Your Weekly Guide to What's Up in Downtown
November 24, 2021
Small Business Saturday
November 27 | Downtown Schenectady

Support your favorite small businesses on Small Business Saturday -- and all season long -- in Schenectady! When you #ShopSmall, you make a big impact on the whole community, and that's something worth celebrating!

The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) and Capital Region Chamber - Schenectady are working together again this year to drive community awareness of Small Business Saturday and officially kick off the holiday shopping season for the city’s local businesses.

  • Visit our website for an interactive map of downtown's local businesses
  • Check out our season-long video series spotlighting a variety of downtown's small businesses
ILLUMINOCITY
Now Through January 3 | Downtown Schenectady

Mayor Gary McCarthy announces Schenectady’s inaugural holiday lighting promotion called ILLUMINOCITY. Dozens of downtown buildings and storefronts are being decorated as part of ILLUMINOCITY to encourage more people than ever to visit downtown to eat, shop, and play, all while demonstrating community pride in our city.

ILLUMINOCITY also supports Schenectady County’s brightest lights, our nonprofit organizations. Participating properties are partnering with local nonprofits in a friendly, but competitive, decorating contest. The public and a panel of judges will select winning displays in a variety of categories, and winners will earn cash prizes for their nonprofit partners.

Be sure to VISIT, VIEW and VOTE! Click here for full details, including a map of locations.
Presenting Sponsor:
Twinkling Lights Sponsors:

The Downtown Buzz
C.R.E.A.T.E Community Studios | 137 State St. | Nov. 27, 6 p.m.
  • Holiday Wreath Making Workshop | Reserve your spot now for this popular class. Make your own mixed conifer grapevine holiday wreath, complete with custom bow and all the holiday cheer!

  • Christmas Experience | Rudy Grant & David Siders invite you to attend their final Christmas experience and discover beautiful home decor to brighten your holidays.
  • Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., through December 24.

Mexican Radio | 325 State St.
  • Saturday & Sundays on the 2nd Floor | 12-3 p.m. | Come explore an in-house open tag-sale market. Discover a unique variety of items for sale every week, ranging from dishware to books to artwork.
  • Special Charity Auction and Raffle items available as well.
miSci | 15 Museum Drive
Nov. 26 - Jan. 16
  • Opens this Friday | Model Trains Show | It's that magical time of year again! The 19 x 27-foot display features five tracks that weave through scenes of amusement parks, a vintage Plasticville town, and freight yards.

The Open Door Bookstore | 128 Jay St.
Through Dec. 15
  • The Giving Tree | Purchase a children's paperback book at 20% off and the Bookstore will donate it to Northern Rivers in time for Christmas.

Nov 30, 6 p.m.
  • Handmade Holiday - Evergreen Trees | Make festive three-dimensional evergreen trees using found wood, felt, and dowels. Take your trees home and use them to decorate or give them as unique handmade gifts. Registration required.
Dec. 1, 12 p.m.
Rediscover Downtown Schenectady

Now, more than ever before, it's vital to support our local retailers, restaurants, and services. Each week, we are featuring a different business to keep you connected with all that Downtown Schenectady has to offer.

Smash Heart Box | 435 Liberty Street
  • A recent addition to downtown, Smash Heart Box allows you to create your own chocolate experience by building a gift box with an assortment of chocolate items. You can also can fill a bag of candy for $5, choose a pre-made platter, or just pick up a little something to satisfy your sweet tooth.
151 Bar & Restaurant | 151 Lafayette Street
  • Joe Roy Jackson | Nov. 24, 7 p.m.
  • Comrad Hosted By Tito's | Nov. 26, 8 p.m.
  • Joe Roy Jackson | Nov. 24, 8 p.m.

Centre St. Pub | 308 Union St.
  • Late Night Philosophers | Nov. 24, 7 p.m.
  • Stephen Thirolle & The Family Band | Nov. 26, 7 p.m.
  • Joe Giordano | Nov. 27, 7 p.m.

Frog Alley Brewing | 108 State Street
  • Mike Levans | Nov. 24, 4 p.m.
  • Skeeter Creek & DJ Mikey C | Nov. 24, 8 p.m.
  • The Wreckless Duo | Nov. 26, 5 p.m.
  • Funk Evolution | Nov. 26, 8:30 p.m.
  • Toys for Toys Fundraiser | Nov. 27
  • Downtown Horns | Nov. 27, 5 p.m.
  • Grand Central Station | Nov. 27, 9 p.m.
  • Chris Sanders Acoustic | Nov. 28, 4 p.m.
Jay St. Pub | 118 Jay Street
  • Live music on the weekends. Please check their Facebook page

Katie O'Byrne's | 121 Wall Street
  • Grand Central Station | Nov. 24, 8 p.m.
  • The Accents | Nov. 26, 8 p.m.
  • The Early Birds | Nov. 27, 7 p.m.

Rivers Casino & Resort | 1 Rush St.
  • Kickin' It Country Night | Nov. 24, 7 p.m.
  • The Refrigerators | Nov. 26, 9 p.m.
  • Scars N' Stripes | Nov. 27, 9 p.m.
  • Melissa Sgambelluri Trio | Nov. 26, 6 p.m.
  • Justin Joyner | Nov. 27, 6 p.m.
432 State Street

On the Stage
  • Summer: The Donna Summer Musical | Broadway Returns to Proctors December 7-12 | She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. Featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits, including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation.
  • Check out all December events at Proctors.
10 North Jay Street

Nov. 26, 8 p.m.
Join us for this fast, furious, and funny improv comedy competition between improvisers of all ages.

Nov. 27, 8 p.m.
A fast, silly, high-stakes show where two teams of improvisers face off.
400 State Street
Opens November 24
The Downtown Dish

This week's recipe gives you a creative outlet for using your Thanksgiving leftovers in a entirely new way.
Passport Parking is a mobile app that offers contactless payment for on-street parking and parking lots in Downtown Schenectady.

Download the app (Android, iPhone) and enjoy the convenience of paying for parking via your smartphone.
Stay informed on the latest economic development news in Schenectady County.
The CDPHP Cycle! bike share program is celebrating its 5th season of pedaling with more bikes, new locations and more fun for residents of Schenectady and other Capital Region locations.

Download the CDPHP Cycle! app: Google Play | Apple Store
Final Outside Market & Trolley of the Season | Sunday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Outdoors Around City Hall

Fresh local produce and artisan goods in a festive community atmosphere with 80+ vendors. Complimentary CDTA trolley runs 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Map & Information
Thanks for Choosing Downtown Schenectady!

Downtown Schenectady is proud to host a growing number of groups for conferences, TV & movie productions, technical theatre rehearsals, and more. The DSIC and Discover Schenectady are happy to recognize and thank these groups for choosing Schenectady as their host city.

  • Union College 2002 Basketball Reunion | November 26 | Courtyard by Marriott Schenectady
Health & Wellness in Downtown

  • Bike or walk this paved shared-use path connecting Albany and Schenectady counties, including an on-street segment through the heart of Downtown Schenectady. Click here for a PDF map of the Cohoes to Rotterdam Junction section of the trail.

  • Learn about Schenectady's historic neighborhood dating to 1661. The audio narrative is activated as you cross into nearby GPS zones and then guides you around the streets to points of interest.
Browse a Map of Downtown Schenectady Businesses
Catch Up on Downtown Schenectady News
Contact the DSIC
Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation | Website