If you're looking for things to do now that the warm weather is here, consider adding Troy to your summer bucket list. The Collar City has released a long list of events.
From craft beer to baseball, classic cars to classical music, barbecue, boutiques, shops and much more, Mayor Patrick Madden wants you to be part of Troy's summer. "Every year it seems Troy has more and more to offer in terms of events during the summer and this year is no exception."
Anna Kuwabara is Executive Director of the Albany Symphony, which will be kicking off Troy’s summer series with "The River Sings," a free outdoor concert on June 3 at Riverfront Park. "It has several components that I think you'll be really interested in. One is we are bringing back a piece that we performed on our subscription series in Albany but we also brought it down to Washington, D.C. for our Kennedy Center debut. It's a children's operetta, it's called 'The Mighty Erie Canal,' and this time we'll have about a hundred Troy City school kids singing. It was a showstopper in D.C. I think it'll be a showstopper here."
Matt Callahan, General Manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats, says the minor league baseball team’s at Bruno Stadium begins June 15th. "That'll be our home opener, begins our 38 home game schedule for this season. We have a variety of entertainment, family-friendly entertainment options and promotions planned throughout, including 15 fireworks shows."
Callahan says this year is very special for the Cats. "Our affiliate the Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series, and for us, we're gonna celebrate that all year long. So we'll have a bobblehead giveaway, a former ValleyCat, Jose Altuve, who was the 2017 AL MVP, passed right through Troy, as well as the 2017 World Series MVP George Springer, who's also a former ValleyCat."
If live music is your bag, the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District once again presents "Rockin' on the River," a nine-week concert series in Riverfront Park. Executive Director of Troy BID Katie Hammon says the series kicks off June 6th. "It's running through August 8th. Keep in mind that July 4th is a Wednesday this year, so we're gonna let Albany take that. They'll have pizza and fireworks over in Albany, so we'll have everything else over here in Troy."
Scheduled acts include Moriah Formica [for-meek-uh], Almost Queen and the Mallett Brothers Band. Hammon says the 15th Annual Troy Riverfest kicks off Saturday, June 16th. "We have quite a few performers again, throughout the festival, uh Ragliacci Rags, The Magic & Illusions of Jeffrey Jen, Michael Eck, Front Business, and Tanager as well as some children’s activities from the Troy Boys & Girls Club, Bash Birthday Parties, and some Wild Life out there."
Hammon says the events are designed to attract tourists as well as locals. "We are actually gonna join that with the Farmers Market this year. Usually the Farmers Market moves down to the park. But they're gonna stay on the street this year. We're gonna fill the street to make it an even bigger festival."
Liz Comitale is Market Operations Manager for the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, now in its 19th year. "So this year we're looking at over a hundred vendors every Saturday right here in downtown Troy. We're open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and we encourage you to come to the market information table to learn how you can use our token program 'Help keep money in the hands of farmers' and also how to spend your money locally. We are drawing now upwards of 18,000 people from all over the Northeast as well as the Capital Region to our amazing downtown area and we couldn't be more excited."
In Lansingburgh, the Powers Park Concert Series is in its 15th season during July and August. City Councilman Jim Gulli: "We'll have food and activities up there, so along with the music you'll have other things to do. Our schedule goes from July through August, we start on July 7th with Soul Sky."
Here's a look at the full roster of 2018 Summer Events in Troy:
2018 Summer Concert Series Lineup:
- Rockin' On The River - Moriah Formica w/ special guest Margo Macero
Wednesday, Jun 6, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Skeeter Creek w/ special guest Sydney Worthley
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Super Doppler w/ special guest Wurliday
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Blues For Breakfast
Wednesday, Jun 27, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Meklit
Wednesday, Jul 11, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Gabriel Sanchez Presents The Prince Experience w/ special guest The Age
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Almost Queen w/ special guest The Troy Music Academy All-Stars
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - Rubblebucket
Wednesday, Aug 1, 2018 - Rockin' On The River - The Mallett Brothers Band w/ special guest The North & South Dakotas
Wednesday, Aug 8, 2018 15th Annual Troy River Fest
Saturday, June 16 | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
River Street & Monument Square | 2018 located alongside the Troy Waterfront Farmers MarketShowcasing carefully curated, locally crafted handmade goods and local cuisine in an open-air bazaar situated in the scenic, historic downtown district. This event is an organic, grassroots festival designed to mimic the flow of the Hudson by encouraging visitors to ramble throughout the streets of downtown Troy. Shop, dine and explore downtown Troy amidst live music, street performances, community art projects, festival food, and so much more!
Entertainment includes Ragliacci Rags, The Magic & Illusions of Jeffrey Jen, Michael Eck, Front Business, and Tanager as well as children’s activities with the Troy Boys & Girls Club, Bash Birthday Parties, Whispering Wild Life and more!
11th Annual Troy Pig Out
Saturday, July 14 | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, plus fireworks!
Riverfront ParkOne of the most loved events in the Capital Region, the Troy Pig Out is a full day of fun where culinary competitors duke it out for best BBQ, and people flock to Riverfront park to taste some of the area’s best food. Troy Pig Out is an official Empire State competition sanctioned by New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing New York pride in its place as the site of events that highlight the state and its tradition of excellence in offering unique foods and specialty dishes often based upon tried and true recipes that have endured through the generations.
Entertainment includes Sly Fox & The Hustlers, Patrick Sharrow, Victory Soul Orchestra, Tom McWatters and more, plus a hot dog eating contest with Hembold’s and Famous Lunch, a pie eating contest with the Troy Boys and Girls Club, as well as children’s activities throughout the day.
Fitness in the Park
Sundays, June 24 through August 26 | 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Riverfront ParkThe perfect way to start your Sundays in Troy with a weekend workout, followed by brunch with friends, shopping and exploring! A comfortable environment to exercise among community, averaging 200 plus participants each date in 2017.
Instruction provided by Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts, as well as Lotus Wellness Studio
Sponsored by CDPHP.Troy Restaurant & Craft Beer Week
September 10 through 16Unlike a traditional restaurant week, downtown Troy pairs with Craft Beer week each year to offer a wide selection of events, programs, discounts, course meals, dinner pairings, and more. There’s something for everyone so make your way downtown and enjoy troy!
Sponsored by The News Apartments12th Annual Troy ChowderFest
Sunday, October 7 | 12:00 pm to 4:00pm
Monument Square & throughout TroyChowderFest welcomes over 20,000 chowder-lovers who turn out and judge some of the best chowder in the area. Centered in Monument Square, guests purchase their tickets, explore the vendors and travel to the participating Downtown Troy restaurants distributing chowder from their establishments. Numerous local retailers participate in the day’s activities with a citywide sidewalk sale. It’s a full day of fall food, live music, and family fun!
2018 BID Feature Event Sponsors Include:
Saratoga Eagle, Judge Development Co., The Times Union, CDTA, Pioneer Bank, the Tri-City Valley Cats, Dalle Accounting, United Group of Companies, Chazen Companies, Pattison Sampson Ginsberg and Griffin, Waste Connections, All Over Albany, Albany Broadcasting, Stone Industries, Massive Mesh, the Spot 518, and AFSCO Fencing.For more information about Downtown Troy, visit www.DowntownTroy.org
Tri-City ValleyCats
2018 Season: June 15 through August 28The ValleyCats return for their 17th season of Minor League Baseball at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, and have a ton of exciting promotions planned for this summer! The ‘Cats home opener is slated for Friday, June 15th with post-game fireworks to kickoff the season. Fan-favorite theme nights include WWE Night on June 23, Military Appreciation / Veterans Night on June 28, Star Wars Night on June 30, An Independence Day Celebration on July 4th, Enjoy Troy Night on July 8, Irish Night with Hair of the Dog on July 17, Harry Potter Night on July 18, Italian Night on August 16, Bark in the Park on August 27, and 15 nights of postgame fireworks!
As an affiliate of the World Champion Houston Astros, the ValleyCats are excited to welcome the Astros’ World Series Trophy to “The Joe” on August 3 as part of Boots, BBQ & Baseball Night! Giveaways in 2018 include bobbleheads of World Series MVP George Springer and American League MVP Jose Altuve, both former ValleyCats.
Additional special events at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium include the team’s annual Education Day Exhibition game on June 13th along with the return of Wrestling Under the Stars on Saturday, July 14th. This year’s event will feature WWE Hall of Famers Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Booker T, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The ValleyCats will also be hosting their first-ever food truck festival on Saturday, August 18th. The event will include live music along with food and drink options from around the region. More details will be announced in the near future.
For full details on ValleyCats games and special events, or to purchase tickets, log-on to www.tcvalleycats.com, call 518-629-CATS (2287), or visit the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium box office.
The Great Race
Sunday, June 24 – 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Hemmings Motor News’ the Great Race will bring 120 of the world’s finest antique automobiles to the Collar City on Sunday, June 24 – presented locally by Brown’s Brewing Company – with the first car rolling down River Street in downtown Troy starting at approximately 5:00 pm, with additional events and entertainment planned throughout Saturday. More information, visit www.greatrace.com
Troy Flea
Select Sundays – June, July, August and September, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.The Troy Flea is a collective market, running the second and fourth Sunday of every month from June 10 to Sept. 23, filled with handpicked vintage and craft vendors located along the Hudson River in Riverfront Park. The Flea provides food, music, shopping and a great place to spend your Sunday in Troy, New York. For information, visit www.troyflea.com
Powers Park Concert Series
The 15th Annual Powers Park Concert Series kicks off Saturday, July 7, at Powers Park located in Troy’s historic Lansingburgh neighborhood. Concerts will be held on Saturdays in July and August from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All shows are free to the public. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available at the event. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Powers Park.JULY:
7th – Soul Sky
14th – Back 40 Band
21st – Rick Surrano & 1-4-5
28th – The RefrigeratorsAUGUST:
4th – Matt Mirabile Band
11th – Big Sky Country
18th – River Junction
25th – Emerald CityFor information, visit www.facebook.com/powersparkconcerts
Headlocks on the Hudson
Sunday June 10 – 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.The 3rd Annual Headlocks on the Hudson is an outdoor Freestyle and Greco Roman Wrestling Festival held at Sage Field, 67 River Street Troy, from 9a-4p on June 10th. This family friendly event is hosted by Curby 3 style Wrestling Club. The event is open to all ages, abilities and genders, with youth athletes from as far as Canada, Chicago and Maine wrestling in the event. Local Troy businesses supporting and participating in this year’s tournament include: Muddaddy Flatts, Collar City Sweet Shoppe, The Dutch Udder, The Ruck, Downtown Troy Chiropractic, Ashley Uccellini LMT and Better Wellness PT
Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is a year-round, producer-only farmers market located in Downtown Troy. From their humble beginnings of less than 20 vendors, the market is now in their 19th season with over 80 local, producer-only Vendors, and a year-round marketplace drawing thousands of customers weekly! Products range from organic produce to artisan soaps and more. Please join us every Saturday this summer on River Street around Monument Square in downtown Troy from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Now accepting Credit, Debit, and EBT/SNAP Benefits. Find out more at www.troymarket.org.
The Enchanted City Festival
Saturday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Celebrating its fifth year, The Enchanted City is an urban street fair and spectacle of steampunk fashion, fantasy and fabrications that magically transforms the historic blocks of downtown Troy, N.Y. into a “cosplay” alternative reality where Victorian fancy meets modern technology. The free festival has drawn more than 8,000 participants in previous years and expects to top that number in 2018.
The free festival offers a family-friendly inspired day of music, magic, games, performance, food and fantasy. Special events include a fashion show, historic tours, street performers and peddlers, storytelling, dancing, puppet shows, magic acts and more. Adults and children are encouraged to come dressed in steampunk-themed costumes or as fairies. More information, please visit https://www.enchantedtroy.com/
Corning Museum of Glass: Glassbarge
June 21 – 22, Riverfront ParkIn celebration of the 150th anniversary of Brooklyn Flint Glass Company’s relocation to Corning via the New York Waterways, the Corning Museum of Glass will launch GlassBarge which brings the beauty of hot glass to a waterfront community near you: Troy. Space is limited, so please reserve your free ticket by selecting day and time at right. A 30’ x 80’ canal barge equipped with patented all-electric glassmaking equipment, GlassBarge shares the story of glass through live, 30-minute demonstrations. GlassBarge is the 2018 signature event for the Erie Canal Bicentennial. In addition to sharing the story of glassmaking in Corning, the GlassBarge tour emphasizes the continued role of New York’s waterways in shaping the state’s industry, culture, and community. For more information, visit www.cmog.org/glassbarge or email glassbarge@cmog.org
