Halloween is in the air and there are plenty of free and frugal things for everyone to do this weekend. Check out one of the haunted walking tours, learn about the murder at Cherry Hill or enjoy an evening of science and spirits. Don’t miss out on all of the spooky stories Albany County has to offer. Continue reading below for a list of free and frugal events from October 26- October 28.
Friday, October 26
The Art Trail: Sunset Rock And Bear’s Den
Location: Schutt Rd. Parking Area
Address: Haines Falls, NY 12414
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Price: $25
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
Christmas Craft Fair
Presented by: Shaker Heritage Society
Location: Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Price: Free
Northeast Trek Con
Location: Albany Capital Center
Address: 55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 1:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Price: $15 for Friday only admission
Murder at Cherry Hill
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: Tours at 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00 PM
Price: $18 general admission, $12 members
Environmental Justice in New York (An Expert Panel Discussion)
Presented By: Periconi, LLC
Location: Albany Law School
Address: 80 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208
Time: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Price: Free
Happy Hour
Location: MezzaNotte
Address: 2026 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 5:00 PM to 6:30 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!
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
Under the Starry Flag Book Discussion with Prof. Lucy E Salyer
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Address: 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:00 to 10:00 PM
Price: Free
Film Screening: Japanese-American Films
Location: University at Albany Page Hall
Address: 135 Western Avenue, Albany, NY
Time: 7:00 pm
Price: Free and open to the public
Ghosts of Albany Walking Tours
Location: Tours start at the corner of State and Lodge Streets Downtown Albany
Address: Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: $15-$35
Maestro: Improv Comedy Showdown
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
Faustus: A Tragic History, presented by Will Kempe's Players
Location: Albany Barn
Address: 56 Second St., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $10, 18+ event
Late Night Happy Hour at Warehouse Grille & BBQ
Location: Warehouse Grill & BBQ
Address: 219 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205
Time: 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Price: Free
Saturday, October 27
Northeast Trek Con
Location: Albany Capital Center
Address: 55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Price: $40 for Saturday only admission
Dr. Elkins: Explorer, Inventor, and Healer
Location: Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc
Address: 194 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Price: Free
Christmas Craft Fair
Presented by: Shaker Heritage Society
Location: Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Price: Free
FAMILY STORY TIME: Tales of Birds and Beasts
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Price: Free, but registration is recommended.
Cunning Coyotes for Adults
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission
Address: 195 New Karner Rd, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 11:00 AM
Price: Free! Registration required
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.
Of Brick & Beam: Crailo and Dutch Colonial Architecture
Location: Crailo State Historic Site
Address: 9 1/2 Riverside Ave, Rensselaer, NY 12144
Time: 11:00 AM
Price: $5 adults, $4 students and seniors, FREE for Friends of Fort Crailo
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 to 2:30p (boards 12:30p)
Presented By: Dutch Apple Cruises, Inc.
Address: 141 Broadway, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Sts.
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Price: $19.95 adults$18.95 seniors/aaa rate$12.00 children 3yr-10yrFREE children 2yr & under
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
Albany Distilling Tours
Location: Albany Distilling Co., Inc.
Address: 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12207
Time: 3:00 PM
ESYO Repertory Orchestra & ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra
Location: Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk HS
Address: 2025 US Route 9W, Ravena, NY 12143
Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Price: $10 for adults; $5 for students and seniors
Historic Hauntings Walking Tour
Location: Albany Rural Cemetery
Address: Cemetery Ave., Albany, NY 12204
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Price: $15, registration required
Murder at Cherry Hill
Location: Historic Cherry Hill
Address: 523 1/2 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202
Time: Tours at 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00 PM
Price: $18 general admission, $12 members
AFTER DARK: Science & Spirits
Location: Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci)
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308
Time: 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $12 presale, $15 at door, $6 for planetarium show
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
Adult Ghost Stories
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Address: 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Price: Free
Faustus: A Tragic History, presented by Will Kempe's Players
Location: Albany Barn
Address: 56 Second St., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $10, 18+ event
Portland Cello Project
Location: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Address: 30 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180
Time: 8:00 PM
Price: $29-$36
Annual Halloween Party at the Lakehouse
Location: Washington Park Lakehouse
Address: 35 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12205
Time: 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Price: $45
Ghost of Albany Walking Tours
Location: Tours start at the corner of State and Lodge Streets Downtown Albany
Address: Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: $15-$35
Sunday, October 28
Northeast Trek Con
Location: Albany Capital Center
Address: 55 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Price: $25 for Sunday only admission
Baby got Brunch at Lost & Found
Location: Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen
Address: 942 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Oxi Day at USS SLATER
Location: USS Slater DE766
Address: 1 Quay St, Intersection of Broadway & Quay Street, Albany, NY 12202
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Price: $9 for Adults, $8 for Seniors, and $7 for Children 6-14 (Ceremony is free to public)
Kid's Halloween Cookie Decorating Event
Location: Bountiful Bread
Address: 1475 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Price: $5 per child
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
Of Brick & Beam: Crailo and Dutch Colonial Architecture
Location: Crailo State Historic Site
Address: 9 1/2 Riverside Ave, Rensselaer, NY 12144
Time: 11:00 AM
Price: $5 adults, $4 students and seniors, FREE for Friends of Fort Crailo
FAMILY PROGRAM Mummy Birthday Party
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210
Time: 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Price: Included with museum admission
Halloween Spooktacular
Location: New York State Museum
Address: Empire State Plaza, 3023 Cultural Education Center , Albany, NY 12230
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Price: Free
Sunny Sundays at the 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).
Hocus Pocus - Family Fun Day
Location: Palace Performing Arts Center
Address: 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 1:00 PM
Price: $5
Ethan Bortnick
Location: Massry Center for The Arts
Address: 432 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
Time: 3:00 PM
Price: $34.00
Illuminate: Scary Stories
Location: Albany Barn, Inc.
Address: 56 Second St., Albany, NY 12210
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Price: $5-$10
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
Ghost of Albany Walking Tours
Location: Tours start at the corner of State and Lodge Streets Downtown Albany
Address: Albany, NY 12207
Time: 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Price: $15-$35
Ongoing
Albany Art Room Exhibit
From: September 6, 2018-October 31, 2018
Location: Discover Albany Visitors Center
Address: 25 Quackenbush Sq. Albany, NY 12207
Price: Free Admission
Thomas Cole's Paper Trail
From: January 19, 2018 - November 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.
Children’s Museum Exhibit: Handmade Native Dolls from Across the Nation
From: May 11, 2018 – November 30, 2018
Location: Iroquois Indian Museum
Address: 324 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Time: All Day
2018 Featured Exhibition: Tonto, Teepees & Totem Poles: Considering Native American Stereotypes in the 21st Century
From: May 11, 2018 - November 30, 2018
Location: Iroquois Indian Museum
Address: 324 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092
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: Meeting House
Address: 25 Meeting House Road, Albany, NY 12211
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Saturday
Price: Free
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
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
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.