Summer Festivals in New York

There is plenty to do in New York this summer, and not just in New York City. The summer festival season offers music, art, dance, and heritage all over the state, from the state's capital of Albany to the streets of Manhattan.

If you love R&B or Soul music, you can watch up and comers perform at the Rhythm and Soul Music Festival. The concert takes place all over Manhattan, May 24^th through 27^th, to help artists gain exposure and to promote the R&B and Soul genres. The money also goes to a good cause, helping homeless and low-income families living in the New York area. To find out about the performances and how you can get tickets to this great musical fest, go to http://www.soulmusicfestival.net/

The Albany Tulip Festival takes place at Washington Park, from May 11 - 13. In honor of Albany's Dutch heritage, this free festival is the perfect event for the whole family. Three stages offer non-stop entertainment, amidst two hundred thousand tulips. There is also a KidZone, art and craft exhibits and sales, and a reenactment of the Dutch tradition of scrubbing the streets. If you are interested in taking part in the Tulip fest, check it out at http://www.albanyevents.org/tulip_festival/index.cfm

The Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs hosts the Saratoga Bridges Festival and Dressage, taking place on May 26 - 27, 2007. The festival features an antique and custom car show, dog shows, including Meet the Breed, Canine Freestyle, and Frisbee Dogs, activities and entertainment exclusively for the kids, and a Llama and Alpaca festival. The real highlights of this awesome family event are the horses though. A dressage competition, an all breed horse show, and equestrian seminars are offered for horse owners and fans. Find out more about the event at http://www.saratogaarcfestival.org/festival.htm

It is all about fine art at SOFA New York at the Seventh Regiment Armory in New York City May 31^st through June 3^rd. The Sculpture Objects & Functional Art (SOFA) event takes place yearly in Chicago and New York, and brings three-dimensional art works to the forefront. If you would like to learn more, visit http://www.sofaexpo.com/

Swing, disco, funk, and salsa explode on Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center in Manhattan during the Midsummer Night Swing, June 19^th through 21^st. Bands take to the outdoor stage and hundreds of dancers descend upon the dance floor for dancing under the summer sky. Get more information here.

Pirates attack from the St. Lawrence River, and bold villagers fight back at Bill Johnston's Pirate Days in Alexandria Bay, from August 10 - 19, 2007. In honor of Bill Johnston's daring feats, this festival features ten history-filled days. Highlights include the sword-fighting performance group "Tales from Remikreh," and a life size chessboard.