News Article

Ten Must-Do’s This Autumn in Albany, NY

September 22, 2024

Welcome to Autumn in Albany! There’s nothing quite like fall in Upstate New York, and there’s so much to look forward to this season throughout the City of Albany! From spooky Halloween experiences to incredible sightseeing and beyond, it’s the perfect time to venture out and enjoy all that New York’s Capital City has to offer. No matter where your journey takes you, ParkAlbany continues to offer convenient parking at our garages and lots, which are just a few steps away from all there is to enjoy this autumn! To discover your next experience in Albany this season and beyond, explore our comprehensive events calendar for more details and to find the best places to park!

A clear lake with a fountain is surrounded by trees in autumn colors under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Ducks are swimming in the water.

Discover Picturesque Fall Foliage in Washington Park

Experience over 80 acres of stunning nature in the heart of Albany with a stroll through Washington Park! From relaxing to sightseeing, this park is the perfect place to kick off your autumn journey in Albany. Grab a coffee from a nearby coffee shop and get ready to explore miles of trails, unwind by the lake, check out some of the park’s wildlife, and capture plenty of Instagram-worthy foliage pictures! Located right between the Pine Hills and Center Square neighborhoods, this iconic park has been a fixture of the city’s landscape since the 1870s, and with the changing leaves and unmatched autumn vibes you won’t want to skip out on this lovely city park. So, get some extra steps in and be sure to visit the bridge over the west side of the lake to capture the perfect fall landscape pictures!

Explore the Vibrant Upper Madison Street Fair in the Pine Hills Neighborhood

Head to the top of Madison Avenue on September 29th for the annual Upper Madison Street Fair! Each year, this vibrant area between South Allen and West Lawrence Street buzzes with dozens of local vendors and thousands of visitors enjoying a bustling open-air gathering in the Pine Hills neighborhood. Visitors can expect amazing local food and drinks, arts & crafts, dancing, drumming, raffles, art, a Kids Zone, chess, face painting, and so much more! Last year, ParkAlbany was proud to hand out free goodies at the street fair, and you’ll see us again this year! This all-ages festival is free to attend and celebrates the best of the neighborhood and local organizations that bring people together within Pine Hills and the surrounding areas. Grab the whole family and head uptown for this can’t-miss gathering and remember that on-street parking along Upper Madison is always free on weekends and after 5pm on weekdays!

A vibrant street fair with people browsing vendor booths, playing chess, and enjoying the sunny weather. Tents and tables line both sides of the street. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.

Exterior view of MVP Arena with banners and signage, located by a street with cars parked. The building has a modern facade with a large electronic display.

Laugh Along with Sebastian Maniscalco at the MVP Arena

Enjoy a night of laughter this fall with Sebastian Maniscalco at the MVP Arena! Best known for his physical comedy and observational humor rooted in his Italian American culture and family life, Maniscalco is one of America’s top stand-up comedians. Since 2005, Maniscalco has been a fixture of the stand-up comedy world, starting his career performing regularly at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood which help launch him to his first Comedy Central half-hour special followed by 6 hour-long specials, 4 of which topped Netflix’s stand-up streaming lists. He has even appeared in several movies like The House and The Irishman and had his own 13-episode TV series called Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco! Whether you’ve seen him online, on Netflix, or on TV, this legendary comedian is a must-see act for comedy fans of all backgrounds. His October 3rd show in Downtown Albany is sure to be an unforgettable evening, and ParkAlbany has the event parking covered at our nearby Green-Hudson & Riverfront Garages!

Enjoy the All-Hallow E’en Festival in Downtown Albany

Spooky season is coming up quick, and Albany’s All-Hallow E’en Festival is back again this year! In the early 1900s, Albany was transformed into an enchanted Halloween-themed dreamland, complete with festive lighting, whimsically decorated storefronts, and city-wide spooky celebrations. The original celebration even included a Halloween faerie Queen, Titania, with her own court that welcomed revelers from atop the steps of the New York State Capitol. Today, the wonderful team at Discover Albany has assembled a team of local partners and businesses to resurrect this legendary festival, celebrating the best of the City of Albany and everything it has to offer during the fall! Festival attendees can expect Eerie Albany Tours, public art, historical exhibitions, community events in Quackenbush Square, and the Halloween House Ball! Albany is set to come alive with endless spooky season activities, and you won’t want to miss any of the action this fall!

A well-lit outdoor dining area with umbrellas and people sitting at tables next to a brick building with a sign that reads "Albany." Trees and streetlights line the walkway.

A crowd of people browse clothing and goods under white tents at an outdoor market on a sunny day. Triangular flags are strung overhead. A brick building is visible in the background.

Visit the Fall Vintage Roundup at 946 Broadway

The Vintage Roundup is back, and vintage enthusiasts are in for a treat during this must-visit seasonal market on October 26th! From clothing to housewares and plenty in between, Albany’s Warehouse District will be buzzing with visitors and vendors during the largest curated antique and vintage market in Upstate New York! Located at 946 Broadway right between Broadway hotspots Lionheart On The Green and Lost & Found, this market features vendors from across the country selling amazing clothes, art, décor, furniture, vinyl, and more. Get excited to peruse endless tents of sustainably sourced goods and enjoy delicious food and drinks from local eateries throughout this bustling space this season in the heart of the Warehouse District. Be sure to show up early to beat the crowds and enjoy free on-street parking in the area of this highly anticipated open-air market! [Photo Credit: The Vintage Roundup]

Experience Hip-Hop Legend Lil Wayne at the MVP Arena

It’s not every day one of the world’s most iconic hip-hop artists comes to Albany, and this fall features a visit from none other than Lil Wayne! Weezy comes to town on October 11th to bring his electrifying act to the MVP Arena and it’s sure to be an amazing evening of hip-hop! Lil Wayne is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, and he’s been rapping since he was just 11 years old! Signed to Cash Money Records in 1993 by fellow New Orleans rapper Birdman, Lil Wayne soon emerged as the record label’s flagship artist and has held that honor for the last 25 years. This multiplatinum artist has released 14 chart-topping studio albums, 3 compilation albums, 5 EPs, and 29 mixtapes since 1999. Lil Wayne has won 5 Grammy Awards, 11 BET Awards, 2 MTV Video Music Awards, 8 NAACP Image Awards, and became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts with 109 songs! From Tha Carter trilogy to the I Am Not A Human Being series, Lil Wayne’s influential discography and legacy can’t be understated, and his visit is slated to be an incredible showing of talent and musical prowess in Downtown Albany!

A cityscape featuring the exterior of MVP Arena, a modern building with a curved facade and signage, under a clear blue sky. Adjacent colorful artwork is displayed on the right side of the image.

A crowd inside a theater watches a performance as streams of white paper swirl in the air. The venue is dimly lit and the audience is animated.

Catch the Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Palace Theatre

Get weird this season at the Palace Theatre during The Kids of Albany’s annual live performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show! Every October, this dynamic Albany-based theatre collective comes together to perform their lively rendition of this iconic musical comedy horror film from 1975. Like other live tribute performances of Rocky Horror, The Kids of Albany strongly encourage crowd participation through dressing up as your favorite character (which is optional) and offering guests a prop kit complete with a roll of toilet paper! Mischief and mayhem will be abound this October, and The Kids of Albany always keep the energy high through their exceptional choreography and musical performances. This year marks the 15th annual rendition of Rocky Horror at the Palace Theatre, so “Damn It, Janet”, get ready to see toast and toilet paper fly during this must-see annual show during the heart of spooky season in Albany! [Photo Credit: The Kids of Albany]

Sign Up Your Pup for Hounds of Halloween in Downtown Albany

Who says trick or treating is just for humans? On October 19th, the Downtown Albany BID’s Hounds of Halloween event makes its annual return, and the streets of Downtown Albany will be filled with devilish dachshunds, terrifying terriers, and ghoulish golden retrievers! Hounds of Halloween is more than just dog trick or treating; it invites dog owners to dress up their pups and visit dozens of downtown businesses for dog treats and “Yappy Hour” specials for their humans at participating bars and restaurants! Plus, this adorable event also features a Canine Costume Contest, with winners receiving specially curated Downtown-themed prizes and gifts! Whether you’re looking to enjoy the Howl-oween season with your canine companion or want to see some of the area’s most adorable pups dressed to the nines, Hounds of Halloween is another can’t-miss event happening this season in Albany, New York! Driving into downtown? Parking is available at each of our 3 downtown parking garages just a quick walk from all the paw-some festivities throughout the neighborhood!

A golden retriever wears a camouflage witch hat and a dark mesh cape, sitting on a dirt path surrounded by autumn leaves.

A park scene with green grass, scattered trees in autumn foliage, and a clear blue sky. A pathway runs through the park, and a distant lamp post is visible on the right side.

Run in the Annual Trick or Trot Pumpkin Run 5k in Scenic Washington Park

Have you ever run a 5k in a Halloween costume before? Don’t miss your chance on October 26th! The Trick or Trot Pumpkin Run 5k is a highly anticipated family-friendly race through scenic Washington Park, featuring a beautiful Halloween-themed course, a costume contest, and a lively afterparty with giveaways, vendors, decorations, a DJ, and an awards ceremony! This all-ages 5k brings runners through the striking fall foliage of Washington Park and Center Square, making for a wonderful weekend activity the whole family will enjoy. Renowned local race collective ARE Event Productions will supply chip timing for the race and a moisture wicking fabric shirt for each runner, keeping guests dry and making sure their times are properly recorded. Awards will be given to the 1st place male, female, and non-binary runners, and costume contest awards will be given for Best Adult Costume, Best Duo Costume, and Best Kids Costume! Get your best Halloween gear and running shoes ready and enjoy a brisk spooky run through Albany’s premier public park this fall!

See the Iconic Albany Symphony Orchestra at the Palace Theatre

For 94 years, the Albany Symphony Orchestra has been a testimony to the city’s local talent and musical prowess, and this season they make their triumphant return to the historic Palace Theatre for two must-see shows! Led by David Alan Miller since 1992, the Albany Symphony is the oldest professional symphony orchestra in the Capital District and have released more than 20 albums, encompassing nearly 60 works, since their inception in 1930. This incredible collective has even won two Grammy Awards, one in 2014 and another in 2021! The symphony often features guest performers and routinely plays through some of classical music’s most legendary works, as well as symphonic renditions of modern works like the music of John Williams or even video game soundtracks! On October 19th, this iconic group makes their 2024 debut at the Palace Theatre featuring Michael Daugherty’s rendition of Passacaglia in Primary Colors, the final movement from Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol, Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto, and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4. Classical music fans are sure to adore the symphony’s renditions of these iconic works this autumn within the stunning halls of the Palace Theatre. For a more “merry” musical experience, the symphony is set to return on December 8th with the Capitol Region’s most beloved holiday spectacular “The Magic of Christmas”, Each year this performance brings a classic collection Christmas carols, holiday favorites, and so much more to Downtown Albany, just as fall is winding down and we transition into the holiday season!

A historic theater with a marquee sign reading "PALACE" is depicted, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a clear, sunny sky in the background.

Fall is always an amazing time to experience all that Albany has to offer, and there’s so many amazing events to take advantage of during this wonderful time of year! Whether your journey takes you uptown or downtown, ParkAlbany’s garages and lots are always a quick walk from your destination. To keep up to date with these and other amazing upcoming events, be sure to explore our events calendar for more details on where to park and what to expect during your next experience in New York’s Capital City!