Summer Events At The Area State Parks

At Grafton Lakes State Park
• July 20, Friday – Evening Guided Hike at 6 pm; meets at Long Pond Road parking lot. Start your weekend off right with a guided hike through some of our many trails.
• July 28, Saturday – Xterra Triathlon at 9 am; 1k swim, 20k bike ride and 6k run! For registration information, see www.skyhighadventures.com.
• July 28, Saturday – Children’s Triathlon at GSLP at 2 pm; 1k run, 100m swim and 5k bike ride!  See www.skyhighadventures.com to register.
• July 29, Sunday – Super Olympic Road Triathlon at 7 am; 1 mile swim, 30 mile bike ride and 7 mile run! See www.skyhighadventures.com to register.
• August 2, Thursday – 6:30 pm; Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park Summer Potluck and Meeting. Meet at the Park Office. Bring a dish to share.
• August 3, Friday – Evening Guided Hike at 6 pm; meet at the pull off for Gartler Trail on Rt. 2. Start your weekend off right with a guided hike through some of our many trails.
• August 4, Saturday – Habitat in a Jar at 2 pm; meet at the Park Office. Learn about the habitat needs of various animals that call the Rensselaer Plateau home. Explore nearby wetlands and finally build your own self-sustaining habitat to take home.
• August 12, Sunday – 27th Annual Run for the Roses 5k benefitting the Grafton Community Library; race at 9 am, nature walk 8 am, kids one mile fun run at 10 am. Call the Grafton Library at 279-0580 for information.
• August 17, Friday – Evening Guided Hike at 6 pm; meet at the Shaver Pond Nature Center, 194 Shaver Pond Road. Start your weekend off right with a guided hike through some of our many trails. Parking is free after 5 pm.
• August 25, Saturday – Touch ‘n Explore Wildlife Education with Bernie; 11 am to 1 pm by Long Pond Beach. Use all your senses to learn about these animals. Meet animal ambassadors too!
• August 31, Friday – Evening Guided Hike – 6 pm; meet at the Long Pond Beach Playground. Start your weekend off right with a guided hike through some of our many trails. Parking is free after 5 pm.
• September 3, Monday –  Labor Day Sand Sculpture Contest; registration is at 12 pm at Long Pond. All participants will receive a prize; open to all ages.
At Cherry Plain State Park
• July 27, Friday – Star Watch at Cherry Plain State Park at 9:30 pm.  Join with members of the Albany Area  Astronomers and come explore the night sky. Meet at Deerfield. The rain date is Saturday, July 28.  Call 658-9144 to confirm.
• August 24, Friday – Star Watch at Cherry Plain  State Park at 8:30 pm.  Join with members of the Albany Area  Astronomers and come explore the night sky. Meet at Deerfield. The rain date is Saturday, August 25.  Call 658-9144 to confirm.
At The Bennington Battlefield
• August 5, Sunday – The War and Women; 2 pm at the Bennington Battlefield. Take a trip back in time and explore the different tasks that women took on during the Revolutionary War, how they dressed and how their status affected how they lived.
• August 16, Thursday – Commemoration on the 235th anniversary of The Battle of Bennington;  5 to 8 pm on the anniversary of this crucial victory in the Revolutionary War. There will be programs, selected readings and displays.
• August 18 and 19, Saturday and Sunday; the Battle of Bennington 235th  Anniversary Weekend. Relive history with re-enactments, programs and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Meet soldiers from both sides, play colonial games and experience local history.