Events & Calendar

Valley Falls Free Library programs

October–December 2026 · free unless noted

Valley Falls Free Library, 42 State Street, Valley Falls

The little library up Route 67 has a full fall: a talk on bald eagles with the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance, a monthly bird walk, an author night, a program on living with black bears, Senior Planet tech sessions, Wednesday storytime for the littlest through December 16, and an orchid class in December. All free except the October 17 alcohol-ink class ($25, RSVP folkmanjanet@gmail.com). Questions: 518-753-4230.

• Oct 9 Monthly Bird Walk with Jocelyn Cole · 9:30–11 AM · meet out front
• Oct 15 Author’s Night with Marie Grimmke · 6–7 PM · free
• Oct 17 Alcohol Ink class · 10 AM–2 PM · $25 · RSVP folkmanjanet@gmail.com · village cleanup same hours
• Oct 19 Living with the Black Bear · 6–7 PM · free
• Oct 21 Senior Planet: Passwords and Passkeys · 6–7 PM · free
• Dec 12 Orchids 101 · 10–11 AM · free

Kitten Angels this fall

October 2026

Troy and PetSmart stores in Latham, Glenmont and Amsterdam

Three ways to help the cat rescue this month: the “15 for 15” online fundraiser (suggested $15, through October 30), PetSmart National Adoption Week October 19 to 25 (11 AM to 9 PM daily at the Latham, Glenmont and Amsterdam stores), and the One Night in Hollywood Black Cat Gala on Friday, October 30 at Troy’s Franklin Terrace Ballroom, $90, cocktail attire, with dinner, a live auction, a wine pull and a psychic medium.

• Oct 19 PetSmart National Adoption Week begins · Oct 19–25 · 11 AM–9 PM · Latham, Glenmont, Amsterdam PetSmart
• Oct 30 Black Cat Gala: One Night in Hollywood · 5:30–10 PM · Franklin Terrace Ballroom, 126 Campbell Ave, Troy · $90

Troy Public Library, Lansingburgh branch

October 14 – November 25, 2026 · free

Lansingburgh Branch, 27 114th Street, Troy

The branch nearest Speigletown has free fresh produce to pick up every Wednesday from noon to 8 PM through November 25 (Squash Hunger!), a community mural day, tech help sessions that need registration, open sewing, and a Halloween trunk or treat on October 31 run with the Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club, which the library lists as off site; call 518-274-7071 for the location. To stock it, the library and the club are collecting unopened bags of Halloween candy through October 30 at the branch (27 114th Street), the Main Library (100 2nd Street) and the club (501 4th Avenue). Monthly: mystery book discussion first Tuesdays at 5:30.

• Oct 20 Tech Help · 5–6 PM · registration required
• Oct 24 Traveling Mural: Create Community Art · 11 AM–12:30 PM · all ages
• Oct 26 Lansingburgh schools drop-in hours with Joe Otter · 4:30–6 PM
• Oct 27 Open Sewing evening · 6–7 PM
• Oct 30 Last day of the Trunk or Treat candy drive · drop unopened bags of candy at the branch, the Main Library or the Boys & Girls Club, 501 4th Ave
• Oct 31 Trunk or Treat · 6–8 PM · listed as off site · call 518-274-7071 for the location
• Nov 3 Mystery Book Discussion · 5:30–6:30 PM · no registration
• Nov 17 Bring Your Own Device Tech Help · 5–6 PM · registration required

Brunswick Community Library fall programs

October 14 – November 16, 2026 · free

Brunswick Community Library, 4118 State Highway 2, Troy

A Halloween run of kids’ programs, two Herb Club talks, a book club, drop-in tech help, and a free Friendsgiving dinner for the whole community on November 4 (RSVP 518-279-4023; bring a dish if you can; the library closes at 5 that day to set up). Weekly: bridge Mondays at 1, storytime Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30, knitting Thursdays at 1.

• Oct 14 IRL Minecraft Build · 4 PM
• Oct 21 Herb Club: Feng Shui in the Garden · 2 PM · Keith Austin, CCE Master Gardener
• Oct 21 Bring Your Own Switch Game Night · 4–6 PM · snacks
• Oct 23 Spooky Ballet with Miss Tori · 4:30 PM
• Oct 26 Crow Party · 4–6 PM · trinket swap, dress in black, shiny scavenger hunt
• Oct 27 Fairy Tale Crafternoon: Cinderella’s pumpkin · 4 PM
• Oct 28 Halloween Dance Party with the Macabre Duo · 4–5 PM · live music
• Oct 28 Book Club: Circle of Days by Ken Follett · 6 PM
• Nov 3 Herb Club: Recycling from Plant Fibers · 3:30 PM · Zelda Hotaling
• Nov 4 Friendsgiving Dinner at the Library · 6 PM · free, everyone welcome · RSVP 518-279-4023
• Nov 5 Tech Help drop-in · 1–2 PM · bring your device
• Nov 16 Coffee Lovers Craft Night · 5 PM · keychain or bracelet

Live Music at the Rustic Barn Pub

Open mic Thursdays 6 PM · bands Fri & Sat · bluegrass 2nd Sundays

Rustic Barn Pub, 150 Speigletown Road, Troy

Right here in Speigletown — one of the Capital District’s best-loved live-music rooms. A guest-hosted open mic every Thursday at 6 PM (full backline provided; ask the bartender for the sign-up sheet), live bands Friday and Saturday nights (7–8 PM, Sept–mid-June), and a Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam at 5:30 PM (Sept–June), hosted round-robin by Jeff Wasbes and Zack Cohen. The booked schedule, through Halloween:

• Oct 9 On The Edge · Fri, 8 PM · $10 · classic hard rock covers (Ted Poley’s acoustic show was cancelled; On The Edge plays the night)
• Oct 10 Moonboot Lover · Sat, 8 PM
• Oct 15 Matty D · Open mic
• Oct 16 Mike McMann and The Underdawgs · Fri, 7 PM
• Oct 17 Soul Provider · Sat, 7 PM
• Oct 22 Blank Slate · Open mic
• Oct 23 The Deadbeats · Fri, 8 PM
• Oct 24 Psycho Mutton Chops · Sat, 8 PM
• Oct 29 Matt Mirabile · Open mic
• Oct 30 Harmonic Duo · Fri, 7 PM
• Oct 31 Halloween Party: Brian Kane and The Beginning · 8 PM, late night with DJ FOOL · $15 · costume contest with cash prizes
• Nov 5 Andrew Mirabile · Open mic
• Nov 6 The Lazy Suns · Fri, 8 PM · $10 · roots, rock and Americana
• Nov 7 Tom Major’s Shaman · Sat, 8 PM · $15 · Cream, Hendrix and early Who tribute
• Nov 15 Foodstock 15 · Sun, 2–8 PM · benefit for The Food Pantries for the Capital District · $20 minimum donation, non-perishables welcome · four acts incl. Friends of Bob and Moe & Shows
• Nov 19 Jack Woodward · Open mic · feature at 6, open mic at 7
• Nov 20 Chris Sanders · Fri, 7 PM · free · acoustic singer-songwriter
• Nov 21 Neon Avenue · Sat, 8 PM · $15 · Grateful Dead tribute
• Nov 25 Thanksgiving Eve Open Mic Party: River Junction · Wed, 6 PM · free · one full set then open mic · snacks and drink specials for musicians, holiday raffle · no Thursday open mic this week
• Nov 28 Harmonic Duo · Sat, 7 PM · free

Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club fall events

October 22 – November 20, 2026

Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club, 501 4th Avenue, Troy

The club’s fall calendar: Lights On Afterschool on October 22, a Harvest Brunch on Sunday, November 1, the Community Hero Awards Dinner on November 18 (location and cost not yet posted), and the Thanksgiving Dinner and Teen Night on November 20. Details: 518-235-4143.

• Oct 22 Lights On Afterschool · 4–5 PM
• Nov 1 Harvest Brunch · Sun, 9–11 AM
• Nov 18 Community Hero Awards Dinner · 6–9 PM · location and cost on the club’s page
• Nov 20 Thanksgiving Dinner & Teen Night · 5:30–8:30 PM

Knickerbocker Mansion Tours

Sundays, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM through October 25, 2026 · Knick at Night Oct 23–24

Knickerbocker Historical Society, 132 Knickerbocker Road, Schaghticoke

Tour the historic Knickerbocker Mansion, home of the Knickerbocker Historical Society, on Sunday afternoons through the warm-weather season; the last tour Sunday of 2026 is October 25, no reservation needed. The season closes with Knick at Night, two evenings of candlelit ghost tours of the mansion ($20) with the cemetery tour included, a Souper Dinner ($20), or both for $35. Ghost tours require a reservation: 518-588-7130.

• Oct 23 Knick at Night: candlelit ghost tours & Souper Dinner · Fri, 5–9 PM · ghost tour $20, dinner $20, both $35 · reserve 518-588-7130
• Oct 24 Knick at Night: candlelit ghost tours & Souper Dinner · Sat, 5–9 PM · ghost tour $20, dinner $20, both $35 · reserve 518-588-7130
• Oct 25 Last Sunday tours of the season · 11 AM–3 PM · no reservation needed

Speigletown Fire Chicken BBQ

Saturday, October 24, 2026 · pickup 4–6 PM · pre-order by October 16

Speigletown firehouse, 146 Speigletown Road (Route 40), Troy

The Speigletown District Volunteer Fire Company's Chicken BBQ returns, cooked by Dottie Lou's BBQ, with proceeds going toward a rehab of the company's 1936 American LaFrance fire engine. Dinners are $18 (half chicken, mac & cheese, coleslaw, baked potato, dinner roll) and are pre-order only, by October 16. Order online at speigletownfire.org/chicken-bbq-orders, via the QR code on the flyer, or by email at chickendinner@speigletownfire.org, or pick up a paper form at the firehouse any Thursday between 7 and 9 PM. Cash, check, and Venmo accepted.

• Oct 16 Pre-order deadline · dinners selling fast · order online at speigletownfire.org/chicken-bbq-orders
• Oct 24 Dinner pickup · 4–6 PM · pre-order only · cash (drop off Thursdays 7–9 PM), check, Venmo @Speigletown_Vol_Fire_Co, or card

Liberty Ridge Farm Fall Festival

Thursdays–Sundays, 10 AM – 6 PM through November 1, 2026 (plus Mon Oct 12)

Liberty Ridge Farm, 29 Bevis Road, Schaghticoke

The town’s own fall festival farm: corn maze, pumpkins and the full run of weekend activities, open Thursday through Sunday 10 to 6 (Columbus Day Monday too; Oct 31 and Nov 1 close at 5). Admission is $20 online or $25 at the gate, ages 3 and up, good any day. Themed weekends run through the month.

• Oct 10 Harvest Festival Weekend · Oct 10–12 · live music, face painting, magic show
• Oct 17 Pumpkin Festival weekend · Oct 17–18
• Oct 24 Monster Mash kids’ costume party · Oct 24–25
• Oct 31 Halloween at the farm · closes 5 PM
• Nov 1 Final day of the season · closes 5 PM

Speigletown Fire Truck or Treat

Sunday, October 25, 2026 · 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Schaghticoke Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose

The Speigletown Fire Department’s Truck or Treat at Town Hall: come in costume, bring your trick-or-treat bag, and collect candy from the fire trucks and the volunteers. Free. Announced on the company’s Facebook page October 8.

• Oct 25 Truck or Treat at Town Hall · 11 AM–1 PM · costumes and trick-or-treat bags · free

Troy Night Out: The Haunting

Friday, October 30, 2026 · 5:00–9:00 PM

Lower River Street, downtown Troy

October’s Troy Night Out goes full Halloween: vendors, live music, drag performances, DJ sets, tarot readers, and the Hart Cluett Museum’s “Murder and Mayhem” walking tour from 6 to 7:30. Free to wander; come in costume. The November edition falls on Friday the 27th and the BID skips December for the Victorian Stroll.

• Oct 30 Troy Night Out: The Haunting · 5–9 PM · lower River Street · free · costumes encouraged

Troy Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026 · 10K 8 AM · Mile 9:30 · Walk 9:35 · 5K 10 AM

Start at Fourth & Fulton Streets, finish on River Street at Monument Square, Troy

The 79th Troy Turkey Trot. Register early and save: through November 5 the 10K is $40, the 5K $35, the Grade School Mile and Turkey Walk $20; after that $45, $40 and $25. Virtual option $30. Start times follow the race’s usual pattern; confirm on the race site as the day nears.

• Nov 5 Early registration pricing ends · 10K $40, 5K $35, Mile & Walk $20 through today
• Nov 26 Troy Turkey Trot · 10K 8 AM · Grade School Mile 9:30 · Turkey Walk 9:35 · 5K 10 AM

Christmas Around the Corner craft fair

Friday, November 6, 5–9 PM & Saturday, November 7, 7 AM – 4 PM

Hoosic Valley High School gym, 2 Pleasant Avenue, Schaghticoke

The Hoosic Valley area’s big holiday craft fair, run by Community Life Support as the fundraiser for Hoosic Valley Christmas for Kids: 40-plus vendors, food, a raffle and a visit from Santa. Hours above are from the district calendar; confirm with the organizers. Contact Elizabeth Baker, 518-461-2155.

• Nov 6 Christmas Around the Corner · Fri, 5–9 PM · HV High School gym
• Nov 7 Christmas Around the Corner · Sat, 7 AM–4 PM · HV High School gym

Wynantskill PTA Holiday Craft Fair & Maker’s Market

Saturday, November 14, 2026 · 10 AM – 3 PM · free admission

Gardner-Dickinson School, 25 East Avenue, Troy

Local vendors and artisans with handmade crafts, woodwork, jewelry, candles, holiday decor, baked goods, spices and rubs, and sweet treats, with proceeds supporting Wynantskill students. Listed on regional calendars; the PTA had not posted its own notice when we checked.

• Nov 14 Holiday Craft Fair & Maker’s Market · 10 AM–3 PM · free admission

Pittstown Historical Society lectures

Thursdays, October 15 & November 19, 2026 · 7:30 PM · free

Pittstown Town Hall, 97 Tomhannock Road, Valley Falls

Two free evening talks next door in Pittstown. October 15: the history of Pittstown’s churches. November 19: Schaghticoke town historian Chris Kelly on the Tree of Peace, “50 Years? How About 350 Years!”, a fitting follow-up to this summer’s anniversary at the Knickerbocker Mansion. Questions: 518-686-7514.

• Oct 15 The History of Pittstown’s Churches · 7:30 PM · free
• Nov 19 Chris Kelly: The Tree of Peace in Schaghticoke, 350 years · 7:30 PM · free

Country Folk Art Show & Artisan Market

Friday, November 20, 5–9 PM · Saturday, November 21, 10 AM – 5 PM · Sunday, November 22, 10 AM – 4 PM

Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburgh Avenue, Troy

The juried holiday show of folk art, country furnishings and handmade gifts returns to HVCC for its Thanksgiving-week run. Tickets are sold through the organizer’s site; admission was not posted when we checked.

• Nov 20 Friday evening session · 5–9 PM
• Nov 21 Saturday session · 10 AM–5 PM
• Nov 22 Sunday session · 10 AM–4 PM

Diver Memorial Library: free music lessons & storytime

Saturdays through November 28, 10 AM – 1 PM · Mondays through November 30, 10–11 AM

Arvilla E. Diver Memorial Library, 136 Main Street, Schaghticoke

Two standing programs at the village library this fall. Music Launch! offers free 45-minute guitar, piano, ukulele and songwriting lessons on Saturdays at 10, 11 and noon, by appointment only, through November 28. Diver Discoveries Storytime with Ms. Kathy, with crafts and games for young children, runs Mondays at 10 through November 30. Call 518-753-4344 to book a lesson.

Troy Victorian Stroll

Sunday, December 6, 2026 · 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Downtown Troy

For 40 years, the Troy Victorian Stroll has transformed the streets of historic downtown Troy into a bygone Victorian era, complete with visitors in Victorian dress strolling the city. A beloved regional holiday tradition, a short drive down Route 40.

• Dec 2 City of Troy tree lighting · Wed, 5:30 PM · Monument Square
• Dec 6 Victorian Stroll · 44th annual · 11 AM–5 PM · free, rain or shine

Speigletown Fire Company breakfasts & holiday events

Breakfasts 2nd Sundays, Oct 11 – May 9, 7:30–11:30 AM · Santa Dec 6 · Kids’ Christmas Party Dec 19

Speigletown firehouse, 146 Speigletown Road (Route 40), Troy

The company’s fall and winter calendar from its 2026 calendar-drive letter. Monthly all-you-can-eat breakfasts return Sunday, October 11 and run the second Sunday of each month through the Mother’s Day breakfast on May 9, 7:30 to 11:30 AM at the station; $12 per adult, $6 per child, children under 5 free, with cash, check, card, PayPal and Venmo accepted. Santa tours the district on Sunday, December 6, visiting with children and collecting new, unopened toys for the Toys for Tots drive; he is back for the Kids’ Christmas Party at the firehouse on Saturday, December 19. Times for the two December events were not in the letter.

• Dec 6 Santa tours the district for Toys for Tots · have a new, unopened toy ready · time not yet posted
• Dec 19 Kids’ Christmas Party at the firehouse · Santa visits · time not yet posted

Speiglelders Community Group

2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month · 12:30 PM

Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Leversee Road (corner of Route 142), Troy

A community group that gathers for fellowship at Faith Lutheran Church on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 12:30 PM. All are welcome; call the church for details.

Thursday Evening Concert Series

Thursdays, 6:30–8:30 PM, mid-June through August; the 2027 lineup will be posted when the committee announces it

Town Hall grounds, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose

The Schaghticoke Entertainment Committee’s free summer concerts on the Town Hall lawn, now past their 19th season (the county guide bills them as the "Schaghticoke Summers Eve Concerts"). A different act every Thursday night, plus themed evenings such as Christmas in July, a car show night, and a fireworks show to close the season. The 2026 series ran June 18 through August 20.

Grafton Lakes State Park programs

Year-round · register at 518-279-1155

Grafton Lakes State Park, 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton

The nearest state park to the hamlet runs a full program calendar: free toddler nature hours, guided full-moon hikes, movie nights under the stars in summer, and more through the seasons. Most programs require registration by phone at 518-279-1155. Coming up:

• Oct 9 Star Party (last of 2026) · 6:30 PM · free · Deerfield Pavilion · with Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, telescopes provided
• Oct 10 Sesame Street: Great Elephant Adventure preview & conservation tabling · 10 AM · with WMHT and Grafton Community Library · crafts and books
• Oct 13 Fall Birding Hike · 9–11 AM · free · meet at the Welcome Center · register 518-279-1155, binoculars provided
• Oct 17 Witches Paddle · 2–4 PM · meet at the boat launch · free · bring your own kayak, canoe or SUP and a costume · donation cauldron

Schaghticoke Fair

Labor Day week each year; the 2027 dates will be posted when the fair announces them

Schaghticoke Fair Grounds, 69 Stillwater Bridge Road

The town’s big annual agricultural fair, a tradition since 1819: barns and 4-H exhibits, the Dreamland Amusements midway, live music, grandstand pulls and demolition derbies, fireworks, and fair food of every description. It runs the week leading into Labor Day at the fairgrounds on Stillwater Bridge Road. The 2026 fair ran September 2 through 7.

Strawberry Festival

Annually in mid-June (June 20 in 2026), 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Schaghticoke Fair Grounds

A day in the Village of Schaghticoke with vendors, live music, food, and children’s activities — strawberries very much included.

Harvest Festival & Melrose Mile

Annually in late September, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM · the 2026 festival was September 26

Schaghticoke Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose

The Hoosic Valley Community Partners’ fall festival on the Town Hall grounds — live music, food, vendors of handmade and homemade goods, crafters and children’s entertainment all afternoon. Bring a lawn chair. It is usually paired with the Melrose Mile fun run around the town-hall property (free registration at 11, race at noon, open to all ages). We will post the 2027 date when the Partners announce it.

Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo

Annually in late March at HVCC (March 27–29 in 2026)

Hudson Valley Community College, Troy

The region's big spring flower and garden show, and a first sign of spring for nearly 17,000 visitors. Large-scale garden displays, 160-plus flower and garden vendors in the Marketplace, tastings from NYS wineries and distilleries, and dozens of seminars and demonstrations. Children under 10 and parking are free, and a portion of ticket sales benefits Wildwood.