Advance tickets are not available. Please purchase tickets at the front desk when you arrive. Celebrate the season as we fill our galleries with lighted fir trees! Decorated from classic to kooky Christmas styles, the Festival of Trees glows with the enchantment of the holidays. Join us throughout December for a shimmering, festive season. The Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for, and a partnership between, the Schenectady County Historical Society and the YWCA NorthEastern NY. Admission is $6 for adults 12+. Consider supporting these two community organizations by sponsoring a tree! Please visit our Festivals page to register!

Author Don Ackerman will be here to discuss his new book, "Who Runs This Town: A Political History of Schenectady and its Governments." The book traces the evolution of government in Schenectady from its founding through 2020 and the political events and people who shaped it, including the rise and fall of a number of Schenectady politicians. Mr. Ackerman was a middle-school Social Studies teacher in the Niskayuna School District for 30 years. He was elected to the Schenectady County Legislature in 1983 and served for sixteen years. Ackerman has also held numerous political positions including as a Delegate to the Democrats National Convention three times, NYS Democratic Committee for over 40 years and several local political positions. He is married to Kay, and the couple have two children and two grandchildren. This event is free and open to all. It will be livestreamed via the Schenectady County Historical Society Facebook page for anyone interested in attending virtually.