All Over Albany

Capital Region holiday events 2014

December is here and the Capital Region's schedule of holiday-themed events is stuffed with tree lights, Victorian strolls, concerts, screenings of holiday classics, and a bunch of other activities.

And here's a rundown of them...

This isn't a comprehensive list (though it is extensive). If there's something you think should be listed, please share in the comments.

Looking for local holiday markets? We have a list of those, too.

December 4: Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk
Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs will be closed from 5-10 pm for food, entertainment and all sorts of holiday stuff. The tree lighting is at 435 Broadway. tree lighting at 6 pm - free admission

December 4-7: Holiday Greens Show at the Hart Cluett House
The 58th annual Holiday Greens Show, organized by the Van Rensselaer Garden Club and the Rensselaer County Historical Society, is at the Hart-Cluett House in downtown Troy. It's annual holiday display of decorations with "fresh trees, flowers, and greens." various times - various prices

December 4: It's a Wonderful Life radio theater show at Proctors
"This fresh new adaptation of the film is set in the fictional studio of WVL Radio Theatre, which is struggling to stay on the air one snowy winter's night. The professional voice actors are unable to get to the studio, but the show must go on--and so a small but intrepid band of employees manages to create the story's dozens of characters and scenes using just their voices and some everyday household items for sound effects." 7:30 pm - #35

December 5: It's a Jazzy Christmas at Massry Center
Popular annual concert of Vince Guaraldi holiday music (you know, as heard in the Peanuts cartoons). It's a fun show -- and a good one for kids. 6 pm - $20 / $10 students / kids 5 and under free (with ticket)

December 5-7, 12-14: A Christmas Carol at The Theatre Institute at Sage
A new adaptation of the Dickens classic, produced at the Schacht Theatre on Sage's Troy campus. (There are also morning shows December 3-5, 10-12.) Friday and Saturdays 7 pm / Sundays 2 pm - $15 / $12 students and seniors

December 5-14: It's A Wonderful Life (Live on Stage) at Proctors
Classic Theater Guild's production of the classic in a "faithful adaptation." various times - $18.50 / $15.50

December 5: Have a Blue (Grassy) Christmas at The Linda
With Sara Milonovich, Jim Gaudet, and members of Daisycutter and the Railroad Boys. 8 pm - $15

December 6: Santa Speedo Sprint
People dashing down Lark Street in scant, holiday-themed attire. For charity. sprint starts at 2 pm at Lark and Madison

December 6: Hudson Winter Walk
"Every year, Hudson's mile-long Warren Street is transformed into a festive boulevard with twinkling lights, brightly decorated shops, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, live reindeer, horse-drawn wagons, carolers, and a legion of characters and performers." (Snow date is December 13.) 5-8 pm - free admission

December 5, 6, 7: Sharon Springs Victorian Holiday Festival
Music, crafts, samples, the Beekman Boys, and more over three days and many events. various times

December 6: West Point Jazz Knights at The Linda
Annual big band holiday concert. 7 pm - free (reservation required, and it's filled up in years past)

December 6: Rockin' Christmas 2014 at Troy Music Hall
With Whitney Wolanin and Her Shenanigans. 8 pm - $27 and up

December 6, 7: Northeast Ballet's Annual Nutcracker at Proctors
With principal dancers from the New York City Ballet. Saturday 7 pm / Sunday 2 pm - $20 and up

December 6, 7: Mountain Snow and Mistletoe at The Egg
The annual bluegrass holiday show. Saturday 7:30 pm / Sunday 2 pm - $24

December 7: Troy Victorian Stroll
All sorts of holiday whatnot in downtown Troy, including music, food, decorated store windows, and people in costume. 11 am-5 pm - free admission

December 7: The Trial Before Christmas at the Rensselaer County Courthouse
A mock trial to decide who really was the author of the famous poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas," which was originally published in the Troy Sentinel. (Last year's trial had an overflow crowd.) 2 pm - free

December 7: Holiday tree lighting at the Empire State Plaza
Music, ice skating, reindeer, fireworks, a really big tree. The Taste NY Holiday Expo is also that day at the State Museum ($5). And the Great Train Extravaganza is in the ESP Convention Center ($7 / 12 and under free). events start at 1 pm, fireworks at 5:30 pm - free admission

December 7: Taste NY Expo at the State Museum
"For five hours on Sunday, December 7th, the Museum will be transformed into a bustling shopping emporium for the state's finest specialty items, including cheese, chocolates, apples, hand-crafted beer, wine and spirits, maple products, and other edible gifts." Also: demos, activities, and a chocolate fountain. 11 am-4:30 pm - $5 / 12 and under free

December 7: ASO Magic of Christmas at The Palace
Popular annual Christmas shows. 3 pm - $25 / $14 and up kids

December 8: The Piano Guys "A Family Christmas" at The Palace
YouTube-famous. "'A Family Christmas' puts The Piano Guys' signature twist on such Christmas classics as 'Silent Night,' 'Good King Wenceslas' and 'Angels We Have Heard On High.'" 7:30 pm - $40.50 and up

December 9: The Messiah at The Cathedral of All Saints
"Woodrow Bynum leads The Cathedral of All Saints Choir of Men & Boys, and a period instrument orchestra in a performance of Handel's masterpiece ... The work, sung in its entirety, features guest soloists Ava Pine, soprano, Emily Marvosh, alto, Jack Swanson, tenor, and Sumner Thompson, baritone, and performed in the Gothic splendor of The Cathedral of All Saints." 7 pm - $25 / $20 seniors / $15 students / $10 under 12

December 11: Jim Brickman at Troy Music Hall
"[A] one-of-a-kind concert event filled with lush instrumentals and soaring vocals ... With featured musical guests, feelings of hope and joy are fused together with Jim's most beloved hits like 'Valentine,' "If You Believe,' 'The Gift,' 'Angel Eyes,' and 'Sending You A Little Christmas.'" A benefit for the Capital Region Coalition to End Homelessness. 7:30 pm - $29 and up

December 12: Mendelssohn Club Holiday Concert at The Egg
"The Mendelssohn Club performs their annual Holiday Concert: Seasonal Joy Around the World with guest artists Vedrana Kalas and the Queensbury Madrigal Singers." 7:30 pm - $20

December 13: Downtown Schenectady's City Hall-iday
A new take on downtown Schenectady holiday open house: crafts, performances, horse-drawn carriages, Santa. noon-4 pm - free admission

December 13: Albany Gay Men's Chorus: Christmas Bells are Ringing
"This year you will hear some traditional holiday music-and perhaps some not too traditional." The chorus will be at the First Congregational Church in Albany (on Quail near New Scotland). And there's a repeat performance Sunday, December 14 at the First Reformed Church in Hudson. 7:30 pm - $12 / $9 students

December 13: Max & Ruby - The Nutcracker Suite at The Egg
"Bunny siblings Max & Ruby let their imaginations whisk them away to a magical land where they become characters in the beloved holiday ballet." 11 am / 3 pm - $18 / adults in free with a kid (one adult per kid)

December 13, 14: Albany Pro Musica: Christmas Around the World
The choral group will be at the Carondelet Hospitality Center in Latham for "joyous journey to holiday celebrations in Sweden, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Nigeria, Spain and England, back to America." Saturday, December 13 7:30 pm / Sunday, December 14 3 pm - $25 and up / $10 students

December 13: Nowell Sing We Clear: A Pageant of Mid-Winter Carols at Old Songs
"This will be the 40th and final season of Nowell Sing We Clear with its unusual songs, carols, stories and customs." 3 pm - $20 / $5 12 and under

December 14: Historic Albany Holiday House Tour
"The tour moves from neighborhood to neighborhood highlighting the very best in Albany's architecture and ongoing preservation efforts." noon-4 pm - $25 / $15 students before December 10 | $30 / $20 students after December 10

December 14: The Zucchini Brothers Holiday Show at The Egg
Kids concert. 2 pm - $12 / one adult in free with each kid

December 15: Cirque Dreams Holidaze at The Palace
"[I]t's a cirque show...Broadway musical...holiday spectacular...and family show all in one." 7 pm - $28 and up

December 16: Scrooged screening at The Palace
The 1988 take on A Christmas Carol starring Bill Murray. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

December 18-21: Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Annual holiday concerts featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorale. various times - $15 and up

December 19: It's a Wonderful Life screening at The Palace
The classic film screened in the old movie palace. 3 pm / 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

December 19: Nick Lowe's Quality Holiday Revue at The Egg
"[T]he show will feature a few brand-new Christmas Classics from 2013's "Quality Street" as well as careful selections from his back catalog of hits and near misses." 8 pm - $35

December 20: Albany Berkshire Ballet performance of The Nutcracker
40th anniversary show. 1:30 pm / 5:30 pm - $38 / $25 12 and under

December 21: Production of A Charlie Brown Christmas at The Palace
"The classic animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation where Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the other Peanuts grapple with the real meaning of Christmas." Presented by the Park Playhouse. 7 pm - $20 / $10 kids

December 22: It's a Wonderful Life screening at Proctors
The classic film screened in the GE Theater. 2 pm / 4:45 pm / 7:30 pm - $5

December 22: Screening of White Christmas at The Palace
The classic movie featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. 7 pm - $5 / $3 kids

December 23-28: ELF The Broadway Musical at Proctors
A musical stage version of the film. various times - $20 and up