# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Albany, 2026

> We found three Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Albany with 2026 dates: one parade and two tree lightings and lighting nights, all free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
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## Christmas parades

- **57th Schenectady County Holiday Parade** at Downtown Schenectady, Schenectady. When: Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Time: Steps off at 5pm. Price: Free. An evening parade through downtown Schenectady the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Bring layers for the cold. Official page: https://www.schenectadycountyny.gov/special-events/holiday-parade (checked 2026-10-30)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **City of Albany Holiday Tree Lighting** at Academy Park (City Hall if the weather is bad), Downtown Albany. When: Fri, Dec 4, 2026. Time: 5–7pm. Price: Free. The city lights its tree with free hot cocoa. Official page: https://www.albanyny.gov/2354/Annual-Holiday-Tree-Lighting (checked 2026-10-30)
- **44th Troy Victorian Stroll** at Downtown Troy, Troy. When: Sun, Dec 6, 2026. Time: 11am–5pm, rain or shine. Price: Free. A daytime holiday festival through downtown Troy, so it works for nap schedules better than evening events. Official page: https://www.victorianstroll.com/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Albany in 2026?
57th Schenectady County Holiday Parade: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, Steps off at 5pm (Schenectady).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Albany?
City of Albany Holiday Tree Lighting at Academy Park (City Hall if the weather is bad): Fri, Dec 4, 2026, 5–7pm. 44th Troy Victorian Stroll at Downtown Troy: Sun, Dec 6, 2026, 11am–5pm, rain or shine.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Albany free?
All of the ones we list are free to watch: 57th Schenectady County Holiday Parade, City of Albany Holiday Tree Lighting and 44th Troy Victorian Stroll. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Daytime ones are easiest with toddlers: 44th Troy Victorian Stroll. Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).