Fall in love with Free and Frugal events this month from around Albany County! As the cool air, changing leaves, and cozy atmosphere of fall settles in, find affordable ways to celebrate the start of the season. September brings favorite fall festivals and plenty of ways to get outdoors and enjoy the crisp autumn weather. Scroll on for free and frugal events taking place each week of September!
Week 1: September 1 – September 8
Being Human Form and Frailty Pop-Up Exhibition
Location: Albany Center Gallery
Date: September 1 and September 2
Time: 12 PM to 5 PM
Price: Free!
Bites Camera Action: Akeelah and the Bee
Presented By: Downtown Albany BID
Location: SUNY System Administration Building
Date: September 1
Time: 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: Free!
Film Screening: “Nine Lives”
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 1
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free!
Morning Meander: Kings Road Barrens
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 1
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Opening Reception: The Ones We Remember & Open Studios
Location: Albany Barn
Date: September 1
Time: 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Price: Free!
Capital District Scottish Games
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Date: September 2
Time: 8 AM to 10 PM
Price: $24 for adults. Free for children 12 and under. Veterans and active military members receive 50% discount on admission.
Albany Nature Bus Partner Program: Mindfulness Walk
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 2
Time: 10 AM
Price: Free!
Albany Nature Bus Partner Program: Family Fun
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 2
Time: 2 PM
Price: Free!
A Son Remembers Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 5
Time: 4:30 PM
Price: Free!
Pine Bush Pups: Fall Leaves and Deciduous Trees
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 6 and September 7
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5. Suitable for ages under 6 with caregivers.
Film Screening: “Affliction”
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 8
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free!
Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery Yard Sale
Location: Albany Rural Cemetery
Date: September 8 and September 9
Time: 9 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free!
Week 2: September 9 – September 16
2023 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
Presented By: City of Albany Office of Cultural Affairs
Location: Jennings Landing
Date: September 9
Time: 12 PM to 8 PM
Price: Free!
Helderberg Hawk Watch
Location: Thacher Park
Date: September 9
Time: 10 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free!
Living History: Jamming in Arbor Hill
Location: Ten Broeck
Date: September 9
Time: 10 AM to 3 PM
Price: Free!
Picturing Nature: A Practical Guide to Nature Photography
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 9
Time: 1 PM to 3 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Story Time | Tales with the Tulip Court
Location: Albany Institute of History & Art
Date: September 9
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
Price: Free!
2023 Harvest Craft Fair
Location: Shaker Heritage Society
Date: September 9 ad September 10
Time: 10 AM to 4 PM
Price: Pay What You Will
Free Speech on Campus with Suzanne Nossel
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 14
Time: 7 PM
Price: Free!
Sea Marks by Gardner McKay
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Date: September 15
Time: 7 PM
Price: $15 general admission, $10 for members
Albany Nature Bus Partner Program: Mindfulness Walk
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 16
Time: 10 AM
Price: Free!
Pearlpalooza 2023
Presented By: Downtown Albany BID
Location: N Pearl Street
Date: September 16
Time: 11 AM to 7 PM
Price: Free!
Crailo Harvest Faire
Location: Crailo State Historic Site
Date: September 16
Time: 11 AM to 4 PM
Price: Free!
Pressed Flower Workshop
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: September 16
Time: 12:30 PM to 2 PM
Price: $10 general admission, $5 for members
Capital Apple and Wine Festival
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Date: September 16 and September 17
Time: 10 AM to 5 PM
Price: General Admission $11.02
General Admission with wine/spirit tasting building $20.53
Week 3: September 17 – September 23
Reptile Expo
Location: Albany Capital Center
Date: September 17
Time: 10 AM
Price: $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 13, free for children under 6. VIP tickets available
A Nomad Poet Returns to Albany
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 19
Time: 4:30 PM
Price: Free!
Stepping Through Time – A Garden Club of America Show
Presented By: The Fort Orange Garden Club
Location: Pruyn House
Dates & Times: September 20, 3 PM to 5 PM
September 21, 10 AM to 2:30 PM
Price: Free!
Immersion Tours: Freedom & Opportunity in Albany
Presented By: Irish American Heritage Museum, Ten Broeck Mansion, Underground Railroad Education Center
Location: Begins at Irish American Heritage Museum
Date: September 21
Time: 2 PM to 5 PM
Price: $23.18 for adults, $21.05 for seniors, $7.18 for children aged 5 to 18, free for children under 5
Portraiture Workshop
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: September 22
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Price: $10 general admission, $5 for members
Albany Book Festival 2023
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 23
Time: 10:30 AM to 5 PM
Price: Free!
Five Rivers Fall Festival
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 23
Time: 10 AM to 4 PM
Price: Free!
Capital Walls Mural Bike Tour
Presented By: Albany Barn, Albany Center Gallery, ParkAlbany
Made Possible By: Discover Albany, NYS Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Location: Meet at Albany Center Gallery
Date: September 23
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
Price: Free! Registration required; bring your own bike.
CosmeCon 2023
Location: Colonie Center
Date: September 23
Time: 12 PM to 4 PM
Price: Free!
Week 4: September 24 – September 30
Discover the Pine Bush Ramble Hike
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 24
Time: 10 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Film Club: Nothing Compares
Location: Irish American Heritage Museum
Date: September 25
Time: 6
Price: $5
Brilliant and Bristly Buckmoths
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 27
Time: 11 AM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Powerful Authentic YA Fiction
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: Albany Public Library
Date: September 27
Time: 6 PM
Price: Free!
A Trans “Way of Seeing”
Presented By: NYS Writers Institute
Location: University at Albany
Date: September 28
Time: Craft Talk: 4:30 PM, Reading: 7:30 PM
Price: Free!
The Balloon Glow and Laser Show
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds
Date: September 29 to October 1
Time: 5 PM
Price: $20 for adults, $8 for children, free for children under 5
Full Moon Hike at Blueberry Hill
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 29
Time: 6 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Learn 10 at the Ann Lee Pond Nature Preserve: Trees
Presented By: Shaker Heritage Society
Location: Ann Lee Pond Nature Preserve
Date: September 30
Time: 9 AM to 12 PM
Price: Free!
Tulip Planting Day
Location: Ten Broeck Mansion
Date: September 30
Time: 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Price: Free!
Mushrooms of the Pine Bush
Location: Pine Bush Preserve
Date: September 30
Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
Price: Suggested donation $5
Albany Nature Bus Partner Program: Wild About Woodchucks
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 30
Time: 10 AM
Price: Free!
Albany Nature Bus Partner Program: Guided Walk
Location: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date: September 30
Time: 2 PM
Price: Free!
Ongoing Events:
To Be-Named Exhibition
Location: Opalka Gallery, Russell Sage College
Date: September 1 through October 14
Time: 12 PM to 5 PM
Price: Free
45th Annual Photography Regional: Salon Show
Location: Albany Center Gallery
Date: September 10 through October 7
Time: 12 PM to 5 PM
Price: Free
