Spring into a month of Free & Frugal events in Albany County and the surrounding region! April showers the region with a series of exciting events including things to do with the family during the upcoming school break, ways to take in the once in a lifetime (almost) total solar eclipse, and community clean-ups in honor of Earth Day. Scroll through this list to find free or lost-cost events for the month of April. 

Week One: April 1 to April 7 

Discover the Pine Bush at Blueberry Hill East
Presented by: Pine Bush Preserve
Location: Trailhead #4 Blueberry Hill East
Date: April 1
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

April Break Adventures: Swiftie Friendship Bracelet Workshop
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: April 2
Time: 2 PM
Price:  $5

Authors Theatre: Staged Reading and Q&A w/ Playwright Amina Henry and Dir. Shuan Patrick Tubbs
Presented by: NYS Writer’s Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 2
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: Free

The Little Mermaid “Family Fun Day” | Free Movie Screening
Location: The Palace
Date: April 2
Time: 12 PM
Price: Free

USS SLATER Opening Day!
Location: USS SLATER DE766
Date: April 3
Time: 10 AM to 4 PM
Price: $12 for adults, $10 for veterans and seniors, $8 for children 6-17, free for children under 5

Discover the Pine Bush at Karner Barrens
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: April 3
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Raven Steals the Sun: Native American Eclipse Stories with Onondaga storyteller Perry Ground
Location: New York State Museum
Date: April 3
Time: 11 AM
Price: Free

April Break Adventures: Open Play with Ta-Da! 
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: April 3
Time: 12 PM
Price: Free

April Break Adventures: Springtime Yoga for Kids
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: April 4
Time: 11 AM
Price:  $10

Children’s Music Workshop
Location: New York State Museum
Date: April 4
Time: 1 PM
Price: Free

First Friday Albany
Location: Various locations in Albany 
Date: April 5
Time: Events at varying times
Price:  Free

April Break Adventures: Advanced Cookie Decorating
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: April 5
Time: 9 AM
Price:  $10

Discover the Pine Bush at Great Dune
Presented by: Pine Bush Preserve
Location: Trailhead #8 Great Dune
Date: April 5
Time: 1 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Parisian Style Schuylers: French Day at the Mansion
Location: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Date: April 5
Time: 9 AM to 2 PM
Price: Free

New York State Capitol Tour: Albany First Fridays
Location: New York State Capitol
Date: April 5
Time: 5:30 PM
Price: Free

Weaving Stories with UREC & Lori Kochanski
Location: Underground Railroad Education Center
Date: April 5
Time: 6:30 PM to 8 PM
Price: $15 per session

Albany Film Festival
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 6
Time: 10:30 AM to 7 PM
Price: Free

Albany Institute Gallery Highlights Tour
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Date: April 6
Time: 2 PM to 3 PM
Price: Free with museum admission

“Vintage Vibes” Jazz Appreciation Concert
Location: Shaker Heritage Society
Date: April 7
Time: 3 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free

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Week Two: April 8 to April 14  

Eclipse Day on the Skyway
Presented by: Downtown Albany BID
Location: Albany Skyway
Date: April 8
Time: 12 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free

Dudley at Siena Eclipse Day Celebration
Location: Siena College
Date: April 8
Time: 1 PM to 5 PM
Price: Free

Astronomy in Albany: Ten Broeck Mansion Talk & Eclipse Viewing Gathering
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: April 8
Time: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Price: $7.18 for adults, $6.11 for seniors and students, free for ACHA members and children (under 18)

The Egg Presents: Eclipse at the Ellipse
Location: The Egg
Date: April 8
Time: 4 PM
Price: Free

Music at Noon Free Concert Series: Spira
Location: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Date: April 9
Time: 12 PM
Price: Free

“A Moral Masterpiece” Alice McDermott
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 11
Time: 4:30 PM Craft Talk | 7:30 PM Conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue
Price: Free

Nine Pin Plant Swap
Location: Nine Pin
Date: April 11
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

PechaKucha Night
Location: Opalka Gallery
Date: April 12
Time: 10:30 AM to 7 PM
Price: Free

Neighbors for Neighbors’ Story Hour at theREP
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Date: April 13
Time: 11 AM
Price: Free

Drop-in Caves and Geology
Location: Thacher Park
Date: April 13
Time: 1:30 PM to 3 PM
Price: Free

Palace Sessions Live w/ Formula 5
Location: The Palace
Date: April 13
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free

Mohawk Towpath Spring 2024 Road Rally
Presented by: Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition
Location: Historic Grooms Tavern
Date: April 14
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM
Price: $25 per team vehicle entry

Mutts Gone Nuts
Location: The Egg
Date: April 14
Time: 3 PM
Price: $22, free adult admission when accompanied by child

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Week Three: April 15 to April 21 

2024 NEXT ACT! New Play Summit 13
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Dates: April 15 to April 20
Time: Times vary
Price: $5 per session

“It Hits You Like a Comet” David Wallace-Wells
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 16
Time: 4:30 PM Craft Talk | 7:30 PM Conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue
Price: Free

Drop-in Feeder Watch
Location: Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center
Date: April 16
Time: 10 AM to 12 PM
Price: Free

Woodcock Walk
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: April 17
Time: 6:30 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Beloved Fiction Writer and Poet: Julia Alvarez
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 18
Time: 4:30 PM
Price: Free

Great Camp Sagamore
Presented by: Historic Albany Foundation and Albany Institute of History & Art
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Date: April 18
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Price: Free

Nine Pin Yarn Swap
Location: Nine Pin
Date: April 18
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

22nd Poet Laureate of the United States and Pulitzer Prize Winner Tracy K. Smith
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: EMPAC Building RPI
Date: April 19
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free

Drawn to Art with Marcus Kwame
Location: Underground Railroad Education Center
Date: April 19
Time: 6 PM to 7 PM
Price: $20

Earth Day Bittersweet Cutting Event
Location: Huyck Preserve
Date: April 20
Time:10 AM to 12 PM
Price: Free

Earth Day Clean-Up      
Presented by: Downtown Albany BID
Location: Olde English Downtown Dog Park
Date: April 20
Time:10 AM to 2 PM
Price: Free

Drop-in Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
Location: Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center
Date: April 21
Time: 9 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free

Nine Pin Warehouse District Clean Up 2024
Location: Nine Pin
Date: April 21
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Special Screening of Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy of Love Canal
Presented by: PBS-WHMT
Location: New York State Museum
Date: April 21
Time: 3 PM to 4:30 PM
Price: Free

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Week Four: April 22 to April 30 

Themed Trivia at Nine Pin
Location: Nine Pin
Date: April 23
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Full Moon Hike at Blueberry Hill West
Presented by: Pine Bush Preserve
Location: Trailhead #5 Blueberry Hill West
Date: April 23
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Drop-in Play Time
Location: Thacher Park
Date: April 25
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Price: Free

Conversation with NYTimes Bestselling Author Michael Wolff
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 25
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free

Mead Tasting with Bull & Bee at the Honest Weight Food Co-Op
Location: Honest Weight Food Co-Op
Date: April 26
Time: 4 PM to 7 PM
Price: Free

Author Book Talk
Location: Nine Pin
Date: April 26
Time: 5:30 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Arbor Day Celebration: Propagation 101 with Christian Grigoraskos
Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum
Date: April 27
Time: 10 AM
Price: $10 per person

BrickUniverse Albany, NY LEGO® Fan Expo
Presented by: BrickUniverse
Location: Empire State Plaza Convention Center
Dates: April 27 and April 28
Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
Price: General Admission $17.65

Literature in Performance: Selected Shorts
Presented by: NYS Writers Institute
Location: UAlbany
Date: April 27
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: $15 general public, $10 students, UAlbany faculty-staff and seniors

A Big Gay Market
Location: Washington Park
Date: April 28
Time: 11 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free

Page Turner's Club
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: April 28
Time: 11 AM
Price:  Free

Signs of Spring
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: April 28
Time: 1 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

UAlbany Showcase
Location: University at Albany
Date: April 30
Time: 9 AM to 4 PM
Price:  Free

Peter and the Wolf: Tiny Tots in Albany
Presented by: Albany Symphony Orchestra
Location: Congregation Beth Emeth
Date: April 30 & May 1
Times: Vary
Price: $5

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Ongoing Events 

UN-ARCHIVE Exhibition
Location: Albany Center Gallery
Dates: Tuesdays through Saturdays
Time: 12 PM to 5 PM
Price: Free

100 Years: We’ll See You Out There
Location: New York State Capitol
Dates: Weekdays
Time: 7 AM to 7 PM
Price: Free

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