The Beat

Fans Invited to Popular Finger Lakes Campground for Mother’s Day Weekend NASCAR Cup Series Run

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is opening camping season early at Watkins Glen State Park next spring to welcome race fans to the Finger Lakes. The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race rolls in for Mother’s Day weekend, a shift from its traditional August date.

Unique Competition on Black Ice Blends Skating with Fine and Decorative Art

Event Will Include Brushes to Blades of Steel Pop-up Museum, Free to the Public

Lake Placid, N.Y. (October 1, 2025) – The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) announces that the World Figure and Fancy Skating Championships (WFFSC) will return to the Olympic Center in Lake Placid for the third consecutive year on October 8 through 12, 2025. The event will include art exhibitions as well as team and individual competitions, and more. All skating performances and art exhibits are open to the public with complimentary admission.

Statewide Economic Impact of International Competition Expected to Exceed $200 Million

State’s Recreation, Tourism and Agriculture Industries Highlighted at Event

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State is set to welcome more than 250,000 spectators to Bethpage State Park on Long Island during the 45th Ryder Cup. This historic international event, taking place September 23–28, continues the strong partnership between New York State and the PGA of America. The sold-out biennial match between Team USA and Team Europe is projected to generate more than $200 million in economic impact statewide.

Bethpage State Park To Host 2033 PGA Championship and Expected to Host 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Oak Hill Country Club Will Host a Fifth PGA Championship in 2035

Governor Kathy Hochul and the PGA of America today announced that New York State plans to host three landmark professional golf championships over the next decade. Bethpage State Park’s famed Black Course in Farmingdale expects to welcome the 2028 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2033 PGA Championship, while Oak Hill Country Club outside Rochester will host the 2035 PGA Championship. The announcement comes as New York State prepares to host the 45th Ryder Cup next week at Bethpage State Park.

Saratoga Springs, NY — The Saratoga Senior Center is proud to announce its 70th Anniversary Luncheon: An Afternoon with Jim Nantz, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the iconic Fasig-Tipton Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The exclusive event will feature an intimate fireside chat between Nantz and his CBS colleague and golf icon Dottie Pepper, offering guests an unforgettable experience filled with personal stories, career insights, and heartfelt moments. This milestone celebration honors legendary CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz as the Center’s Man of the Year for his impactful work in Alzheimer’s advocacy.

August 18 at the Museum  

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will play host to Casino Night on Monday, Aug. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Museum and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) sponsored by Live Oak Plantation and the Jockeys’ Guild and catered by Mama Mia’s.

September 21, 2025, at 8 a.m.

Registration Is Open for the 3.1-Mile Run or Walk Through Its Beautiful, Historic Landscape and Supports NYBG’s Scientific Work

Bronx, NY—Kicking off NYC Climate Week, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) presents the NYBG 5K Fun Run on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 8 a.m., across a leisurely 3.1-mile course past some of the Garden’s most gorgeous scenery, including the Maureen K. Chilton Azalea Garden and the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Maple Collection, plus historic landmarks such as the Lillian and Amy Goldman Stone Mill, the Mertz Building, and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will present several events during August — kicking off with Hall of Fame weekend on Friday, Aug. 1 — as part of the ongoing celebration of the Museum’s 75^th anniversary year. For a complete list of events and more details, please visit the Museum website at www.racingmuseum.org.

New Yorkers Encouraged to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ at Multiple Hudson River Sites

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that the 14^th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count will take place at multiple sites along the banks and piers of the Hudson River on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025.

“The Hudson River Estuary is an amazing and critical habitat for many fish and wildlife species, and this annual event provides a great opportunity for New York families and visitors to get outside and see first-hand how unique the river is to the life cycle of so many fish,” Commissioner Lefton said. “With sites from New York Harbor to Cohoes, there are many places for people of all ages and abilities to participate in this year’s fish count.”…

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Amplify Horse Racing are partnering to launch The Winner’s Circle Summer Camp, an immersive four-day experience introducing high school students to the thrilling world of thoroughbred racing.