The Palace Theatre, together with The Albany Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. & Social Club and Albany Symphony, presents Lift Every Voice: A Juneteenth Musical Celebration featuring the Howard University Gospel Choir, Tuesday, June 17, 7:30pm. Award-winning actress, singer, and storyteller Barbara Howard will emcee an evening of performances that celebrate black performing artists throughout history. In addition to the internationally renowned Howard University Gospel Choir, the evening features the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY, Empire State Youth Orchestra, and the Albany Symphony. This special evening of music is part of a week-long series of activities in Albany to commemorate the effective end of slavery in the United States. Residents and visitors are invited to lift their voices to celebrate freedom, unity, diversity, and Black history and culture.

The Water Music New York: More Voices festival in Medina on July 2, 2025. It is a free, daylong festival to commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal and celebrate the waters that connect us through local food, arts, music, and outdoor fun, all made possible by the New York State Canal Corporation. 

As part of its Water Music NY: More Voices partnership with the New York State Canal Corporation to commemorate the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, the Albany Symphony will present an all-day festival in the new Harbor Point in Utica on July 3, 2025.

Inspired by Seneca Falls’ extraordinary history as the epicenter of the Women’s Rights movement in America, Tanner’s work will explore and honor the multi-layered stories of women, past and present, who have lived and worked along the Erie Canalway.

The daylong festival on July 5 celebrates the rich indigenous history of the Fort Plain region and of the members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy who lived there for centuries. In the 17th century, Fort Plain was the site of four major Mohawk villages.

As part of the Erie Canal bicentennial commemoration, the Albany Symphony, the NYS Canal Corporation, and Hudson Crossing Park are presenting a festival day celebrating the rich, multifaceted history of Washington and Saratoga Counties, with an emphasis on the experiences of Black Americans, culminating in a free orchestra concert that will feature a thrilling world-premiere composition by DBR (Daniel Bernard Roumain) inspired by the legacy and life of Solomon Northup.