The Beat

Performances Run Through Sunday, June 28; Press Opening on Thursday, June 11

Free Tickets Available to All at The Delacorte Theater and The Public Theater, Through Borough Distributions in Partnership with Presenting Partner Citizens, and Via Digital Lottery on TodayTix

New York, N.Y. (May 14, 2026) – The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) kicks off this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season with ROMEO & JULIET, beginning performances at the newly revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park on Friday, May 22. Directed by Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali, this will mark the first time in nearly 20 years the story of star-crossed lovers will captivate Free Shakespeare in the Park audiences.

A surge of donor support during the University’s For Ever Better campaign accelerates MAG’s timeline for expanding access to art and cultural education across the region.

Rochester, N.Y. - Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of its members and the community, the University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) will open its doors to all—free of charge—sometime in 2027, much sooner than anticipated.

Price Reduced From Initial $80 to $20 Round Trip; Up to 18,000 Bus Tickets Now Available Per Game

20% of All Tickets Reserved Exclusively for New York Residents; Tickets On Sale Now

Albany, N.Y. (May 13, 2026) - Governor Kathy Hochul and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ NYNJ Host Committee today announced significant upgrades to the Official NYNJ Stadium Shuttle bus service for fans traveling to and from World Cup matches. Made possible through support from New York State and sponsors, the cost of shuttle bus tickets to and from matches will be reduced from the initial $80 round-trip price to $20. To ensure that New Yorkers have priority access to this enhanced bus service, 20 percent of bus tickets for each match will be reserved exclusively for New York State residents. The remaining tickets will be available for all match-going fans, including New Yorkers.

Named Best Living History in America during the semiquincentennial, Fort Ticonderoga immerses visitors into REAL TIME as the fight for independence unfolds   

Additional photo, video and media materials may be accessed by clicking here. Photo and video credit: “Fort Ticonderoga”

Ticonderoga, N.Y. - Americans seeking to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday are finding Fort Ticonderoga on numerous national lists and collections as a best place to visit for the semiquincentennial of the United States of America.

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. (May 14) - Today, the Hudson River Music Festival announces a slate of programming centered around America 250. In partnership with the Guthrie & Dylan Centers, the festival will highlight enduring American song tradition through artists like Woody Gutherie, Bob Dylan, and others in their creative lineage.

Cayuga County (May 2026) – Marking its 31st anniversary, Tour Cayuga will host its second annual Where Tourism Meets Community luncheon on Wednesday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Emerson Park Pavilion in Auburn. The event brings together tourism partners, local businesses, elected officials, community organizations, hospitality professionals and residents for an afternoon focused on connection, recognition and the shared role tourism plays in Cayuga County’s economy and quality of life.

Dedicated space expands SPAC’s commitment to inclusive arts education and accessibility through support from the Dake Foundation for Children

Saratoga Springs, NY (May 13, 2026) — Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) today celebrated the opening of a new Sensory Room at its SPAC School of the Arts with a ribbon cutting ceremony alongside community partners, educators, and supporters. Made possible through a generous $15,000 grant from the Dake Foundation for Children, the new space reflects SPAC’s ongoing commitment to making the arts more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for individuals with varying needs.

Nearly 150,000 Documents and Over 5,000 Photographs to be Preserved in Jamestown, New York

Archival Photos Link: Mel Brooks Places Career Archives at National Comedy Center - Dropbox

Jamestown, NY (May 13, 2026) – Mel Brooks and the National Comedy Center, the United States’ museum and national archive dedicated to the art form of comedy, announced today that the Center will become the home of Brooks’ career archives – one of the most comprehensive collections of comedic creative material ever preserved, encompassing works that sit at the core of America’s cultural identity.

To Commemorate 250th Anniversary of American Revolution

Parking Will Be Free During Memorial Day Weekend; Aerial Display will Feature 1,000 Illuminated Drones; Reenactment Village To Take Visitors Back to 1776

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced details of a major event at Jones Beach State Park to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution over Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 and 24. Governor Hochul also announced that parking will be free at Jones Beach State Park throughout Memorial Day Weekend, making the event even more affordable and accessible for New York families.

Hundreds of live butterflies will take flight this weekend at the Botanical Gardens. A new Butterfly Release encounter has also been added on select Fridays and Saturdays for those looking to make the most of their visit with the butterflies.

Buffalo, NY—The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens announced that its Butterfly Experience will return beginning this weekend from May 16 to July 19, 2026. Hundreds of live butterflies will take flight in the Tropical Orchard greenhouse. The live butterfly exhibit will be open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and a new Butterfly Release encounter will be available at a separate ticket price on select Fridays and Saturdays.