New York By Rail 13th ed. | Page 47

sponsored content Discover the Many Treasures of ... Beautiful Rensselaer County! PHOTOS: (TRI-CITY VALLEY CATS, TROY WATERFRONT, CRAILO HARVEST FAIRE) RENSSELAER COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE F rom biking, hiking, kayaking and swimming to cross country skiing and snow shoeing, we’ve got you covered with miles of trails, nature preserves and three state parks. Buying local takes on a new twist with fresh local products offered year round at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. Pick your own, farmers markets and farm stands abound during the summer and early fall. Summer highlights include free concert offerings throughout the county. Troy’s Rockin’ on the River concert series runs every Wednesday from mid-June to mid-August and provides the perfect start to a fun evening in Troy. Explore Troy the last Friday of every month at Troy Night out with special programs and discounts in our unique boutiques and enjoy the culinary excellence at our many restaurants. Nothing says summer like a baseball game with the Tri-City Valley Cats from June to September. Feeling nostalgic? Catch a movie under the stars and one of Rensselaer County’s two drive-in theaters. If rich and historic heritage is what you are seeking, then Rensselaer County is the place to be! Explore Crailo State Historic Site’s widely acclaimed exhibit, “A Dishonorable Trade: Human Trafficking in the Dutch Atlantic World.” See a mansion in restoration when you visit the Knickerbocker Mansion. Bring history alive with interactive programs at the Rensselaer County Historical Society (RCHS). Discover Rensselaer County rich and diverse history through a special exhibit at RCHS for the County’s 225th Anniversary in June & July. Celebrate Troy’s Bicentennial with events throughout the city and a retrospective of Troy at RCHS through December 2016. For those who prefer the arts, Rensselaer County boasts many art venues with the world renowned, acoustically perfect Troy Savings Bank Music Hall where you can enjoy an evening of music, comedy and more in an intimate setting. A mixture of architecture and performance arts can be found at the EMPAC center on the RPI Campus. Looking for alternative arts? Check out the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. Award winning productions can be seen at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts or the Sage Theater Institute. Bring out the artist in you with a class, family activities and exhibits at The Arts Center of the Capital Region. Tri-City Valley Cats A sampling of Rensselaer County Events—visit www.renscotourism.com or like us on Facebook—www.Facebook.com/RensselaerCountyTourism January: • Twelfth Night, Crailo State Historic Site • Winter Festival, Grafton Lakes State Park Brown’s Brewing PHOTO: CHARLIE SAMUELS March: • Collar City Kilt Fest, Troy • Capital District Garden & Flower Show, Troy April: • Daffodil Brunch, Oakwood Cemetery • Collar City Craft Fest, The Arts Center of the Capital Region May: • Troy Waterfront Farmers Market moves outdoors through October • Mother’s Day Open House, Knickerbocker Mansion Amtrak.com June: • Flag Day Parade, Troy • Troy River Fest, downtown Troy • Opening Day, Tri-City Valley Cats, Troy July: • Pig Out, downtown Troy • Summer Festival, Knickerbocker Mansion Troy Waterfront Farmers Market August: • Run for the Roses • 5K, Grafton Lakes State Park • Taste of Sand Lake, Sand Lake Center for the Arts Crailo Harvest Faire September: • Schaghticoke Fair, Schaghticoke • Uncle Sam Day Parade, Lansingburgh • Harvest Faire, Crailo State Historic Site October: • Goold Orchards Apple Festival & Craft Show • Chowderfest, downtown Troy December: • Rensselaer County Historical Society’s Green Show • Troy Victorian Stroll, downtown Troy • St. Nicholas Day Open House, Crailo State Historic Site New York By Rail | 45