Downtown Albany's holiday market is coming back for a second year, with organizers promising more vendors, more entertainment and more food than last year's debut drew crowds from across the region. Deck the Hall-bany is set to take over Clinton Market Collective and Quackenbush Square on three Saturdays this November and December, offering shopping, live performances and free hot chocolate at no cost to attendees.
According to the current listing from Downtown Albany, the free, family-friendly festival runs Nov. 21, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The event is co-produced by ParkAlbany and the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, and no tickets are required to attend, as reported by NEWS10 ABC.
This marks the second year for Deck the Hall-bany, per NEWS10 ABC's report, and organizers are leaning into the momentum from its first run. Jill Delaney, president and CEO of Discover Albany, said the market creates holiday experiences and introduces visitors to the city's people, places and traditions, the station notes. Sean Palladino, ParkAlbany's executive director, said this year's festivities include new and returning entertainment, more unique vendors and more food options.
What's On Offer at the Market
The current listing advertises more than 60 local small businesses, artisans and makers rotating through the market dates, according to Downtown Albany. Visitors can expect live music, circus performers, character meet-and-greets for kids and pop-up performances throughout each event, the organization says. Complimentary hot chocolate will be available at every date as well.
Food options include savory waffle tacos, loaded mac and cheese, gourmet grilled cheeses and holiday-themed pastries, per NEWS10 ABC's report. The lineup of food trucks and restaurant vendors is expected to rotate across the three Saturdays alongside the shopping and entertainment offerings.
Toys for Tots and the Hot Chocolate Stroll
Deck the Hall-bany will also serve as a Toys for Tots drop-off location for new, unwrapped toys at every holiday market date, Downtown Albany says. The final event on Dec. 5 is scheduled in conjunction with the Downtown Albany BID's Hot Chocolate Stroll, giving that Saturday an added draw beyond the regular market programming.
Earlier promotional materials from Downtown Albany had described the festival running on Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, with more than 30 small businesses and local makers participating. That timeline and vendor count differ from the current listing's three dates and 60-plus vendors, and the discrepancy between the two sets of materials has not been resolved.
Turnout Figures Remain Mixed
Attendance estimates for the 2025 debut also vary depending on the source. Downtown Albany's current listing states that Deck the Hall-bany saw more than 1,000 visitors from across the region at each event date last year. NEWS10 ABC's report, meanwhile, states that the 2025 inaugural event reportedly attracted more than 4,000 attendees from New York and neighboring states overall.
Whichever figure proves accurate, organizers are betting on a bigger turnout this time around with an expanded vendor list and added entertainment. The market takes place rain or shine at Clinton Market Collective and Quackenbush Square in downtown Albany, with all three Saturday sessions running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
