New York’s cultures and foods meet and mingle here!
Sample fresh Chèvre, ripened Camembert and aged Cheddar—and that’s just the “C” cheeses—during the Washington County Cheese Tour, September 8-9 at six cheese farms dotting the scenic countryside. The self-guided cheese lover's tour rolls through autumn color to sample award-winning local cheeses and learn how they’re made. Don’t forget to take home your favorites.
The Liberty Ridge Farm Fall Festival boast’s the region’s largest 12-acre corn maze, but don’t lose your way to pumpkin picking, sweet corn and a bounty of harvest foods at this 55-acre Schaghticoke playland. Liberty Ridge also satisfies your appetite for fun with trolley rides and special events. Fall Festival runs September 22 to November 4.
In Saratoga Springs, head to Henry Street for the 3rd Annual Henry Street Harvest Festival, September 23. Admission is free to a day of incredible food and food vendors, plus music and family fun with local artists and crafters, pumpkin painting and more.
Apple up at Goold Orchards’ annual Apple Festival & Craft Show, October 6-7. Pick your own apples and pumpkins and munch cider donuts, strudel and pie while youngsters explore face painting, a rock-climbing wall, sand art and a haunted house. Crafters, dancers and horse-drawn wagon rides round out the farm fun.
Fall is big business at the Schenectady Greenmarket, an old-style outdoor marketplace featuring local produce and foods from 75 vendors, live music, demos and downtown shopping every Sunday through October at City Hall. Raw and prepared foods abound, and local produce is always the freshest here. The Greenmarket moves inside Proctors Theatre for the winter.
Just past the Eagle Mills Covered Bridge, a century-year old water wheel still powers the cider mill at Eagle Mills Cider Mill & Family Fun Park in Broadalbin. An ingenious array of belts, pulleys and line shafts move apples through the mill, up the apple elevator and through the grinder to an antique knuckle joint cider press, where they are squeezed to produce famous Eagle Mills Cider. Come by any weekend, September 1 to October 28, for free tours and tastings.
Trick or treat with other grown-ups at Albany’s Halloweekend Pub Crawl, October 27-28, around the top night spots in the Capital. Guaranteed more fun than a bag of candy, you’ll cruise some of Albany’s favorite haunts for drink specials and munchies. Raise some spirits, come in costume and make new friends at this hugely popular event.
Visit Capital-Saratoga for more information.
For additional Saratoga dining ideas visit: Saratoga.org
Find Albany’s many fine restaurants at: Albany.org