Quality events for this weekend
Friday October 16
high 69º low 47º, rainy
Friday Fresh at The Pickle: With DJ HOLLYW8D.
Vow of Hatred, Pure Bliss, In Contempt, 127 at No Fun: Beatdown, metallic hardcore, grindcore.
Vintri Hill, Surfsik, Anthem for Tomorrow, Uncle Frank Says No!, The Kings of Nothing at Empire Underground: Punktoberfest 2026. Punk, ska punk, dub rock, pop punk.
I Love R&B at Empire Live: R&B dance party.
Lucas Zelnick at Albany Funny Bone: Stand-up comedy.
John Pizzarelli, Catherine Russell at Troy Music Hall: Jazz, swing, blues.
Margo Cilker, Lilly Hiatt at Hangar on the Hudson: Country, country-folk, alt-rock, singer-songwriter.
Marty Wendell, Laura Leigh Band at Caffè Lena: Rockabilly, country, folk, blues.
Jerry’s Middle Finger at Lark Hall: Jam, blues, psychedelic rock. Jerry Garcia Band tribute.
FUSION 2026 at Albany Barn: Annual anti-gala fundraiser. No door sales.
Haunted Drag Bingo Night at Bard and Baker: Haunted drag queen bingo. Sold out.
Art Night Schenectady in downtown Schenectady: Monthly gallery night. Free.
Saturday October 17
high 50º low 39º, cloudy
Saturdayyee at The Pickle: With DJ HA-MEEN.
Openbaar Market at 946 Broadway: Free. Seasonal curated marketplace for Capital District artists, makers, and creators.
Free Store at Social Justice Center: Free. Take-what-you-need community store. Volunteers welcome.
Paul Collins, Flavour at No Fun: Power pop, new wave, garage rock.
PeelingFlesh, Gridiron, Fatal Realm, Final Resting Place, Grounds For Assault at Empire Live: Slam, beatdown, hardcore.
Genitorturers, Nathan James at Empire Underground: Industrial rock, industrial metal.
Young Fresh Fellows, The Regal Selects at Hangar on the Hudson: Garage rock, indie rock.
Jake Blount Band at Caffè Lena: Folk.
REPRISE: A Phish Experience at Lark Hall: Jam. Recreating Phish’s 12/12/97 show.
The Phil Collins Story at Palace Theatre: Docu-concert tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis. Pop rock, soft rock.
Miles Hewitt, Will Lawrence, Nora Knight at Half Moon Hudson: Record release. Indie folk, alt-folk, Americana, alt-country. With a reading by poet Sophie Strand.
Nightmare Market Halloween Bash at Jay Street Marketplace: Free. 80+ vendors of gothic goods, oddities, and vintage. Fire performance, freak show, Krampus Den, costume contest.
16th Annual Mac-N-Cheese Bowl in Cohoes: Mac-n-cheese tasting competition, vendors, Family Fun Zone. Benefits Regional Food Bank. Sold out.
Lil Mo Mozzarella at Albany Funny Bone: Stand-up comedy.
Hounds of Halloween in Albany: Annual dog trick-or-treating with costume contest, puppy parade, Yappy Hour. Benefits Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
Oktoberfest 2026 at Max410 in Glenville: Third annual Oktoberfest on the Mohawk: German buffet, stein hoisting, pumpkin painting, live blues.
ZOINKS! at Bard and Baker: Improv comedy horror show.
Sunday October 18
high 60º low 36º, sunny
Sunday Sessions at The Pickle: Pickle Arts & Crafts Club.
Firstsex, Stella and The Reptilians, Ella Kasper at No Fun: Synth-punk, indie rock, alt-pop, dream pop.
The Band Memo, Mimicking Mars at Empire Underground: Jam, funk, psychedelic indie rock.
A Lifted Lamp at Troy Music Hall: Choral. Albany Pro Musica season opener.
Bandits On the Run at Caffè Lena: Indie folk, Americana.
Young Frankenstein at Palace Theatre: Free movie screening.
Jennifer Koh, Vijay Iyer at Union College: Classical, contemporary classical, jazz.
The Weight Band, Doctor Baker at The Egg: Americana, roots rock, alt-folk.
“Creepy” Critters of the Preserve at Huyck Preserve: Family event on spooky wildlife: stories, crafts, live critters. Registration required.
All Weekend
Burnout Paradise at The Egg: Experimental theatre: four performers on treadmills.
Manifestations: A Shaker Ghost Tour at Shaker Heritage Society: Ghost tour at America’s first Shaker settlement.
Double M Haunted Hayrides in Ballston Spa: Haunted hayride plus six walk-through attractions. Reservations required.
Field of Horrors in Troy: Trail of Terror plus four haunted houses.
Murder at Cherry Hill in Albany: Dramatic walk through the 1827 murder. Cider and doughnuts included.
Zombie Zips in Schenectady: Haunted terror trail plus ziplining in the dark. 14+.
Fall Harvest Arts, Crafts & Lifestyle Show at Colonie Center: Artisan and vendor show. Fundraiser for Shaker Wrestling Booster Club.
Evergreen things to do
Go see a movie at the Spectrum Theater. Go see some some movies and be sure to grab a drink and snack and Delaware Supply before or after.
Classes at Honest Weight Food Co-Op: Free and low-cost community classes, events, and services.
Art Omi: 120 acres of large-scale sculpture. Free to roam.
Day trip to MASS MoCA: A whole factory complex of contemporary art. Make a day of it.
Olana State Historic Site in Hudson: Frederic Church’s hilltop mansion and 250 acres of carriage roads.
Opalka Gallery: Check out the latest exhibit at Sage’s Opalka Gallery (closed Sundays and Summers).
The NYS Museum: Bunch of great exhibits and it’s right in your backyard.
Go Hiking: You live in an amazing area for hiking. Touch grass!
Go for a Walk: I like the Columbia Land Conservancy and Hudson Mohawk Land Conservancy preserves.
Go Birding: There’s tons of great spots in and around Albany. Download eBird and Merlin on your phone, grab your binoculars, and hit the trails.
Farmer’s Markets: Saturday has Troy, Saratoga, Menands (year round), Albany (July thru Sept), Delmar (May through Oct), and Colonie (May thru Sept). Sunday has Schenectady (year round), and Waterford (May through Oct).
Did I miss something? Or get something wrong? Please let me know!
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