September 9
Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
Jennings Landing
Relax along the Hudson River at Jennings Landing while listening to the talented live acts of the 21st annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival. The all-day event will also feature food and drink vendors, the presentation of the Henry Johnson Award at noon, and a fireworks display to close out the day at 8pm. Parking is available for $8 at the Riverfront Garage. albanyevents.org
September 19
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
MVP Arena
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band make their triumphant return to Albany after having to reschedule their March 14 show at MVP Arena due to illness (and their September 9 show due to another medical treatment). Springsteen is no stranger to the Capital Region, having performed here about a dozen times. Don’t miss his playing all the hits, including “Dancing In the Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Born to Run.” The show starts at 7:30pm. mvparena.com
September 20-24
Adirondack Balloon Festival
Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport
With the arrival of fall comes the return of a beloved (and free to attend) upstate tradition: the annual Adirondack Balloon Festival. To celebrate 50 years of sky-high fun, the festival this year adds a pre-festival cocktail reception at the Hiland Park Country Club Wednesday from 5-8pm. While balloon fests traditionally cater to early birds, this event includes multiple “moonglows.” Check the website for a full schedule of events; gates open at 4:30am Saturday and Sunday for the main ascensions. adirondackballoonfest.org
October 6
Totally Trad Upstate Irish Arts Weekend
Celtic Hall
The first Totally Trad Upstate Irish Arts Weekend will make its way to the Capital Region for two days at the Celtic Hall in Colonie. The event offers a fun opportunity to immerse yourself in traditional Irish music heard in pubs around Ireland and increasingly in the US, too. Friday, October 6 will serve as a welcome session featuring The Albany Comhaltas Band from 7-10pm; Saturday offers various classes all day from 9am-5pm including fiddling, whistling, bodhraning, singing and learning Irish language. Following the classes will be a 7pm concert featuring YONC, and following that, Fiddlers’ Tour will bring everybody together for a fun, relaxed traditional Irish music session. Ticket prices vary per event. upstateirisharts.com
October 6-8
Jurassic World Live Tour
MVP Arena
Jurassic World comes to Albany with a mission to save Jeanie the Troodon dinosaur after an Indominus Rex escapes the park. The live action show will feature some of Jurassic World’s most famous dinosaurs, including Blue the Raptor, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex. Showings are at 7pm on October 6; 11am, 3pm and 7pm on October 7; and noon and 4pm on October 8. Doors open an hour before showtime. mvparena.com
October 7
Electric City Trucks, Taps, Corks and Forks
ViaPort Rotterdam
Join the Schenectady ARC for its 6th annual fundraising food truck event: Electric City Trucks, Taps, Corks and Forks, held at ViaPort Rotterdam. Expect (yup) food trucks galore, as well as specialty food vendors, craft brews, music by Skeeter Creek and a Kid’s Zone. Admission is just $5 and benefits Schenectady ARC, an organization that has provided services for people with developmental disabilities in Schenectady County since 1952. Children under 10 are free. The fun starts at noon and will go until 4pm. Find the event on Facebook
October 7
WishFest
Amsterdam
WishFest returns to Amsterdam this October for its sixth year, having grown into a major fundraiser for the Capital Region Giving Tree—the money raised will be distributed among many local non-profits, as well as the National Alliance of Mental Illness of New York and suicide prevention organizations. Kicking off at 11am, music performances by Allie The Piper and the Margo Macero Band will take place on Bridge Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy good food, drinks, activities and a fireworks display to close out the night at dusk. Tickets to Lorenzo’s Southside VIP Experience are $50 and offer a meet-and-greet with Allie The Piper and Major League Baseball star Dwight Gooden, as well as an open bar and light fare.
Find the event on Facebook
October 7-8 & 14-15
Fall Festival
West Mountain
West Mountain’s Annual Fall Festival kicks off October 7 and offers fun festivities for all ages, including hay wagon rides, mountaintop picnics, scenic chairlift rides, mountaintop yoga, book signings, live music and a keg toss. Can’t make opening day? The fun continues on October 8, 14 and 15, from noon to 5pm. westmountain.com
November 10
Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance
The Palace Theatre
Multiple Emmy award–winning dancer and choreographer Derek Hough (Dancing with the Stars) will make a stop at the Palace Theatre as part of his Symphony of Dance tour. His magnetic stage presence couples well with his versatile dance skills, which include ballroom, tap, salsa and even hip-hop. The all-new choreography is co-created, directed and supervised by Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo, two-time Emmy winners (also known as NappyTabs) who were involved in Jennifer Lopez’s All I Have Las Vegas residency and Michael Jackson’s Immortal World Tour. The performance begins at 7pm. palacealbany.org
November 11-12
Christian Brothers Academy’s Annual Craft Fair
Colonie Center
The Christian Brothers Academy’s Annual Craft Fair is back for its 26th anniversary at Colonie Center November 11 and 12. The weekend will feature handmade crafts from more than 100 vendors. The fair will be held during the mall’s hours. Find the event on Facebook
November 11-12
Adirondack Sports & Northeast Ski Expo
Albany Capital Center
This free event held at the Albany Capital Center celebrates everything outdoorsy, from alpine and cross-country skiing, to snowboarding and snowshoeing, and even items related to Olympic sports, recreation, health and travel. (Plus summer faves such as running, hiking, biking, paddling and rowing.) There will be concessions, a photobooth and tons of new gear for purchase, as well as information about club memberships, races, events and ski trips. There are more than 30 raffle prizes, including the grand prize: a two-night stay at Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa. Show hours are 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday. Free parking is available. adksports.com
