518 Weekender: Fourth of July edition!

July 02, 2026

Hey 518 readers, is there anything better than the Fourth of July weekend? Yes, when it doesn’t fall on a Saturday so we get a real 3-day weekend! Shouldn’t Monday be a national holiday this year?

⚡️ You all had a lot to say about Tuesday’s story on Schenectady’s revival. You also gave us some excellent tips for visiting downtown. See the results of our reader poll (“Are you visiting Schenectady more these days?”) and read your reactions here.

🎟️ This is your weekly reminder to sign up for our own event series happening this month: Sundae Morning (yes, we’re talking ice cream!) and The 518 Dinner Club.

🧨 Have a blast this Fourth of July & stay safe!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Did you know that Price Chopper has sponsored the NYS 4th of July for 50 years now?

⭐️ = Top 5 Staff Picks

⭐️ 🎆 The biggest fireworks show in the Capital Region—the NYS 4th of July Celebration—kicks off at 5 pm at the Empire State Plaza with Sugar Ray headlining. The fireworks go off at 9:15 pm. This year, in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, there will be Revolutionary War re-enactors, America 250 exhibits and a costume contest, plus stilt walkers and circus performers. Sat, starts at 5p, free.

There are numerous other Fourth of July celebrations around the region, including: Clifton Park | Saratoga | Saratoga Lake (Friday) | Waterford | Amsterdam (Friday).

Also, check the TU’s annual guide for where to watch fireworks throughout the Capital Region and beyond.

⭐️ 🇺🇲 Beyond the big show at the Empire State Plaza, there are Independence Day celebrations at Schuyler Mansion (11a-5p) and Ten Broeck Mansion (tours at 1p, 2p, and 3p, featuring free Cider Belly donuts while supplies last!) Register here for the tours. Both events are free.

⭐️ 🥵 Beat the heat! | Enjoy the glorious air conditioning at two Albany cultural gems: the New York State Museum and the Albany Institute of History & Art. Always free, the NYS Museum currently features two new exhibits—Expedition: Dinosaurs with animatronic dinos, and Revolutionary New York, which looks at the state’s role in different revolutions throughout history. The AIHA has brought back its free Summer Admissions Program, which allows free entrance for kids 12 and under, plus an adult chaperone.

⭐️ 🏊‍♀️ Go for a free swim! | Just in time for the heat wave, Albany is opening up its pools this week. All 4 city pools will open on July 4th, from 1 to 7 pm. The Lincoln Park pool will have reduced hours on July 4th only, 1-5p. Expect wait times of 1-2 hours for this pool 😬 Regular hours resume at the Lincoln Park Pool on July 5. Troy’s Knickerbacker Pool in Lansingburgh reopened today after nearly a decade and a major renovation. And Schenectady’s Central Park Pool is also a fantastic spot for a dip. All of these pools are for city residents only, however.

⭐️ 🍫 Experience the world of Willy Wonka! | Staged at Cohoes Music Hall, “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” is getting rave reviews from families and critics alike. The TU’s Steve Barnes says to expect “bedazzled wonder” with Playhouse Stage’s musical retelling of the classic Roald Dahl novel. “The story has far greater heart than I expected,” he says. Running through July 18. Get tix here.

👀 Keep reading to see more notable events in “What’s Happening.”

📷️ Photo courtesy of Discover Saratoga

🐎 Horses & humans working together for mental wellness

Recently, we took the whole family to visit Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, a tranquil sanctuary where the animals work as hard as the licensed therapists to heal people in need of better mental health, especially veterans with PTSD or other trauma.

This being opening weekend for the Saratoga Race Course, it’s a good time to focus on better ways to connect with horses. Equine-assisted psychotherapy taps into the horse-human connection to create an environment of trust, safety, and healing.

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga depends heavily on private donations. On Aug. 1, the sanctuary puts on its annual charity benefit concert, headlined this year by American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. Caity Gallagher and The Wallies are also on the bill. The concert is held on a stage overlooking the beautiful grounds with horses in the field, plus food trucks and Druthers Brewing pouring craft brews. Get tickets today.

SUMMER FUN

💜 Pick a purple bouquet for just $10 at the U Pick Lavendar Days at Slate Hill Lavender Farm in Sharon Springs.

🎡 Get early tickets to the Altamont Fair and save some bucks.

THURSDAY

🎸 Rock the Block in Cohoes welcomes U2 tribute band Unforgettable Fire. (Btw, there are no shows for Electric City SummerFest or Alive at Five this week.)

🔔 Did you know that the carillon atop Albany’s City Hall is one of the few in existence that’s not owned by a church or university? Get to the park across from City Hall at 5:30 pm to hear the bells toll at the annual Carillon Concert.

FRIDAY

🎸 First Friday Albany is back this month with a lighter-than-usual lineup. A few highlights: Pony in the Pancake & The Greetings at Dive; and The E-Block at Ophelia’s. Both free shows.

🐎 Pony up cause it’s the Fourth of July Festival at the Saratoga Race Course.

🎸 Break out your tie dye when Grateful Dead tribute band The Wheel plays at Mixed Breed Brewing.

🎆 Saratoga Lake’s annual fireworks show at Brown Beach is always a fantastic sight to see.

👗 The Basilica Farm & Flea Summer Market returns for a two-day bazaar featuring hand-crafted goods, local farm-fresh foods, DIY workshops and art for sale.

🎬️ Get to Ballston Spa’s Wiswall Park for a free outdoor screening of “National Treasure.”

🤠 The North & South Dakotas, the Capital Region’s favorite folk and bluegrass band, play Wolf Hollow Brewing in Schenectady.

SATURDAY

🎇 Clifton Park hosts an all-American Fourth of July parade and festival, culminating in a fireworks show. Also, the Clifton Park Freedom Mile is a 1-mile road race on the parade route!

🇺🇲 The Waterford 4th of July Celebration features Johnny Rabb’s Big Band and a fireworks show.

🎆 Saratoga's 2026 All-American Celebration is a festive, family-friendly affair.

🧨 After the fireworks extravaganza at the Empire State Plaza, get to the Fuze Box for a Red, White & Reposado afterparty with DJs TGIF and Lightshow.

🧑🏾‍🌾 On July 4th, Soul Fire Farms is offering free tours of its growing fields and agroforestry gardens—but there’s already a waitlist.

SUNDAY

🇺🇲 Get to Albany’s Irish American Heritage Museum for a free America 250 concert with The Little Zippers.

🚗 The 2nd annual Waterford Car Show is officially rolling up to Sugarloaf Pond.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

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