It may be March, but the snowy weather makes it feel like it is still the middle of winter. Escape cabin fever this weekend at one of the many events happening in Albany County! Show off your showstopping soda bread recipes at the Irish American Heritage Museum's Irish Soda Bread Competition. Bid "Bon Voyage" to the Albany Symphony Orchestra at the "Bon Voyage: Kennedy Center Preview Performance" on Saturday evening. Or, learn about the battle over bloomers and the Dress Reform movement of the mid-19th century at the New York State Museum. Check out the full list of Free & Frugal events for this weekend below!

Friday, March 9

Happy Hour
Location: The Tavern
Address: 660 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Price: Free

Free Wine Tasting
Location: Capital Wine and Spirits
Address: 348 State Street, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM
Price: Free

Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM

Footloose
Location: Shenendehowa High School East
Address: 970 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: $10 for students/seniors and $15 for adults

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Presented By: Park Playhouse
Location: Cohoes Music Hall
Address: 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $15 - $25

Storytime Time with Ethan Ullman
Recurring monthly on the 2nd Friday
Location: Mop & Bucket Improv Theater Co.
Address: 10 N Jay St, Schenectady, NY 12305A
Time: 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $6 - $10

Kung Fu
Location: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Address: 79 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 9:30 PM
Price: $15


Saturday, March 10

Spring 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

Irish Soda Bread Competition
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Address: 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Price: Free

Guided Tour of the New York State Capitol Building
Recurring monthly on the 2nd Saturday
Location: New York State Capitol
Address: Washington Ave and State St, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 11 AM and 1 PM
Price: Free! Registration required.

Casting Her Ballot: Emily Rankin and the Suffrage Question
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: Tours at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm
Price: $5 for adults; $4 for seniors & students; $2 for children; free for members of Historic Cherry Hill

St. Practice Day
Presented By: Lark Street BID
Location: Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 AM

New York State Education Tours
Recurring monthly on the 2nd Saturday
Presented By: New York State Education
Location: The Education Building of the State of New York, Front Steps, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
Time: 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Price: FREE

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Presented By: Park Playhouse
Location: Cohoes Music Hall
Address: 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY
Time: 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Price: $15 - $25

Brewery Tours at C.H. Evans Brewing Company
Location: C H Evans Brewing Co. at the Albany Pump Station
Address: 19 Quackenbush Sq, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 1:00 PM

Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM

Perspectives - by Capital Region Artists - Exhibit Opening and Reception
Presented By: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc
Location: Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sqaure, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Price: Free

Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM

Footloose
Location: Shenendehowa High School East
Address: 970 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: $10 for students/seniors and $15 for adults

Albany Patroons VS Yakima Sunkings
Location: 195 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 7:05 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $10

Bon Voyage: Kennedy Center Preview Performance
Presented by: Albany Symphony Orchestra
Location: Palace Performing Arts Center
Address: 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $15

Theatresports!
Location: Mop & Bucket Improv Theater Co.
Address: 10 N Jay St, Schenectady, NY 12305
Time: 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $6 - $15

Roots of Creation Grateful Dub Tour
Location: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Address: 79 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 9:30 PM
Price: $12
 

Sunday, March 11

Sugaring Off Sundays
Location: The Farmers' Museum
Address: 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Time: Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Activities: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Price: $10 (adults 13+); $9 (museum members); $6 (children 7-12); $5 (museum members 7-12); $3 (children 3-6); and free for children 2 and under.

Casting Her Ballot: Emily Rankin and the Suffrage Question
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: Tours at 10 am, 10:30 am, 11 am, 11:30 am, 12pm and 12:30 pm
Price: $5 for adults; $4 for seniors & students; $2 for children; free for members of Historic Cherry Hill

Reel Seafood Sunday Brunch
Location: Reel Seafood Company
Address: 195 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Sunday Brunch at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Location: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Address: 79 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Presented By: Park Playhouse
Location: Cohoes Music Hall
Address: 58 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: $15 - $25

The Battle Over Bloomers: Dressing for Women’s Rights
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free

Albany Patroons VS Yakima Sunkings
Location: 195 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 3:05 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $10

2nd Sunday of Each Month Ballroom Dance
Location: Ukrainian-American Citizens Club
Address: 1 Pulaski Street, Cohoes, NY 12047
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 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 – Midnight
Price: Free

 

Ongoing

Spotlight: Albany and Anti-Suffrage
Dates: September 3, 2017 – March 11, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art 
Address: 125 Washington Ave.  Albany, NY 12210 
Time: Wednesday and Sunday, 10:00AM to 8:00PM

New World Bistro's 9th Anniversary Month Long Celebration
From: March 1, 2018 - March 23, 2018
Location: New World Bistro Bar
Address: 300 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY 12209

Visions of Italy: Art Show and Sale
From: February 4, 2018 - March 31, 2018
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Time: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Discover Butterflies
From: February 17, 2018 - April 22, 2018
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Price: Free with museum admission

Perspectives: By Capital Region Artists
From: March 2, 2018 - April 27, 2018
Presented By: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region
Location: Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sq , Albany, NY 12207
Time: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
Price: Free Admission!

Inside Edison's House of Magic: 125 Years of Innovation at GE
From: February 1, 2018 - May 6, 2018
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308

Votes For Women: Celebrating New York's Suffrage Centennial
From: November 4, 2017 - May 13, 2018
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230 
Time: Daily (except Mondays), 9:30AM - 5:30PM

Life on the Canal Then... by Artists Now
From: February 1, 2018 - May 31, 2018
Location: Mabee Farm Historic Site
Address: 1100 Main St, Rotterdam Junction, NY 12150

A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in The First World War
From: February 1, 2018 - June 3, 2018
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230 
Time: Daily

Exhibition: "Probability & Uncertainty"
From: January 13, 2018 - June 17, 2018
Location: Union College- Mandeville Gallery
Address: 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: Daily, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free and Open to the Public

Paintings of Addy®: Dahl Taylor's Original Illustrations for American Girl
From: January 26, 2018 - June 17, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Regular Museum Hours 

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

Thomas Cole's Paper Trail
From: January 19, 2018 - October 25, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Regular Museum Hours 

Fellow Citizen: Aaron Burr
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 

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 

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

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

Challenger Adventure
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: Children (3 -12) accompanied by an adult, admission + $5 Seniors (65+), admission + $8 Adults (13+), admission + $10

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

For these and other events, check out our event calendar here