There are many special events in Troy, such as:•Troy Night Out•Victorian Stroll•Troy Pig Out•The Troy Turkey Trot Run•The Chowder Fest•Chamber of Commerce

What is Troy Night Out?Troy Night Out is a monthly arts and cultural event that takes place the last Friday of every month in downtown Troy from 5-9 PM. The event regularly draws over 1,000 people onto streets of Troy, and attendees are able to enjoy over 30 art events, 15 music venues, and over 20 fine restaurants as well as unique botiques of all varieties.

•Jump on the Troy Trolley as it makes the rounds of the city, providing free transportation to all events attendees and stopping at major event destinations. The RPI shuttle is available for RPI students only, providing transportation between campus and Monument Square every hour (during academic year only).

•Free parking is available on-street and in several city garages.

What is The Troy Victorian Stroll?•The Troy Victorian Stroll marks its 27th year as the region’s premier free holiday event. All afternoon- from 11 AM to 5 PM- Troy’s historic downtown will offer more than 100 free attractions, including the region’s top performers, musicians, dancers, magicians, and storytellers.

•There will be rides, refreshments, a craft show, and much more, set in the historic beauty of Victorian downtown Troy. Throughout the afternoon, Troy’s fine shops, boutiques, and galleries will be open for holiday shopping. If you’re hungry, make sure to stop into many of Troy’s best eateries or for a quick bite, visit the food court located next to City Hall.

What is the Troy Pig Out?The Troy Pig Out will welcome professional BBQ teams from across the United States for this two day competition which includes a People’s Choice St. Louis Rib competition on Saturday, and the main event on Sunday.

The Troy Pig Out is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Association and the office of the Governor of New York State BBQ Championship, qualifying the winner for the National Championship.What can you do?Barbecue vendors and live music are the main attractions for quests to the festival, filling Riverfront Park on both Saturday and Sunday, and a special fireworks show on Saturday night over the Hudson River.

What is the Turkey Trot?•The Turkey Trot is the oldest race in the Capital District. From it’s humble beginning in 1916 with only six runners entered, the Troy Turkey Trot has grown into one of the largest road races in upstate New York. Over 6,000 participants are expected to take part in the five Turkey Trot events.

•After more than 35 years at the same location the Troy Turkey Trot moved its indoor day of race operations last year from Troy City Hall to the newer and larger venue at the Troy Atrium. This move was needed to help accommodate the ever-growing number of Trot participants and spectators. In addition, a new starting line will be on Fourth Street while a new finish line is located on Third Street between Broadway and Fulton Streets.

What is the Chowder Festival?The Chowder Festival is when The City of Troy and the Troy Downtown Collaborative in conjunction with local restaurateurs. More than 30 restaurants sold their chowder at $1 per bowl, with over 10,000 in attendance. Both festival goers and a team of expert judges vote to award prizes for top chowders in several categories. To showcase the relationship between local farms and talented local chefs, each chowder must include at least one ingredient grown locally. The Chowder Festival takes place just south of where the award winning waterfront Farmer’s Market is held on Saturdays.

What is the Chamber of Commerce?•The Chamber of Commerce is an organization job of business people within a regional community dedicated to creating and maintaining a favorable business climate and safeguarding the interest of its members.

Did you know…•The Chamber was recognized as “One of the Top 3 Chambers in the Nation” by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) for 2006-07. The Chamber competed with more than 1,250 other Chamber’s across the United States for the prestigious honor. •The Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce is the 3rd largest Chamber in the Capital District region based on number of member businesses, as listed in the Business Review's Annual Book of Lists. •The Chamber’s current member retention rate is 88 percent, which is two percent higher than the national average of similar sized chambers of commerce. •43 percent of all Chamber members have been active members for more than five years. •On average, more than 3,000 business professionals from across the Tech Valley region attended our programs and events each year. •The top business classifications of members are construction, attorneys, and non-profit organizations.