By Megan Wright
Entertainment here is immersive. It is the curtain rising at the Stanley Theatre. It is a Broadway tour stopping in Utica. It is laughter echoing through a showroom at Turning Stone. It is a packed college auditorium, a ballet matinee, a game show under stage lights.
The Mohawk Valley’s entertainment landscape spans historic theatres, college performing arts centers, casino showrooms, and community stages. Broadway Theatre League of Utica continues to bring nationally recognized touring productions to the region. Hamilton College’s Performing Arts Series blends scholarship and performance in a setting that invites both students and the broader community.
Turning Stone remains a year-round powerhouse for concerts, comedy, and large-scale events. The Stanley Theatre maintains its reputation as one of the region’s most iconic venues. Rome’s Capitol Theatre delivers rock, family tours, and long-standing favorites with historic charm.
Spring also carries tradition. St. Patrick’s Day parades, themed celebrations, races, and community gatherings energize downtown streets. Easter train rides and family events create the kind of seasonal memories that define childhood here.
The beauty of this region is choice. Intimate or grand. Historic or modern. Family-friendly or date-night worthy. The Mohawk Valley delivers across every category.
BROADWAY THEATRE LEAGUE OF UTICA
Broadway Theatre League of Utica continues to anchor the region’s professional touring theatre season, bringing nationally recognized productions to local audiences. With a longstanding commitment to accessibility and arts education, the League balances major Broadway titles with outreach programs designed to cultivate the next generation of theatre-goers. This spring’s lineup blends large-scale musical theatre with community engagement, reinforcing Utica’s place on the national touring map.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• March 3 & 4: Mrs. Doubtfire, The New Musical Comedy
• May 6 & 7: Kinky Boots
To purchase tickets or find more information on spring events visit: https://broadwayutica.org.
HAMILTON COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS SERIES
Hamilton College’s Performing Arts Series offers a thoughtful mix of music, theatre, and interdisciplinary programming in an academic setting that welcomes the broader community. Supported by long-standing arts endowments and state funding, the series brings accomplished performers and speakers to Central New York while fostering meaningful dialogue between campus and community. The spring schedule reflects that balance of artistry and accessibility.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• March 7 at 7:30pm: Total Response: Sound and Simran
• April 3 at 7:30pm: andPlay
• April 10 at 7:30pm: Rhonda Vincent and The Rage
Stay up to date with all of the events happening at the performing arts center this spring by checking out their online schedule: www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/arts-at-hamilton/performingarts#department.
TURNING STONE
Turning Stone remains one of the region’s most dynamic entertainment destinations, pairing large-scale touring acts with intimate showroom performances. Its Event Center and Showroom consistently draw nationally recognized comedians, musicians, and specialty performances, positioning Verona as a regular stop on major tour routes. The venue’s scale and technical capacity allow it to host everything from arena-level concerts to tightly produced stand-up performances.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• March 6 at 8:00pm: Anthony Rodia: Laugh Till It Hurts @ The Showroom (1)
• March 7 at 7:00pm: Anthony Rodia: Laugh Till It Hurts @ The Showroom
• March 28 at 7:30pm: Warren Zeiders World Tour 2026 @ The Event Center (2)
• April 18 at 8:00pm: Joey Belladonna of Anthrax @ The Showroom (3)
• May 2 at 8:00pm: Abba Revisited @ The Showroom (4)
• May 30 at 8:00pm: Ron White @ The Event Center (5)
To find more events and happenings at Turning Stone visit their website at www.turningstone.com.
CAPITOL THEATRE
The Capitol Theatre in Rome blends historic character with a versatile performance space capable of hosting concerts, touring productions, and community events. With its full stage and orchestra pit, the theatre continues a nearly century-long tradition of presenting live entertainment in the heart of Rome. The spring calendar leans into rock and touring acts while maintaining its broader commitment to varied programming.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• March 13 at 7:00pm: Pat Travers Band w/ Special Guest Sydney Irving & The Creatures
• April 3 at 7:00pm: Chris Jericho & Kuarantine with Special Guests Space Invader & Bad Marriage
• April 24 at 7:00pm: Vanilla Fudge
• May 28 at 6:00pm: Be Like Blippi Tour
Stay in the know with Rome Capitol Theatre events by visiting www.romecapitol.com.
STANLEY THEATRE
The Stanley Theatre stands as one of the Mohawk Valley’s most iconic stages. Originally built as a movie palace, it has evolved into a premier performance venue hosting Broadway tours, ballet, comedy, live broadcasts, and symphonic works. Its historic architecture and grand interior elevate every production, making the experience as memorable as the performance itself.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
• March 2 at 10:30am: The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
• March 18 & 19 at 7:30pm: Riverdance
• March 28 at 2:00pm: Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Ballet
• April 22 at 7:30pm: The Price is Right Live
• April 26 at 8:00pm: Jim Breuer: Find the Funny
Stay up to date with these events and any new upcoming events at www.thestanley.org.
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
St. PATRICK DAY EVENTS:
•March 4 at 11:00am: Irish Cultural Center | Lunch & Learn: History of St. Patrick’s Day
•March 8 from 10:00am – 1:00pm (or until sold out): Irish Cultural Center Drive-Thru Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner
•March 12 at 7:00pm: Irish Cultural Center Shamrocks & Shenanigans Trivia Night
•March 13 – 15: Old Forge’s St. Patrick’s Day Weekend
•March 13 at 7:00pm: Utica Comets | St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Game
•March 14 at 9:45am: Utica St. Patrick’s Day Mad Mile
•March 14 at 10:00am: Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade
•March 14 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm: St. Patrick’s Day Show at Lukin’s Brick Oven Pizza
•March 15 at 1:00pm: Sangertown Square Mall St. Patrick’s Day Pageant
•March 15 at 3:00pm: Irish Cultural Center “Arise & Go” Concert (Album Release Party)
•March 20 at 7:00pm: Irish Cultural Center Rory Makem in Concert
•March 26 at 7:00pm: Irish Cultural Center Irish Film Series – “Ireland and the First Nations”
EASTER EVENTS:
•March 28, 29 and April 4, 11:00am & 3:00pm: Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley
Railroad Easter Bunny Express — Train rides with the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunt
at O’Neill Station, Easter egg roll & treats onboard. ww.cooperstowntrain.com
•April 3–4 : Adirondack Railroad Easter Bunny Express: Departs from Holland Patent Station (round trip to Remsen). www.adirondackrr.com
•April 4, 11am: Easter Egg Hunt at Glimmerglass State Park / Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown.
SPORTING EVENTS
Comets
• March 3 at 7:00pm
• March 6 at 7:00pm – Local Firefighter Game
• March 8 at 3:00pm – Superheroes Game
• March 13 at 7:00pm – St. Patrick’s Day Game
• March 20 at 7:00pm – Racing Night
• April 1 at 7:00pm – Pucks & Paws
• April 4 at 6:00pm – Country Night
• April 10 at 7:00pm – Local Police Officer Game
• April 17 at 7:00pm – Fan Appreciation Game
Other
• NCAA Division III Frozen Four
• Semifinals – March 27 – 3:00pm and 7:00pm
• Finals – March 29 – 3:00pm
UCFC
• March 1 at 3:00pm – Bosnian Heritage Game
• March 15 at 3:00pm – St. Patrick’s Day Game
• March 22 at 3:00pm – Fan Appreciation Game
