The Beat

Family-Friendly Event Welcomes Anglers of All Ages and Abilities August 15

Utica, N.Y. - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County 4-H and the City of Utica, will host a free Learn-to-Fish event on Saturday, August 15, at Utica Harbor Point. Learning to fish encourages outdoor recreation, promotes stewardship of fisheries, and introduces participants to safe and responsible angling.

A full day of hands-on learning on the ground where the Continental Army held the line for liberty, as REAL TIME REVOLUTION® recreates the fight for independence 250 years later to the day

Ticonderoga, N.Y. — Fort Ticonderoga will host Homeschool Day on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering homeschool families a full day of programs built around the epic story of Ticonderoga inside America’s 250th anniversary. Students and parents will step into the compelling struggle for independence in 1776 through living history, historic trades, waterway exploration, and the six-acre Heroic Corn Maze — learning by doing, on the landscape where the events happened.

Saturday, August 8^th 5:30 – 8:00 PM

Harpursville, NY – Animal Adventure Park will be rocking this Saturday evening, with the final outing of their Park After Dark: Family Fun Nights series of the season! Guests will enjoy live music from local favorite Bradford Allen while navigating the park during this family friendly event.

Waterford, N.Y. --- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the NYS Canal Corporation invite youth and families from across New York State to participate in Erie Canalway Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 10am to 4pm. Free events and activities are being hosted at 15 canal sites and museums throughout the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Millbrook, NY — Innisfree Garden will offer a new summer program series for children this July and August. The Innisfree Explorers Series for Curious Kids invites young participants and their grown-ups to spend Friday afternoons exploring the garden through hands-on outdoor activities, close observation, creative projects, and guided discovery.

Designed especially for children ages 6 to 10, the four-part series will take place on Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, July 31 through August 21, at Innisfree Garden in Millbrook, NY.

Gloversville, N.Y. - Join the Fulton County Historical Society on special Thursday mornings for Hands on History at the museum! Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme and use our exhibits and collections to explore these themes in local history. We’ll finish the morning with an activity. This FREE program is geared toward kids ages 5-10, but all kiddos welcome! All programs begin at 11am and are about one hour.

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (6/24/26) —Staatsburgh State Historic Site invites you to explore the site’s beautiful Hudson River landscape by taking a photographic scavenger hunt challenge!  A camera and walking shoes are all that’s needed to complete ten fun riddles on a loop through the grounds of the historic Gilded Age estate. All ages are invited to participate – play solo or with a group. Learn some of the highlights of the former grounds of the Mills family country estate, exploring the landscape and various buildings. All participants who submit their pictures before October 31 can receive a free ice cream cone, courtesy of Stewarts Shops, while supplies last.

Interactive Pine Bush Programs Give Families the Chance to Learn from Museum Experts

Albany, N.Y. - The New York State Museum and Albany Pine Bush Preserve are teaming up for a summer of exploration, discovery, and hands-on learning through a new educational program series, In the Field. Museum scientists will lead three monthly programs at the Pine Bush, giving families and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to experience exciting field science firsthand and learn directly from experts at both institutions. Each program highlights a different aspect of the preserve’s unique ecosystem, from moths and migratory birds to fungi, showcasing the diversity of plants and animals found throughout the 3,400-acre preserve.

Saratoga Springs, NY (June 17, 2026) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College invites the public to Frances Day 2026, the museum’s annual summer community open house, on Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 6:30 pm. The free, family-friendly celebration offers an afternoon of art, art making, guided tours, music, food, and activities for visitors of all ages.

Glens Falls, NY —The Glens Falls Collaborative hosts its annual FitFest event in Glens Falls City Park on Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. It is free and open to the public.

This year, the 5K returns! Walk, run or jog to benefit the WAIT House. Registration for the race is at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. The first 50 registrants get a free T-shirt. Registration is $50, free for ages 10 and under. Groups of three or more get $10 off each participant, and coupon codes are available for select running groups. Sign up at www.GlensFallsCollaborative.com.