The Beat

New VR experience, student art, and accreditation highlight a legacy of connection and conservation.

Niagara Falls, N.Y. (June 12, 2025) – The Aquarium of Niagara is diving into its 60th anniversary with bold new offerings and accomplishments including a 60-foot mural, VR shark dive, and recent accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The nonprofit institution, founded in 1965, commemorated six decades of facilitating connections to the aquatic world at a public event this morning.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (June 13, 2025) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces a series of public events in conjunction with the new exhibition Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow. These programs aim to provide deeper insights into the exhibition, which honors the 50-year history of Black Dimensions in Art Inc. (BDA), the Capital Region’s longest-running Black arts collective.

Final Saratoga Belmont Stakes Paves the Way for Grand Reopening and 2027 Breeders’ Cup at Reimagined Belmont Park 

Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will return to historic Saratoga Race Course in June 2026 for a third and final year to allow for the on-time and uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Orange County, NY - County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus invites you to a wonderful summer evening featuring the Black Dirt Bandits, Julia Roome, food trucks, bounce houses, and, of course, fireworks! Orange County’s beloved Freedom Fest is back on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery, NY - and it’s shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

Norwich, N.Y. – The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) will host its annual Summer Barn Party from 6-8:30 p.m. on June 26 at 43 Rexford St. An evening of fun, food, and friends to benefit the museum, this year’s celebration is inspired by the newest Community Gallery exhibit: “Creativity in Bloom: The Storied Illustrations of Suzanne Bloom.” Live Event NY returns as the event’s Premium Sponsor, with festivities specially designed to reflect the evening’s theme.

Utica, N.Y. (June 12, 2025) – Oneida County Tourism (OCT) is proud to announce the release of its 2025 Destination Guide. A key resource for visitors and a go-to reference for locals, the guide showcases the very best Oneida County has to offer. Created in partnership with Sentinel Media, the annual guide features special events, Erie Canal Bicentennial highlights, a seasonal bucket list, family-friendly attractions, agritourism activities, and more.

The Northern Department Connects partners in NY, VT and Canada to Expand Awareness and Tourism during America’s 250^th

Ticonderoga, N.Y. - Regional leaders gathered at Fort Ticonderoga on June 12 to celebrate the 250^th of the Northern Department, as part of America’s national Semiquincentennial. A NEW America 250^th heritage tourism trail features the Northern Department of the American Revolution, and includes 18 historic destinations and museums across New York, Vermont, Quebec, and tribal nations.

Choreography with Live Music to Observe Artistic Legacy

New York, NY (June 11, 2025) -  Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance will mark its 25th anniversary as a contemporary ballet company with performances of new and repertory works on July 8 and 9 at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, 450 W 37th Street, New York City. The event includes the premiere of “La Mar Emocional” plus four pieces from the company's repertoire. Live music. Performances are from 7:30-9pm.

Opening Upstate Art Weekend in Kingston NY

On view 7/17 - 9/2/25, opening Saturday July 19: Artist Talk 5PM, Reception 6-8PM

Kingston, N.Y. – Brooklyn-based artist and photographer Brandon Thomas Brown (b 1988, US) presents his latest body of work in a deeply personal solo exhibition titled Ancestry, on view from July 17 through September 2, 2025 at Pinkwater Gallery (now located at Kingston Social in uptown Kingston, NY). His work weaves together original photography, collage, and symbolic elements to capture the nuances of identity.