All Over Albany

Stuff to do this weekend

Things should start to dry out just in time for this pre-Halloween weekend. And there's plenty to do, from haunted hayrides, scary movies and harvest festivals to music, theater, and comedy.

After the jump we've raked up a pile of stuff to do for you to dive into (figuratively, of course). Got something planned that you don't see here? Drop it in the comments for the rest of us to see. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

Film Columbia
The Film Columbia film festival runs through Sunday in Chatham, and includes a bunch of films that are already getting attention because of screenings at other festivals and/or they're eagerly awaited because of stars or directors involved. (If you'd like to attend one of the screenings, try to get tickets ahead, because many screenings sell out.) individual tickets start at $12

More film

Snowpiercer
Friday and Sunday: The Saratoga Film Forum screens Snowpiercer, a sci-fi film based on a French graphic novel in which the last survivors on Earth are living on a train following a catastrophic climate experiment. It got very good reviews. Friday and Sunday at 7:30pm - $7

Lemon: The Movie
Friday: The NYS Writers Institute is screening the documentary Lemon: The Movie, the story of poet and performer Lemon Anderson's struggle to free his family from poverty and bring his story to the stage. Friday at 7:30 pm at Page Hall on UAlbany's downtown campus - free

Skylight
Sunday: The Spectrum is screening the National Theater of London's production of David Hare's play Skylight. Sunday at noon

Halloween films
The Madison Theater in Albany is hosting a Halloween-themed weekend with screenings of Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, and Maze Runner.

Halloween
Friday and Saturday: The Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga Springs is screening the original Halloween . Friday and Saturday at 11:30 pm

Halloween at the drive -in :
The Malta Drive-In is hosting a Halloween-themed weekend.
Screen 1: Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream
Screen 2: Hotel Transylvania, Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice

Yawp!
Saturday and Sunday: The Bow Tie Cinema in Saratoga Springs wraps up it's month long tribute to Robin Williams with Dead Poets Society. Saturday and Sunday at 11 am

Comedy

Amy Schumer
Saturday: Comedian Amy Schumer will be at The Palace for a stand-up show. Schumer's Comedy Central series has gotten good reviews over two seasons. And a movie she wrote and stars in -- directed by Judd Apatow -- is set to be released next year. Saturday 8 pm - $37.50 and up

MopCo
Friday: The Mop & Bucket Company is back at Proctors Underground with Chortal Combat, a short form improv comedy show in which improvisers compete to create scenes and songs using audience suggestions. Friday 8pm - $14 / $6 for students and seniors.

Autumnal fun
The season is short, get your apple picking, foliage viewing, cider donut eating, pumpkin patch fun while you can.

Saratoga Fall Festival
Saturday: The Saratoga Downtown Business Association'ss annual Fall Festival will have events all over the Spa City. Music, a petting zoo, costume parade, a rock climbing wall, and a pumpkin roll down Caroline Street. Saturday 10 am-5 pm

Schenectady County Fall Foliage Festival
Saturday: Mabee Farm is hosting the annual Schenectady County Fall Foliage Festival. Farmers' market, pumpkin carving contest, scarecrow building, craft beer exhibition, cider donuts and more. Saturday 1-5:30 pm

Pick apples
Apple season is headed toward its finish at orchards around the region, if it's not already there. Here's a list of local spots to pick apples. (The list is from last year, but much of the info should still be good.)

Check out a park
This is a great time of year to check out a local park or hiking spot, like the Saratoga National Historic Park, Vroman's Nose, Schodack Island, Cherry Plain, Moreau, Grafton Lakes or Peebles Island.

Also: There a recent Ask AOA question about favorite fall hiking spots turned up some good suggestions.

Halloween
Yes, it's a week early but there's plenty of celebrating going on.

Festival of the Dead
Saturday: The Washington Avenue Armory is hosting the annual annual Festival of the Dead Halloween party. You must be 21 and you must come in costume. Music, burlesque performances, and more. Saturday, doors open at 7:30 - $25/person, $40/couple

Monster Mash and Bash
Saturday: A kid-friendly Halloween party at the NYS Museum. Crafts, storytelling and a costume parade. Saturday 11am to 4pm - $5 per child (cash only)

Halloween Harvest Fest
Sunday: The Albany Public Library is hosting a Halloween party for kids at its main branch on Washington Avenue with crafts, snacks, games and more. Sunday 1-3 pm

Spooky
We've entered the time of year when some people like to freak themselves out with ghost stories and haunted hayrides. Here are a few options this weekend:

Down the Hall: An Immersive Psychological Thriller
Modeled on Punchdrunk NYC's production Sleep No More, the Theater Institute at Sage presents Down the Hall. It's an original, immersive theater piece that takes audiences on a tour of the haunted history of Russell Sage College. Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm and 9pm through November 1 - $10 / $8 to the Sage community.

Saratoga Scare Fair
The Saratoga Scare Fair is an 8,000 foot haunted attraction at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds. Friday and Saturday nights throughout October - 6:30pm to 10pm - $8

Ghost Tour of Albany
The people at Dutch Apple Tours are hosting historic ghost tours throughout October. There's one slated for this Saturday night at 7pm. $30

Schuyler Farms Haunted Corn Maze
Schuyler Farms in Schuylerville offers trips through the "Field of Screams," a haunted corn maze, every Friday and Saturday night in October. $14

Haunted Hayride
The Double M in Ballston Spa has haunted hayrides every weekend in October. various times and prices

Field of Horrors
The Capital Combat Zone paintball facility in Brunswick has turned itself into the new "Field of Horrors," with haunted hayrides and haunted houses. (Two of the haunted houses are "not recommended for children.") Friday-Saturday 6-11 pm - $22 with online discount

Candlelight Tour of the Schenectady Stockade
Friday: The Schenectady County Historical Society is offering candlelight walking tours of the historic Stockade neighborhood. Friday at 7pm and 7:30 pm - $10

History Walk:Murder & Mayhem
Saturday: This week's Rensselaer County Historical Society history walk on the spirit world and ghosts alleged to haunt the streets of the Collar City. Saturday at 10:30 am, leaves from the farmers' market info table - $5

Ghosts in the Yaddo Gardens
Yaddo is offering ghost tours in its gardens on Fridays and Sundays through October. 5 pm - $10

Theater

Evil Dead: The Musical
Troy Civic Theater opens its production of Evil Dead: The Musical this weekend at The Troy Atrium. Friday and Saturday at 8pm - $13 & $15

Company
The Local Actors Guild of Saratoga presents Stephen Sondheim's Company this weekend at the Saratoga Arts Center. Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 2pm - $20

Chess
The Not So Common Players present Chess, the 1980s Cold War musical by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, this weekend at Shenedahowa High School. Molly Rose McGrath and Brandon Jones blow the doors off the place. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm - free

Neat. Sweet. Petite.
Home Made Theater continues its production of the musical The Addams Family this weekend. Friday & Saturday 8pm - $29/$26

The Liar
Schenectady Civic's production of The Liar wraps up this weekend. It's the story of a charming young man with one flaw -- he cannot tell the truth. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm - $17

Music

Friday: Primus at The Palace
With: The Fungi Ensemble. 8 pm - $29.50 and up

Friday: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn at Troy Music Hall
Banjo star couple. 8 pm - $25 and up

Friday: Lip Talk (nee Railbird) at The Low Beat
They'll also be at Helsinki Hudson Saturday. With: Better Pills, Alexander Turnquist. 9 pm

Friday: Less Than Jake at Upstate Concert Hall
Ska. With: The Interrupters, And We Danced, Firestarter. 7:30 pm - $16 ahead / $18 day of

Friday: Johnny Mathis at Proctors
On the main stage. 8 pm - $20 and up

Saturday: Postmodern Jukebox at Troy Music Hall
Pop song cover/re-interpretation act. 8 pm - $29

Saturday: A Night of Murder Ballads at Caffe Lena
"[A]n evening of grisly, gruesome and goofy songs about bad things happening to good people." 8 pm - $20

Saturday: You Me at Six at Upstate Concert Hall
Rock. With: Young Guns, Stars in Stereo, This Renaissance. 7:30 pm - $15 ahead / $17 day of

Saturday: Turkuaz at Putnam Den
"Nine-piece power-funk group." With: Primate Fiasco. 9:30 pm - $8 ahead / $12 day of

Saturday: The Arch Stanton Quartet at Parish Public House
Jazz, album release show. 8 pm

Saturday: Empire State Youth Orchestra at The Egg
Playing work American composers. 7 pm - $20

Saturday: Nancy and Spencer Reed Quartet at The Madison
Jazz. The Madison opens its new performance venue space. 8 pm - $18

Farmers' Markets
This is the last weekend for most of the outdoor Farmers' Markets. They move indoors next week.
+ The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will be on River Street in downtown Troy Saturday morning.
+ The Saratoga Farmers' Market is at the High Rock Park pavilions on Saturday.
+ The Delmar Farmers Market is at Bethlehem Central Middle School on Saturday.
+ The Schenectady Greenmarket is around Schenectady City on Sunday.
+ The Spa City Farmers' Market will be on the front lawn of the Lincoln Baths Sunday.

The Troy Music Hall and APL advertises on AOA.

photo via Amy Schumer FB page