Celebrate Albany’s culture on the First Friday of the month

First Friday Albany brings the city’s arts and culture scene to life, setting the stage for a vibrant evening where community, creativity, and local talent are front and center. Organized by dedicated volunteers and local venues, First Friday connects artists with places to share their work. You’ll find exciting pop-up vendors, live musical performances, and art installations that celebrate the diverse voices and artistic expressions of Albany. All events are free, unless otherwise noted 😉 To get in touch and learn more, email: [email protected]

Exhibit your creative work for First Friday Albany! Sign up for a pop-up exhibit spot at one of our partner locations 🌟

Alacrity Frame Shop • Albany Black Chamber of Commerce • Albany City Hall • Albany Elks Lodge • Albany Unitarian Universalist • Common Roots Albany Outpost • The Eleven at Lark Hall • First Presbyterian Church • Hold Up Roll Up • Nine Pin Cider • Washington Avenue Armory 

Are you a business or organization with an event (or special offer) for First Friday? Tell us about it! 👇

5–7pm | 125 Washington Ave

The Albany Institute of History & Art will hold extended hours for First Friday. Enjoy free gallery admission to visit our current exhibitions: On the Road to Cragsmoor with Charles Courtney Curran, Americans Who Tell the Truth, and Portrait Pairings. This month’s event features music by a local DJ and a pop-up by The Larkin Hi-Fi, as well as a floral design workshop led by Pepper Floral.

While you’re there, catch the 11th Annual City School District of Albany Art Show!

Parent’s Night Out (last month!)

5:30–8:30pm | 602 Broadway

Castle Island Bilingual Montessori School is offering parents an opportunity to enjoy First Friday Albany, with their children safe and engaged! Ages 2-12 are invited. The children will be playing games and doing fun activities at our very own First Friday party, which includes dancing, a movie and pizza dinner. The children's art gallery will also be open from 5:30–6:30p. Available on First Fridays during the months of February, March, April, May, and June. Click here to see costs and to register (required)!

5–8pm | First Presbyterian Church, 362 State

Enjoy a performance by the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus and an exhibition of paintings by Joe Klockowski, Kevin Bruce, Jon Tasker and David Hinchen. Concert begins at 6 pm, and refreshments will be served. All are welcome to this free event!

6–7:30pm | 517 Western Ave

Join us at the Pine Hills Library for the opening reception of Sight Specific, an exhibition of artworks by Michael Bach, Seth Butler, Matt Chinian, Sean Hemmerle, Susan Hoffer, Maeve McCool, Rob O'Neil, Andrew Pellettieri, and Laura Von Rosk. There will be live music from The Pine Hills Band and light refreshments will be served. We’re thrilled that this is the 10th installment of Art at the Library, curated by Opalka Gallery. All are welcome to this free event.

6pm–late night | 351 Hudson Ave

Dark Brotherhood Crochet will be at The Eleven at Lark Hall. The artist Valkyrie will be donating 20% of any sales proceeds to the Trans Lifeline for that night. Come for the art, stay for the music! Tops of Trees will be performing a free show upstairs at Lark Hall (6–8 pm).

Knives & Pens at Nine Pin Cider

6—10pm | 929 Broadway

Catch a pop-up exhibit by Knives and Pens and have a pint of the best dam cider you’ve ever tasted.

5–8:30pm | 56 2nd Street

Click here for tickets & venue info.

5–9pm | 19 Quackenbush Square

Drop by Common Roots to view artwork from Sabrina Dier, Phoenix Dupuis and Avery Johnson!

5:30–7pm | 215 Lark St

Cole Armstrong Artist Pop-up at Albany Elks Lodge

6–8pm | 25 S Allen St

5:30–7pm | 24 Eagle St

Suzanne Hicks & Alyssa Yeager at Albany Unitarian Universalist

Art reception 6–8pm | Music performance 7–8pm | 405 Washington Ave

Suzanne Hicks of Wabi-Sabi Studio, Albany, will showcase her paintings. Suzanne’s work has been influenced by many fine teachers, museums worldwide, and concepts, one of the most important of which is wabi-sabi, an aesthetic that celebrates the imperfect, the impermanent, the natural, the simple…not only those things planned, but also those that come about by chance, the intimacy of accident.

Alyssa Yeager (Rhiannon’s Lark) will perform your favorite folk rock from the 1960s on vocals and strings. In between those golden oldies, you’ll hear a few of her sweet and geeky originals.

5–9pm | 245 Lark Street

5pm–2am | 199 Lark St

Connect with the sensei in you with our First Friday cocktail special, Sage Against the Machine, a next level mix of Toki whiskey, cinnamon, sage, lime, and egg white to twist your tongue and your mind.

2 for 1 margaritas at El Loco Mexican Cafe

5–8:30pm | 465 Madison Ave

El Loco invites First Friday patrons to enjoy 2-for-1 margaritas from 5pm until close. El Loco Mexican Cafe is a member of the Lark St BID and supports collaboration along the corridor.

Doors open at 6pm | 240 Washington Ave

Enjoy First Friday with a mouthwatering dinner straight off the grill with and expertly crafted cocktails at Umana Yana.

5:30–7pm | 48 Hudson Ave

Come explore the oldest building in Albany, the Van Ostrande-Radliff House, as Historic Albany restores the 1728 Dutch house back to its original appearance.

Gilded Age Tours of the Cathedral of All Saints

5–7pm | 62 South Swan St

Tour the Gilded Age through the art of The Cathedral of All Saints! A unique example of Gothic Revival architecture with real flying buttresses and stained-glass windows by LaFarge and Clayton and Bell, the cathedral sits beside the State Education Building on South Swan St. Your tour will take you into the heart of this hidden gem through its history, art, and symbols of sacred beauty contained in its stone interior elaborately carved with images of flora and fauna, memorials to state governors and families of prominent figures of the Gilded Age.

5:30pm | NYS Capitol Building | Information Desk, State Street Lobby

Join us for a First Friday Albany adventure where every corner tells a story! Tour highlights include: historic staircases, ‘gram-worthy photo ops, quality time with the Capitol's carvings, nooks, crannies, and legislative chambers. Special time will also be taken to view the Capitol’s awareness month exhibitions on view in the Governor’s Reception Room. Tour access and route are subject to change.

Reservations are not required. Walk-ups are permitted. Larger groups of 10 or more should call (518) 474-2418.

7–10:30pm | 25 S Allen St

Founded more than 30 years ago by Pat Melita and Teresa Broadwell, this event promotes live music and dance. The dancing is sponsored by Dance Flurry Organization. March will feature music by the Alan Thomson Little Big Band. Cost: $20 General, $15 Student, 65+ Senior, DFO Member

The 3x3 at Arlene’s Artist Materials R Gallery is an annual fundraising exhibit that brings together hundreds of original artworks created and donated by local professional artists, creatives, and community members. Each piece is a 3” x 3” square, signed on the back, and exhibited anonymously. There is no limit to how many pieces people can donate, and all artwork will be available for purchase at just $10 each, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Capital Roots, which helps fight food insecurity in the Capital Region.

Interested artists who want to contribute artwork to this fundraiser can find more info here.

Want to stay on top of more events throughout the Capital Region? Subscribe for free to The 518: https://the518.com/subscribe