Top 5 Weekend: Lost & Found's Mardi Gras Party, Neckfest & more!

Hey, Capital Region readers! It’s Thursday evening, and we’re back with your indispensable Top 5 to kick your weekend into high gear.

We’re working to land in your inbox earlier in the day — thanks for sticking with us while we smooth out the scheduling kinks.

The results are in… You’re into The 518 Dinner Club 👏 Our reader poll shows 56% ready to dive in, with another 35% wanting a few more details first. We love the idea of getting people off their screens and around the table at some of our favorite local spots.

More soon on this new event series. Meanwhile, have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

⭐️ 🪨 Get the kids to the Rock & Fossil Fun Fair at the NYS Museum and explore all kinds of minerals, gems, rocks, ancient fossils, and more. There will be various stations throughout the museum with hands-on science activities—some for prizes. And feel free to bring your own rock or fossils from home to be identified by the museum’s experts. This is one fair the whole family can dig. Sat, 10a-1p, free.

⭐️🎸 Neckfest Winter 2026 at the Van Dyck Music Club in Schenectady features four bangin’ bands, $5 beers from Seven Points Brewery, late night food from Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro, and killer vibes. On the bill: The Sugar Hold, Precious Metals, Not Chinese Takeout, and Zeffler. If you’ve never been to the Van Dyck Music Club, be prepared for an intimate music listening experience. Sat, 7-11:30p, $17.85.

⭐️💜💛 This might not be a raucous street parade with a big brass band belting it out like their life depended on it, but it will be one heck of a dance party New Orleans-style. Lost & Found's Annual Mardi Gras Party features the 10-piece powerhouse The Nolanauts, Buffalo’s “brass gumbo” band Brass Machine, and the Glen David Andrews Band, a major brass band from a native New Orleans son. Sat, 2-8p, $30.

⭐️ 📚️ Started by three gal pals in the 518, Boozy Bookish Babes are united by a love of reading and maybe a good cocktail or three. This Sunday, they’re putting on their first mini-themed book fair. Come browse the vendor tables, book swap, raffles & giveaways, and stay to meet some new bookish friends! Sun, 10a-2p, $5 (admission includes a drink and raffle ticket).

⭐️ 🍺 Taking over the Saratoga Springs City Center, the Saratoga Beer Summit is a beer lover’s playground. Think unlimited craft beer samples, live music, and a festive mood. Grab your tasting glass, wander from brewery to brewery, and settle in for an afternoon that’s equal parts discovery and party. Sat, 1-5p or 5-8p, $68 (or $88 for early entry).

THURSDAY

📚️ Nine Pin invites you to Swap Night: Books. With the purchase of a beverage, trade your gently loved reads for something new-to-you.

🎸Jive Hive Live is one of the cool residential art & music venues that Phat wrote about recently in Capital Region Living. Looks like they have a few spots left for their next show, Tortured Poets Series: Artist Showcase.

🍽️ Get your fill at Amsterdam Restaurant Week for just $18.85 in honor of the city’s birth year.

🧊 We’re in the middle of ice bar season. Get to these hotspots to chill with an ice-cold cocktail:

• The Lodge at Schroon Lake’s Fire & Ice Weekend

• The Mill on Round Lake Fire & Ice Bar

• The Lagoon Ice Bar in Lake George

• Pirate Ice Bar at Bailey’s Saratoga

❄️ The Lake George Winter Carnival heads into its third week.

FRIDAY

🏒 Empire Live hosts the traveling “Heated Rivalrave,” a themed dance party inspired by the hit queer hockey romance series. Expect hockey jersey-wearing crowds, high-energy pop and EDM remixes, and steamy rivals-to-lovers vibes.

👻 The Ghost Will Take Us by the Hand at EMPAC puts the spectator on stage and takes cues from Asian horror films, using the sonic, choreographic, visual, spiritual atmosphere as a medium unto itself. Sounds spooky good!

☠️ Speaking of spooky good, pull up your boots and strap on your dark wings for Hellseeker Goth Night at No Fun.

💀 Don’t punk out, just dance at the DAMAGED GOODS, VINYL ONLY punk dance party at Pint Sized by Dive in Saratoga. Herbie’s will be serving up their burgers!

🎭️ Saratoga’s Home Made Theater raises the curtain on its production of Arthur Miller’s classic, “The Crucible.” Through March 1.

🎸 Peruvian guitarist virtuoso Jorge Caballero performs in a free concert featuring South American music at Skidmore’s Arthur Zankel Music Center.

SATURDAY

❄️ Thacher State Park has a special kind of beauty in winter—especially when Minelot Falls is frozen from top to bottom. This Saturday, meet at the Nature Center for Snow Much Fun Day featuring snow shoeing, snow painting, an outdoor scavenger hunt, s’mores and more!

👗 Break out your tuxes and sparkly dresses for the 4th Annual DIY Prom at Ophelia’s.

🧙 Featuring two days of witchcraft-themed classes, vendors, readings, and energy healing, the 6th Annual Winter Witches Festival at The Hedge Bistro in Guilderland is witchy good fun that’s actually family friendly. Sat-Sun.

🧻 Time for some wacky winter shenanigans at Tinney’s Tavern Outhouse Races in Middle Grove.

🍵 Sip some tea with exhibiting artist Kim Tateo at Context Collective.

👂️Carols of the Heart presents ‘In the Heart of Darkness: A Sound Journey for the Tender Places,’ a sound journey that “meets the deepest part of winter with steadiness and care, offering support without rushing toward light.”

SUNDAY

👸 We’re not quite what to make of the Albany Holiday Princess Ball happening at the Desmond Hotel, but it’s going to be a spectacle for sure.

🎵 Missed the recent Albany Record Riot? Get to Saratoga Record Riot featuring 60 tables of LPs, CDs & 45s.

🌠 Learn the basics of stained glass and walk away with a star sun catcher, at Nine Pin’s Stained Glass Star.

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

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: [email protected]