Welcome back to The Calendar, my fair Saratogians. This time of year marks the very solemn occasion when college graduates walk across a stage to receive their diploma (okay, really it’s just a sheet of paper) and then shortly thereafter enter the terrifying “real world.” Yours truly will be marching along with Pomp and Circumstance come this Saturday. I’m a little older than your average college senior (when people ask me why I’m getting my bachelors at 30, I just tell them I took a gap year that turned into a gap decade). But every soon-to-be-graduate’s first real task, before entering the real world, will be hunting down enough entertainment and fun stuff for their friends and family to do while they’re in town (not to mention finding restaurants that won’t already be overflowing with the familiars of every other recent college graduate).
So this week’s pick is the 49th Annual St. Sophia Greek Festival in Albany. Last week it was clogs and tulips, but this week New York’s Capital is going Greek, and it’s a great opportunity for all graduates and their families to get a feel for the fun and diversity of the Capital Region. Not only will there be plenty of room and parking at the festival (it’s held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church) but, more importantly, it will also last all weekend (Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20). There will be continuous live Greek music and Greek dancers in traditional garb, a Greek pastry shop featuring homemade pastries, amusement rides for children, plenty of souvenir and jewelry shops, church tours, plus, did someone say free parking and shuttle service? (Yes, yes they did.) Plus, there’s a raffle with with seven different prizes: the grand prize is $5,000, and 1st prize is two round-trip airline tickets to Greece (some restrictions apply). Best of all, the Festival’s affordable: only $3 admission for adults, and children under 12 are free. What’s more college appropriate than a low-cover event with delicious food?
If Greek Festivals aren’t your thing, then check out these alternatives:
Friday, May 18
Saturday, May 19
Sunday, May 20
