#DadFest #PickOfTheWeek #TheSpot518
ALBANY — Dads like muscle cars, loud music, great food and family fun — not necessarily in that order — and that’s what’s to be featured at the Washington Park Parade Grounds Sunday, June 17, at 1 p.m.
The City of Albany and SEFCU present the fourth annual Dad Fest, a free Father’s Day event for the whole family.
Live music starts at 1:30 p.m. with hard-rocking licks by Sly Fox and The Hustlers. This high energy band provides the energy with its “heavy voodoo blues and swampy funky grooves.”
The music continues on the funk vibe at 3 p.m., with a performance by up-and-coming soul band, Hartley’s Encore. Self-described as “the house band at your dance party for the apocalypse,” Hartley’s Encore brings a little of New Orleans to every show. Funky keys, a jazzy horn and kicking rhythm section drives you to move.
At 4:30 p.m., Grand Central Station keeps the dancing grove going. The band takes the stage with 39 years experience and a Triple A-rating with the Better Business Bureau. It’s a party band with the ability to make people dance.
The School of Rock promises to showcase music from burgeoning young musicians throughout the day, from 1 to 6 p.m., too.
New to the festival is the Dad Fest Classic Car show, presented in partnership with Capital Car Shows. Automobiles from all makes and sizes will circle the inner roads of Washington Park will have Dad secretly plotting the purchase of a new car.
Kids will also have fun. There will be rock climbing with Climb Tree, soccer workshops with Afrims Sports, face painting and a bounce house from Christ’s Church Love Albany.
Vendors and food will be available throughout the park during the day, allowing the entire family to kick back and enjoy the expansive park while eating good food and listening to choice tunes.
In case of bad weather, the festival will move to the Corning Preserve boat launch along the Hudson River.
For more information on Dad Fest, visit albanyevents.org, call (518) 434-2032 or follow AlbanyNYevents on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.