A dry and mostly sunny autumn weekend in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley offers opportunities for enjoyment, but also to raise money and awareness for important causes like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cultural preservation and the Ben Osborne Memorial Fund.
Light The Night
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Connecticut – Albany – Eastern New York Chapter hosts its annual Light the Night Walk, which honors and remembers those touched by blood cancers, starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Siena College in Colonie.
Money raised through the annual fundraiser helps fund research and support for blood cancer patients and their families.
Walkers carry illuminated lanterns during a one-mile walk: white for survivors, red for supporters and gold lanterns in memory of loved ones lost. Light the Night walks have raised $1 billion since 1993.
The event this year honors Vince Speenburgh, an adult entering his second year in remission, and Jack Salinetti, a child and two-time acute myeloid leukemia survivor.
To register, or for more information, check here.
Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl
Hosted by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, proceeds from the pub crawl support the enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscape heritage of Saratoga Springs.
Check-in begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at Druthers Brewing Company. For tickets and details, check here www.saratogapreservation.org.
Adirondack Oktoberfest Charity Block Party
Sewell Street in Lake George shuts down from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday for the 18th Adirondack Oktoberfest Charity Block Party, hosted by the Adirondack Pub & Brewery.
Tickets include parking, a traditional Oktoberfest meal, a five-ounce sampler stein, unlimited sampling of beers and ciders and more.
This year’s proceeds benefit the Ben Osborn Memorial Fund, created in memory of Cpl. Benjamin Osborn, who was killed June 15, 2010, in Afghanistan while serving in the U.S. Army.
Check here for tickets and more information.
Walks to End Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's care, support and research.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Dutchess/Ulster County takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at Walkway Over the Hudson, 87 Haviland Road, Highland.
The Walk to End Alzheimer's - Rockland County is 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at New York Boulders Baseball, Clover Stadium, 1 Phil Tisi Way, Pomona.
New York Sheep & Wool Festival
The annual New York Sheep and Wool Festival returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There’s workshops devoted to weaving, knitting, sheep shows and basket-making to a used equipment auction and kids’ activities.
Click on this link for more information.
Diwali Festival of Light
New York state’s inaugural Diwali Festival of Light will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The free event features traditional Indian food, performances, a water lantern ceremony and fireworks.
The festival starts in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center with vendors and traditional entertainment and displays. Activities move outdoors in the evening.
Free parking is available in the East Garage, Madison Avenue and Grand Street parking lots. Paid parking is available in the visitor lot underneath the Empire State Plaza.
For event updates and additional information, check here.
Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra Opening Gala
Guests are invited for what's billed as "a joyful afternoon of music and community." André Raphel will lead the HVSO with music by Mozart, Strauss, Stravinsky and Grammy Award Winner Jessie Montgomery.
The gala is 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the Paramount Theatre, 17 South St., Middletown. For tickets and details, check here.
SUNY Orange Community Orchestra
The SUNY Orange Arts and Communications Department presents “For the Birds,” a concert featuring classical music of magpies, swans, eagles, whitethroats, cuckoos and more under the direction of Richard Simons.
The show is 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the Paramount Theatre, 17 South Street, Middletown.
For more information, check here.
Dancing with the Adirondack Stars
Seven couples will compete for top prizes at the fourth Dancing with the Adirondack Stars fundraiser that hits the floor from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday in Charles Wood Theater in Glens Falls.
There is a raffle, silent auction and appetizer reception included. All proceeds go to Community, Work, Independence, which supports the needs of people who are medically frail, developmentally disabled, brain injured and learning disabled.
Check here for ticket information and more.