The Beat

45 Years of Fair Fun! Celebrate with Us This Labor Day Weekend!

Staten Island, N.Y. -- The Richmond County Fair is turning 45, and we’re kicking off the celebration with three full days of food, fun, and everything that makes Staten Island shine. Every year, over 15,000 people gather on our 35-acre museum village to enjoy carnival rides, live music, local food, shopping, and the sights and sounds of Staten Island’s biggest summer tradition.

Staten Island, N.Y. - Explore fascinating and mysterious sites unfamiliar to most New Yorkers on an exciting boat ride circumnavigating Staten Island. The series will be narrated by Wade R. Goria. Wade is a National Lighthouse Museum historian, author, and former New York University professor.

Saratoga Springs, NY — The Saratoga Senior Center is proud to announce its 70th Anniversary Luncheon: An Afternoon with Jim Nantz, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the iconic Fasig-Tipton Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The exclusive event will feature an intimate fireside chat between Nantz and his CBS colleague and golf icon Dottie Pepper, offering guests an unforgettable experience filled with personal stories, career insights, and heartfelt moments. This milestone celebration honors legendary CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz as the Center’s Man of the Year for his impactful work in Alzheimer’s advocacy.

Etienne Charles and His Creole Soul Band to perform on August 21

Cooperstown, NY (August 7, 2025)  – The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival presents Trinidad-born trumpet virtuoso Etienne Charles for the festival's final concert of the 2025 season. Charles will perform with his acclaimed Creole Soul band at Fenimore Farm and Country Village on Thursday, August 21 at 7:00 PM.

From Buffalo to New York City, the ‘Seneca Chief’ will travel 500 miles over 33 days, stopping at 28 ports to commemorate the Erie Canal and connect communities.

With generous support from M&T Bank, the Bicentennial Voyage provides a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to experience the canal’s rich history.

Buffalo, N.Y. (August 7, 2025) – To mark the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s opening, the Buffalo Maritime Center (BMC) has built a full-scale replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief – the vessel that first journeyed from Buffalo to New York City to mark the canal’s completion. Constructed by nearly 200 volunteers and students between October 2020 and its launch in June 2024, the wooden boat was handcrafted in full public view inside the Longshed at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront.

Remsen, NY – The Remsen-Steuben Historical Society (R-SHS) is excited to be participating in the Mohawk Valley Gives Campaign on September 19, 2025. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to replace the roof on the Stone Meeting House. Built in 1831 by Welsh craftsmen, this building is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses our archives and historical collections.  The roof is 137 years old and in dire need of replacement.

New York, NY (August 12, 2025) - Frog & Peach Theatre Company, one of New York's most beloved arts institutions, is very pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of Tinkerbell Live will be coming to Clifton Place Memorial Garden (1031 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn) on Saturday, August 23 at 1 pm. This exciting performance promises to engage audiences of all ages with its unique blend of interactive games, catchy songs, and vibrant storytelling. Since its inception in 2009, Tinkerbell Theatre has been dedicated to bringing high-quality family theatre to New Yorkers, making it a cherished experience for families across the city.

Appearance marks the first time CMS has performed the full cycle of concertos at SPAC

Presented as part of SPAC’s Sounds of the Season Holiday Series; December 13 at 5 p.m. | Arthur Zankel Music Center

Saratoga Springs, NY (August 7, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announces that Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concertos on Saturday, December 13 at 5 p.m. at Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College. A longtime holiday tradition at Lincoln Center, this special Saratoga appearance marks the first time in SPAC’s 12-year partnership with CMS that the full cycle of all six concertos will be performed locally by the acclaimed group.

Best Travel & Tourism TV Commercial in 46th Annual Telly Awards

Utica, N.Y. (August 7, 2025) – Oneida County Tourism (OCT) announced that its Heart of NY Beverage Trail commercial, produced by its advertising agency C&D Advertising, has been named Best Travel & Tourism in Locally Aired Television Commercial in the 46th Annual Telly Awards. OCT earned a Silver Winner designation in the Travel & Tourism - Local TV category, alongside a commercial featuring the popular children’s show Bluey.

Norwich, N.Y. – In the spirit of creative endeavors celebrated during the annual Colorscape Chenango festival, the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) will again host a series of tours featuring culturally and historically significant community spaces on Sept. 7. Featuring unique opportunities for engagement with everyday exhibits, these tours will allow participants the opportunity to explore the history and artistry within these local places.