2023 Dad Fest – Car Show, Music, and More!

WHEN: Sunday, Jun 18, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

WHERE: Washington Park, Albany

COST: FREE to attend, but if you plan on purchasing food or merchandise, make sure to bring money!

BUS: #10, 12, 114

Dad Fest is the City of Albany’s celebration of all the fantastic fathers out there. Featuring our newly added Classic Car Show, great food, live music, and vendors! Dad Fest is a chance for the whole family to kick back and enjoy an early summer afternoon at one of the Capital Region’s most picturesque parks. Of course, you don’t have to be a dad to enjoy Dad Fest – this event offers a little fun for everyone.

Events Schedule:

10:00am – 2:00pm: CLASSIC CAR SHOW PRESENTED BY PARK ALBANY

The 6th Dad Fest Classic Car show presented by Park Albany in partnership with Capital Car Shows & Air Force Reserve will circle the inner roads of Washington park with a hundred cars to walk through and admire! 20% of the registration proceeds go toward the Henry Johnson Vet House of Albany. If you would like to enter your car or are looking for more information visit http://www.dadfestcarshow.com/

12:00pm – 1:00pm: THE GENTLEMEN OF SOUL LSM

The top Soul and R&B tribute band on the East Coast!

1:30pm – 2:30pm: ERIE  

For a band that was dreamt up in a hospital bed, indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. certainly has a lot of life in them. After emergency heart surgery in the Fall of 2018, TJ Foster spent the following year writing and recording Don’t Wanna Live, Don’t Wanna Die in an attempt to not only reflect on the harrowing ordeals that brought him to that hospital room, but also to get back to his roots as a songwriter. And while that March 2020 debut effectively highlighted a greatly personal, existential struggle with both mental and physical health, second LP Suburban Mayhem arrives with grander scope and vision. The album, released April 7th via Mint 400 Records, turns its focus externally, commenting vividly on the outside forces burrowing into our brains on a daily basis. It’s a resplendent examination of the world around us, rife with equal parts cynicism, wit and hope. Featuring pitch-perfect collaborations with Brooklyn-based dream-pop trio ALMA, and fellow Albany, NY area songwriter Sydney Worthley, the record showcases a band not only finding their footing, but settling into a signature sound.

3:00pm – 4:00pm: MIXED ROOTS

Under the leadership of the drummer, George, Mixed Roots is a rare breed of bands. All are from different areas, and now call Albany, New York home. Brian, Irishman and bassist, plays with multiple upstate New York reggae groups as well as Mixed Roots. Calling on his expertise from these, he offers flavors from the Grateful Dead and others. Pete, our guitarist and also an Irishman, plays with passion and expertise with decades of practice and performing reggae and rock and all places in between. The horn section – featuring (at times) two trombones, Dave and Catherine, and Scott, the sax man – consider themselves local also. They bring fire to the band with their playing. George, the lead drummer and vocalist, grew in Accra, Ghana, where he learned and practiced traditional African beats. He shares his vocabulary of AfroBeat and reggae with Mixed Roots. Together, this band plays with energy emerging from their mixed roots. They are prepared and excited to share their styles with you!

4:30pm – 6:00pm: YESTERDAY – THE BEATLES TRIBUTE

Yesterday – The Beatles tribute encompasses all eras of Beatles music from The Hamburg days through the Shea Stadium performances into pop history’s magical Sgt Pepper album and beyond. Yesterday was voted the #1 tribute act in Las Vegas by The Fremont St. Experience. It’s the longest running show at Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City.

Note: In the event of inclement weather, Dad Fest will be held the following Sunday, June 25th, from 10:00am to 6:00pm.