The Schenectady County Legislature is proud to announce America's 250th Birthday Celebration at Mabee Farm! This FREE family festival will feature live music, fireworks,  activities for kids, and special guests George & Martha Washington. Celebrate America's birthday at the historic Mabee Farm, the oldest working farm in New York's Mohawk Valley. Spread your blanket on the lawn and enjoy live music, family activities, and a spectacular firework show over the river. While you're here, explore the historic farm, shop a variety of local crafters, meet farm animals, and celebrate America's 250th birthday with our community! Beer and wine available for sale. Please no glass bottles or containers and outside alcohol is not permitted. This is a rain or shine event, but as with most outdoor musical concerts the event may be canceled due to extreme weather or heavy rain. Rain updates will be posted on the Schenectady County website and Facebook page. The event starts at 6pm, with fireworks after 9pm. Vendor Registration: https://forms.gle/1ziPDEFAsMsangzj6

🌾 The Mabee Farm will be open just for kids! Tour the entirety of our farm with special demonstrations of colonial crafts. Our fields are almost ready for harvesting and we’ll need your help! Butter making, barn-building and meeting the farm animals are just some of the other activities available. We'll also take a short ride in our historic boats! 🎟️ Admission is free for Family+ members of SCHS, otherwise $10 for kids 5 and over. Younger siblings are welcome at no charge, as are parents/caregivers. Parents/caregivers must remain with their child for the duration of the program. This is not a drop-off event. Our Kids Program series runs throughout 2026, generally on the second Saturday of the month: July 10: Farm Kids Friday Aug. 7: Farm Kids Friday Sep. 12: Schenectady Spies Oct.10: Apple Cider Day Nov. 14: Harvest's End Dec. 12: A Very Mabee Christmas

The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and huge fortunes made and lost. Schenectady wasn't immune. Join us for an evening stroll past Schenectady mansions and learn about the influential families who shaped the area during this transformative era. Along the way, discover the stories of innovation and societal change that marked the Gilded Age. This tour also highlights the Stockade's role as a backdrop for the HBO series "The Gilded Age." Whether you're a history buff or a fan of the show, this tour offers a unique glimpse into Schenectady’s gilded past. After the tour, stick around for a complimentary glass of wine at the SCHS Museum. This tour meets and concludes at SCHS, 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady. All ticket sales are final.  

Schenectady was once world-renowned for crafting practical, artful brooms. In this workshop at the Mabee Farm, you will learn these skills for yourself. Expert broom artisan Robin Ziegler will lead us in making three simple broom projects: A Turkey Wing Broom, a cake tester and a pot scrubber. These personalized, hand-made crafts are useful around the home and make excellent gifts! We’ll provide all the materials. You provide the enthusiasm!

Scandals and secrets. Bootleggers and brothels. Schenectady’s Stockade is home to quite a few juicy stories! Join us for this evening walking tour of Schenectady’s sordid history. After the tour, stick around for a complimentary glass of wine at the SCHS Museum. This tour meets and concludes at SCHS, 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady. All ticket sales are final.  

Rusticator is an acoustic band with an Americana spirit. Stripped back drums and an upright bass lend a woody backbeat, while steady acoustic guitar supports jazz-inflected fiddle playing and the group’s three-part harmonies. Their eclectic yet accessible live sets include everything from the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan to Ray Charles and Van Morrison alongside their well-crafted original songs. Opening the night is our host Everest Rising, who curates the featured artist invites and serves the warm-up act for each concert in the series. Together they create progressive acoustic music that is unique, powerful, and comfortably familiar. With a wide dynamic range, Everest Rising’s material spans from heartfelt laments to all out jams, all executed with instrumental finesse and thoughtful story-telling. About Howlin' at the Moon Howlin’ at the Moon showcases regional music from a variety of genres, providing an authentic musical experience for both audience and musicians. Music traditions are meant to be fluid and evolving, and Howlin’ nurtures regional musical talent while providing opportunities for cross-pollination. All in a 1760 Dutch Barn that inspires and reminds us of our place within history! Admission is $7, free SCHS members with valid membership card. Cash only. Beer and wine available for purchase. Howlin’ at the Moon is generously sponsored by Aspire Sustainability.

At the turn of the 20th century, Schenectady was a booming industrial power: the city that “Lights and Hauls the World.” This tour explores this period, the figures and factories that made it so dynamic. We’ll look beyond the nostalgia and seek differing perspectives on Schenectady’s halcyon days. After the tour, stick around for a complimentary glass of wine at the SCHS Museum. This tour meets and concludes at SCHS, 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady. All ticket sales are final.

Join us for an elegant summer tea party! We’ll have an assortment of Harney & Sons teas to enjoy, both hot and iced, alongside baked goods and lemonade. All dolls (or teddy bears) are welcome! Our guest of honor will be Felicity Merriman, an American Girl who experienced the American Revolution 250 years ago! We will discuss what Felicity was up to during those times, and make a colonial craft that connects to her life.

After more than 300 years of continuous habitation, the Stockade district had experienced massive changes. During this time, the history of this neighborhood was subject to erasure by the forces of modernization. In the late 20th century, residents banded together to save the unique character of the Stockade. This tour tells the story of how New York State’s first historic district came to be. After the tour, stick around for a complimentary glass of wine at the SCHS Museum. This tour meets and concludes at SCHS, 32 Washington Ave, Schenectady. All ticket sales are final.

As part of our continuing America 250 celebrations, we're pleased to bring the acting group Drama from the Past to the Barn at Mabee Farm! They'll present "Rendezvous with Treason: The André/Arnold Conspiracy," a dramatic portrayal of two of the most intriguing characters in the American Revolution – Major John André and General Benedict Arnold and their fateful meeting in New York in September of 1780. The production allows these infamous men an opportunity to tell their side of the story and their motivation behind the plot that could have ended the cause for independence. Running time: 50 minutes, followed by Q&A.