Happy Friday! Relax and unwind this Spring weekend with free and frugal events in Albany County. Enjoy the Albany Pine Bush Preserve's Lupine Fest or dine out on the town for Bethlehem Restaurant Week! Keep reading for more free and frugal events in Albany, NY for May 17 - May 19.
Friday, May 17
Bethlehem Restaurant Week
Presented By: Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce
Location: Various locations
Price: $25 will at participating restaurants will allow you to enjoy a delicious 3 course meal
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
Farmers Market
Location: Empire State Plaza
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Price: FREE
USS SLATER Tour
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: Adults/$9; Seniors/8; Children 6-14/7; Children 5 and under/Free
Albany Sightseeing Cruise 1p-230p
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults, $18.95 seniors, $12.00 kids 3-10yr, kids 2yr & under 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 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
48th Annual St. Sophia Greek Festival
Location: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church
Address: 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: $3 Adult Daily Admission, Children 12 and under FREE
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!
Dueling Pianos Rockin' River Cruise 7p - 10p
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $25.25 presale - $30.00 day of cruise (if available)
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
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, May 18
Bethlehem Restaurant Week
Presented By: Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce
Location: Various locations
Price: $25 will at participating restaurants will allow you to enjoy a delicious 3 course meal
Colonie Farmers' Market
Presented By: Town of Colonie
Location: The Crossings of Colonie
Address: 580 Albany Shaker Rd, Loudonville, NY 12211
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Spring Auto Show
Location: Saratoga Automobile Museum
Address: 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Lupine Fest
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
Address: 195 New Karner Rd, Albany, NY 12205-4605
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Family Gallery Tours with the Junior Interpreters
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Price: Included with museum admission
USS SLATER Tour
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: Adults/$9; Seniors/8; Children 6-14/7; Children 5 and under/Free
Window Repair Workshop
Location: Landmark Consulting
Address: 83 Grove Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Price: $15 HAF Members / $20 General Public
Albany Sightseeing Cruise 10:30a - 12p
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Price: $19.95 adults, $18.95 seniors, $12.00 kids 3-10yr, kids 2yr & under FREE
Hearth Cooking Demonstration
Presented By: Crailo State Historic Site
Location: 9 1/2 Riverside Avenue, Rensselaer, NY 12144
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: $5.00 Adults, $4.00 Students & Seniors, 12 & Under Free
Saturday Star Shows 2019
Presented By: Discover Albany Visitors Center
Location: Henry Hudson Planetarium
Address: 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: $3 all seats
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.
Biggie Brunch
Location: City Beer Hall
Address: 42 Howard St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
48th Annual St. Sophia Greek Festival
Location: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church
Address: 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: $3 Adult Daily Admission, Children 12 and under FREE
Dispossessed for the Dispossessed
Presented By: St. Rocco's Reading Series
Location: Youth FX
Address: 25 Warren St, A, NY 12202
Time: 12:00 PM to 10:00 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
Albany Sightseeing Cruise 1p-230p
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults, $18.95 seniors, $12.00 kids 3-10yr, kids 2yr & under FREE
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
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
Biggie Tribute Edition 90s House Party
Location: City Beer Hall
Address: 42 Howard St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Price: No Cover
Sunday, May 19
Bethlehem Restaurant Week
Presented By: Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce
Location: Various locations
Price: $25 will at participating restaurants will allow you to enjoy a delicious 3 course meal
The Spring Artisans Faire at The Tailored Tea
Location: The Tailored Tea
Address: 1010 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Latham, NY 12110
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
Beer Yoga May Session
Location: Fort Orange Brewing
Address: 450 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12204
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Price: $13.00
USS SLATER Tour
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: Adults/$9; Seniors/8; Children 6-14/7; Children 5 and under/Free
Biggie Brunch
Location: City Beer Hall
Address: 42 Howard St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
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
48th Annual St. Sophia Greek Festival
Location: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church
Address: 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Price: $3 Adult Daily Admission, Children 12 and under FREE
Sunny Sundays
Location: Dudley Observatory at miSci - Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: miSci admission ($12 adult, $10 ages 65+), FREE for miSci members
ESYO Wind Orchestra & CHIME Concert
Presented By: The Empire State Youth Orchestra
Location: Massry Center for the Arts
Address: The College of Saint Rose,, 1002 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Price: $10 for adults; $5 for students and seniors
Paint n' Sip: Owl Be Watching
Location: Grapevine Farms
Address: 2373 State Route 7, Cobleskill, NY 12043
Time: 4:30 PM
Price: $40.00
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
Shape and Shadow: The Sculpture of Larry Kagan
From: January 2019 – June 9, 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 Decolonial Atlas: Strategies in Contemporary Art of the Americas"
From: January 19, 2019 - June 16, 2019
Location: Mandeville Gallery at Union College
Address: Union College, 807 Union St, Nott Memorial, 2nd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Price: Free and open to the public
Bejeweled and Bedazzled: Jewelry and Personal Adornment
From: January 26, 2019 - July 28, 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
Tucked Away: Paintings and Photography by Sandra Dwileski
From: May 6, 2019 - June 28, 2019
Location: Discover Albany Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sq (Corner of Broadway & Clinton Ave.), Albany, NY 12207
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Heavy Metal: Cast Iron Stoves of the Capital Region
From: December 15, 2018 - August 18, 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 Place For Nature In Victorian Waterford
From: May 4, 2019 - October 27, 2019
Location: Waterford Historical Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 2 Museum Lane, Waterford, NY 12188
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Price: $6 Adults $5 Children/Seniors (65+) Free for members, children under 6 & those with Military ID
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
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
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
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
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.
