All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Yes, summer isn't technically over until September 21, but -- you know.

Labor Day is the official unofficial beginning of the end of the season of swimming, barbecuing and outdoor ice cream stands. There's lots to look forward in fall (spoiler: apple cider donuts!), but this weekend, we're trying to cram in all the summer we can.

After the jump, a few things you might want to try. As always, if you're planning something you don't see there, drop it in the comments and share with the rest of us.

And whatever you're up to this Labor Day weekend -- have a fantastic time.

Summering
Throw a summer barbecue, mix a cool cocktail, go camping, buy a bike. Looking for other ways to enjoy summer in the Capital Region? Here are a few ideas.

Swimming
This is the last weekend for most public pools and beaches. Everybody into the pool while there's still time! Here's a list of public pools and beaches.

Troy Night Out
It's the last Troy Night Out of the summer. Shops and galleries in the Collar City are open late Friday night with art and performances. There's a twilight farmers' market from 5-8 pm and Tight Knit's Troy Flea will be open. If the weather is clear there's an Urban Star Party slated for 8:30 pm with telescopes and assistance from amateur astronomers. Also, you can stop by The Lucas Confectionery and try some Wisconsin cheeses, shipped to Troy by tugboat on the Hudson. You can check it all out and decide what you want to see with the Troy Night Out app.

Home stretch at Saratoga
This is the last weekend of the racing season at the Saratoga Race Course. If you've been holding out because of the crowds (or whatever), it's not a bad time to go -- the last week tends to be a bit more low key.

Sunday is a gate-giveaway day: a Saratoga Race Course beer stein.

And downtown Saratoga's Final Stretch Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday nights from 6-11 pm.

Animation Festival
The annual animation festival continues at Proctors through Saturday in the GE Theater. The festival slate includes more than 20 animated films. There's a broad range of material -- from old-school kids stuff (Lady and the Tramp) to new-school kids stuff (Frankenweenie) to adult fare (Cowboy Bebop) to modern classics (WALL-E).

Individual-screening tickets are $5 (17 and under $3). A festival pass is $25.

Fairs

County fair season wraps up this week with three fairs around the area:

+ The Fonda Fair at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, through Labor Day.

+ The Columbia County Fair in Chatham, through Labor Day. (There's a cupcake competition on Labor Day -- open to professionals and home bakers -- and the Food Network is apparently going to be there to film.)

+ The Schaghticoke Fair in (surprise) Schaghticoke, through Labor Day.

Scotland!
The Capital District Scottish Games are back at the Altamont Fairgrounds this weekend. You know you want to see some cabers tossed. tickets are $22 Saturday ($18 ahead) / $12 Sunday ($10 ahead) (save a buck on both by buying ahead at Price Chopper)

Theater

Gypsy
Gypsycloses at the Mac Haydn this weekend. Sing out, Louise. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 4 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm and 7 pm - $12-$30.

Young Frankenstein
The Theater Barn in New Lebanon presents the musical version of Mel Brooks' classic comedy Young Frankenstein. Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 4 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm $22/$24

Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah
Barrington Stage is winding down its season with the world premiere of Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah: "In 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, famous authors and frenemies, meet in Hollywood at the notorious Garden of Allah apartment complex. A humorous and heated exchange ensues about the cost of love, friendship and the price of being a writer." Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday 4pm & 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm - $40 and up.

Big Maggie
Albany Civic Theater opens its 2013-14 season this weekend with Big Maggie, the story of an Irish widow and her efforts to control the lives of her children. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 3 pm - $15, students and government employees can get two tickets for $15 with a valid ID

Music

Friday: John Mayer at SPAC
From NY Mag: "How to unhate John Mayer." With: Philip Phillips (the guy from American Idol). 7:30 pm - $48.50 and up

Friday: Lyle and Phil Divinsky at Upbeat on the Roof
Soul/R&B. Last Upbeat of the season. 7 pm - free

Saturday: Zac Brown Band at SPAC
Popular country act. 7 pm - $40 and up

Saturday: Harry Connick, Jr at Tanglewood
Promoting a new album of original songs. 7 pm - $29.50 and up

Saturday: Sandra Bernhard at Helsinki Hudson
Doing her thing -- comedy, singing, and so on. With: Musty Chiffon. 9 pm - $55

Saturday: Hamell on Trial at Valentine's
One-man storytelling, comedy, punk music show. 7 pm

Saturday: Miss Tess and the Talkbacks at Caffe Lena
Americana through a '40s and '50s aesthetic. With: Thomas Bryan Eaton. 8 pm - $16

Sunday: Boston Pops at Tanglewood
Season-ending matinee concert featuring vocalist Patti Austin in a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. 2:30 pm - $21 and up

Museums
Three day weekends are the perfect time to take a day and hangout in a museum. Here's what you can see at some of the region's museums right now:

Georgia O'Keeffe
The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls has an exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's works from Lake George. It's open through September 15.

Winslow Homer
There's only one more week to check out The Clark's Winslow Homer exhibit.

Civil War
The New York State Museum is still featuring its Civil War exhibit.

Mass MoCA
Xu Bing's Phoenix -- a giant bird made of materials harvested from construction sites in China -- can be still be seen at
MASS MoCA. You can also check out Five Sets Five Reps, a solo exhibit by painter Joseph Montgomery.

Robotic Dinosaurs
There are only a few weeks left to see the giant robotic dinosaurs at MiSci in Schenectady. While you're there you can check out the planetarium and other exhibits.

Art Omi
Art Omi in Ghent has an augmented reality tour of its Fields sculpture park Saturday evening (as mentioned). You'll need an iPhone/iPad or Android device to take part. 5:30 pm - free

32nd Annual Iroquois Indian Festival
The Iroquois Indian Museum at Howe Caverns is hosting a celebration of Iroquois art and culture with an all Iroquois Indian Art Market and Iroquois music and dances. Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 pm - prices vary

Open Cockpit Day
Every Saturday and Sunday in August is open cockpit day at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville -- visitors can sit at the controls of military aircraft.

ValleyCats baseball
The Tri-City ValleyCats play the Vermont Lake Monsters Friday at 7 pm.

Corn Maze
Yep, corn maze season has started. The giant maze at Fort Ticonderoga is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm -- free with admission to the fort. And the corn maze at Samascott's Garden Market in Kinderhook is now open -- 11 am to 5 pm Saturday-Monday, $7 per person (kids under 4 free).

Farmers' markets
It's the best time of year to take a trip to one of the local farmers' markets. Now is the time to get your tomatoes and a whole bunch of other great veggies. Markets are open in Troy (Saturday), Delmar (Saturday), Saratoga (Saturday), Schenectady (Sunday), and the new Spa City Farmers Market -- at the Lincoln Baths in Saratoga Springs (Sunday).

Ice Cream
Check out the Tour de Soft Serve and the Tour de Hard Ice Cream and the Tour de Gelato before you make up your mind. There's also Moxie's vanilla tour.

The Saratoga Race Course, Lucas Confectionery, MiSci and Live Nation advertise on AOA.

still: Walt Disney Animation Studios