The holiday season in Albany County is in full swing! The city sidewalks are dressed in holiday style. The historic homes are decked out for the season. The weekend is full of holiday markets, DIY craft workshops, spirited performances and more! Keep reading for a list of Free & Frugal events in Albany County for December 7 – December 9.
Friday, December 7
Pruyn House Open 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
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
1st Friday Albany
Location: Various Locations throughout Albany
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free!
Happy Hour
Location: MezzaNotte
Address: 2026 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Gifted Holiday Market
Location: Albany Barn, Inc.
Address: 56 Second St., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free
Live Music & Local Bands
Presented By: Whole Foods Market
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Address: 131 Colonie Center, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 6:00 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!
Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company
Location: The Sage Colleges - Opalka Gallery
Address: 140 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Price: Free
Family Friendly First Friday
Location: First Lutheran Church in Albany
Address: 181 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Price: Free
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
Dutch- An Original Play by Krysta Dennis
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 7:00 PM
Price: $30 General Admission, $25 for Members
Dessert Under the Stars at Lincoln Pond
Location: Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station
Address: 284 Pond Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY 12147
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: Free!
ESYO Jazz Orchestras
Presented By: Empire State Youth Orchestra
Location: Guilderland High School
Address: 8 School Rd, Guilderland Center, NY 12085
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: $10 for adults; $5 for students and seniors
Popa Chubby
Location: The Upper Room
Address: 59-61 N Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207
Time: Doors at 7:30pm, Show at 8:30pm.
Price: General Admission $20
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Candlelight Tour
Presented By: Albany Barn
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: $15.00/$10.00 for ACHA members
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $22
Saturday, December 8
2018 Albany New York Antique Postcard Show
Presented By: Mary L. Martin, Ltd
Location: Polish Community Center
Address: 225 Washington Avenue Ext, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Price: $3.00
Winter Memorial Mass
Presented By: Albany Diocesan Cemeteries
Location: Historic St. Agnes Cemetery
Address: 48 Cemetery Ave., Albany, NY 12204
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Price: Free
Woven Holiday Ornament making workshop
Presented By: Shaker Heritage Society
Location: Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
ESYO Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Fair
Presented By: Empire State Youth Orchestra
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Address: 131 Colonie Center, Unit 355, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Children's Story Hour
Presented By: Albany Barn
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 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.
Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House Open House
Presented By: Albany Barn
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Price: $5.00 per adult $1.00 for children under 12
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
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 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM
The Nutcracker
Presented By: Albany Berkshire Ballet
Location: The Egg
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM/ 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Price: $26 Children/ $41 Adults
Dutch- An Original Play by Krysta Dennis
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 2:00PM/7:00 PM
Price: $30 General Admission, $25 for Members
DIY wrapping paper workshop
Presented By: Shaker Heritage Society
Location: Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: $10 registration/$5 materials fee.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM/8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $22
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
Cider Tasting with Cidermaker, Ethan Willsie
Location: Helderberg Brewery Taproom
Address: 26 County Route 353, Rensselaerville, NY 12147
Time: 4:30 PM to 7:30 AM
Price: $10
Albany Last Run 5k
Location: Washington Park
Time: 5:00 PM
Price: $30
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
Cirque Musica Holiday Presents Wonderland
Location: Palace Performing Arts Center
Address: 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: $25
Sunday, December 9
Breakfast or Lunch with Santa
Location: The Century House
Address: 997 New Loudon Rd, Rt 9, Latham, NY 12110
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: $30 for adults, $16 for children (5-12), Free under 5
Holiday Hilltown Market
Location: Knox Octagon Barn
Address: 588 Middle Road, Delanson, NY 12053
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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
Holiday House Tour by Historic Albany Foundation
Presented By: Historic Albany Foundation
Location: Historic Albany Foundation / Pine Hills & Manning Blvd Neighborhoods
Address: 89 Lexington Ave., Albany, NY 12206
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: $20-$30
Altamont Victorian Holiday and Wintermarket
Presented By: Altamont Community Tradition
Location: Masonic Hall
Address: 138 Maple Avenue, Altamont, NY 12009
Time: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Price: Holiday House Tours: $10/Other activities FREE
Holiday Crafts with Glowing Bug
Location: Helderberg Brewery Taproom
Address: 26 County Route 353, Rensselaerville, NY 12147, Rensselaerville, NY 12147
Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Sunny Sundays at the Dudley Observatory at miSci
Presented By: Dudley Observatory at miSci
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci)
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, `, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: Access to the observatory or activities is free with museum admission ($12 Adult, $10 Senior, $8 Child).
The Nutcracker
Presented By: Albany Berkshire Ballet
Location: The Egg
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: $26 Children/ $41 Adults
Dutch- An Original Play by Krysta Dennis
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 2:00PM/7:00 PM
Price: $30 General Admission, $25 for Members
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $22
Holiday Open House and Sale
Location: Albany Art Room
Address: 350 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Price: Free
Girlnetic Grrlsplay!: Afrobeat Fit Takes Over the Capital Region
Presented By: Girlnetic
Location: The Hot Yoga Spot
Address: 1475 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Adults - $20, Girls (Under 18 years old) – FREE
The Many Moods of Christmas Around the World
Location: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Address: 30 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180
Time: 3:00 PM
Price: $25.00-$55.00
2nd Sunday of Each Month Ballroom Dance
Location: Ukrainian-American Citizens Club
Address: 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes, NY 12047
Time: 6-7 PM
Price: $10 for Workshop, $10 for dance, buffet and group lesson
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
University Art Museum Fall Exhibitions
From: : September 7, 2018 - December 8, 2018
Location: University at Albany
Address: UNH 305, Univ. at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12222
Price: Free
"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
Christmas Craft Fair
From: October 27, 2018 – December 15, 2018
Location: Shaker Heritage Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Saturday
Price: Free
Holiday Shoppe
From: November 23, 2018 - December
Location: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc
Address: 194 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Time: Regular hours
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
Capital Holiday Lights in the Park
From: November 23, 2018 - January 2, 2019
Location: Washington Park
Address: State and Willet Streets, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Sundays to Thursday; 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Friday & Saturday
Price: $22/vehicle
Annual Members' Show
From: December 7, 2018 - January 19, 2019, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Location: Albany Center Gallery
Address: 488 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Toys- The Inside Story
From: September 23, 2018 – January 21, 2019
Location: mcSci Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Price: Museum Admission
Thomas Cole at the Airport
From: September 29, 2018 - February 25, 2019
Location: Albany International Airport (ALB)
Address: 737 Albany-Shaker Rd Administration Bldg. Room 200, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Price: Free
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
Empire Skate Plaza Ice Rink
From: December 1, 2018 - March 15, 2019
Location: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Price: FREE
Art for All
From: October 20, 2018 – May 11, 2019
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, every Sunday
Price: Free with museum admission and always free for museum members
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.
