Welcome to the first Albanian Fest in Albany NY
Join us for the 1st Annual Albanian Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly celebration honoring the rich heritage, traditions, and resilience of the Albanian people in the Capital Region and beyond.
Hosted by grassroots nonprofit organization Noteworthy Resources, this inaugural festival brings together the Albanian community to share traditional food, music, dance, art, comedy, storytelling, and local Albanian-owned businesses and leaders, while welcoming the broader community to experience the beauty and depth of Albanian culture.
Albany and the surrounding areas are home to a strong and growing Albanian presence. This festival is the first of its kind in the region—created to celebrate our roots, uplift our people, and build meaningful connections across generations.
More than a cultural event, the Albanian Festival also centers on mental health awareness and community well-being. As a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to supporting mental health, Noteworthy Resources is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where conversations about mental health are normalized, resources are accessible, and community support is strengthened—especially within immigrant and refugee communities.
Whether you are Albanian, part of the Balkan diaspora, or simply curious to learn more, this festival is an invitation to celebrate culture, honor resilience, and come together in community.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Cook Park – Tom Gentile Pavilion (Colonie, NY)
Albanian Food, Music, Dance
Artisans, Vendors, and Community Organizations
More details of Albanian Fest
Be a Vendor
We are excited to invite crafters and makers, business owners, supportive service organizations, food vendors, musicians, and dancers of Albanian ethnicity to participate as vendors and contributors to this special event.
(Vendor Application)
Sponsor the Festival
Sponsorship Packet (PDF)
Cook Park Amphitheater
Handicap accessible seating in the front row. Bathrooms are a short walk to the Cook Pavilion.
Cook Park Pavilion
28 indoor picnic tables. Bathrooms are located right outside in a separate building and are handicap accessible.
Tatiana Benack
A proud first-generation Albanian-American with roots in Puke, Albania, and the former Yugoslavia. With a background in psychology, mental health training, and peer support, her work is deeply shaped by her family’s refugee experience and her own late ADHD diagnosis. Through the Albanian Festival, Tatiana aims to create a space where culture, healing, pride, and community connection come together—honoring Albanian heritage while fostering openness, wellness, and support across generations.
Ida Bojaxhiu Mazzotta
My name is Ida Bojaxhiu, and I am from Berat, Albania. I decided to be part of this event to bring a small piece of my homeland to our community. My hopes for this festival are simple: to enjoy beautiful Albanian music, taste delicious traditional food, and see people gathered together. I especially look forward to teaching children about our music and traditional dances, and reinforcing a love for our culture and art in young people so that our heritage lives on with us and future generations. Thank you for taking the time to be part of this event.
Aleksander Tupe
I’m originally from Korçë, Albania, now living in Albany, New York. I’m proud to be part of the Albanian Festival committee because preserving and celebrating our culture is deeply important to me. Growing up Albanian, I’ve always valued our traditions, music, food, and strong sense of community. Being involved in this festival is my way of giving back and helping create a space where Albanians of all generations and the wider community can come together, connect, and celebrate who we are. My hope for this event is that it not only showcases Albanian culture, but also strengthens community bonds, inspires younger generations, and becomes a meaningful annual tradition for years to come.