The Beat

Tours, food & drink, make-and-take projects, and a firsthand look inside Saratoga County’s home for makers and innovators

Malta, N.Y. — One year ago, the Innovation Center at Saratoga (ICS) opened with a simple but powerful idea: create a place where creativity, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning all happen under one roof. In just 12 months, ICS has become a launchpad for classes, workshops, makers, entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, community partnerships—and a steady stream of new ideas.

2026 Marks the 10th Anniversary of the Stonewall National Monument and the 20th Anniversary of The Stonewall Inn’s Preservation

New York, NY (May 26, 2026) - Today, The Stonewall Inn and The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI), the official and only charitable arm of the National Historic Landmark, announced a full lineup of 2026 Pride Month events beginning Sunday, May 31, to uplift the LGBTQ+ community and combat ongoing social intolerance.

June 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the designation of Stonewall National Monument, the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and history. The bar worked closely with the Obama administration to permanently commemorate the site of the Stonewall Uprising. This year is also the 20th anniversary of the preservation of The Stonewall Inn bar by partners Stacy Lentz, Kurt Kelly, Bill Morgan, and Tony DiCicco, ensuring that the public can experience its history firsthand.

Cannon carriages and other relics from the 1776 Battle of Valcour Island to be conserved and displayed at Fort Ticonderoga in honor of the 250th Anniversary

Ticonderoga, NY — In honor of National Preservation Month, Fort Ticonderoga is proud to announce the conservation of seven artifacts recovered from the wreck of the Royal Savage, Benedict Arnold’s flagship over the summer and fall of 1776. The project will help preserve and bring these rare objects back to public view for the first time in decades, in time for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Valcour Island this October.

Everyone invited for food, music, festive games, drink features

Lake Placid, N.Y. – One of Lake Placid’s longest running businesses will celebrate its 50th birthday on Friday, May 22, when The Cottage Café on Mirror Lake Drive opens its doors for the much-anticipated celebration.

Landmark evening will also honor Founder Stephen Apkon and Director of Development Judy Exton for their vision and leadership, in support of JBFC’s film and education programs

Pleasantville, NY (May 7, 2026)—The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with a Gala on Friday, June 12, honoring Carrie Coon, JBFC Founder Stephen Apkon, and JBFC Director of Development Judy Exton.

Saratoga Springs, NY (May 7, 2026) – As it marks six decades as a premier cultural destination, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) today announced a series of special initiatives and promotions celebrating its landmark 60^th anniversary season. Highlights include the debut of a new visual arts exhibition, This Place Loves You Back, alongside a limited-edition Fireworks on the Lawn Stewart’s Shops ice cream flavor, a collection of vintage Milton Glaser poster prints, and a special “Anniversary Night” celebration commemorating SPAC’s 1966 opening.

Saranac Lake, NY (April 23, 2026) - Celebrate Paddling ADK, the Adirondacks’ annual festival honoring the region’s vibrant paddling culture, will return in May 2026 for its 10th anniversary. Beginning in early May and extending throughout the summer, the festival invites locals and visitors alike to experience more than two months of on-the-water adventures, educational clinics, community service opportunities, and outdoor exploration throughout Saranac Lake. All programming is rooted in a shared commitment to giving back to the paddling community and protecting the waterways that define the Adirondacks.