Stumped on what to do this Labor Day Weekend? Albany County has got you covered with plenty of free & frugal events and activities! Celebrate the unofficial end to summer with the Capital District Scottish Games at the Altamont Fairgrounds, or finally check touring the USS Slater off of your Albany Bucket List. Keep reading for a full list of free & frugal events for August 31 - September 3.
Friday, August 31
Farmers Market
Location: Empire State Plaza
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Price: Free
Weekday Tours of the New York State Capitol
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
Price: Free
Tute for Tots
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Price: $12 non-members; $10 members per class
Albany Sightseeing Cruise 1p to 2:30p (boards 12:30p)
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises, Inc.
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts.,
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults, $18.95 seniors/AAA rate $12.00, Children 3yr-10yr FREE children 2yr & under
Happy Hour
Location: MezzaNotte
Address: 2026 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Location: Capital Wine Albany
Address: 348 State Street, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM
Price: Free tasting!
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night at Emack & Bolio's!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM
Annie
Location: Mac-Haydn Theatre, Inc.
Address: 1925 New York Rt. 203, Chatham, NY 12037
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $15/$36.50
Late Night Happy Hour at Warehouse Grille & BBQ
Location: Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Address: 219 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Price: Free
Saturday, September 1
Capital District Scottish Games
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Address: 129 Grand St. P.O. Box 506, Altamont, NY 12009
Time: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Price: $22 at the gate.
South End Healthy Market Saturdays
Location: Capital South Campus Center
Address: 20 Warren St, Albany, NY 12202, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
Saturday Tours of the New York State Capitol
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
Price: Free! Registration required.
New York State Education Tours
Location: The Education Building of the State of New York
Address: Front Steps, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
Time: 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Price: FREE
Albany Sightseeing Cruise 1p to 2:30p (boards 12:30p)
Presented By: Dutch Apple Cruises, Inc.
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts.
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults$18.95 seniors/aaa rate$12.00 children 3yr-10yrFREE children 2yr & under
Guided Tours of Historic Cherry Hill
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Saturday
Time: 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00
When Alexander Hamilton Called Albany Home
Location: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Address: 32 Catherine St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $7/Adult, $6/Senior, $6/Student. Free for children 12 and under.
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
Annie
Location: Mac-Haydn Theatre, Inc.
Address: 1925 New York Rt. 203, Chatham, NY 12037
Time: 4:00 PM/8:00 PM
Price: $15/$36.50
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night at Emack & Bolio's!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 2
Capital District Scottish Games
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Address: 129 Grand St. P.O. Box 506, Altamont, NY 12009
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Price: $12 at the gate.
Reel Seafood Sunday Brunch
Location: Reel Seafood Company
Address: 195 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Sunday
Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Baby got Brunch at Lost & Found
Location: Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen
Address: 942 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Annie
Location: Mac-Haydn Theatre, Inc.
Address: 1925 New York Rt. 203, Chatham, NY 12037
Time: 2:00 PM/7:00 PM
Price: $15/$36.50
Sunday Night Blues Jam
Location: McGeary's Irish Pub
Address: 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM – Midnight
Price: Free
Monday, September 3 (Happy Labor Day!)
Labor Day 5K (5K)
Location: Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club
Address: Harriman Campus Rd, Altamont, NY 12226
Time: 9:00 AM
USS SLATER open for Labor Day
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14.
Happy Hour at New World Bistro Bar
Location: New World Bistro Bar
Address: 300 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY 12209
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Meatless Monday's at New World Bistro Bar
Location: New World Bistro Bar
Address: 300 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY 12209
Price: $25
Happy Hour
Location: MezzaNotte
Address: 2026 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Ongoing
Upon the Ground, Below the Water
From: March 24, 2018 – September 3, 2018
Location: Albany International Airport (ALB)
Address: 737 Albany-Shaker Rd., Albany, NY 12211
Exhibit on the Brain
From: May 19, 2018 - September 3, 2018
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Three Summer Exhibitions
From: June 29, 2018 - September 15, 2018
Location: University at Albany Art Museum
Address: 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222
Time: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Price: Free
"Wherever the Mushrooms Grow: Natalya Brill"
From: June 26, 2018 - September 16, 2018
Presented By: Mandeville Gallery at Union College
Location: Wikoff Student Gallery at Union College
Address: Union College, 807 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free and Open to the Public
In Harm's Way: Community responses to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee
From: February 1, 2018 - October 1, 2018
Location: Mabee Farm Historic Site
Address: 1100 Main St, Rotterdam Junction, NY 12150
Art of the Erie Canal
From: April 28, 2018 – October 5, 2018
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, 222 Madison Avenue, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Thomas Cole's Paper Trail
From: January 19, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Regular Museum Hours
Tour of USS SLATER
From: April 25, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14.
USS SLATER Galley
From: April 4, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14.
Children’s Museum Exhibit: Handmade Native Dolls from Across the Nation
From: May 11, 2018 – November 30, 2018
Location: Iroquois Indian Museum
Address: 324 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Time: All Day
2018 Featured Exhibition: Tonto, Teepees & Totem Poles: Considering Native American Stereotypes in the 21st Century
From: May 11, 2018 - November 30, 2018
Location: Iroquois Indian Museum
Address: 324 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092
"Jenny Kemp: Slow Grow"
From: August 25, 2018 - December 9, 2018
Location: Mandeville Gallery at Union College
Address: Union College, 807 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free and Open to the Public
A Menagerie of Whimsey: The Art of William B. Schade
From: July 14, 2018 - December 30, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany
Time: Regular museum hours
Birds and Beasts: The Scary, Magical and Adorable Animals of the Albany Institute
From: July 14, 2018 – December 30, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Adddress: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Hudson River School
From: January 17, 2018 - December 31, 2018 (Daily)
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Regular Museum Hours
Their Glory Can Never Fade: The Legacy of the Harlem Hell fighters
From: April 6, 2018 - February 28, 2019
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12242
Price: Free
Ice Ages
From: January 3, 2017 - February 28, 2019
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Time: Daily (except Mondays), 9:30AM-5:00PM
A Small Fort, Which Our People Call Fort Orange
From: May 5, 2018 - January 1, 2020
Location: New York State Museum
Address: 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230
Time: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The Wedding of the Waters: Erie Canal and the Underground Railroad
Location: Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence
Address: 194 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Price: $10 adults/$8 seniors/$5 children 5-12, children under 5 are free
Traders and Culture: Colonial Albany and the Formation of American Identity
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210
Time: Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00AM-5:00PM; Sunday, 12:00PM-5:00PM
Ancient Egypt
Recurring Daily
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210
Time: Thursday, 10:00AM - 8:00PM; Friday – Sunday, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Nineteenth-Century American Sculpture:
Recurring Daily
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210
Time: Thursday, 10:00AM - 8:00PM; Friday – Sunday, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Whole New Ballgame Exhibit
Location: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Address: 25 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Recurrence: Recurring daily
For these and other events, check out our event calendar here.
