Family Now September 2023 Calendar
8 Friday
St. George Greek Festival
Also Saturday and Sunday. The three-day festival features delicious homemade Greek food including lamb shanks, moussaka, spanakopita, pastitsio, and souvlaki and mouthwatering pastries including baklava, kataifi, and loukoumathes. Live music by Prometheus, folk dancing by St. George Hellenic Dancers, arts and crafts, church tours and all new raffles. Rain or shine. Hours are Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-3 pm. Hellenic Center, 510 Liberty St., Schenectady (across from the public library) and outdoors under the large tents. Admission is free. For information visit www.saintgeorgegoc.com or call 518-393-0742.
9 Saturday
Fall Plant, Book, and Bake Sale
Also Sunday. Browse from out-of-the-ordinary trees, shrubs, and perennials then stop by the Book Shop for a huge selection of reading material on many different topics, including, of course, gardening, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Landis Arboretum, 174 Lape Road, Esperance. For more information, call (518) 875-6935 or visit landisarboretum.org.
10 Sunday
Carrot Festival
Celebrating 45 years, this fall tradition features delicious food, activities for children, vendors galore, a community service area, locally grown produce, and of course carrot cake, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Live music and entertainment throughout the day. Rain or shine. Free. Congregation Agudat Achim, 2117 Union St., Schenectady. For more information, call (518) 393-9211 or visit agudatachim.com/community-engagement/carrot-festival.
11 Monday
Sustainable Kitchen
Learn how to reduce your plastic consumption and live a more sustainable life, 6 p.m. We will make beeswax wrappers from old fabric and no-sew produce bags from T-shirts. Tips for tackling the rest of the kitchen will also be shared. BYO T-shirts. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
13 Wednesday
The Shakers’ Physic Garden of Remedies
The Watervliet Shakers’ herbal medicine industry began in 1827 with about 140 products and grew to almost 300 items by 1860. This tour will introduce a bit of history about this innovative industry and shed new light on both the ornamentals and weeds in your garden, 10:30 a.m. Free. Shaker Heritage Society, 25 Meeting House Road, Albany. For more information, call (518) 456-7890 or visit home.shakerheritage.org.
16 Saturday
Friends Book Sale
Stock up on some new-to-you books and DVDs.For sale will be books and other materials that have been removed from the library collection and are in excellent condition, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Many are duplicate copies of popular titles. Enjoy music while you shop with Moonshine Holler at 11 a.m. and Matt Cusson at 1 p.m. Pricing will be cash-only by suggested donation; the Friends will not be able to make change. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Sneaker Fundraiser
Donate athletic sneakers in all conditions – excellent, slightly used, old and worn, or new ones that just don’t fit, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The sneakers that are in good condition are refurbished and provided to people worldwide who don’t own shoes, those in poor condition are recycled into products such as playground cushion material. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 510 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville. For more information, call (518) 458-1562.
19 Tuesday
Look to the Skies: Dancing Universe
In this universe, there is no such thing as standing still. Join Dr. Mindy Townsend, Dudley Astronomer at Siena College, for a tour through the universe as she explains how everything is in constant motion, 7 p.m. This is the first event in our Look to the Skies series. Registration is required. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
21 Thursday
Community Art Supplies Swap
Donate your unused or gently used art supplies and pick up some new-to-you supplies to take home, 6:30 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
23 Saturday
Five Rivers Fall Fest
Join us for a day of nature-related activities, guided walks, crafts and games for children, interactive exhibits, food vendors, music, and more … including a visit from Smokey Bear, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar. For more information, call (518) 475-0291 or visit www.dec.ny.gov/education/54990.html.
Sneaker Fundraiser
Donate athletic sneakers in all conditions – excellent, slightly used, old and worn, or new ones that just don’t fit, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The sneakers that are in good condition are refurbished and provided to people worldwide who don’t own shoes, those in poor condition are recycled into products such as playground cushion material. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 510 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville. For more information, call (518) 458-1562.
Grassroot Givers Book Donation Day
Accepted donations include adult fiction and nonfiction and children’s board books, picture books and chapter books — none older than 10 years, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
25 Monday
Craft & Color for Adults
Choose between coloring or doing an open-ended craft activity, 11 a.m. This program is specifically designed for adults of all abilities. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
26 Tuesday
Refugees in Your Community
What would it be like to leave behind everything you ever knew and start over in a strange place? Kelly Gourley from the Albany field office of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants will present this program for adults and parents to illuminate the struggles that refugee families face, 7 p.m. Registration is required. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
30 Saturday
Ukrainian Festival
Come enjoy traditional food, live music, Ukrainian dancing and Ukrainian crafts and goods. All proceeds go to benefit Ukraine. Festival hours are noon-6 p.m. Zabava (dance) takes place 6-10 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and $5 for children 12 and under. Ukrainian American Citizens Center, 1 Pulaski St., Cohoes. For more information, call (518) 495-1084.
Rainbow Prom
The LGBTQIA+ community and allies all ages 16 and older are welcome to commemorate a prom night in a safe, inclusive space, 7 p.m. Photographers will capture the memories as everyone dances the night away to popular music from the 80s, 90s, 00s and today. Tickets are $35 per person. Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. For more information, call (518) 346-6204 or visit universalpreservationhall.org.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
We’re closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer’s, but to get there, we need you. Join the world’s largest fundraiser to fight the disease, 10 a.m. Mohawk Harbor, 200 Harborside Drive, Schenectady. Register today at act.alz.org/neny or call (518) 675-7203 for more information.
Instrument Donation Day
Vanguard, a group of volunteer supporters of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, is seeking donations of instruments for low-income Capital District children whose families aren’t able to cover the rental or purchase fees, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. They will be on the library Green for a special collection event. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
