FREE: The Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series in Troy

Want some free summer fun to entertain the kids? Well, head on over to Barker Park at the corner of 3rd and State streets in Troy at 11am on Thursday mornings for a variety of weekly fun activities all summer long from story hours to fire trucks, from dancing to a great big bunch of fabulous music.

Yes, it’s the return of the annual Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series presented by the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Each year, the series takes on a theme – pirates in 2016, bunnies in 2017 – and this year the theme is super heroes, and everybody will be awarded a free Super Hero Badge.

The series starts on Thursday (July 5) with something a little different. “We here at the Music Hall recognize that not every Super Hero wears a cape,” says Jon Elbaum, the Music Hall’s Executive Director. “To kick off this Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series, our first performance won’t feature music, but our own hometown heroes, the brave men and women of the Troy Fire Department and the Troy Police Department. It will be a wonderful opportunity for children to interact with Troy’s real heroes. Plus, who doesn’t want to sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck?”

Here’s the complete 2018 Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series schedule:

Thursday (July 5): Troy Fire Department and Troy Police Department
The Fire Department will bring one of the big rigs (and maybe an antique Fire Truck) and children will have a chance to get up close. Joining them will be members of the Police Department, and children will have the
opportunity to look up close at a police car, a police bike and maybe even a visit from the K9 officer.

July 12: Movement Story Hour with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company
Appropriate for children, toddler to age eight, the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company’s workshops are designed to nurture the creative potential of each child. The stories are drawn from children’s books and are led by Artistic Director, Ellen Sinopoli. An array of fun-filled visual and verbal tools are given to assist children in finding innovative shapes and imaginative ways to move.

July 19: Andy the Music Man
Andy Morse is a popular children’s musician renowned for the special way he connects with his audiences. A talented guitarist, mandolinist and songwriter, Andy mingles traditional and original songs and novelty, delighting and involving kids through sing-a-longs, dancing, play-acting and storytelling.

July 26: Ramblin Jug Stompers
Ramblin Jug Stompers have been kickin’ up a vintage American roots-rockin’ ruckus for more than a decade and they’re still stompin’ strong. Armed with guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, harmonicas, jugs, washboards, kazoos and assorted other musical toys – the Stompers have melded old-timey influences with their own contemporary spin and wry sense of humor. The quartet – Cousin Clyde, Bowtie, Mister Eck and Wild Bill – traces their roots directly to membership in the legendary Star Spangled Washboard Band and early MTV pioneers Blotto, echoing those bands’ unique combination of hot-wired musicianship and quick wit.

August 2: Troy Public Library
The Troy Public Library will host a Story Hour with a very special visit from the one and only Spiderman! Appropriate for children ages 4 to 10 years of age, and the wearing of all Super Hero gear is encouraged.

August 9: Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard
Heard is Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius (composer/pianist), Jonathan Greene (woodwinds), Bobby Kendall (bass), Brian Melick (percussion) and Zorkie Nelson (percussion/vocals). Heard’s energizing world music will put a smile on your face and get you up and dancing! The group will present an all-ages interactive show with percussion instruments for kids to check out and learn some rhythms from around the globe.

August 16: Watch Reggie Run
Formed in 2017 by Dave Graham and his son Luke who has autism, Watch Reggie Run, is named after how they spend their time when not making music (watching Luke’s sister Reggie run in track and cross country meets). The father/son duo shares a love of music and has found it to be a great way of connecting despite Luke’s limited communication skills. Music can be a very powerful way of breaking down any barriers. The songs are all inspired by Luke.

August 23: Seth & The Moody Melix
Borrowing from a wonderfully diverse mix of musical styles, this toe-tapping trio plays lyrically rich music for kids that parents can appreciate, too. With guitar (Seth Warden), fiddle (Doug Moody) and percussion (Brian Melick), along with sweet harmony vocals, their songs impart good values and educational tidbits in a fresh upbeat organic style.

MORE OF GREATER NIPPERTOWN’S FREE SUMMER EVENTS FOR 2018
VARIOUS DAYS
LIVE AT THE JAZZ BAR @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s Hall of Springs, Saratoga Springs (select Wednesdays & Friday, 6/6-8/17/18)
FREEDOM PARK SUMMER CONCERTS @ Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm, various days)
NEW YORK STATE’S 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION @ the Empire State Plaza, Albany (Wednesday, July 4)
MORE MUSIC AT MUSIC HAVEN @ Central Park, Schenectady (various days, 7/10-8/19/18)
SCHENECTADY SUMMERNIGHT @ State Street, Schenectady (Friday, July 13)
TUESDAYS
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS IN SARATOGA SPRINGS @ various locations, Saratoga Springs (12:30pm select dates, 5/15-10/16/18)
MUSIC IN THE PARK @ Schodack Town Park, Schodack (6pm, 6/5-7/3/18)
BRUNSWICK SUMMER CONCERTS @ Brunswick Family Community Center lawn, Troy (6:30pm, 6/26-8/28/18)
TUESDAY NIGHTS IN THE PARK @ Cook Park, Colonie (6:30pm, 6/12-8/28/18)
MUSIC IN THE PARK @ Stony Creek Town Park, Stony Creek (7pm, 7/3-8/28)
WEDNESDAYS
LUNCHTIME AT THE PLAZA @ the Empire State Plaza, Albany, (12noon, 6/6-8/29/18)
ROCKIN’ ON THE RIVER @ Riverfront Park, Troy (5pm, 6/6-8/8/18)
CONCERTS AT THE LAKE @ Windsor Lake, North Adams (6:30pm, 6/6-8/29/18)
PERFORMING ARTS AT THE COMMON KIDS SERIES @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park (7pm, 7/18-8/1518)
THURSDAYS
JAZZ ON JAY @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon, 6/7-8/30/18)
ALIVE AT FIVE @ Jennings Landing, Albany (5pm, 6/7-8/2/18)
CONCERTS AT THE CROSSINGS @ the Crossings of Colonie, Loudonville (6pm, 7/5-8/30/18)
CONCERTS IN THE PARK @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa, 6pm, 6/28-8/30)
ROCK THE BLOCK @ Canal Square, Cohoes (6:30pm, 6/7-8/9/18)
SCHAGHTICOKE SUMMER EVE’S CONCERTS @ Schaghticoke Town Hall Gazebo, Melrose (6:30pm, 6/21-8/23/18)
UPBEAT ON THE ROOF CONCERT SERIES @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (7pm, 7/5-8/30/18)
CONCERTS AT THE GAZEBO @ Niskayuna Town Hall Gazebo, Niskayuna (7pm, 6/7-8/9/18)
JAMMIN’ AT GPAC @ Tawasentha Park’s Guilderland Performing Arts Center, Guilderland (7:30pm, 6/21-8/23/18)
FRIDAYS
FRIDAYS AT THE LAKE @ Shepard Park, Lake George (6pm, 6/15-8/31)
ATHENS PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER CONCERTS @ Riverfront Park, Athens (7pm, 6/22-8/30)
SATURDAYS
HARBOR JAM @ Rivers Casino & Resort’s Mohawk Harbor Amphitheater, Schenectady (6pm, 6/23-8/11/18)
SUNDAYS
MUSIC HAVEN @ Central Park, Schenectady (7pm, 7/8-8/12/18)
PERFORMING ARTS AT THE COMMON @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park (7pm, 6/24-8/12/18)