Historical Events

The month of May brings us National Historic Preservation Month! It gives us an opportunity to look more closely at the places that tell our story—and to recognize the people, organizations, businesses, and community partners working to preserve them. Here in Albany, our historic buildings and neighborhoods are more than reminders of the past; they are part of the community we continue to live in, care for, and pass along to those who come after us.

Throughout May, Albany celebrates with events that make history fun to explore. Annual favorites include the Hidden History Architectural Scavenger Hunt, Albany Tweed Ride, Downtown Wine Walk, historic walking and streetcar tours, and special programs at the Albany Regional Museum. Preservation workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and other history-inspired activities round out the month, with something new to discover each year.

For the latest on National Historic Preservation Month in Albany, visit our Events Calendar or our Blog. During the month of May, you can also stop by the Albany Visitors Association office to pick up a Preservation Month event booklet with information about that year’s activities.
You can find out more about events throughout the country at the National Trust for Historic Preservation website. 

Each September, on the Saturday after Labor Day, the streets of Historic Downtown Albany fill with antiques, vintage treasures, and classic cars for Antiques in the Streets & Classic Car Show. More than 50 vendors from around the Northwest bring everything from furniture, glassware, and jewelry to quilts, clothing, collectibles, and unexpected finds. Stroll through downtown, admire more than 100 classic and custom cars, browse the nearby Farmers’ Market, enjoy live music, and make a day of it with lunch or shopping at one of Albany’s downtown businesses.

For more information regarding this event, contact the Albany Antique Mall.

Held each year on the second Sunday in December, from 2-7 p.m., Albany’s Christmas Parlour Tour invites visitors to step inside beautifully decorated historic homes and buildings for an old-fashioned holiday experience.

Explore the tour at your own pace while enjoying festive decorations, holiday music, and the architectural details of some of Albany’s historic treasures. Tour stops change from year to year and may include private homes, churches, museums, and other historic buildings. Along the way, you might even encounter Father Christmas making his rounds. And be sure to stop at Albany’s historic Carnegie Library, where the fireplace is lit for the occasion—the only time each year a fire burns in its historic hearth. It’s a cozy tradition that has become a special part of the Christmas Parlour Tour.

For current tour hours, tickets, participating locations, and other details, call 541-928-0911 or visit our Events Calendar as December approaches. 

Held each year on the last Saturday in July, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Albany’s Summer Historic Interior Home Tour offers a rare opportunity to step inside some of the city’s beautiful historic homes and buildings.

This self-guided tour features a changing selection of private residences representing a variety of architectural styles and stages of restoration. Visitors can admire original craftsmanship and architectural details while learning about the history of the homes, preservation efforts, and what it’s like to care for a historic property. Homeowners and volunteer hosts are available along the way to share stories and answer questions. The tour may also include some of Albany’s museums, churches, and other notable historic buildings, making it a wonderful way to experience the architectural heritage found throughout Albany’s historic districts. Tour locations change from year to year.

For current tour hours, ticket information, participating locations, and other details, call 541-928-0911 or visit our Events Calendar as July approaches.

Albany’s history comes to life among the headstones of Riverside Cemetery during the Albany Regional Museum’s annual History Through Headstones tour.

Each year features a different theme and introduces visitors to some of the people who helped shape Albany and the surrounding area. As you make your way through the historic cemetery, docents share the real-life stories behind the names on the stones—their lives, families, occupations, accomplishments, and connections to the community. It’s a fascinating way to discover local history in the very place where many of Albany’s early residents were laid to rest—and perhaps meet a few characters from the past you’ve never encountered before.

Dates and themes vary from year to year. Visit the Albany Regional Museum or our Events Calendar for current information.

History is anything but quiet at Albany’s Monteith House Museum. Built in 1849 by brothers Walter and Thomas Monteith, the house is closely tied to the founding of Albany and today serves as a gathering place for programs and special events that bring the city’s past to life.

Throughout the year, the Monteith Historical Society offers a changing variety of historical and seasonal experiences. In the fall, visitors might explore Albany’s haunted history on a Ghost Walk, ride the Trolley of Terror, venture through the historic neighborhoods aboard the horse-drawn Carriage of Shadows, or even take part in a paranormal investigation inside the Monteith House itself. Other programs explore Albany’s pioneer roots and everyday life in the 1800s through special events and hands-on activities. During the Christmas season, visitors can bundle up for horse-drawn wagon caroling through Albany’s historic neighborhoods, followed by warm cider and cookies at the Monteith House—a tradition that brings a little of Christmas past into the present.

Events and programs vary from year to year. Visit the Monteith House Museum website or check our Events Calendar for current dates, details, and ticket information.

Each holiday season, Albany lights up for the annual Nighttime Magic Holiday Light Contest, a community tradition that has been making spirits bright for nearly four decades.

Residents are invited to decorate their homes with lights, color, and plenty of holiday creativity, transforming neighborhoods throughout Albany into a festive nighttime tour. Once the displays are ready, grab your family or friends, bundle up, and take an evening drive through town to see the participating homes—and vote for your favorites! The Albany Visitors Association provides a map of participating locations, making it easy to create your own self-guided holiday lights tour. Recent years have also included an interactive map through the Albany Explorer App and a family-friendly holiday lights scavenger hunt.

Participation details, maps, voting dates, and other information are updated each holiday season. Call 541-928-0911 or visit our Events Calendar for the latest Nighttime Magic information.