The Capital-Saratoga region has long attracted fans of music and the performing arts, whether to catch a world-class concert, an evening of innovative dance, or a Broadway-caliber musical. But beyond these well-known venues, the region is bursting with history, culture, and a vibrant arts scene that should not be overlooked. Plus, discover world-class arts and culture in every region of New York State with I LOVE NY’s newly launched regional map and guides, upcoming calendar of events, and more.
Visual Arts | Theaters and Performing Arts | Historical Sites and Landmarks | Music and Film | Events and Festivals
Visual Arts
Albany Institute of History & Art
Credit: @discoveralbany and @albanyinstitute on Instagram
Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art allows visitors a glimpse into the past and an appreciation of art all at once. You might take in William Hart’s view of Albany as the artist saw it in 1848 when he recreated it in a painting. Or perhaps artifacts like a pair of delicate boudoir slippers or a sumptuous coral ball gown, made of silk and trimmed in tulle, will have you pondering life during the Gilded Age. With oil paintings, sculptures, drawings, textiles, maps, and more, gallery upon gallery will illuminate what life was like in Old Albany. The Albany Institute of History & Art is the oldest museum in New York and one of the oldest in the United States.
The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
The building itself is a work of art. Viewed from outside, three main wings sprawl out toward the buildings of Skidmore College, on whose Saratoga Springs campus the museum sits. Students and faculty often serve as curators for the dozen or so annual exhibitions of contemporary art. Peruse the galleries on your own, take a guided tour, or attend one of the many special events including Upbeat on the Roof, a popular summer concert series featuring live music on the lawn.
Saratoga Arts - The Arts Center
Artistic-minded folks of all ages will find something to love at this downtown Saratoga Springs art space. Interested in a photography class or always wanted to dabble in sculpture? Or maybe it’s time to send the kids to art camp while you work on your weaving or printmaking project! All that and much more can be found at this center that was created by and for artists, in order to nurture and engage the community in all artistic genres. Exhibitions, films, concerts, and live theater are also on the packed calendar of exciting events.
Cary Hill Sculpture Park
Credit: @mariasohn on Instagram
If you’re seeking the most photogenic spot in Salem, with a touch of whimsy, head to Cary Hill Sculpture Park, located at Salem Art Works. Throughout the 119 acres are rotating sculptures created by artists from around the world. A brisk walk or drive up the hill delivers fantastic views of the town and surrounding valley and mountains. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Visitors are free to wander and take in the art on their own.
There’s no better way to dive deep into the heritage of the Empire State than by examining its folklore. The beliefs, customs, and practices that have rippled throughout New York for generations are geographically diverse; the New York Folklore Society strives to highlight them. Visit the Schenectady gallery to view handmade wood carvings, quilts, and fiber arts, as well as baskets, beadwork, and stone carvings created by the Haudenosaunee, the confederacy of nations indigenous to Central New York.
Theaters and Performing Arts
Imagine an era when movies were available only in theaters. A double feature might have been broken up with a live vaudeville act between films, and the theater itself was an architectural work of art. Moviegoers can capture some of that magic at the Palace Theatre. Originally opened in 1931, it was the largest theater in Albany at the time. The theater has undergone some changes since its heyday but retains many of the opulent design features it was built with. The theater hosts concerts, stand-up comedy, holiday performances, shows films old and new, and puts on annual events including a community block party, when the area surrounding the Palace comes alive with music, vendors, and family-friendly activities.
EMPAC (Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center)
On the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an enormous building with four main venues, plus additional studios and lab spaces, combine to deliver concerts, lectures, dance, visual arts, and much more. Broadly, event themes are the arts, sciences, and technology; more significantly, they are grounded in creativity and experimentation. Keep an eye on the seasonal calendar and catch an event that is sure to be unlike any other.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)
Credit: @spacsaratoga on Instagram
Chill out to the sounds of jazz, bang your head to classic rock, or soak in the pure notes of chamber music, all happening in one of the most beautiful amphitheaters in New York. Located in Saratoga Spa State Park, SPAC is the place to be in the summer for concerts and music festivals, plus performances by the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The serenity of Saratoga Spa State Park, with its hiking trails and natural mineral springs, adds to the experience, as does SPAC’s world-class amphitheater. When the summer season ends, be sure to check out the fall offerings at Spa Little Theater, a 500-seat SPAC venue across from the Hall of Springs. Events to add to your calendar include live jazz and chamber music, and performances in contemporary dance and Flamenco.
They’ve been staging musicals for more than 55 years, so you know they must be good! In 1969, off-Broadway writer and producer Linda MacNish and aspiring actress Lynne Haydn combined their talents and staged a performance of My Fair Lady. Since that first performance, Mac-Haydn Theatre, a mash-up of the founders’ names, has staged hundreds of classic and contemporary musicals, gaining a reputation as one of the area’s premier musical theaters. Productions are performed in a historic Chatham building that has housed a printing company, a silent movie studio, and a doll factory.
Schenectady Light Opera Company
Since 1926, when they set out to entertain audiences with short plays interspersed with songs and comedy, this community theater organization in Schenectady has brought more than 500 theatrical productions to the stage. Some of the most famous musicals of all time have been viewed here, among them Cabaret, Les Miserables, and A Chorus Line. They continue to thrill theater lovers with contemporary productions like Mean Girls and School of Rock.
The Circle Theatre Players had already enjoyed a rich two-decade run of performances when they expanded their wealth of artistic knowledge into the community. This is the story behind the founding of Sand Lake Center for the Arts, a space that brings live theater and concerts to the community, plus lots of options for enrichment including art-making workshops and classes. There’s also a visual arts gallery and lots of youth activities. You can’t miss the center, located in a historical 1835 building in Averill Park, outfitted with an iconic bell tower and gorgeous stained-glass windows.
Historic Sites and Landmarks
Saratoga Springs History Museum
Wealthy vacationers once flocked to Saratoga Springs. They nursed their health at natural mineral water resorts, watched horse races, and partook in gambling. At night, they slept in sumptuous rooms in grand hotels and during the day, lounged on expansive hotel porches. Exhibits from this era and more are some of the highlights of the Saratoga Springs History Museum. Visitors can see period rooms and view photographs and artifacts from centuries of local history, or have a more immersive experience by attending a lecture, taking a ghost tour, or participating in one of the many special events throughout the year. The museum is housed in the 1870s-era Canfield Casino, located in Congress Park.
Albany County Historical Association-Ten Broeck Mansion
A mansion built in the last years of the 18th century is open (mid-May through mid-October) to the public for tours. It also acts as the Albany County Historical Association, making it doubly rich in the history of the Capital region. The mansion was built in the Federal style for General Abraham Ten Broeck and his wife, Elizabeth Van Rensselaer. Abraham commanded the New York Militia at the Battle of Saratoga; prior to that, he was the mayor of Albany. Visitors to the mansion today can tour the home to see furnishings, portraits, and ceramics that belonged to the Ten Broeck’s and the Olcott’s, who were the second residents of the mansion. The historical association also has items on display that include textiles, books, furniture, and photographs.
Rensselaer County Historical Society
Nurture your love of local history with the collections housed in this historic setting in Troy. Visitors will find rotating and permanent exhibits that shed light on how generations of people lived, worked, and played. Theme-based walking tours are frequently available: don’t miss the Gilded Age Tour, where you’ll hear about Troy during that era of decadence. The historical society’s home is the Hart-Cluett Museum, an ornate mansion complete with a marble façade, Tuscan columns, and intricate, hand-carved woodwork. Rotating exhibits feature photography, paintings, drawings, and historical artifacts.
Music and Film
What started out as a bank in 1823 is now a world-class music hall that hosts performers from around the world. In addition to performances by world-class acts, the Troy venue hosts an abundance of special events. Music at Noon delivers free music on the second Tuesday of each month (October-May), while the Summer Square concert series draws crowds to Music Hall’s courtyard with free music from local talent. Check the calendar for many more events to feed your love of music! The current venue was built in 1875 and contains all the architectural ingredients required for clear-as-a-bell acoustics.
In another era, a coffeehouse was a place to linger for hours, discussing the topic of the day, listening to new music from a performer sure to be a star, or hearing experimental spoken-word poetry. That was the spirit in which Caffe Lena opened its doors in 1960. It is also the heritage they strive to maintain even now, with a regular schedule of performances, jams, open mics, and events that draw the community together. When you see a performance at this historic downtown Saratoga Springs venue, know you’ll be in the same space where the likes of Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, and Arlo Guthrie once made music.
Ya gotta Love the Glove! Especially when a film series by that name brings weekly movies to the screen, free of charge. The Love the Glove Film Series is merely one of the cool events at this beloved Gloversville theater. There’s also Vaudeville Thursdays, where performers have five minutes to perform whatever they’re itching to share, from magic tricks to slam poetry to dance numbers. Live theater, improv classes, and youth programs are also on the calendar.
Two-time Grammy winner David Alan Miller conducts a professional orchestra that performs in various venues in the Capital Region: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, the Palace Theatre in Albany, and EMPAC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Each season consists of eight performances and promises a full lineup of exhilarating concerts. Educational programming for kids and adults is also offered.
A family business steeped in nostalgia, Hollywood Drive-In opened in 1952. James and Beatrice Fisher and their son Frank ran the place; Frank is still there—he took over in 1968. Today, the Averill Park drive-in is open on weekends. You can catch two movies for the price of one, and either relax in the comfort of your car or bring chairs and blankets and stretch out on the lawn in front of your vehicle. The concession building has been newly remodeled and serves pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and more. Be sure to check your popcorn box—you might just get lucky and find a prize (a free movie pass) inside!
The scenic shoreline of Caroga Lake makes for an idyllic setting to take in the abundance of art featured at Caroga Arts Collective. With the goal of enriching the local community, the collective hosts over 50 diverse performances and community events annually. A popular event is the Caroga Lake Music Festival (events continue through September 14th), bringing together artists from around the world to deliver funk, rock, jazz, and pop performances.
Events and Festivals
A three-day festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds (last weekend in June) near Albany features live bands playing folk, traditional, Celtic, and world music. Three main stages feature multiple artists throughout the event. When the stages aren’t occupied, attendees can browse the jewelry, pottery, crafts, and clothing on Artisan Way, or check out a daytime workshop, dance, or special performance. Festival goers can also take part in jam sessions and instrument learn-hows, making this an immersive event that’s fun for the whole family.
Kick off summer on the last weekend of June to the energetic tunes of jazz, funk, blues, and more with some of the best performers in the biz! Two days of concerts take place across two stages at the famed Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs. Great beer and food, a fine arts fair, and family-friendly activities are also on location. Past festivals have brought to the stage such staggering talent as Norah Jones, Samara Joy, and Bonnie Raitt.
Kids of all ages are invited to explore their creative side at this festival that’s been going strong for 30 years. The event is held in early June outside Schenectady City Hall. Opportunities abound for kids to sing, dance, paint, sculpt, and create to their heart’s content. Previous festivals have offered dozens of hands-on art activities, hours of entertainment, and a costume contest. The goal of the festival is to inspire creativity in local youth.
Opera, musicals, and concerts are the focus of this summer festival (June-July), which staged its first production in 1962. Guys and Dolls, Così Fan Tutte (an opera sung in Italian with English subtitles), and Cabaret at the Mansion, performed at the Mansion of Saratoga accompanied by a delicious buffet dinner, were some of the favorites at the most recent Saratoga Springs festival.
Telling stories on screen is the cornerstone of this film festival, which happens annually at the University of Albany. The springtime festival features full-length and short films made by both emerging and established directors. Conversations and Q&As follow the screenings; panel discussions and workshops with screenwriters, film critics, and other industry professionals also take place throughout the daylong event. For movie lovers and aspiring filmmakers, this might just be a slice of heaven!
Highlighting Latino culture and performing artists, Albany Latin Fest has been a staple of late summer (end of August) for almost 30 years. Renowned music artists come from near and far for this free event. In addition to live music, food vendors, craft vendors, and children’s activities fill Washington Park for a day of fun for the whole family. The aim of the Albany Latin Festival Association is to feature and grow Hispanic cultural events in the Capital Region.
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