The Beat

Dig Into Discovery with the Museum’s First Hands-On Rock and Fossil Fun Fair Since 2020, Happening February 22 & 23

Albany, N.Y. – It’s back and boulder than ever! Explore New York State’s rich natural history and meet leading scientists during the highly anticipated return of the Rock and Fossil Fun Fair. The family-friendly and free event, making its first appearance since 2020, takes place on February 22 and 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the New York State Museum. Thirteen unique interactive stations include extraordinary specimens from long before our time and allow children of all ages to dig for fossils, mine for minerals, and experiment with a river replica.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Feb. 19) – Shaken & Stirred is back for its 10th anniversary. The event brings together the Capital Region’s most talented local business teams to step behind the bar to shake, stir, and serve up friendly competition and community spirit—all in support of the Collaborative School of the Arts at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.

Names Timothy Peterson as Juror

Rochester, NY (Feb. 19, 2025) —The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) announces that Timothy Peterson will serve as juror for the highly anticipated 69th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition (RFLX), the region’s longest-running juried showcase of artists from Western and Central New York. Open to artists across 27 counties, RFLX serves as a platform for emerging and established talents working in all media. The exhibition will be on view at MAG from June 28 through October 5, 2025, highlighting the region’s dynamic artistic community.

Shoshana Bean, Sofia Carson, Taylor Dayne, Micaela Diamond, and Angélique Kidjo Join The New York Pops for its 42nd Birthday Gala, “Words And Music: Diane Warren”

New York, N.Y. (February 19, 2025) — Notable guest artists including Shoshana Bean (GRAMMY Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee), Sofia Carson (star of Netflix’s Purple Hearts and Carry-On), Taylor Dayne (singer of the number one hit “Love Will Lead You Back”), Micaela Diamond (Tony Award nominee for Parade and original Broadway cast member of The Cher Show), and Angélique Kidjo (five-time GRAMMY Award winner) will join The New York Pops to honor legendary songwriter Diane Warren at the orchestra’s 42nd Birthday Gala, Words and Music: Diane Warren, on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Additional guest artists to be announced.

May 20 - June 29

Featuring Guest Artists Jarrett Porter, Peter Kazaras, Juliane Gallant, John Matsumoto Giampietro & Tim Drucker

Saratoga Springs, NY (February 18, 2025) - “This summer’s festival will transport audiences around the world for two sensational classics which give young singers a chance to shine” says General and Artistic Director Mary Birnbaum, “and two new operas which challenge audiences’ notions of what opera means today. We’ll go on an exhilarating, romantic journey from Saratoga Springs and back again.”…

Lewiston, NY – Gary Clark Jr. will perform in the Artpark Amphitheater in Lewiston, NY, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 7:00PM. Special guest to be announced. This concert is presented by Artpark.

Presented in partnership with the Tezos Foundation, with fragments of exhibited work available for visitors to collect for free onsite and online
March 6–August 24, 2025; Opening Reception on Thursday, March 6

Astoria, New York (February 18, 2025) — In the latest and final installation series presented in partnership with the Tezos Foundation, Museum of the Moving Image announces Compositions in Code: The Art of Processing and p5.js, to be presented from March 6 through August 24 on its Herbert S. Schlosser Media Wall. The featured artists all used the accessible, open-source programming environment Processing or the p5.js library as tools in the creation of their work. Each artist will make a fragment of the exhibited work available for the public to collect for free onsite and online via the Tezos blockchain.

Waives Registration for Out-of-State Snowmobilers February 28-March 2 and March 7-9

Free Weekends Provide an Affordable Way To Explore New York State, Expanding on Governor’s Ongoing Tourism Initiatives

Builds on Governor’s Unplug and Play Strategy To Encourage Outdoor Recreation

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced two free snowmobile weekends for all out-of-state and Canadian snowmobilers to rev their engines and explore what New York has to offer. New York State will waive registration fees for out-of-state snowmobilers February 28-March 2 and March 7-9, 2025, encouraging out-of-state visitors to come ride the more than 10,000 miles of snowmobile trails in New York State.

Five Sundays of maple sugaring activities and pancake breakfasts begin March 2

Cooperstown, NY — Join friends and family for another season of Sugaring Off Sundays at Fenimore Farm & Country Village in Cooperstown, New York.  The weekly event begins March 2 and continues each Sunday through March 30 offering contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, activities for the kids, and much more. A pancake breakfast including sausage and home fries is served from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and features local syrup provided by the Otsego County Maple Producers.