The Beat

Sky Flyer Zipline, Veterans’ Memorial Highway, Inline Skating Set to Open Summer Season

Lake Placid, N.Y. (May 15, 2025) – The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) is launching its summer and fall activities season with the opening of the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway on Friday, May 16. Additional early-season offerings include the Sky Flyer Zipline that opens on May 15, Discover Biathlon presented by Ariens at Mt Van Hoevenberg starting May 24 and the return of inline skating at the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval on May 23.

Saratoga Springs, NY — In celebration of the Belmont Stakes returning to Saratoga Springs for the second year, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is thrilled to offer two exclusive behind-the-scenes walking tours of the historic Saratoga Race Course. Join the Foundation on Friday, June 6 at 9:30AM or Sunday, June 8 at 9:30AM for a rare opportunity to explore the oldest and one of the most iconic sporting venues in the United States.

For fifth straight year, Tang offers free admission for military personnel and their families all summer

Saratoga Springs, NY (May 15, 2025) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College is proud to join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative for the fifth straight year. The program provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer, beginning on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, and running through Aug. 31.

GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY Winners to Perform June 1

Garden City, NY – Get ready to dance, sing, and celebrate Latin culture as 123 Andrés, the GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY-winning duo, brings their high-energy bilingual concert to the Long Island Children’s Museum on Sunday, June 1! This special performance promises to deliver an unforgettable musical experience for the entire family.

Ithaca, NY—The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) and the Village of Aurora today announced the creation of a new park featuring 1,100 feet of scenic frontage on Cayuga Lake shoreline along with four acres of adjacent upland.  Previously part of Wells College, this land was acquired by FLLT member Grace Bates, with the intent of creating the park for public enjoyment.

Ticonderoga, NY - Fort Ticonderoga is proud to announce the historic gift of four Spanish cannon and two mortars from Yale University Art Gallery, securing these significant pieces in Fort Ticonderoga’s world-renowned artillery collection. The artillery, which has been on long-term loan from Yale since 1943, has been enjoyed by millions of visitors over the past eight decades. The striking green patina on these bronze artillery pieces is an iconic and instantly recognizable feature on Fort Ticonderoga’s storied landscape.

Newburgh, NY (May 16, 2025) - Join us on Saturday, June 14th from 2-4 pm for a Civil War re-enactment and the annual Newburgh Elks Club Flag Day commemoration.

The 124^th NY Infantry Regiment, comprised of Orange County soldiers, were discharged in 1865 at Washington’s Headquarters. Known as the “Orange Blossoms,” this volunteer regiment fought in many historic Civil War battles including Gettysburg and Chancellorsville.  Re-enactors will march to Washington’s Headquarters for living history demonstrations, with the discharge of the men beginning at 4pm. The Headquarters will also have a special exhibit for the day on the 124^th, including the original guidon flags!…

Exhibition presented in partnership with ImageOut, May 17–October 26 at George Eastman Museum

Rochester, N.Y., May 15, 2025—The George Eastman Museum, along with ImageOut, presents Seeing & Being Seen: LGBTQ+ Visions of Rochester, which celebrates the diverse, intersectional identities, and experiences within the Greater Rochester, New York LGBTQ+ community, and spotlights the shared and unique Queer and Trans existence, from celebration to struggle. The exhibition is on display in the museum's community gallery, the Gallery Obscura, starting May 17.

Step Back in Time for a Speakeasy Themed Evening on Lake George

Lake George, NY – The Lake George Arts Project is thrilled to announce its annual Summer Cruise fundraiser, set to take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM aboard Waterfront Cruises' Adirondac. Boarding begins at 6:30 PM at 2 Kurosaka Lane, Lake George, NY.

New Name Pays Homage to the Species’ Peruvian Heritage 

Click here for photos of Cantuta 

Niagara Falls, N.Y. (May 16, 2025)  — The public has spoken, and the Aquarium of Niagara’s 24th successfully reared penguin chick is named “Cantuta.” 

The cantuta (Cantua buxifolia), otherwise known as the sacred flower of the Incas or the Peruvian magic tree, is the national flower of Peru, where native Humboldt penguins can be found in their natural environment. The name also pays homage to the chick’s great-grandmother, “Rosebud,” who hatched at the Aquarium in the 1990s.