All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

All this rain is expected to clear out early this weekend, but it's the Northeast, so, you know -- carry an umbrella just in case.

That said, there is a 100% chance of interesting stuff to do in the Capital Region this weekend. Our list of suggestions can be found after the jump. It includes art festivals, a balloon festival, music, theater and a soap box derby. Got something planned that you don't see on the list? Share it in the comments.

And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend!

1st Friday
It's 1st Friday in Albany. Shops and galleries all over the city are open late with art, music, performances and other special events.

A few things to check out:

The Albany Barn's Stage One has a printmaking exhibition with work by Chris Skaggs, Kristine Monahan, Audrey Hammond, and Jennifer Sinski.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is screening the classic 1920 Buster Keaton silent film One Week, with an original organ accompaniment by Michael Britt.

The 1st Friday Capital Swing Dance with Doc Scanlon's Rhythm Boys at 25 South Allen starts at 7:30 pm.

You'll find the complete schedule of 1st Friday events here.

Art on Lark
The annual Art on Lark festival is Saturday in Albany. Lark Street will be closed off for artists to display and sell their work. Also: food vendors -- and music. The lineup on two stages includes a bunch of good locals. Saturday 10 am-5 pm

Saratoga Arts Fest
The annual Saratoga Arts Fest continues through Sunday with music, dance, visual art, film, and theater events around Saratoga Springs. The headliner for this year's festival is Ben Vereen, who will be playing a show featuring the music of "Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and the best of Broadway" at the Zankel Center Friday night. The Arts Fest runs Friday-Sunday various times - a festival pass is $40 (discounts for students and military, 17 and under free), and some events have individual admission fees.

Capital Pride
The annual Capital Pride celebration continues this weekend, wrapping up on Sunday with the pride parade and festival. The headliner for this year's festival in Washington Park is Debbie Gibson.

Hot air balloons, dogs and cheesecake
The Cambridge Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival is this Saturday. While you're there you can take a detour and check out the open house at New Skete Monastery, where the monks will give demonstrations on how they train dogs and socialize puppies, and you can get a tour of the bakery where the nuns make fantastic cheesecake. The New Skete open house is Saturday from 10 am-4 pm.

Flag Day Parade
Troy's renowned Flag Day Parade is Sunday. It steps off at 1 pm on 4th and Main streets in the Collar City and will head down 4th Street to Federal Street.

Soap Box Derby
The annual Capital District All American Soapbox Derby will take place on Saturday and Sunday on Madison Avenue outside the New York State Museum. Races begin at 9 am each day.

Theater

Billy Elliot
The touring company of the Broadway-style musical version of Billy Elliot starts at six-day run at Proctors Tuesday. The show is based on the movie of the same name, and includes music by Elton John. The Broadway production won a bunch of Tony awards, including best musical. Friday-Sunday, various times - $20 and up

Doubt
The Classic Theater Guild production of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt: A Parable closes this weekend at Proctors' Fenimore Gallery. Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. - $17.50 / students and seniors $14.50

9 to 5: The Musical
The Mac Haydn Theater in Chatham continues its summer season with 9 to 5: The Musical . Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. - $28-$30 / under 12 $12 with adult

Master Class
Terrence McNally's Tony-winning play Master Class, about legendary opera diva Maria Callas, continues this weekend at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. Friday and Saturday 8:30 p.m., Sunday 3p.m. - $21-$50

Periphery
Periphery, a play about the 1960 Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in by four college freshmen in Greensboro, North Carolina, closes this weekend at Emmanuel Friedens Church in Schenectady. Friday & Saturday at 8p.m., Sunday 2p.m. - $15 / $13 for students and seniors.

The Theatre in S@NE
A group called Mostly Harmless Productions is doing Hilarious Nightmares -- a collection of dark comedy one-acts by Kennedy Center short-play award winner Daniel Guyton. From the blurbage: "These shows will terrify you, make you laugh and might even make you cry -- all at the same time." Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. The Northeast School. 1821 Hamburg Street, Schenectady - $10

Tony Awards
Get your Broadway geek on this Sunday at Proctors. They're broadcasting the Tony Awards on the big screen in the GE Theater. There's a cash bar, an opportunity to win Broadway swag, and other theater enthusiasts who will be happy to speculate with you about who will win Best Musical. Sunday at 6:30 pm - free admission.

do do de dooo
Friday: The Price is Right Live is back at the Palace -- this is the show that was added after the strong demand for last week's show. (It looks like there are still a fair number of seats available for this show, especially in the balcony.) Friday 7:30 pm - $32.75 and up

Mountain Jam
The Mountain Jam Festival is back at Hunter Mountain Thursday through Sunday. Among the lineup for this year: Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh, Primus, The Avett Brothers, the Lumineers, David Wax Museum. single day tickets start at $49 (Thursday) and go up from there, multi-day passes start at $200 (3-day) and go up from there

Music

Friday: Over the Rhine at Helsinki Hudson
Named after a neighborhood in Cincinnati. 9 pm - $20

Saturday: Charlie Mars at the Linda
Folk rock singer/songwriter. 8 pm - $18

Saturday: Brass-O-Mania! at Troy Music Hall
19-piece brass big band. 8 pm - free (tickets available via the Troy Record)

Saturday: J.P. Harris and Joe Fletcher at Helsinki Hudson
"Honky tonk heroes." (Their respective bands have great names: J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons.) 9 pm - $12

Saturday: The Lucky 5 at Helsinki Hudson
"A hard-swinging old-school jazz quintet." Swing dancing (beginner swing lesson at 8:30, $5). 9 pm - $15

Sunday: Faith Prince at Helsinki Hudson
Tony-award winner in a one-woman show "Have a Little Faith." Part of the Helsinki on Broadway series. 6 pm

Comedy

MopCo: You Never Know
The Mop & Bucket Company's "You Never Know" show is back. Think Whose Line is it Anyway -- a night of short form improv games where talented improvisers make up scenes and songs based on audience suggestions. Underground at Proctors. Friday at 8 pm - $14 adults, $6 students and seniors.

Improv at The Comedy Works
Mop & Bucket's weekly short form improv comedy show is back on Saturday night at The Comedy Works on Northern Blvd in Albany. Think Whose Line is it Anyway. 8 pm - $15-$20

Maude Baum & Company Salon Concert
EBA Dance Theater performs works by Isadora Duncan and Maude Baum on Friday night EBA Theater on Lark Street. 8 pm - $20, $15 for students and seniors

Other peoples kitchens
Here's a fundraiser that looked interesting: The Junior League of Troy is holding a Dine by Design tour of kitchens in Troy's historic Eastside neighborhood. Tickets are available at any of the homes on the tour on the day of the event. Sunday 11a.m. to 3p.m. $20.

Yaddo Films
This weekend the Saratoga Film Forum celebrates Yaddo, screening films by artists who did residencies at the Saratoga artists' retreat.

Friday at 7 pm: The Illusionist, based on a short story by Stephen Millhauser. $8 general admission, $6 Film Forum Members and ArtsPass holders.
Saturday at 7 pm: The silent film The Golem , featuring live guitar accompaniment by Gary Lucas. $15 general admission, $10 Arts Center and Film Forum members, $8 Arts Pass holders
Sunday 7 pm: Prodigal Sons, transgender filmmaker Kimberly Reed's documentary about returning to her 20th high school reunion and attempting to reconcile with her long estranged adopted brother. $8 general admission, $6 Film Forum Members and ArtsPass holders.

Subliminal Transcriptions
Light installation Subliminal Transcriptions at the Arts Center of the Capital Region is on display Friday and Saturday.

Armenian Festival
St. Peter's Armenian Church in Watervliet is hosting its annual Armenian Festival this weekend with music, dancing, food, pastries, cooking demonstrations and carnival games. Saturday from noon to 8p.m. Sunday from noon to 5p.m - free admission

Americade
The annual Americade motorcycle festival is in Lake George through Saturday.

Farmers' markets

Troy, Saratoga, Delmar, Schenectady
The outdoor season for farmers' markets are in swing in Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), and Schenectady (Sunday).

Spa City
After a few delays, the new Spa City Farmers Market -- at the Lincoln Baths in Saratoga Springs -- is scheduled to debut this Sunday. 10 am-3 pm

GE Kids in Free Day at Great Escape
Saturday is Kids in Free Day at Great Escape. One child under 12 can get in free with each adult admission on Saturday from 10 am-8 pm. Normally that kids pass costs $42.99.

Swim
This weekend is a little wetter and a lot cooler than last, but there should still be some pool weather in the mix. Saratoga Spa State Park's Victoria Pool is open this weekend. You can swim there on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Also, Grafton Lake State Park and Moreau Lake State Park are open for swimming this weekend.

Movies
A double feature is a great way to spend a rainy weekend afternoon, and summer blockbuster season is underway. There's a lot to choose from in the Capital Region this weekend, Including Star Trek, Iron Man 3, The Great Gatsby and Now You See Me. And if you haven't had a chance to see it yet, The Spectrum is still showing The Place Beyond the Pines.

Proctors, The Spectrum, MopCo and the Arts Center advertise on AOA.

Photo:Sebastien Barre