The Beat

Utica, N.Y. - It’s “all aboard” the Adirondack Railroad as train operations are set to begin again this Friday, July 2nd, after almost nineteen months of suspension due to Covid-19.

Excursion trains from Thendara to Otter Lake will start on July 2nd, with trains from Utica to Thendara starting July 10th. On July 23rd, the railroad will start the much-anticipated Beer & Wine Train series featuring live music. The beer and wine trains will run thru mid-October. One of their most popular trains, the Polar Express, will be opening additional seats for all trips this holiday season.

Stepping Beyond the Battlefield to Experience Daily Life in 1860s New York State

Mumford, N.Y. – The grounds of Genesee Country Village & Museum will transform into a bustling community experiencing the wake of national conflict during Civil War Living History Weekend (Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). Instead of focusing on live battle reenactments, GCV&M will put all of its energies into interpreting the daily lives of soldiers and civilians during the Civil War. The event will highlight the war’s relevancy in Western New York and present programing that will bring the diversity of the region in the 1860s to life.

Riverhead, NY (June, 2020) - The Downtown Riverhead Business Improvement District [BID] announces the revival of its largest event,  Alive on 25 [AO25], returning for four Thursday nights in July and August, 2021. It’s the biggest and most anticipated event in Riverhead!

The series kicks off July 1st with fireworks scheduled for 9:15pm. Three events will follow on July 15, 19, and August 12, 2021 (rain date August 19). All events run from 5-9:30pm along Peconic Avenue and Main Street, between Griffing Avenue (west) and Union Avenue (east).

Free Pop up Events in Lieu of Indigenous Music & Arts Festival 

Victor, NY— On the last three Saturdays in July (17, 24, 31), Friends of Ganondagan will host Ögwe’öweh - “Original People” POP-UP Saturdays featuring Haudenosaunee artists, demonstrators, storytellers, music, dance, shopping, and food. All events are free, and attendees will be required to adhere to NYS COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Regulations.

Ticonderoga, NY – June 29, 2021 – Take Out Tuesdays will officially launch in coordination with the 2021 Summer Concert Series presented by the Ticonderoga Festival Guild. Take Out Tuesdays is being organized by the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC).

Dates for the Summer Concert Series and special Take-Out Tuesdays are July 6^th, July 13^th, July 20^th, July 27^th, and August 10^th at 7:00 PM. The concerts take place at 132 Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga in front of the Ticonderoga Community Building with a rain location of the Knights of Columbus Pavilion. All concerts take place rain or shine.

Acclaimed artist known for experiments in color, composition, and non-conformity

July 10, 2021 — January 2, 2022

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (June 24, 2021) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces that the next artist in its influential Opener series will be Sarah Cain. The exhibition Opener 33: Sarah Cain—Enter the Center opens July 10 and will be on view through January 2, 2022.

Los Angeles–based artist Cain explores and expands upon traditional ideas of painting, often modifying canvases by cutting and braiding, painting on all sides, and installing the canvas with the back facing the viewer. She paints on other surfaces, too, including interior and exterior walls, floors, and dollar bills, and often includes found objects such as crystals, feathers, beads, and other items with a personal connection.

Skaneateles, N.Y. - After being rescheduled and relocated last year due to the pandemic, Skaneateles’ Curbstone Festival and Sidewalk Sales return to the village this summer, July 15-17. The family-friendly event runs along Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 

“Curbstone is a longstanding tradition in the village—one that families plan their summer vacations around,” says Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “The streets come alive with unique offerings, while children are enchanted by balloon art and juggling.”…

Tickets now on sale for the Nov. 20 show

Waterloo, N.Y. - Paul Anka is bringing his “Anka Sings Sinatra: His Songs, My Songs, My Way” tour to del Lago Resort & Casino’s The Vine Showroom at 8 PM on Sat., Nov. 20, 2021. Tickets start at $49 and are now on sale to the general public, available online at https://dellagoresort.com/entertainment/.

“The ‘Anka Sings Sinatra’ tour will honor a great artist who has influenced me more than anyone else throughout my career, Frank Sinatra,” stated singer and entertainer Paul Anka. “This show will also feature the hits that have spanned my career on this 65th anniversary year. It will be a night filled with his songs, my songs, my way!”…

Adirondacks, USA - 2020 was an unprecedented year. Visitation and social trends during 2020 were noticeably different in some areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitation by respondents from New York State jumped to 79%. With the border closing and travel restrictions, only 2% of respondents indicated visiting from Canada, and only 5% of out-of-state visitation was from outside the Northeast. 

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) contracted with an independent third-party research firm, PlaceMaking, to conduct the 2020 Leisure Travel Study (LTS), which includes a regional return on marketing investment analysis, plus traveler data for Essex and Hamilton counties.

Long Lake, N.Y. - The Long Lake Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department announces the opening of a skate park at the Geiger Arena.  The new skateboard park is located inside the skating area at the Mt. Sabattis Recreation Area. The new ramps and rails are manufactured by Freshpark and are designed for use by any non-motorized piece of equipment, including: skateboards, roller blades, scooters, and bikes.  The new skate park will be open from dawn until 10:30pm and free to use. …