Where they go hardcore and there’s glitter on the floor.

5. Empire State Plaza Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival (early December)

Between the 4th of July, Hispanic Family Day, African American Family Day, and other great family events hosted by the New York State Office of General Services, I’ve spent several a Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the Plaza working on crafts with families over the past seven months as a Tulip.

A craft organized for us to complete with small children by the Empire State Plaza gang that does not involve glitter is always a good one. The glitter this time around for our Santa Claus bookmarks, clothespin angels, and stand up paper stars were minimal, although the presence of permanent markers when our target age group of crafting participants was between 3-10 years old was somewhat questionable. (No worries: the tables were expertly lined with tablecloths).

Me, Tara, and Kassie met Santa!

An a capella group from RPI that was awesome!

Besides our craft station, the concourse was filled with vendors selling toys, food, local crafts, and holiday gifts, various local businesses giving away freebies, games, mini-concerts on stages and traveling musical groups, train rides around the concourse, and, yes, you guessed it: Santa Claus himself! Although I didn’t get to check it out myself, upstairs there were ice sculptures, the outdoor ice rink that had just opened, demonstrations by the Mohawk Hudson Figure Skating Club. The evening culminated in the tree lighting outside at the Plaza with fireworks (so many fireworks this weekend!).

It was a fun way to spend my Sunday afternoon, but let’s just say  that after the eight hours of time spent inside that building without any windows allowing sunlight in and surrounded by and talking my head off with people while volunteering at the Tree Lighting and the Last Run, I’m happy to be spending my upcoming weekend somewhere else!

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Empire State Plaza Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival

When and Where: early December; Empire State Plaza

Highlights: Santa!

Loses points for: I might have missed it if it existed, but a program with everything that was going on would have been nice as well as directions as to where exactly the activities outside were and involved. I might have been more willing to make the trek up and found an excuse for a break if I had had this information.

Cost: Free

Good for: Families

Would I go again?: With small children, absolutely.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree brings to us such joy and glee.

1. Albany City Hall Tree Lighting (early December)

Hands down, my favorite part of being a Tulip this year has been the exposure to all of the events in the City of Albany that I simply didn’t even know existed.

This includes the City Hall Tree Lighting Ceremony, which took place in front of City Hall this past Wednesday, December 3rd. Our role didn’t give me much to write home about (we helped flip the big switch to turn on the lights at City Hall with two sweet kids and their mom; I joked that there was someone behind the scenes, ready to plug in the cord for the lights as soon as we used our combined six person strength to pull that sucker down), but the event itself was lovely. Facilitated by Mayor Sheehan and with free donuts, cider, and coffee from the ever awesome Cider Bellies Doughnuts on South Pearl (which will undoubtedly get its own entry in the near future) and beautiful carols by a women’s chorus from Albany High, it made me wish more people knew about and had attended the event (I made sure to relay the news that there was free food to my poor, starving, sleep-deprived classmates). After, the other Tulips and I went in to City Hall to check out the fun decorations they had put up since our last monthly meeting at the end of November.

(Last photo courtesy of the Albany Events Facebook page)

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Albany City Hall Tree Lighting 

When and Where: Early December; City Hall (24 Eagle St. Albany)

Highlights: Adorable small children in all of their winter layers abound; free Cider Bellies; Christmas-y spirit with awesome, live music; policemen on horses were a great touch

Cost: Free

Good for: Families, friends, date

Would I go again?: Yes, but with gloves next time!