Summer may be coming to a close but there is no end in sight to free and frugal events in Albany County! August brings outdoor adventures and the last chance to enjoy some summer music concert series. Plus, don't miss exciting, low-cost fairs and festivals like the Black Arts & Cultural Festival, Altamont Fair, Albany Latin Festival, and Capital District Scottish Games. Scroll on for some fun, free and frugal events to attend during the final few weeks of summer! 

Week One:  August 1 to August 4 

Summer Sampler
Location: Crailo State Historic Site
Dates: July 29 to August 2
Time: 10 AM to 12:30 PM
Price: $5 per child per day

Alive at Five Summer Concert Series
Presented by: City of Albany Office of Cultural Affairs
Location: Albany Corning Preserve – Jennings Landing
Date: August 1
Time: 4:30 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Black Arts & Cultural Festival
Location: Empire State Plaza
Dates: August 1 to August 3
Time: Varies
Price: Free

Summer at the Museum
Location: New York State Museum
Date: August 1
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Summertime Nature Journaling
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 1
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

1st Fridays at 48 Hudson 2024
Presented by: Historic Albany Foundation
Location: 48 Hudson – The Van Ostrande-Radliff House
Date: August 2
Time: 5:30 PM and 6 PM
Price: Free

First Friday Capitol Tours
Location: New York State Capitol
Date: August 2
Time: 5:30 PM
Price: Free

Morning Meander: Great Dune
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 2
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

The Egg Presents: OPEN House (ft. Ghost-Note & a screening of Black Panther)
Location: The Egg
Date: August 2
Time: 6 PM
Price: Free with RSVP

Going Dutch! Experiences Through the Capital Region: First Friday, Quackenbush Square Tour
Presented by: Historic Cherry Hill
Location: Olde English Pub & Pantry
Date: August 2
Time: 6 PM
Price: Free

Introduction to Identifying Dragonflies and Damselflies
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 3
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

STEAM @ Ten Broeck Mansion: History-Based STEAM Programs for Families
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: August 3
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Price: Free

Sip, Shop & Connect
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Date: August 3
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Coast Guard Birthday aboard USS SLATER
Location: USS SLATER
Date: August 4
Time: 10 AM
Price: $10 for adults, $9 for Veterans & Seniors, $8 for Children 6-17, Children under 5 are free.

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Week Two: August 5 to August 11

Pine Bush Pollinators
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 5
Time: 11 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Children’s Creative Writing Workshop
Location: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Dates: August 6 to August 8
Time: 9 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Summer Movie Express
Location: Crossgates Mall
Date: August 6 & August 7
Price: $1 for each ticket

Summer at the Museum
Location: New York State Museum
Date: August 6 & August 8
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Concerts in the Barn at Pruyn House: Get Up Jack!
Location: Pruyn House
Date: August 7
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: $5

Community Day at Historic Cherry Hill
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Date: August 8
Time: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Price: Free

Tales of Swamp and Suburb: Opening Reception
Location: Albany Barn
Date: August 9
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Albany: Crossroads of History - Global Perspectives on the Arts & Gardens
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: August 10
Time: 11 AM
Price: Free, accepting donations

Living History: Free Family Art, Garden & History Programs at Ten Broeck Mansion
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: August 10
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Price: Free

Neighbors for Neighbors’ Story Hour at theREP
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Date: August 10
Time: 11 AM
Price: Free

Community Block Party at the Palace Theater
Location: Palace Theater
Date: August 10
Time: 12 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free

Author Pop Up
Location: Nine Pin
Date: August 10
Time: 12 PM to 2 PM
Price: Free

Meet a Reptile
Location: Thacher Park
Date: August 10
Time: 1 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: Free

Wilderness Wayfinding with Ondatra Adventures
Presented by: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
Location: Keleher Preserve
Date: August 10
Time: 1 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free

Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants with Ondatra Adventures
Presented by: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
Location: Bozen Kill Preserve
Date: August 11
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Gallery Tour Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s-1940s
Location: New York State Museum
Dates: August 11
Time: 2 PM
Price: Free

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Week Three: August 12 to August 18 

Pitch Pine – the Pine Bush’s Spectacular Tree!
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 12
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

The Altamont Fair
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Dates: August 13 to August 18
Time: 10 AM to 10 PM
Price: General admission is $13. Children under 11 are free. Daily specials available. Unlimited ride wristbands are $25

New York State Food Festival
Location: Empire State Plaza
Date: August 14
Time: 11 AM to 9 PM
Price: Free

Story Hour at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza
Date: August 14
Time: 10 AM to 11 AM
Price: Free

Allen Halstead Quartet
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Date: August 14
Time: 5 PM to 7 PM
Price: Free

Flowers and Photos
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 15
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Gallery Tour Unveiled: Wedding Wear in New York, 1910s-1940s
Location: New York State Museum
Dates: August 15
Time: 12 PM
Price: Free

Nine Pin Yarn Swap
Location: Nine Pin
Date: August 15
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Discover the Pine Bush at Karner Barrens
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 16
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

STEAM @ Ten Broeck Mansion: History-Based STEAM Programs for Families
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: August 17
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Price: Free

Naturalist Walk
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 17
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Antlions: Ferocious Creatures in the Sand
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 18
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Mindfulness/Forest Bathing Walk
Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum
Date: August 18
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $10

Van Shaick Mansion Open House
Location: Van Shaick Mansion
Date: August 18
Time: 1 PM to 4 PM
Price: Admission to grounds and cemetery is free. Guided mansion tours available at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM for a $5 donation

Work/Learn About Insects at PHA
Location: Pine Hollow Aboretum
Date: August 18
Time: 2 PM to 4 PM
Price: $10. Free for members

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Week Four: August 19 to August 25  

Monarch Mondays
Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum
Date: August 19
Time: 2 PM to 3 PM
Price: Free

Taproom Trivia
Location: Common Roots Brewing Company
Date: August 20
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free

Capitol Park After Dark Movie Series
Location: Empire State Plaza
Date: August 21
Time: 8 PM to 11 PM
Price: Free

Drag Me to Nine Pin
Location: Nine Pin Cider
Date: August 22
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: Free

Cars and Coffee at The Old Stone Fort
Location: Old Stone Fort Museum
Date: August 24
Time: 9 AM to 12 PM
Price: Free

21st Annual Dr. Pamela J. Harper Community Block Party
In collaboration with CDPHP
Location: New Jerusalem Home of the Saved Church
Date: August 24
Time: 11 AM to 2 PM
Price: Free

Albany LatinFest
Presented by: Albany Latin Festival Association
Location: Washington Park
Date: August 24
Time: 11 AM to 6 PM

End of Summer Exploration Hike
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
 Date: August 24
Time: 11 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Critters in the Creek
Location: Thacher Park
 Date: August 24
Time: 12 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free

Women & Music: Concert & Women's History Talk at the Ten Broeck Mansion
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: August 24
Time: 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Price: Free

Dusk Walk at the Pine Hollow Arboretum
Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum
Date: August 24
Time: 7 PM to 8 PM
Price: $10 per person, 2 and under free. Free for PHA Members.

Bleecker Consort Presents: Medieval Sampler & 14th -15th Century Music
Location: Shaker Heritage Society
Date: August 25
Time: 3 PM to 4:30 PM
Price: General $15, SHS Member $12, Student $8

Page Turner’s Club
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza 
Date: August 25
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

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Week Five: August 26 to August 31  

Monarch Mondays
Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum
Date: August 26
Time: 2 PM to 3 PM
Price: Free

Common Nighthawk Watch
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
 Date: August 27
Time: 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Price: Free

Themed Trivia at Nine Pin
Location: Nine Pin
Date: August 27
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Capitol Park After Dark Movie Series
Location: Empire State Plaza
Date: August 28
Time: 8 PM to 11 PM
Price: Free

V is for Vulture
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
 Date: August 29
Time: 11 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5

Capital District Scottish Games
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
 Date: August 31
Time: 8 AM to 10 PM
Price: $24 at gate, free for children 12 and under. Veterans and Active Military save 50%

Naturalist Walk
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: August 31
Time: 11 AM to 12 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5

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Ongoing Events 

Summer in the City: Free Family Movies
Location: The Palace
Dates: August 6, August 13, August 20 & August 28
Time: 2 PM to 2:15 PM
Price: Free

Watervliet’s 2024 Summer Concert Series
Location: City of Watervliet
Dates: Tuesdays through August 29
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Turtle Time
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Dates: Varying dates between August 2 and August 30
Time: 2 PM to 2:15 PM
Price: Free

Tunesday Lunchtime Live Music
Presented by: Downtown Albany BID
Location: Jim DiNapoli Park
Dates: Tuesdays, through August 27
Time: 12 PM to 1 PM
Price: Free

Concerts at the Crossings 2024
Location: The Crossings of Colonie
Dates: Thursdays, through August 29
Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free

Empire State Plaza Summer Tours
Location: Empire State Plaza
Dates: Monday to Friday through August 30
Time: 1 PM to 2 PM
Price: Free

Friday Evening Capitol Tours
Location: New York State Capitol
Dates: Fridays through August 30
Time: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Price: Free

Albany County Farmers Market
Presented by: Downtown Albany BID
Location: MVP Arena
Dates: Through September 29
Time: 10 AM to 4 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

Albany Nature Bus 2024
Location: Multiple Locations
Dates: Saturdays through October
Time: Varies
Price: Free

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