Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival
Type: Food and wine festival
Location: Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
Month: January
Description: A three-day festival featuring local chefs, wine vendors, and various events like tastings and seminars, with proceeds going to support local arts organizations.
Website
NYS Writer’s Institute’s Albany Film Festival
Type: Film festival
Location: University at Albany, Albany, NY
Month: April
Description: An annual festival exploring the craft of storytelling in cinema with panel discussions, workshops, and film screenings.
Annual Albany Tulip Festival
Type: Flower festival
Location: Washington Park, Albany, NY
Month: May (Mother’s Day weekend)
Description: A celebration of Albany’s Dutch heritage with thousands of tulips, live music, vendors, and family activities.
Lupine Fest
Type: Nature and environmental festival
Location: Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Albany, NY
Month: May
Description: A festival celebrating the magic of spring with lupine flowers, Karner blue butterflies, and activities like nature walks, music, and crafts.
Website
Alive at Five
Type: Music festival/concert series
Location: Jennings Landing, Albany, NY
Month: Summer (June to August)
Description: A weekly outdoor concert series with different music themes each week, featuring live music, food, and beverages.
Capital Pride Festival
Type: Pride festival
Location: Washington Park, Albany, NY
Month: June
Description: A festival celebrating the LBGTQ+ community with music, performances, vendors, and family-friendly activities.
Website
Dad Fest
Type: Family festival
Location: Washington Park, Albany, NY
Month: June
Description: A festival celebrating fathers with live music, food, vendors, and family activities.
4th of July Celebrations in Albany
Type: Patriotic festival
Location: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
Month: July
Description: A festival featuring live music, food, vendors, and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.
Albany Latin Fest
Type: Cultural festival (Hispanic/Latin)
Location: Washington Park, Albany, NY
Month: August
Description: A festival celebrating Hispanic culture with music, food, arts, and family activities.
Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
Type: Music festival (Jazz)
Location: Jennings Landing, Albany, NY
Month: September
Description: An all-day concert featuring jazz greats, up-and-coming artists, and local favorites, with food vendors and a fireworks show.
PearlPalooza
Type: Music festival
Location: North Pearl Street, Albany, NY
Month: September
Description: An all-day street festival with live music, vendors, food, and family activities.
Website
Art on Lark
Type: Art festival
Location: Lark Street, Albany, NY
Month: September
Description: A street fair celebrating local art and artisans with panel discussions, book signings, and writing workshops.
Website
NYS Writer’s Institute’s Albany Book Festival
Type: Book festival
Location: University at Albany, Albany, NY
Month: September
Description: A festival featuring panel discussions, literary vendors, book signings, and writing workshops.
Old Songs Music Festival
Type: Music festival (folk, traditional, Celtic, world music)
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY
Month: September
Description: A family-friendly festival with music, dance, craft vendors, food, and children’s activities.
Capital District Scottish Games
Type: Cultural festival (Scottish)
Location: Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY
Month: September
Description: A festival celebrating Scottish culture with pipe bands, highland dancing, athletics, clans, and more.
Website
Hops & Harvest
Type: Beer and harvest festival
Location: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
Month: September
Description: A festival featuring craft beer, fall activities, music, and food.
Capital Wine Festival
Type: Wine festival
Location: Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
Month: April
Description: A festival featuring wine, spirits, food, music, and fun with unlimited samples from New York State’s wine regions.
Website
Waterford Canal Festival
Type: Canal festival
Location: Village of Waterford, NY
Month: May
Description: A festival celebrating the opening of the NYS canal season with boat rides, vendors, food, and family activities.
St. Sophia’s Greek Festival
Type: Cultural festival (Greek)
Location: St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, Albany, NY
Month: May
Description: A festival featuring Greek food, music, dance, and culture.
Website
Art in the Park
Type: Art festival
Location: Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY
Month: May or September
Description: An art show and festival with local artists, live music, and family activities.
Website