For Immediate Release

May 29, 2018

View or download release in PDF format

TROY, NY – From craft beer to baseball, from classic cars to classical music, and barbecue, boutiques, shops and much more, the City of Troy continues to be the Capital Region’s premiere destination for entertainment and family fun in 2018. On Tuesday, May 29, Mayor Patrick Madden was joined by event organizers and representatives of Troy’s diverse array of special events to announce the kick off the Collar City’s 2018 summer event season.

With over 40 special events featuring a wide variety of unique entertainment options – including dozens of musical performances, signature food festivals, and sporting events – visitors, families, and residents of all ages will have plenty of ways to enjoy Troy all summer long.

Mayor Patrick Madden said, “The Collar City remains the place to be for families, residents and visitors to enjoy Troy throughout the summer season. With an impressive and array of entertainment and unique special events featuring great local talent, signature food and craft beer festivals, there is something for everyone from across the Capital Region to enjoy. We invite everyone to come and explore everything our City has to offer!”

Katie Hammon, Executive Director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District said, “Make downtown Troy your home for entertainment this season, with various events taking place throughout the summer and fall. We welcome new and seasoned guests to experience downtown Troy’s wide array of shops, restaurants and places to explore during our widely-attended family friendly events. We cannot wait to see you at Rockin’ on the River, River Fest, Troy Pig Out, Fitness in the Park, Troy Night Out, Troy Restaurant & Craft Beer Week, ChowderFest and more. There is so much to discover!”

Anna Kuwabara, Executive Director of the Albany Symphony said, “We are very excited for the Albany Symphony to kick off Troy’s summer series with our free outdoor River Sings concert on June 3 at Riverfront Park. The River Sings is part of our annual American Music Festival and will feature familiar favorites and new works in collaboration with the Albany-Berkshire Ballet, the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet, choristers from Bard College Conservatory, SCCC, and St. Rose, the Troy City Public Schools, and a guitar mob of musicians from around the region. We are grateful to the City of Troy for their continued collaboration and support.”

Matt Callahan, General Manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats said, “The ValleyCats 17th season at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium begins on June 15th with a full lineup of family fun and exciting professional baseball action planned throughout the summer. We are thrilled to celebrate the World Series Championship of our affiliate, the Houston Astros, which will include a visit from the World Series Trophy and tributes to a number of our former players. Each of our 38 games will feature entertaining promotions and a great atmosphere with a variety of special events also planned to attract even more people to the historic city of Troy throughout the summer!”

Kristin Jackson, Manager of the Troy Flea said, “Everyone at Troy Flea is excited to return for our fourth year in Riverfront Park with many new and favorite vendors. Be sure to look for our #TroyDoesSundaysBetter campaign to connect visitors with local businesses throughout the city that are open Sundays.”

Joe Uccellini, head coach of Curby-3 Style Wrestling Club and co-founder of Headlocks on the Hudson Troy said, “As a developmental coach and true fan of Olympic wrestling we wanted to create a festival that encouraged wrestler’s participation. Sage Field on River Street offers an atmosphere that we feel maximizes the festival feel and the supporting local Troy businesses make it that much better. This is our 3rd year, and this event continues to grow”

Sue Dunckel, Organizer of The Enchanted City Festival said, “In celebration of our 5th year in Troy, the Enchanted City Festival is inviting every citizen across the Capital Region to attend our event as not only as a spectator, but also as a co-creator! With the addition of the six district Inventor’s Challenge, every Trojan is encouraged to participate in their neighborhood float-making and marching in the parade. A community beautification grant will be awarded to the district who best displays the true spirit of community!”

Charles Darmanjian, Cars and Caffeine event organizer said, “The combined energy, passion and history of Troy’s automotive community are on display during the Capital Region Cars and Caffeine monthly meetup. Held on the last Sunday of every month, this monthly gathering is a great match for the Collar City’s eclectic event schedule. We are thrilled to be a part of Troy’s exciting summer season for another great year.”

Jeff Stumb, Event Director of The Great Race said, “When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival. In 2017, we had four overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators on our way to having 250,000 people see the Great Race during the event. We are thrilled to include Troy in this year’s event and look forward to being part of Troy’s unique summer season.”

Liz Comitale, Market Operations Manager for the Troy Waterfront Farmers said, “The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is a vibrant, year-round local food marketplace and festival happening every Saturday right here in downtown Troy. Now in our 19th year, we are bigger and better than ever, supporting over 100 farmers and artisans from throughout the Capital Region. Drawing upwards of 18,000 people on a single Saturday in Troy, it’s surely a regional event not to be missed. Support farmers, support local, and enjoy Troy.”

Robert Cassetti, Senior Director, creative strategy & audience engagement at the Corning Museum of Glass said, “The 1868 trip on the Hudson River and canal systems of New York State launched 150 years of glass innovation in Corning. The glass inventions and technology developed in Corning have shaped the modern world, from the first electric light bulbs for Thomas Edison and the invention of optical fiber for telecommunications, to the glass used in modern flat screen displays. The success of the company led to the opening of The Corning Museum of Glass. We’re honoring this occasion by taking innovations developed by CMoG—namely, our patented electric hot shop and mobile hot glass programming—back to its roots: that notable journey along New York’s waterways.”

2018 Summer Event Schedule:

Downtown Troy BID



Rockin’ on the River

Wednesdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27 | July 11, 18, 25 | August 1, 8

5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Riverfront Park

A free, 9-week summer concert series held on Wednesday nights in Riverfront Park. The series gives music fans a wonderful excuse to stay out and about on a Wednesday night in Downtown Troy, attracting 5,000 to 10,000 guests per night.

Wednesday, June 6 :: Moriah Formica

w/ special guest Margo Macero

Wednesday, June 13 :: Skeeter Creek

w/ special guest Sydney Worthley

Wednesday, June 20 :: Super Doppler

w/ special guest Wurliday

Wednesday, June 27 :: Blues For Breakfast

Wednesday, July 11 :: Meklit

Wednesday, July 18 :: Gabriel Sanchez Presents The Prince Experience

w/ special guest The Age (Adrian Lewis)

Wednesday, July 25 :: Almost Queen

w/ special guest The Troy Music Academy All-Stars

Wednesday, August 1 :: Rubblebucket

Wednesday, August 8 :: The Mallett Brothers Band

w/ special guest The North & South Dakotas

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 Market

Showcasing 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 Park

One 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 Park

The 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 16

Unlike 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 Apartments

12th Annual Troy ChowderFest

Sunday, October 7 | 12:00 pm to 4:00pm

Monument Square & throughout Troy

ChowderFest 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 28

The 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 Sunday beginning at 2:00 pm. More information, visit www.greatrace.com



Capital Region Cars and Caffeine

Last Sunday of every month (May – October) – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

May 27, June 24, July 29, August 26, September 30, October 28

The 2018 Great Race stop in Troy will also coincide with the Capital Region Cars and Caffeine event, the area’s largest classic car meet-up. Held on the last Sunday of every month from April through October at 1945 Speed and Custom in Troy’s North Central neighborhood, the event features over 500 cars and thousands of people from across New York and New England. More information, visit https://www.facebook.com/capitalregioncarsandcaffeine/



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 Refrigerators

AUGUST:

4th – Matt Mirabile Band

11th – Big Sky Country

18th – River Junction

25th – Emerald City

For information, visit www.facebook.com/powersparkconcerts



Albany Symphony’s American Music Festival

May 31 – June 3, 2018

A bold, five-day festival of innovative concerts and artistic happenings across Troy, NY. Experience thrilling new works by living American composers and cross-genre artists. More info, visit http://www.albanysymphony.com/amfevents/



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.

More info, visit https://www.facebook.com/Headlocknation/



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 Park

In 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 [email protected]

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[email protected] / (518) 279-7131

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