A Celebration of Art, History, and Community at
First Presbyterian Church of Albany - February 6–7, 2026

First Presbyterian Church of Albany is proud to announce Beacon in the Park - a two-day celebration of the arts, history and community. At the heart of the weekend is a juried art show and silent auction that invites local artists to explore and reflect on the church’s landmark architecture, its magnificent Tiffany stained glass windows, and the surrounding Washington Park neighborhood.

The event marks the public launch of A Welcoming Place for All, First Presbyterian’s $3.9 million capital campaign to improve accessibility and other improvements that will enhance and expand community use of the historic building. With visual art, live music, and a lecture on Gilded Age design, Beacon in the Park invites the Capital Region to come together in celebration of creativity, inclusion, and the power of sacred spaces to serve the public good.

Schedule:

Friday, February 6th First Friday Events (Free Admission)

"Beacon in the Park" Juried Art Show
- Description: Gallery featuring show entries inspired by the historic architecture, stained glass, and surrounding Washington Park neighborhood of First Presbyterian. Wine, soft drinks, light appetizers available throughout the evening
- Location: Assembly Hall
- Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
- Call for Artists: Submissions for the Beacon in the Park Juried Art Show are open through January 16, 2026. Visit firstpresalbany.org for information.
Concert: Music of the Gershwin Brothers
- Description: Features the timeless music of the Gershwin Brothers, composers whose work captured the spirit of the late Gilded Age when the church was built.
- Location: Sanctuary
  Time: 6:00 - 7:20 pm (intermission at 6:45 pm)

Saturday, February 7th Events

Docent-led tours of First Presbyterian’s buildings, architecture and Tiffany windows
- Time: Tours at 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm
- Admission: Adults $10, Children 16 & Under free
Reception and Art Show Awards Presentation
- Description: Honoring event sponsors and Chairpersons Carol Bullard and Worth Gretter. and announcing the winners of the juried art show.
- Time: 5:45 - 7:00 pm
- Tickets: Start at $60 per person - Includes hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks and admission to the lecture
Lecture: Louis Comfort Tiffany: A Tour de Force of Light and Color in the Capital Region’s Gilded Age Architecture
- Presented by: Rensselaer County and Troy City Historian, and Executive Director of the Hart Cluett Museum, Kathy Sheehan
- Description: Join Rensselaer County and Troy City Historian, and Executive Director of the Hart Cluett Museum, Kathryn Sheehan, for an illustrated talk on the Tiffany stained-glass windows that grace the churches, public buildings, and homes of the Tri-City area. Sheehan will explore the intricate designs chosen for these windows and share stories of the benefactors behind them, all while surrounded by the church’s spectacular collection of Tiffany windows.
- Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
- Admission: Adults $10, Children 16 and under free--to be held in the Sanctuary

Support Our Vision

Proceeds from the weekend benefit A Welcoming Place for All, First Pres’s $3.9 million capital campaign to expand accessibility and preserve our historic campus. Learn more and give at firstpresalbany.org or scan the QR code below.

Honorary Committee

Beacon in the Park - a two-day celebration of the arts, history and community