Fall activity guide returns with longtime favorites, new classes
Registration opens Tuesday, Aug. 4, for recreation programs running through December.
The city of Albany's 2026 Fall Activity Guide is now available online, offering a mix of youth classes, adult fitness programs, senior activities and special events scheduled from August through December.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, and recreation officials encourage residents to sign up early for some of the city's most sought-after programs.
Several longtime offerings consistently reach capacity shortly after registration begins, particularly youth enrichment programs. Among the fastest to fill are Kids 'n Carpentry classes, the Friendship Afterschool Program and Gentle Tai Chi drop-in classes for adults 50 and older. During the summer season, the city's sewing camps also regularly fill to capacity, Recreation and Community Services Director Sid Schoenfeld said.
The department has also seen sustained interest in wellness and racquet sports in recent years. Tai Chi classes taught by longtime instructor Yachiyo Otsubo continue to draw between 30 and 50 participants per session. Otsubo has taught at Albany's Community Center and Senior Center for more than 20 years, leading drop-in classes three times a week.
Pilates instructor Ernie Adams has also been a familiar face in the department's programming for many years, Schoenfeld said.
Demand for tennis and pickleball has likewise continued to grow. To accommodate the sport's rising popularity, the city recently converted one tennis court at Ocean View Park into four dedicated pickleball courts while maintaining space that can also be configured for additional pickleball play. The expanded facilities now allow the department to offer both instructional classes and court rentals.
Alongside returning favorites, this fall's guide introduces several new programs. Chess Wizards will teach strategy and critical thinking through chess for children ages 5-12, while Spanish Explores combines language instruction with games, storytelling and cultural activities. Older adults can book travel packages through the Albany Senior Travel Troupe's extended vacations, with trips to Egypt and Tuscany planned for 2027.
The department says seasonal offerings are selected based on community interests, current recreation trends and the popularity of existing programs.
The guide also highlights scholarship assistance available through the Albany Police Activities League (APAL) for income-eligible families. The organization provides up to $125 toward one recreation program per season for households that meet current U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development income guidelines. APAL awards an average of about 10 scholarships each season.
Schoenfeld said the the city also hopes residents take advantage of the Albany Senior Center, which offers year-round programming for adults 50 and older, including health and wellness activities, lifelong learning opportunities, nutrition services and social programs.
The 2026 Fall Activity Guide is available on the city's website, with registration opening Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. Programs begin throughout August and continue through December.
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