Spring has (finally) sprung and the May flowers are beginning to bloom! Embrace the buzz of excitement in Albany this weekend with free & frugal events. Meet and greet former NASCAR drive Kyle Petty as he rides into town with other celebrities for the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America on Saturday. To celebrate, the Albany Marriott is hosting family-fun event from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. If you are more of a history maven, two of Albany's heritage sites, Historic Cherry Hill and Ten Broeck, are hosting events that will take you back in time. Keep reading for our full list of Free & Frugal events for May 4-6.
Friday, May 4
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 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
Price: Free
Happy Hour
Location: The Tavern
Address: 660 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Price: Free
1st Friday Albany
Location: Various Locations throughout Albany
Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free!
Helena Byrne
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Address: 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $15/Members, $25/Non-Members
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 & Local Bands
Presented By: Whole Foods Market
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Address: 131 Colonie Center, Albany, NY 12205
Price: Free
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM
“This Is Your Life, William Kennedy”
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany Downtown Campus
Address: 135 Western Avenue, Page Hall, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: Free
Albany Civic Theater Presents Appropriate
Location: Albany Civic Theatre
Address: 235 Second Ave., Albany, NY 12206
Time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $18 regular admission $10 student admission/with valid id
Confetti Stage presents King Lear
Location: Albany Masonic Hall
Address: 67 Corning Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: $15 general, $10 students
Blithe Spirit
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $20
Lovelytheband
Location: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Address: 79 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 5
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.
“Antique Quilts in Upstate New York”
Presented By: Q.U.I.L.T. (Quilters United in Learning Together)
Location: New York State Museum
Address: 222 Madison Avenue, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Price: FREE
City Line's Derby de Mayo
Location: City Line Bar and Grill
Address: 1200 Western Avenu, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Price: Free
Macy's Celebrate Albany Fashion Show
Location: Colonie Center Mall
Address: 200 Colonie Center, Macy's, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 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 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Price: FREE
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 Sightseeing Cruise
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises, Inc.
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM/Boards at 12:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults/ $18.95 seniors/ $12.00 AAA rate
Blithe Spirit
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM/8:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $20
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Stops in Albany
Date: Saturday, May 5
Presented By: Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc.
Location: Albany Marriott Hotel
Address: 189 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Price: Free
Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Night!
Location: Emack & Bolio's
Address: 366 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
Time: 7:00 PM
Albany Civic Theater Presents Appropriate
Location: Albany Civic Theatre
Address: 235 Second Ave., Albany, NY 12206
Time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: $18 regular admission $10 student admission/with valid id
Confetti Stage presents King Lear
Location: Albany Masonic Hall
Address: 67 Corning Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: $15 general, $10 students
Albany Empire VS Washington Valor
Location: Times Union Center (TUC)
Address: 51 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM
Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company
Location: The Egg
Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $25
The Heavy Pets
Location: The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Address: 79 North Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $12
Sunday, May 6
RevCon-A Revolution of Consciousness Lifestyle Event
Location: Desmond Hotel Albany
Address: 660 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Price: $15
Sunday Jazz Brunch
Location: Wolf's 1-11
Address: 111 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
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 at Lost & Found
Location: Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen
Address: 942 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
19th Annual Albany History Fair: "World War I - The Albany Home Front"
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: FREE!
Ten Broeck Mansion’s Living History Day and Welcome to the Neighborhood BBQ for Mayor Sheehan
Location: Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free
Albany Sightseeing Cruise
Location: Dutch Apple Cruises, Inc.
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts., (next to USS Slater), Albany, NY 12202
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM/Boards at 12:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults/ $18.95 seniors/ $12.00 AAA rate
Blithe Spirit
Location: Capital Repertory Theatre
Address: 111 N. Pearl St., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: Tickets starting at $20
Confetti Stage presents King Lear
Location: Albany Masonic Hall
Address: 67 Corning Place, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: $15 general, $10 students
A Taste of Change
Location: New York State Museum
Address: 222 Madison Avenue, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
Time: 2:00 PM
Price: FREE
Albany Civic Theater Presents Appropriate
Location: Albany Civic Theatre
Address: 235 Second Ave., Albany, NY 12206
Time: 3:00 PM
Price: $18 regular admission $10 student admission/with valid id
University Symphony Orchestra
Location: University at Albany
Address: 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222
Time: 3:00 PM
Price: $3-$6
Sunday Night Blues Jam
Location: McGeary's Irish Pub
Address: 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:30 PM – Midnight
Price: Free
Ongoing
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
Well-Dressed in Victorian Albany
From: October 7, 2017 - May 20, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: Daily
Gifts from Our Grandfather
From: April 2, 2018 - May 31, 2018
Location: American Italian Heritage Museum & Cultural Center
Address: 1227 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12205
Price: Museum admission
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
Along the Eastern Road: Hiroshige's Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido
From: March 14, 2018 - June 10, 2018
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
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
Biocoenosis: Nature Art in Watercolor and Ink
From: April 30, 2018 - June 29, 2018
Location: Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sq, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free admission
The Irish and The Erie Canal
From: April 30, 2018 - June 29, 2018
Location: Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sq, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: Free admission
Guided Tours
From: May 2, 2018 - June 30, 2018
Location: Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
Address: 32 Catherine St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Upon the Ground, Below the Water
From: March 24, 2018 – September 3, 2018
Location: Albany International Airport (ALB)
Address: 737 Albany-Shaker Rd., Albany, NY 12211
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
Tour of USS SLATER
From: April 25, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14.
USS SLATER Galley
From: April 4, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14.
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
The Glory Can Never Fade: The Legacy of the Harlem Hellfighters
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
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
Art of the Erie Canal
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230
Time: Daily
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
For these and other events, check out our event calendar here.
