July is the time when Glens Falls truly earns its distinction as “Hometown USA”! With the Glens Falls Symphony and fireworks at Crandall Park on the 3rd, ATF shows at The Wood, Monday night Glens Falls City Band in the City Park gazebo, Wednesday Take a Bite downtown, Thursday night music and food trucks at The Shirt Factory, and Friday night movies in City Park, the city comes to life! As it gets hotter out, it will be a nice relief to step inside to cool off! Here are some of my picks to put on your calendar this month.
July 7 • Charles Cornell Album Release Party • The Strand, Hudson Falls
Charles Cornell is an internet sensation for his really fun short musical parodies and he’s a great jazz-fusion pianist. It will be very fun to see him at The Strand! Grab your tickets here.
July 9 • “Section 130” Book Reading • Katrinka Mannelly • Crandall Public Library
Just thrilled to support my sister-in-law (Jim’s sister) as she travels around the country from Tacoma, WA with her book of short stories about Bigfoot, faeries, demons, sirens and other supernatural beings. I’m loving this book and I know her reading will be magical! Here are the details!
July 11 - August 31 • Hound of the Baskervilles • Lake George Dinner Theatre
Looking forward to seeing this play and enjoying dinner at the same time! I remember reading the book in high school and just loving the Sherlock Holmes story (luckily I forget how it ends). The Lake George Dinner Theatre is “the most intimate dinner theatre in America” and has been putting on shows for nearly 50 years - I can’t wait to go check it out! Find out more info here.
July 22 • Glens Falls Music Academy Drum Corps • East Field
I’ll admit I’m not a big football fan, but I have always loved halftime with the marching bands and drum corps! Here’s a way to see some of the best drum corps in the country (without having to sit through a football game). I’ll be at East Field in Glens Falls to enjoy “Marching Music’s Major League”, a unique and exciting opportunity! Get the details here.
July 26 and 27 • GEM Fest • Downtown Glens Falls
Glens Falls Entertainment & Music Festival (GEM Fest) keeps getting bigger and better every year! This year it’s now two days and Glen Street in downtown will be closed off for part of the event. Bands from throughout the region perform in downtown venues, gallery spaces feature work from local artists, The Park Theater hosts Short Stuff production, live comedy and a Film Festival, GEMbouree for kids is in City Park and the streets come alive with art and music. This is going to be a very fun weekend! Here are all the details!
Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced.