Albany County is merry & bright this weekend! From holiday tree lightings, to cheerful hot chocolate strolls, to charming holiday markets, to festive historic holiday celebrations, there are tons of free and frugal holiday events this week. Scroll on for the full list from December 6 - 8.
Friday, December 6
Pruyn House Holiday Open House
Presented by: Friends of Pruyn House
Location: Pruyn House
Address: 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 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 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM
Price: Free
Free Tours and Tastings at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free
Annual Italian Christmas Market
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Plastic & the Toxic Chemistry of a World on Fire
Presented By: Shaw Institute
Location: University at Albany SUNY - Uptown Campus
Address: 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222
Time: 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM
Price: Free
Happy Hour at Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Location: Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Address: 219 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Happy Hour at UNO!
Location: UNO Pizzeria & Grill
Address: Crossgates Mall, 120 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12203
Time: 3:00 PM -7:00 PM and 9:00 PM – Close
Price: Half-priced apps and drinks specials in the bar
Happy Hour at the Tavern
Location: The Tavern
Address: 660 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Price: Free
Happy Hour
Location: MezzaNotte
Address: 2026 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
1st Friday Albany
Location: Various Locations throughout Albany
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free!
Fort Orange Holiday Market
Presented By: Fort Orange General Store
Location: Arcade Building
Address: 488 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free
Museum After Dark (MAD) Tour: A Winter's Ball
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Price: $10 members, $12 non-members
Gifted 2019 Holiday Market
Location: Albany Barn, Inc.
Address: 56 Second St., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Capital Holiday Lights in the Park
Location: Washington Park
Address: State and Willet Streets, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $22/vehicle
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Location: Capital Wine Albany
Address: 348 State Street, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free tasting!
First Friday at Pine Hills Library: Opening Reception of "Rear View: Life Examined."
Presented By: Albany Public Library
Location: Pine Hills Branch
Address: 517 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Price: Free
Pine Bush Perspectives Exhibit Opening
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
Address: 195 New Karner Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Price: Free
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Candle Light Tours
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Tours at 6:15 PM and 7:15 PM
Price: $15.00 / $10.00 for ACHA Members
Carey On Tap | Hudson Valley Terroir Wine Tasting & Talk with Linda Pierro
Presented By: Carey Institute for Global Good
Location: Helderberg Brewery Taproom
Address: 26 Co Rd 353, Rensselaerville, NY 12147
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: $5.00
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical
Location: Palace Performing Arts Center
Address: 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:00 PM
Price: Tickets start at $32.50
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
ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra & Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Presented By: Empire State Youth Orchestra
Location: Farnsworth Middle School
Address: 6072 State Farm Rd, Guilderland, NY 12084
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: Suggested Price: $10
It's A Wonderful Life Live From WVL Radio Theatre
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $27
Fresh Squeeze Fridays
Location: City Beer Hall
Address: 42 Howard St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Price: Free
Saturday, December 7
Pruyn House Holiday Open House
Presented by: Friends of Pruyn House
Location: Pruyn House
Address: 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, NY 12110
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
A Second Chance Thrift Shop
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Mac Factor at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Free Tours and Tastings at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free
Annual Italian Christmas Market
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Christmas Market
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Address: 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Art for All
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Price: Included with museum admission
Fort Orange Holiday Market
Presented By: Fort Orange General Store
Location: Arcade Building
Address: 488 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 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.
CSI: Critter Scene Investigation
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
Address: 195 New Karner Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00 AM
Price: Free, registration required
Downtown Albany Hot Chocolate Stroll
Presented By: Downtown Albany BID
Location: Fort Orange Holiday Market
Address: 488 Broadway, Albany, NY 12144
Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
St. Nicholas Day!
Location: Crailo State Historic Site
Address: 9 1/2 Riverside Ave, Rensselaer, NY 12144
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: FREE!
Photographer Bill Combs Jr Event
Location: Grapevine Farms
Address: 2373 State Route 7, Cobleskill, NY 12043
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: FREE
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 PM & 2:30 PM
Price: FREE
Carriage Rides
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza, Inc.
Address: 1475 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Saratoga City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Presented By: Saratoga City Ballet
Location: The Egg
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Time: 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Price: Tickets are $28 / Adults; $20 Seniors and Students; Children 5 & under free!
Annual Holiday Eggnog Party
Location: Carey Institute for Global Good
Address: 63 Huyck Rd, Rensselaerville, NY 12147
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Helderberg Madrigals
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Price: $25.00/$20.00 for ACHA Members
Happy Hour at Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Location: Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Address: 219 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
It's A Wonderful Life Live From WVL Radio Theatre
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $27
Albany Last Run 5k
Location: Washington Park
Time: 5:00 PM
Price: $30
Capital Holiday Lights in the Park
Location: Washington Park
Address: State and Willet Streets, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $22/vehicle
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
90s House Party!
Location: City Beer Hall
Address: 42 Howard St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Price: Free
Sunday, December 8
Bountiful Bread's Kid's Holiday Cookie Decorating Event
Location: Bountiful Bread
Address: 1475 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Price: $5
Maple Soft Serve Sundays at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: $3
Holiday Hilltown Market
Presented By: Helderberg Hilltowns Assoc.
Location: Knox Octagon Barn
Address: 588 Middle Road, Delanson, NY 12053
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The Mac Factor at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Free Tours and Tastings at Riverside Maple Farms
Location: Riverside Maple Farms
Address: 7152 Amsterdam Rd, Glenville, NY 12302
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free
All Day Happy Hour at UNO!
Location: UNO Pizzeria & Grill
Address: Crossgates Mall, 120 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12203
Time: All-day
Price: Half-priced apps and drinks specials in the bar
Annual Italian Christmas Market
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Taste NY Holiday Market
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Price: Free
Reel Seafood Sunday Brunch
Location: Reel Seafood Company
Address: 195 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Baby got, Brunch - Sundays at Lost & Found
Location: Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen
Address: 942 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Open House
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
Carriage Rides
Location: Stuyvesant Plaza, Inc.
Address: 1475 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Saratoga City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker
Presented By: Saratoga City Ballet
Location: The Egg
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Time: 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 8 at 1:30 pm
Price: Tickets are $28 / Adults; $20 Seniors and Students; Children 5 & under free!
It's A Wonderful Life Live From WVL Radio Theatre
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $27
Holiday Sale and Open House
Location: Albany Art Room
Address: 350 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Happy Hour at Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Location: Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Address: 219 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
A Potpourri of Music at Christmastide
Presented By: Monday Musical Club of Albany
Location: All Saints Catholic Church
Address: 16 Homestead St., Albany, NY 12203
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: $10
Capital Holiday Lights in the Park
Location: Washington Park
Address: State and Willet Streets, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $22/vehicle
Sunday Night Blues Jam
Location: McGeary's Irish Pub
Address: 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM – 12:00 AM
Price: Free
Ongoing
ACE: art on sports, promise, and selfhood
From: June 28, 2019 - December 7, 2019
Location: University at Albany Art Museum
Address: 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222
Time: Museum Hours: (after August 26) Tuesday 10 am – 7 pm; Wednesday through Friday, 10 am – 5 pm; Saturday noon – 4 pm.
Price: Free
Shaker Christmas Craft Fair
From: October 22, 2019 – December 20, 2019
Location: Shaker Heritage Society
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: Monday through Saturday 10am – 5pm and Thursdays 10am – 8pm
CHEW: Food as Muse
From: November 1, 2019 - December 20, 2019
Presented By: The Sage Colleges
Location: Opalka Gallery
Address: 140 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
Time: Tuesday - Saturday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM; Thursdays open until 8:00 PM
Santa Land at Crossgates
From: November 14, 2019 - December 24, 2019
Location: Crossgates
Address: 1 Crossgates Mall Rd, Albany, NY 12203
Time: Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Santa Hours
From: November 14, 2019 - December 24, 2019
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Address: 131 Colonie Center, Albany, NY 12205
Time: Monday through Saturday: 11AM-9PM; Sunday: 11AM-6PM
'An Orphan No More': Recently Discovered Oil Sketch by Anthony Van Dyck
From: September 18, 2019 – December 29, 2019
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Included with Museum Admission
The Schuyler Sisters and Their Circle
From: July 20, 2019 - December 29, 2019
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Adults: $10, Seniors: $8 Students: $8, Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: Free
A Brilliant Bit of Color: The Work of Walter Launt Palmer
From: June 22, 2019 - December 29, 2019
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Adults: $10, Seniors: $8 Students: $8, Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: Free
Special Exhibit Room: Buon Natale Christmas Traditions
From: November 28, 2019 - December 30, 2019
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: Monday, Thursday & Friday 11:-2:00; Saturday 1pm to 4:00
Price: Adults $5 Seniors (over 65) $4 Students $3 Children (12 years & under) Free
People of New York Exhibition
From: March 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Price: FREE
1969 Exhibition
From: May 9, 2019 - January 3, 2020
Presented By: New York State Office of General Services
Location: Vietnam Memorial Gallery, Robert Abrams Building for Law and Justice, Empire State Plaza
Address: 100 S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday
Price: FREE
"EMBODY"
From: August 31, 2019 - January 19, 2020
Presented By: Union College
Location: Mandeville Gallery at Union College
Address: Nott Memorial, 807 Union Street, Schenectady, 12308
Time: Daily, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free and Open to the Public
Insatiable: Cooking Up Innovation
From: October 12, 2019 - January 19, 2020
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci)
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Price: Adults $12: Children 3 - 12 $8, Seniors 65+ $10
Wikoff Student Gallery: "The Weight of This: Femininity and Sexual Assault on Campus"
From: September 7, 2019 - February 7, 2020
Presented By: Mandeville Gallery at Union College
Location: Wikoff Student Gallery, Nott Memorial Union College
Address: 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: Daily, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free!
Patterns of Engagement
From: November 20, 2019 - March 2, 2020
Presented By: Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program
Location: Albany International Airport Gallery
Address: Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12110
Price: Free
A Small Fort, Which Our People Call Fort Orange
From: May 5, 2018 – May 5, 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
I Love Cars Exhibit
From: November 2, 2019 - May 31, 2020
Location: Saratoga Automobile Museum
Address: 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Time: OPEN 10AM-5PM: January - March: Wednesday - Sunday | April - December: Tuesday - Sunday
Price: Adults $8.50; Students (17+ with ID) $6; Senior Adults $6; Children 6 - 16 $4; Children under 6 Free
Equality Will Never Be Silent Exhibition
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12224
Time: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Price: FREE
Hudson River School
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Members: Free, Adults: $10, Seniors: $8, Students: $8 (must present ID), Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: 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: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Members: Free, Adults: $10, Seniors: $8, Students: $8 (must present ID), Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: Free
Ancient Egypt
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Members: Free, Adults: $10, Seniors: $8, Students: $8 (must present ID), Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: Free
Ice Ages
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Time: Daily (except Mondays), 9:30AM-5:00PM
Nineteenth-Century American Sculpture
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12210
Time: Sunday, Noon - 5PM; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10AM - 5PM; Thursday, 10AM - 8PM
Price: Members: Free, Adults: $10, Seniors: $8, Students: $8 (must present ID), Children 6–12: $6, Children under 6: Free
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.
