So why do so many people think Glens Falls is cool?
Glens Falls the perfect balance between an up and coming foodie / art / shopping mecca, the safe and nurturing place you want to raise your family and a Senior Citizen’s retirement dream. In fact, all of those generations happily coexist to make up what has become one heck of a community!
LOCATION
Glens Falls is on the Hudson River and has been relying on its abundance to power an industrial center for over 150 years. A bridge just beyond downtown leads to the falls and Cooper’s Cave, an historical landmark from the Underground Railroad where escaped slaves hid on their journey to safety.
Glens Falls sits on the border of Adirondack Park just three hours north of New York City and three hours south of Montreal. It is easily accessible via Interstate 87 and Route 9 and travelers have been passing through the town for centuries on their journeys North and South.
DOWNTOWN
The heart of Glens Falls is it’s downtown. The City is walkable and the downtown is at its center with shopping, entertainment, tons of restaurants and arts organizations as well as a thriving business district.
Since Glens Falls has been built up over time, the architecture is beautiful with examples from the mid-1800s to the modern day.
In the center of downtown is City Park, a lovely green space with a gazebo, benches and activities throughout the year.
FOOD
There are so many options for foodies in Glens Falls. From International Cuisines including Mexican, Hibachi and Thai to New Orleans Fusion to health conscious smoothie shops and locally sourced options. Upscale, fast, American, coffee shops, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all easy to find. The oldest restaurant in town? New Way Lunch has been in business since 1919 and is famous for its dirt dogs!
A huge Saturday Farmer’s Market features local produce from neighboring dairy, vegetable and fruit producers as well as fresh flowers, crafts, prepared foods, fish and meat. The Glens Falls Co-Op borders the market grounds with hours throughout the week.
Everyone looks forward to Wednesdays in July and August when Glens Falls restaurants set up on the streets of downtown for the weekly Take A Bite. Small plates of food showcasing the diversity and specialties of downtown’s food scene can be purchased for a few dollars giving anyone the opportunity to try something new.
ARTS & CULTURE
There’s a reason (several actually) that Glens Falls has been named the Arts & Entertainment Gateway to the Adirondacks. There are local artists and live music in many of the restaurants, several galleries downtown, and The Hyde Collection Art Museum houses ancient and modern masterpieces.
Third Thursday Art Walks in the summer bring the community out to enjoy art shows and entertainment from local and regional artists.
The World Awareness Children’s Museum features artwork, everyday items and clothing from around the world in interactive exhibits that introduce kids to world culture.
Local history museum, The Chapman, is part historic house and part museum with the largest collection of original Seneca Ray Stoddard photographs in the world.
Located in the center of downtown is the Charles R. Wood Theater, an intimate venue with a mainstage and black box theater. Music, dance, film, theater and showcases keep the theater busy with new offerings every week.
Crandall Public Library is all you could ever want with a large book collection, children’s activities, a film series, music series and lecture series, heritage collection, multiple galleries and meeting rooms.
EVENTS
The Glens Falls Civic Center in downtown Glens Falls hosts events year round including ice shows, rodeos, sporting events, circuses and music concerts.
Fitness rules in Glens Falls with the annual Fit Fest in City Park and the Glens Falls Urban Assault obstacle race.
City Park is also put to good use Friday nights from July 4 through Labor Day when Outdoor Cinema shows family-friendly films under the stars on a giant inflatable screen. Thursday nights in the summer, the Lake George Community Band plays in the City Park bandstand. Tuesdays afternoons in the park, you’ll find local employees sitting with bag lunches enjoying live music, artists painting in the open air and conversation as part of the weekly Out to Lunch series.
Popular annual events include the Downtown Boo to You which brings thousands of children downtown in their Halloween Costumes to Trick or Treat at the local businesses and enjoy live spooky entertainment, Hometown Holidays in December includes caroling, pony rides, hot chocolate and Santa. An annual Vintage Car Show, Chalk Fest where sidewalk squares and chalk can be purchased for your creative pleasure, Paint Out, the Memorial Day Parade and Wing Fest are also large draws.
GEM Fest is a music festival held in July. More than 20 local and regional bands play at venues and on the streets throughout downtown Glens Falls.
The annual LARAC Art Festival is a HUGE weekend-long juried craft show held in City Park. Hundreds of vendors come from around the United States to participate on Father’s Day weekend every year.
Taste of the North Country attracts restaurants from around the region to participate in the annual food festival which showcases some of the best fare in upstate New York.
The Adirondack Film Festival in October brings professional film into the spotlight as juried filmmakers premiere some of their latest shorts and feature films on screens throughout downtown. Many of the films go on to be shown at larger film festivals around the world.
SPORTS
Glens Falls host an ECHL Hockey Team, the Adirondack Thunder which calls the Glens Falls Civic Center its home. The City is also home to an amateur baseball team, the Glens Falls Dragons which competes in the PGCBL, a collegiate baseball summer league. They practice and compete at Glens Falls’ East Field complex.
If you’re wondering how all of this can be supported by a population of only 14,428 (based on the 2014 census) – all I can say is - It’s because Glens Falls is THAT COOL!!!
