: Prohibition in Albany," so stay tuned for exciting special events at the mansion. Read more about the upcoming Prohibition-themed programming in this blog post

 

MAAC Championships

Photo Credit: Stockton Photo

Basketball Fever

Basketball fever will strike Albany County this Spring! The 2019 MAAC Basketball Championships return to the Times Union Center for the fifth year in a row. This marks the 20th time that Albany has hosted the location, more than any other location! The MAAC Men's & Women's Basketball Championships will be held from March 7 - March 11, 2019. A few weeks later on March 29 and 31, the Times Union Center will also host the NCAA women's basketball Division I regional rounds. It is going to be an exciting year for basketball fans! 

 

Pride Parade

WorldPride in Albany

WorldPride will be just a few hours south of Albany this summer in New York City! To align with this exciting worldwide festival, Albany's Pride Center of the Capital Region is planning a few special events during Summer 2019 including the annual Capital Pride Festival. The Pride Center of the Capital Region is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ center in the country, so stay tuned for more exciting event announcements! 

 

Hamilton painting at Schuyler Mansion

Hamilton in Albany

Take two! #HamiltonInAlbany is set to return in Summer 2019. Hamilton will be on stage at Proctors in August, so Discover Albany's partners will celebrate Alexander Hamilton all summer long. The Albany Institute of History & Art is opening an exciting exhibit, "The Schuyler Sisters and Their Circle," that will run from July 20 - December 29. This fascinating exhibit will feature clothing, decorative arts, portraits and manuscripts to tell the stories of the Schuyler women, including Hamilton's wife Eliza Schuyler. The Albany Institute has secured significant loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Avery Library at Columbia University, and Museum of the City of New York among many other – so this will be a must-see exhibit! The Schuyler Mansion will also offer a special tour, "When Alexander Hamilton Called Albany Home," that examines Hamilton's relationship with the Schuyler family, his connection to the Schuyler family home, and to Albany. 

 

Aurora Games press conference

Aurora Games

Mark your calendars now for August 20-25, 2019! The Times Union Center is hosting the inaugural edition of the Aurora Games, created by sports marketing executive Jerry Solomon. The Aurora Games are designed to celebrate the best in women’s sports, entertainment and culture by welcoming all-star athletes from more than 15 countries. The six-day event will include team and individual competitions in basketball, tennis, figure skating, gymnastics, ice hockey and beach volleyball. Fans will also enjoy musical performances, food tastings, sports clinics, autograph sessions and seminars in the Aurora Games Fan Zone at the Albany Capital Center