All Over Albany

Capital Region holiday events 2017

December has arrived and the Capital Region's schedule of holiday-themed events is full of tree lightings, Victorian strolls, concerts, screenings of Christmas movies, and a bunch of other holiday whatnot.

And here's a big, big list of that stuff...

This isn't a comprehensive list. If there's something you think should be listed, please share in the comments.

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

November 30: City of Albany Holiday Tree Lighting
Holiday tree lighting in Academy Park, and city hall open house. 5-8 pm -- free

November 30: Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk
Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs will be closed for food, entertainment and all sorts of holiday stuff. The tree lighting is at 6 pm. 6-10 pm -- free admission

November 30-December 3: Holiday Greens Show at the Hart Cluett House
The 61st 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 a holiday display of decorations with "fresh trees, flowers, and greens." various times -- various prices

December 1: Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Holiday parade down Milton Avenue to Wiswall Park on Front Street. Tree lighting, Santa, carolers, open shops. 6:30 pm -- free

December 1-3, 8-10: Miracle on 34th Street at Proctors
Classic Theater Guild production the Proctors performance space. various times -- $20 / $18 students and seniors

December 1-14: A Christmas Carol at the Sage Theater Institute
"A new adaptation of the holiday classic comes to life when you and our family join Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and, of course, Ebenezer Scrooge on a fantastical journey through Christmas Past, Present, and Future." various times -- $15

December 1-3: Saratoga Festival of Trees
The Saratoga City Center hosts the annual Festival of Trees, a weekend of holiday crafts, visits with Santa, and 250 decorated Christmas trees. various times -- $8 adults / $5 seniors / $3 children over 10 / children under 10 free

December 2: Hudson Winter Walk
"For one magical evening, Hudson's unique creative community and independent retailers lining the mile-long historic main street transform our city into a winter wonderland full of music, performance, food, holiday shopping, and family fun. " 5-8 pm -- free admission

December 2-3: Northeast Ballet The Nutcracker at Proctors
Annual performance. December 2 at 7 pm / December 3 at 2 pm - $20 and up

December 3: 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 3: Holiday tree lighting at the Empire State Plaza
Music, ice skating, fireworks, a really big tree. The Taste NY Holiday Market is also that day at the State Museum ($5, cash). And the Great Train Extravaganza is in the ESP Convention Center from 10 am-4 pm ($7 / under 12 free). plaza events start at noon / fireworks at 5:30 pm -- free admission

December 3: ASO Magic of Christmas at The Palace
Popular annual Christmas show. 3 pm -- $28 and up / $14 and up kids

December 3: The Zucchini Brothers at The Egg
Holiday show from the family rock band. 3 pm -- free admission

December 5: The Messiah at The Cathedral of All Saints
The 146th year of the performance by The Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. 7 pm -- $25 / $20 seniors / $15 students / $10 under 12

December 6: Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker at The Palace
"Marking the 25th Anniversary Tour, Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker features over-the-top production and world class Russian artists. Larger than life Puppets, Nesting Dolls and gloriously hand-crafted costumes bring the Christmas spirit to life." 7 pm -- $31 and up

December 8: Holiday Folk Show at Caffe Lena
"The time when festive folks across the region come to Caffe Lena to enjoy a sweet, sentimental and silly celebration of the season complete with swanky décor, audience participation, and loads of lovely songs." 8 pm - $20 / $10 kids and students

December 8-10: Sharon Springs Victorian Holiday Celebration
"Kissing beneath the mistletoe, Santa Claus or St. Nick, exchanging gifts, caroling, all wonderful traditions embraced by the Victorian Era, are some of our best loved traditions." various times -- free admission

December 9: Downtown Schenectady's City Hall-iday
Holiday-themed activities at City Hall, free pictures with Santa. noon-4 pm -- free admission

December 9: Albany Berkshire Ballet performance of The Nutcracker at The Egg
41st year. 1:30 pm / 5:30 pm -- $25 and up

December 9: Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show at Cohoes Music Hall
"The Blind Boys of Alabama will be performing songs from the Talkin' Christmas! album as well as the band's previous Grammy-winning Christmas recording, Go Tell It on the Mountain, along with Blind Boys' Gospel classics." 8 pm -- $37.50 and up

December 9: Albany Gay Men's Chorus: "Believe"
Annual chorus concert of holiday music at the First Congregational Church in Albany (on Quail near New Scotland). 4 pm -- $12 / $9 students

December 9: In Praise of Christmas--Songs & Carols of Christmas & Mid-Winter Celebrations at Old Songs
"A program of songs and carols of the Christmas story and midwinter celebrations from England, Wales, and Spain, all in English translations." 7:30 pm -- $20 ahead / $22 at door

December 9: Bill Kirchen's Honky Tonk Holiday at The Hangar
"Let Grammy nominated "Titan of the telecaster" Bill Kirchen add some honky-tonk to your holidays!" 8 pm -- $20

December 10: Historic Albany Foundation Holiday House Tour
"The tour highlights some of Albany's very best in Albany's architecture and ongoing preservation efforts." noon-4 pm - $25 / $15 students before December 8 | $30 / $20 students after December 8

December 10: President's Holiday Concert at EMPAC
Annual RPI holiday concert in EMPAC's concert hall. 3 pm -- free (registration requested)

December 12: Jennifer Nettles at The Palace
"See Jennifer Nettles perform all of her biggest hits along with holiday classics from her album 'To Celebrate Christmas'..." 8 pm -- $39.75

December 14-17: Melodies of Christmas at Proctors
Annual holiday concerts featuring the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorale. various times -- $15 and up

December 14-17: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Cohoes Music Hall
"The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world-so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics." A Park Playhouse production. various times -- $25 / $15 kids 12 and under

December 14: Eileen Ivers Joyful Christmas at Troy Music Hall
"Celebrate the season with one of the world's most acclaimed fiddlers!" 7:30 pm -- $32 and up

December 15-16: A Tuna Christmas at The Linda
"Confetti Stage is excited to continue its tradition of hilarious Christmas shows at the Linda with 'A Tuna Christmas,' ... The second in a series of self-contained plays featuring the irreverent residents of a fictional town in Texas named "Tuna," these holiday hijinks (which include lawn display contests, cranky gun shop owners, and even mischievous Phantoms) feature dozens of zany characters, all played by the same 3 actors." 7:30 pm each night -- $15 / $10 students

December 16: Santa Speedo Sprint
People dashing down Lark Street in scant, holiday-themed attire. For charity. sprint starts at 2 pm at Lark and Madison -- registration is $25 to run

December 16: North Central Holiday Justice and Peace Celebration at Sanctuary for Independent Media
"We'll have free portraits, arts activities, free food from Unity House, Troy Bike Rescue bike give-away, tours of our new NATURE Lab gallery, on-demand typewriter poetry, the lighting of the tree at Freedom Square (at the corner of 101st and 5th/6th Avenue), and more!!" 3-6 pm. -- sliding scale contribution

December 16: Chatham Winterfest
Holiday sales at village shops, activities for kids, live music. 10 am-6 pm -- free admission

December 15: Mendelssohn Club Holiday Concert at The Egg
"The Mendelssohn Club of Albany is its 109th season, presents "Class and Brass." 7:30 pm - $20

December 15: Mountain Snow Orchestra at The Egg
"John Kirk, Brian Melick and Kevin McKrell have been bringing Christmas cheer to audiences for years as the 'orchestra' for the annual Mountain Snow Mistletoe Show. This year they will be joined by the 'new' McKrells and their Celtic-influenced 'folkgrass' for a down home evening of holiday music, merriment and mischief." 8 pm -- $28

December 17: Albany Pro Musica The Many Moods of Christmas at Troy Music Hall
"This year's program features Ola Gjeilo's stunning 'Dreamweaver' and Robert Shaw's exhilarating collection, 'The Many Moods of Christmas, suite three.'" 3 pm - $25 and up

December 18: Love Actually at The Palace
Christmas is all around. 7 pm -- $5

December 19: The Muppet Christmas Carol at Cohoes Music Hall
With Michael Caine as Scrooge. 7 pm -- $5

December 22-23: Holidelic at Helsinki Hudson
"[T]he holiday-funk spectacular Holidelic features original holiday songs as well as loose, funk-infused adaptations of Tchaikovsky, "Frosty the Snowman," "Little Drummer Boy" and the like." 9 pm each night -- $25

December 22: It's a Wonderful Life at The Palace
A screening of the classic film in the old movie palace. 7 pm - $5

December 26-January 1: Capital Region Kwanzaa celebration
A series of events at locations around the Capital Region celebrating each theme of Kwanzaa. various times -- free