Top Weekend Picks: May 31-June 2

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⭐ = The 518 picks

Pride Kick-off Block Party & BBQ | 5-9p, Fri, free. Waterworks Pub, 76 Central Ave, Albany. The Pride Center of the Capital Region, In Our Own Voices and the City of Albany invite you to kick off PRIDE week right.

⭐ Troy Night Out | 5-9p, Fri, free. Downtown Troy. Stroll around for an extended evening under the stars with popup shops, music and art.

Movies Under the Stars! Wonka | 7:30p, Fri, free. Ridgefield Park, 316 Partridge St, Albany. Movie begins at 8:30p. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and get there early to get a great spot!

⭐ Nine Pin at Huck Finn’s Playland | 7-11p, Fri, $33.85. A 21+ night of rides, music, cider, and food! Huck Finn's will have all 7 adult rides running all night, plus a DJ on the 1s & 2s.

WWE Smackdown | 6:15p, Fri. $30-$150. MVP Arena. WWE Friday Night SmackDown returns to Albany with undisputed WWE champion, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes.

⭐ TroyAsia Night Market | 2-6p, free. William Street Alley, 95-97 Ferry St., Troy. Stringed lights, paper lanterns, K-pop vibes and Asian street food from local vendors.

Armenian Festival | Fri-Sun, free. St. Peter Armenian Church, 100 Troy Schenectady Rd, Watervliet. Check times and details here

Greek Festival | Fri-Sun, free. St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River St, Troy. Times and details here

⭐ Capital Region Parade of Homes | 11a-5p, Sat & Sun, $20. Step inside some stunning homes and see the latest design trends.

Run for Women | 9a-12p, Sat. $30 and up. Washington Ave and Eagle St, Albany. If you’re not taking part in this annual race for the ladies, beware of street closures around downtown.

⭐ Bowie Bash | 8p, Sat. Tickets from $11.54. The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. Robert Burke Warren brings back his much-beloved Bowie Bash, featuring a five-piece band and special surprise guests.

⭐ Schenectady Kids Arts Festival | Noon-4p, Sat, free. Schenectady City Hall. The family-friendly fest features 50 hands-on art activities.

National Trail Day Volunteer Event & Cookout | 10a-12p, Sat, free. Huyck Preserve, Eldridge Research Center, 284 Pond Hill, Rensselaerville. Help with light clean-up work and repair some boardwalks. Tools provided. Ends with cookout at Lincoln Pond!

Pride Drag Show w/ Typhoid Mary | 6-9p, Sat, free. Nine Pin Ciderworks, 929 Broadway, Albany. Celebrate Pride with a free drag show hosted by Typhoid Mary. Doors open 6:00p. First come, first serve for seating.

PrideFest 2024 | 1-5p, Sat, $33.85 (discounts for designated drivers). Whitman Brewing Company, 20 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs. Beer from over 20 local breweries, plus live music from Yort and The North & South Dakota's. Proceeds go to Saratoga Pride.

⭐ VEG OUT 2024 | 11a-4p, Sun, free. Monument Square, 265 River St, Troy. This is the Capital Region's first and only all-vegan food festival!

Festival of Young Artists at SPAC | 2p, Sun, free. Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Featuring performances by Empire State Youth Orchestra, Northeast Ballet Company, Capital District Youth Chorale and the SPAC School of the Arts.

Opera Saratoga Summer Festival | Starts Sunday and goes through July 7. The Great Hall at Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs. Highlights will include Guys and Dolls, and Così Fan Tutte, a world-premiere opera by award-winning composer-in-residence Inti Figgis-Vizueta

⭐ Albany Symphony Shrimp Boil | 1-4p, Sun, $80. Dig into a delicious shrimp boil while listening to sweet jazz at June Farms. Proceeds benefit the Albany Symphony.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Wildlife Festival | 11a-3p, Sun, free. 80 Scout Rd, Wilton. Expect to see all kinds of animals, including rescue bunnies, reptiles, birds and butterflies.

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