After the first-ever Cohoes Heritage Day last year, organizers kept hearing the same reaction at the conclusion of the daylong event.
“We had so much going on. The biggest complaint people had is that they didn’t have the chance to do everything,” said Anne Marie Koschnick, one of the event’s committee members.
At the request of the public, this year Cohoes Heritage Day will add an “s” to its name, an will take place over the course of the entire weekend of Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9. The weekend-long event will feature street vendors, parish-wide garage sales, activities and tours of the city to celebrate its culture.
“For this year, we’re hoping people can enjoy it more and get a chance to really see what’s going on,” Koschnick said.
Focusing on history is a key component to celebrating Cohoes’ heritage, which dates back to the early 1860s. On Saturday, visitors can walk through historic sites in tours guided by seventh-grade students from the National Junior Honor Society, including the Cohoes Music Hall at 58 Remsen St. and the Masonic Temple at 130 Remsen St.
“The buildings are gorgeous. Our library was built in 1863. The church where the art show is another 18th century building,” Koschnick said.
Important Cohoes historic figures will also be showcased throughout the weekend by volunteers acting as reenactors. A dedication of the George Stacy Davis sign in Silliman Park will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. Born in Cohoes, Davis spent his life as a professional baseball player for the Cleveland Spiders.
Art will be another highlight of the weekend. The 3rd Annual Cohoes Artist Showcase will be held on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church at 65 Congress St. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, there will be an antique appraisal with Dennis Holzman and Mark Lawson at the Harmony House Market Place at 188 Remsen St. Visitors are recommended to bring unique items to find out their worth. This is the only paid event of the weekend, with a $5 per item charge, and all of the money will benefit the Friends of Cohoes Library.
“There’s so much going on. Cohoes is on its upswing. We have a lot of new art … it’s become an artsy place for a lot of things,” Koschnick said.
Koschnick’s husband, Dave Koschnick, will have his own photography on display with the exhibit “Cohoes: Steepled in History” at the Visitor’s Center at 58 Remsen St.
Dave Koschnick, who has lived in Cohoes his entire life, said lately the city has been growing and has much to offer. He hopes Cohoes Heritage Days will help promote Cohoes and further its growth.
“In the 1970s, if you walked down Remsen Street, almost every storefront was busy and active. On a Friday night, you’d see hundreds of people walking down, doing their shopping. By the 2000s, there were maybe five stores left on the entire street,” he said. “Now, 10, 12 years later, we’re starting to come back. We’re trying to draw in business. We’re one of the very few places in Albany County where the population actually went up.”
Visitors can also explore the natural elements of Cohoes. On Saturday, they can pick up a tour guide and visit the Cohoes Falls.
“It’s terrific … (I) love to watch the water and how it changes,” Dave Koschnick said.
On Sunday, visitors can head to the Van Schaick Mansion, which will be loaded with activities. Steve Khoury will act as a blacksmith from colonial times, while Greg Zoller, author of “The Dark Eagle,” will talk about Benedict Arnold. Tours of the mansion will also be given.
Several different vendors will be selling their wares throughout the weekend. The opening of the Cohoes Farmers Market will take place on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the municipal lot at 185 Remsen St. A Holy Trinity Garage Sale at Vliet Street and Simmons Avenue will take place on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a mini-fiber fest at More Bread and Jam at 130 Remsen St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Cohoes Public Library will host presentations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on how to research genealogy.
For a complete listing on the weekend’s events, visit cohoesheritagedays.org.