4th of July celebrations around the Capital Region

Happy pre-holiday Thursday, Capital Region! Today, it’s all about the Fourth of July—obviously. We’ve got a great roundup of the best ways to celebrate America this red, white & blue weekend 🇺🇲 

And don’t miss our reader poll on Nisky’s new city logo, which generated a lot of clicks in Monday’s newsletter.

Have a terrific Fourth, y’all 🌭🎇 🥳 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Best places to celebrate the 4th of July in the Capital Region

This is the penultimate year before the big 250 for America. Let’s make it memorable, folks.

Here are the best ways to celebrate Independence Day in the Capital Region:

🎇 The New York State Fourth of July Celebration at the Empire State Plaza is the region’s annual headliner. This year, it’s a throwback to the boy band era featuring the POP 2000 TOUR, hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC, with O-Town, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. 

Festivities start at 5p, but expect crowds to stake out their spots a lot earlier. Fireworks go off at 9:15p.

🎆 Of course, there are other Fourth of July celebrations across the Capital Region, including in Saratoga (road race at 9a, music at 7p), Saratoga Lake Fireworks Show at Brown’s Beach (July 3), Schenectady County (Mabee Farm), Clifton Park (includes a parade at noon), and the Summer Pops Concert in Glens Falls (July 3). The TU has a full roundup. All events are free.

🕯️ On July 4th, Schuyler Mansion in Albany invites you to an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, from 11a to 4p. There will be a variety of 18th-century inspired activities, including candle making, and free tours of the mansion. Plus, free Stewart’s ice cream 🍦😋 

🐎 Typically held at Belmont Park, the July 4th Racing Festival is coming to Saratoga Race Course this year. The 4-day celebration features giveaways, family-friendly activities, $1 Carnegie Deli hot dogs, and the running of the Belmont Derby Invitational on July 4th. Here’s everything you need to know before you go. July 3-6. Tix are $10 at door; $7 advance.

🎸 Albany’s Lark Hall is throwing a Fireworks Afterparty at The Eleven. Keep the celebration going Grateful Dead-style with DJ Nate Derucher. No cover!

⚓️ Celebrating her 28th season docked in Albany, the USS Slater will be open on Independence Day for tours every half hour. 

🗣️ The Underground Railroad Education Center will host a July 4th Oration featuring poetry, storytelling, and a short history lesson on slavery in New York State.

⚾️ What’s more American than baseball? The ValleyCats will have post-game fireworks on Thursday and Friday.

📜 It all started in 1776. There will be public readings of the Declaration of Independence throughout the region. Find one here.

🎶 The Caroga Lake Music Festival’s Fourth of July concert (held today) features a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” plus other acts.

💦 What’s a July 4th weekend without a dip in the water? Albany’s Lincoln Park Pool is having its much-anticipated grand re-opening on Saturday at 1p. The pool is open to city residents only. The TU has a nice roundup of all the pools and splash pads around the Capital Region. Btw, the Central Pool in Schenectady is now open—but with new restrictions for nonresidents this year.

🧝This one isn’t necessarily Fourth of July-related, but they will be open on the 4th and through the weekend. Zone518 is the Capital Region’s first immersive holographic theater. If you haven’t checked them out, this is a great time to do it. Exclusively for our subscribers: Use promo code READTHE518 for 10% off any ticket!

🐍 Snakes need forever homes too! The Upstate SPCA is seeking folks with reptile care experience to adopt 129 snakes rescued from inhumane conditions in a Queensbury apartment. The snakes include boa constrictors, pythons, corn snakes, and king snakes, ranging in size from a few inches to over 8 feet long 😲 [News10]

🚨 By a vote of 3-2, the Saratoga Springs City Council passed a “camping” ban targeting people who sleep on the streets. The vote followed a contentious meeting in which one person was arrested after they wouldn’t stop talking. The new ordinance bans sitting and lying down on sidewalks, parking lots, garages and other city property. [Times Union]

💰️The City of Troy released its first quarterly financial report in 18 months. Compiled by an outside accounting firm, the report shows that the city is generally on good financial footing—but some questions remain. [WAMC]

🌲 After reading about the controversy over Niskayuna’s new city logo (below) in Monday’s newsletter, loyal reader Daniel Nester reached out and said, “I love that Nisky design for what it's worth. Clean and non-problematic for starters.” What do y’all think?

⭐️ 🎆The New York State Fourth of July Celebration at the Empire State Plaza puts one of the biggest and best fireworks shows in the region. This year, it’s a throwback to the boy band era featuring the POP 2000 TOUR, hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC, with O-Town, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. Fri, 5–10p, free.

⭐️ 🌾 See Oklahoma! at Washington Park Lakehouse. This Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is a terrific romp through Americana. There’s the cowboy-farm girl love story, plus big themes about belonging, manifest destiny, and the price of progress. Read more about how Park Playhouse brought it home to the Capital Region—for free—in our story. Tue–Sun (thru July 27), 7:30p, free.

⭐️ 🎻 Water Music NY-More Voices: The Albany Symphony premieres new work by composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain, inspired by the story of Solomon Northrup, the free Black man from upstate NY who penned the memoir, “Twelve Years a Slave.” This day-long festival also features a holiday-themed drone show immediately after the concert. Sun, 8a-10p (concert at 8p), free.

⭐️ 🇺🇸The Albany Institute of History & Art is closed for July 4th, but will reopen for the weekend. Don’t miss the timely “Americans Who Tell the Truth” show (ending July 20). Plus, the already memorable Egyptian gallery unveils its facelift. Take advantage of the museum’s free summer admission for children 12 and under, plus one adult. Bank of America card holders also get in free this weekend.

⭐️ 🎙️James Taylor has performed on the Fourth at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, nearly every year since 1974, making it a treasured Independence Day tradition in the Berkshires. The concerts are sold out (of course), but you can still find resale tix for today and tomorrow.

⭐️🍗 Of course, there’s nothing like spending time with the people you love best, grilling up something tasty, and taking in the holiday with a drink of your choice. Give it a try: This barbecue chicken recipe featuring homemade barbecue sauce from the New York Times has 2,700+ ratings. Happy eating, folks!

🎟️ MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

🎭️ The Little Mermaid plays at at Cohoes Music Hall through Aug. 17. Meanwhile, Beauty & the Beast runs through July 3 at Proctors.

🧺 All weekend, you can pick your own fresh lavender straight from Slate Hill Lavender Farm for just $10 a bunch.

THURSDAY

🇯🇲 This week, it’s Reggae Night at Albany’s Alive at Five, featuring Mellow Mood w/ Dis-N-Dat Band.

🎵 The New York Players will headline Colonie’s Concerts at the Crossings.

🎸 SIRSY plays Ballston Spa’s Concerts in the Park.

FRIDAY

Make some fireworks after the fireworks: The Eleven’s Grateful Dead Night Fireworks Afterparty, Ophelia’s, Irish American Heritage Museum, and the Fuze Box

SATURDAY

🧘‍♂️ Every Saturday morning, join Hot Yoga Spot for a free hour-long yoga class at the SUNY Plaza in Albany. Bring your mat, your water and good vibes.

🏊‍♀️ Albany’s Lincoln Park Pool reopens on Saturday after more than a year of construction to completely renovate the historic facility. Note: It’s open to city residents only.

🎙️Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s free Summer Square concert series presents Berklee College of Music students Aiva and Hayley playing covers and original music.

SUNDAY

🎺 The Freedom Park Summer Concert series in Scotia features Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes.

🎨 Join the Collar City Coterie to draw the historic facade of the Proctors Theatre in Troy for its Plein Air Session.

🫐 Indian Ladder Farms celebrates the best of the season with Berry Yoga. Go for the yoga and stay for the berry-themed lunch catered by DeFazio’s.

🎸 North Greenbush’s Music in the Park concert series features Tommy Love and the Tom Atkins Band.

🎷 Fenimore Blues headlines the Saratoga Summer Concert Series in Congress Park.

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