Quality events for this weekend
Friday October 30
high 57º low 43º, sunny
Friday Fresh at The Pickle: With Rhys Tivey early, Jungle Punk DJ set after.
Monster Party at No Fun: Halloween cover show and punk rock pop-up art show.
Judah & the Lion, Breakfield, Band of Silver at Empire Live: Folk, country.
Dead Again, Issues at Putnam Place: Type O Negative and Korn tributes. Nu metal.
Michael Jerling at Caffè Lena: Blues, country, roots.
PechaKucha Night at Opalka Gallery: Eight presenters, twenty slides each. Free.
Captain Fun Lunchtime Listening Hour at Caffè Lena: Monthly vinyl listening session. Free.
Big Shrimp at Ophelia’s: Progressive rock, funk, blues rock.
Third Eye Blind at Basilica Hudson: Alternative rock, post-grunge. Sold out.
Joe Torry at Albany Funny Bone: Stand-up comedy.
Side B, TJ Foster, DJ Fearless at Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen: Emo Halloween live band sing-a-long. Emo. Free.
Beneath the Hudson at EMPAC: Immersive haunted-ship adventure with trick-or-treat, mask-making, costume contests, film screenings and Hellseeker Club DJs Rachel Rave and 100 Psychic Dreams.
Troy Night Out: Tune & Treat at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall: Community Halloween celebration with Duo Evol, floor piano, arts and crafts, snacks and a costume step and repeat. Free.
ResisDANCE at The Sanctuary for Independent Media: Fundraiser dance party with DJs Mandy Graves and Jools Palmer, hosted by Stella Progress, plus a silent auction.
Ballet Nepantla’s Mística at MASS MoCA: Día de Muertos traditions in black light, fusing ballet folklorico and contemporary dance. Sold out.
Capitol Hauntings Tours at New York State Capitol: Final day of the free haunted history tours. Reservations required. Free.
Cider Maze at Samascott’s Garden Market: Seven-acre corn maze with punch stations, food trucks, cider and live music from The Herring & The Hummingbird. Psych-reggae rock.
Candlelight Orchestra: Halloween Special at The Egg: String orchestra plays Halloween classics from “Thriller” to “Psycho.” A Candlelight Adele tribute runs earlier the same evening.
Frightnik Halloween Party at The Fuze Box: Halloween party. With DJ King Bully.
Takk House Halloween: The Last Scare at Takk House: Farewell party with tunes by DJ AYO, photobooth, candy and themed libations. Cash only.
Night Zero, Capital Zen at Lark Hall: Jam-scene throwdown blending rock, funk, jazz and psychedelic jams. Rock, funk, jazz, psychedelic, hip-hop, prog.
Nickopotamus at The Eleven: Happy hour show. Rock, jam, funk. Free.
Behind The Scream at Proctors Theatre: 30th-anniversary screening of Scream followed by a live conversation with David Arquette.
South Catherine Street Jug Band, Folkfaces at Waterhole Music Lounge: Jug band Halloween bash.
Haunted Farm at Radix Ecological Sustainability Center: Youth-powered haunted attraction with homemade compostable horrors. Free.
Fall exhibitions at the University Art Museum: Three shows on view: Howard Schwartzberg: Volume, Surface, Core; mosie romney: ash, whistle & redress; and Invitation to the Light Factory, by Suzan Frecon & Marcella Durand. Free.
Dent May at The Half Moon Hudson: Indie rock, psychedelic pop.
Saturday October 31
high 54º low 39º, sunny
Saturdayyee Halloween Block Party at The Pickle: With Ilium Brewing, JB!! aka Dirty Moses, Intell Hayesfield and DJ Show.
Bimboween at No Fun: Plants vs Zombies Halloween bimbo nite rave. With DJ Dental Work, DJ P!nk P!xl.
Ally Venable at Empire Underground: Blues rock.
It’s A 2000’s (Halloween) Party at Empire Live: 2000s dance party.
Joe Torry at Albany Funny Bone: Stand-up comedy.
Deadgrass at Caffè Lena: 3rd Annual Halloween show, Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead music from five bluegrass musicians. Bluegrass. Early/late shows.
3rd Annual Voodoo Ball, The NolaNauts, Tops of Trees at Putnam Place: Tarot readings and costume contest. Funk, soul, rock.
Hilltop, Space Carnival, DJ SM Ink at Lark Hall: Horror on the Hilltop, plus a costume contest. Funk rock.
Trick or Treat at the Palace Theatre: Annual trick-or-treat in the theatre with candy, DJ TGIF and balloon twisters. Free.
Brew-Ha-Ha at Nine Pin Cider: Sixth annual free drag show, costumes encouraged. Free.
Obsession Halloween Costume Party at The Fuze Box: Halloween costume party. With DJs TGIF, Jurgs.
Lost & Found’s Freak Show at Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen: Interactive haunted house experience, carnival games, DJ and costume contest. Free.
Dollyween Party 2026 at The Lark Street Tavern: Dolly Parton-themed karaoke all night with a best Dolly costume contest.
Nerdy Halloween Party at Herbie’s Burgers: Nerdiest nerd costume contest.
Costume Karaoke at Pint Sized: Costume karaoke.
Yokai! Songs of the Japanese Supernatural at Van Dyck Music Club: Modern jazz inspired by Japanese yokai beings, led by bassist Fumi Tomita. Jazz.
Halloween Spooktacular at New York State Museum: Creepy art projects, ghoulish games, spooky science specimens, dance floor and children’s costume parade.
Mopco Improv Theatre 10 Year Anniversary Spectacular at Mopco Improv Theatre: Ten years on 10 North Jay Street with the Mop & Bucket Company. Improv comedy.
Sunday November 1
high 57º low 39º, cloudy
Sunday Sessions at The Pickle: With the Pickle Arts & Crafts Club.
Swamp Dogg, Front Biz at No Fun: Southern soul.
In Her Own Words, Every Avenue, Fluorescents, Double XP at Empire Underground: Pop-punk, alternative rock.
Melissa Ferrick at Caffè Lena: Folk, rock, Americana.
Festival of Nations at Empire State Plaza Convention Center: 55th annual festival of food, music and dance from around the world.
The Blair Witch Project at The Egg: Film screening and Q&A with Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, moderated by Daysia Leneé Hiller of Youth FX.
Fire in the Blood, Unreal City, Last Ride, Evil Mind, Outcome, Intrusive at Ophelia’s: Hardcore.
Albany’s 11th Lantern Parade at Washington Park: Community walk with homemade lanterns, kicked off by the Albany High School Marching Band Falcons and Jazz Ensemble. Lanterns hand-held only. Free.
All Weekend
Carrie: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall: Playhouse Stage Company’s musical take on Stephen King’s Carrie, running through Halloween night.
Field of Horrors: Haunted hayrides, trails and attractions in Brunswick.
Double M Haunted Hayrides: Haunted hayride and attractions in Ballston Spa.
Spooky Trail at Artisanal Brew Works: Family-friendly trail, tamer early and spookier after dark, with candy, cider and cider donuts.
Zombie Zips at NY Zipline Schenectady: Haunted zipline and terror trail.
Autumn Glow Festival at Mabee Farm: Closing weekend of the lantern festival, 1,000+ handcrafted lanterns and the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe.
PHENOM at Bridge Street Theatre Catskill: Magic and mentalism with Peter Samelson.
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!
Want each weeks new posts automatically delivered to your inbox? Sign up here.
You can also follow the KAB bot on Mastodon or Bluesky.
