Events in Schenectady today

This leading martial arts competition and showcase in the Capital Region combines spirited matches with featured demonstrations, celebrating skill, discipline, and the energy of the sport.

Add rustic flair to your day by crafting farmhouse inspired sunflowers from upcycled canning jar rings and fabric scraps. This relaxed, hands-on class shows how to transform simple, everyday items into bright, textured flowers perfect for home decor or gifting. Step by step guidance is provided, so beginners are welcome and no prior experience is necessary. All supplies are included, with an emphasis on reclaimed materials. Settle in, enjoy the creative process, and head home with a sunflower that is uniquely yours.

An adoption clinic at Benson's Pet Center features opportunities to meet rescue dogs who are ready for loving homes. Visitors can spend time with adoptable pups and show support for their journey to adoption. Special guests will be announced soon, and families are welcome.

Towne Bowling Academy hosts a high-limit 9-ball doubles cash tournament with a maximum SL of 13. Teams pay $60 to enter, with $10 of that counted as greens. Advance registration is not required. The event is presented by Capital Region APA, which can be reached at (518) 618-8384 or capitalregion@apaleagues.com.

Recapture the childhood book fair excitement in a grown-up version at Broken Loop Brewing Co. Meander through budget-friendly books and literary-themed merchandise while enjoying a beer. Take your time, sip something you like, and relax in a warm, easygoing setting that leans into nostalgia. Look forward to plenty of reads, playful goodies for book lovers, and all the throwback feelings... without a permission slip.

A Brooks barbecue fundraiser supports the Rotterdam Community Center, helping sustain services such as food pantries, community hub classes, and arts and culture programming. Proceeds also contribute to launching a Nutritional Security Program with the aim of starting a mobile food pantry for Mohonasen families. Chicken dinners cost $16 with cash or $17 with a card and include chicken, a baked potato with butter, a dinner roll, coleslaw, and dessert. A limited supply of chicken only is available for $11 with cash or $12 with a card.

This curated marketplace is the Capital Region's first alternative market and brings together creators from across the Northeast. Explore a wide range of curiosities, including taxidermy pieces, dark art, unusual oddities, carefully chosen antiques, gothic jewelry with a macabre flair, witchcraft and apothecary goods, gothic apparel, spooky home decor, and readings from tarot practitioners. Vegan food is available, making it easy to linger while you discover distinctive goods and services.

The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Glen Cortese, salutes Broadway with an outdoor concert at Music Haven. Soprano Lisa Layman and tenor Brent Weber share favorite songs from the Great White Way alongside the full orchestra. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic and are encouraged to arrive early to find a comfortable spot on the lawn. If weather intervenes, the performance will move to Proctors. Presented with support from Fenimore Asset Management, New Schenectady, the Schenectady County Arts & Culture Grant, and WMHT Classical.

Super Dark Collective presents THE BRIEFS, the legendary Seattle punk band, with The Sleeveens. It’s an in-person show running for about 4 hours at No Fun.

Lark Street Tavern sets an upbeat scene with high energy dance tracks in the front bar and karaoke in the back. Late at night, $5 Dirty Shirley specials and $3 pizza slices are available. Spend the evening dancing, taking the mic, or relaxing with friends in a lively atmosphere.

Putnam Place hosts a summer series of Sunday Latin Nights built around high-energy live music and plenty of room to dance. Rafy Cabrera Band, featuring BoyBoy, brings a vibrant, rhythmic set that keeps the floor moving all evening.

Visitors to the outdoor Community Table at Schenectady Greenmarket can meet feathered education ambassadors and learn about them while exploring goods from local producers. This appearance takes place on selected Sundays and is set up outside Schenectady City Hall.

A mobile nail-trim bus sets up in the front parking area at Benson’s Pet Center in Rotterdam to provide quick trims that help prevent discomfort from overgrown nails. On arrival, pick up a beeper to hold your place and keep it visible rather than tucked away. If you are bringing more than one dog, try to bring them onto the bus together. If you will be returning to your car to swap pets, take two beepers so timing can be accounted for. Twenty beepers are in circulation and then the numbers restart at one. Service continues until every dog has been seen, and this location can get busy, so please be mindful of the line and who is ahead of you. The handler has 25 years of experience and welcomes all dogs. Pricing is $25 per dog, plus $10 for dogs that are difficult to handle, and an additional $15 for large dogs when extra handling techniques are needed, which is rare.

A community basket raffle takes place at Lisha Kill Church in Schenectady, NY, with proceeds directed toward addressing poverty in the D.R. Donations of baskets are welcome and appreciated.

Music Haven brings back its Blues BBQ with Chicago guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks at the helm, the Blues Music Awards 2025 Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year. Settle in for an extended evening of live blues and barbecue, with Misty Blues and Mulebone completing the lineup. It is billed as one of the season’s biggest nights. If weather becomes a factor, the rain site is Proctors. Support is provided by Frog Alley Brewing Co., Homestead Funding, and WEXT 97.7/106.1FM.

The Good Feet Store is celebrating America’s 250th birthday throughout July with a focus on products made in the USA. Participating locations will give away five pairs of Brooks shoes over the course of the month, and anyone who completes a complimentary personalized fitting with an Arch Support Specialist is automatically entered. The celebration includes exclusive in-store happenings, weekend activities, and free gifts, creating more opportunities to explore what The Good Feet Store offers. During the fitting, visitors can learn how the Good Feet arch support system may help improve balance, stability, posture, and overall comfort.

Young cooks dive into a pop culture themed cooking camp filled with hands-on creativity. Take part for a single day or enjoy the full five-day experience. The lineup features Victory Royale: A Fortnite Cooking Class, Fan Favorites: Lunch With The Stars, Despicable Delicious: A Minion Cooking Class, Kawaii Kitchen: The Hello Kitty Cafe Class, and a Pop Star Dessert Party. Participants practice essential kitchen skills as they stir, chop, mix, and bake, then savor the results. Designed for ages 8 to 14, the program emphasizes safety, interactive learning, and making new friends.

Designed for ages 7 to 13, this five-day camp immerses kids in circus arts, yoga, and wellness. Participants explore aerial yoga, aerial silks, lyra, silk hammock, and mat yoga in a variety of styles. The program also features trampoline skills, hula hoops, clowning and juggling, tightrope walking, and circus magic, plus two creative crafts during the week. Wellness activities introduce healthy cooking and snacks, meditation with singing bowls, and essential oils. Campers spend time at the park each day. The week wraps up with a student showcase for family where campers present the skills they have learned. The full week costs $400, with a 10 percent discount for siblings and an early bird rate of $380. Campers bring their own lunch.

The Date Night Special offers a Monday deal for $20 that includes two 12-ounce pours of cider and a pizza.

Challenge your practice with a strength-driven session that also nurtures flexibility and recovery. Offerings may include a spotlight on a single peak pose, focused work refining advanced postures, a barre sequence capped with a long stretch, or a higher intensity yoga flow. Expect a balanced workout that builds power while increasing mobility so you finish open and at ease.

Enjoy a concert as the band presents a mix of marches, light classical selections, and familiar favorites, performed in front of Reynold's House. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for comfortable seating.

Learn the craft of stab bookbinding with instructor Maria DeAngelo in a hands-on workshop. Participants will design and build a hardcover book measuring 6 by 9 inches, complete with decorative endpapers and a visible stitch along the spine. Instruction covers making a durable cover, preparing pages, sewing the binding, and lining the book with thoughtfully chosen papers so each person finishes with a unique, completed piece. The session welcomes beginners and those looking to expand their book arts skills in a relaxed, supportive setting. Member tuition is $64.50 per student, and non-member tuition is $69 per student. Supplies are not included in the class fee, and a PDF supply list is available in the workshop description. Advance registration is required for classes at Arlene’s, and space is limited. For administrative matters such as registration, cancellations, or attendance, please contact Arlene’s directly, as instructors do not handle these requests. Most courses take place on the lower level of Arlene’s, which is accessible only by stairs, so please notify the staff in advance if stairs present a challenge to allow for alternate arrangements.

A midday performance at Tricentennial Park in downtown Albany brings live music to your lunch hour, featuring Downtown Classical Trio as part of a free series open to all. Across the season, the lineup also includes Joanne's Driving the Bus, Jillian Smith Trio, Musicians with Albany Symphony, Bronte Roman Quartet, The MacS Trio, and Michael T & Wee B3. This concert is supported by a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund and organized by the Albany Musician's Association, Local 14 of the American Federation of Musicians.

All tickets are free for a screening of How to Train Your Dragon, the 2025 film rated PG with a 2 hour and 5 minute runtime. Doors open with activities available before the movie, and children 12 and under receive free popcorn. On the isle of Berk, a longstanding peril threatens both dragons and Vikings, and the bond between Hiccup, a resourceful young Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury, becomes the key to a shared future. Groups of 20 or more can reserve seats by calling 518-465-3335 ext. 127 or emailing info@palacealbany.org.

Enjoy snacks and drinks, try your luck in raffles, and take in a fun atmosphere.

Typhoid Mary hosts a lively trivia night filled with sharp wit, big laughs, and friendly competition. Questions span pop culture, sports, entertainment, music, and current events, so a little of everything is on the table. It is free to play, and winners head home with cider flights and other Nine Pin goodies.

The Matthew Steckler Trio performs live jazz as part of a weekly series highlighting local artists. Reservations are accepted but not required. For details or to reserve by phone, call 518-650-6071.

Settle in at Centre Street Pub for a seven round trivia showdown packed with brain teasers, laughs, and a high stakes finish. The night covers general knowledge, picture based challenges, a rotating themed miscellaneous segment, a music and karaoke twist, history and geography, and entertainment, then wraps with a timed final question that calls for multiple answers and big points. Play solo or gather a team to combine brainpower. Top teams earn prizes, often gift cards, free drinks, or swag from distributors.

Dashboard Confessional is playing at Empire Live in Albany with Glom. The show starts at 8:00 PM.

Starship featuring Mickey Thomas spotlights the unmistakable lead vocals that shaped the band’s sound through the 1980s. After stepping in as lead singer for Jefferson Starship in 1979, Thomas helped deliver hits such as “Jane,” “No Way Out,” “Find Your Way Back,” “Stranger,” and “Layin’ It on the Line.” His rich, expressive delivery has made him a recognized presence in rock.

Part of a lunchtime music series presented by M&T Bank, this show brings midweek energy to Empire State Plaza Events with ten weeks of concerts paired with the Empire State Plaza Farmers Market and an array of food vendors. Slingshot Funk Band takes the stage with a lively mix of funk, R&B, jazz, rock, reggae, and soul, drawing from favorites of the 70s through today. Make the most of your break by grabbing a bite, soaking in live music, and exploring fresh market offerings.

Lavender Social Hour, formerly known as Women’s Pride, is a welcoming gathering in a women-led setting. It is open to women and to people across the spectrum who feel comfortable in women-led spaces, offering time to connect, share, and build community. The focus is on conversation, inclusion, and mutual support.

No-cost community yoga in Albany welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The sessions focus on gentle movement, mindful breathing, and relaxation to help reduce stress during the week, and no prior experience is required. Participants can bring a mat or borrow one and are encouraged to bring water. The program is sponsored by the YMCA, and off-street parking is available. Offered by Ms. Noir Wellness Studio, with wellness consultant and yoga instructor Noir sharing updates about future classes, workshops, and other wellness events.

Explore the Mohawk River by kayak while uncovering the stories that shaped Schenectady. This guided paddle sets out from modern Mohawk Harbor and travels to the area that once served as the city’s historic port, with an expert sharing the region’s past along the way. All necessary gear is included, with a kayak, life vest, and paddle provided on site. Plan for roughly two hours on the water. Restrooms are not available at the launch or endpoint. For safety reasons, personal kayaks are not permitted. Tours meet at Mohawk Harbor near Druthers.

Level 1 of the Tree of Transformation offers a foundational series of nine workshops that help participants cultivate inner steadiness, deepen self-knowledge, and gain clarity in how they think, feel, and act. Grounded in mindfulness and guided by a trauma-aware perspective, the program introduces practical tools to calm the nervous system, recognize emotional patterns, strengthen attention, and relate to identity and stress with more flexibility. It also builds a shared vocabulary and skill set that supports well-being, clearer communication, and intentional choices, setting the stage for sustainable performance and meaningful growth in both personal and professional life. Learning is immersive and interactive, blending concise teaching with guided practice, reflection, and real-world application. Sessions include short lessons on mindfulness, nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and behavior, along with regulation practices such as meditation, breathwork, grounding, and HeartMath coherence techniques. Time is provided for journaling and personal reflection, and there is space for optional group dialogue that normalizes experiences in a psychologically safe setting. Gentle somatic and awareness exercises help attune to sensations and emotional cues. Practical micro-practices like naming emotions, shifting attention, and grounding are introduced for daily use, and visual models such as the Window of Tolerance, emotional mapping, and values-based frameworks support integration. Each participant receives a comprehensive packet of professionally designed handouts and worksheets that align with every workshop, including reflection guides, practice outlines, visual frameworks, and prompts to encourage continued use between sessions. Materials are clear, reusable, and intended to support ongoing application beyond the training environment. Printed copies are provided for each person and are included in the price. This experience is led by Nicholas Cassius Clay, a Holistic Integrative Coach-Practitioner and founder of Being One World. With over five years of experience, he designs and facilitates trainings that weave together neuroscience, emotional regulation, and mindset development to help educators, leaders, and teams build self-awareness, resilience, and purposeful performance. He created the Tree of Transformation program and is the author of Breath by Breath: A Simple Way to Come Home to Yourself.

Autumn Lies Buried is playing at Empire Underground in Albany. The show starts at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Explore ceramics with a class that uses plaster of paris molds to guide you through pouring, cleaning, firing, and painting your own creations. Learn the sequence of steps, the tools involved, the mediums to use, and how to prepare pieces for firing. The pace and topics shift based on the creativity of participants and the processes they want to learn. This class meets twice per month, and charges apply only for the materials needed. For questions, contact Pete Jones at jonesp714@gmail.com.

At Lark Street Tavern, the mic is open for a laid back night of performances by local artists. Singers and songwriters can take the stage, and listeners can enjoy sets built around voices and guitars alongside a friendly crowd. Drinks are available as everyone settles into an easygoing evening that celebrates music and community.

The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by conductor Daniele Rustioni, presents Musorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition. The program also includes Korngold’s Violin Concerto featuring violinist Bomsori Kim, along with Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide.

At Waterworks, a midweek drag show presents a different mix of hosts and performers every week. The evening features drag entertainment along with music and drinks, contributing to the energy of Albany nightlife.

FOCUS offers a summertime community meet-up at Westminster Presbyterian Church featuring free hot dogs with lemonade or strawberry lemonade. It is a casual chance to chat and connect with others. Open to all, and plans depend on the weather.

Pokemon Club and League is back and running with a casual, welcoming setting for fans of both the video games and the trading card game. Entry is 6.00, and each participant receives one booster pack of their choice from the available selection upon entry. Pick up a league task sheet to work toward special prize packs, stickers, and more.

Capture a raw slice of music history with David Markey’s 1992 documentary 1991: The Year Punk Broke, which follows Sonic Youth and Nirvana on their late 1991 European tour. The film also spotlights live sets from Dinosaur Jr, Babes in Toyland, The Ramones, and Gumball, playing to large, enthusiastic crowds. Not rated and 99 minutes long, this screening is presented at Proctors as part of the Rock Schenectady summer series.

SUNY Schenectady’s Faculty Jazz Combo appears on the Music Haven stage with trumpeter and educator Jon Faddis, presenting a close-up night of swing and jazz from Capital Region musicians who also teach. Food is available at the on-site food court, so settle in and enjoy the music close to home. If it rains, the performance moves to Proctors. Supported by SUNY Schenectady, Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center, and Snapple.