Cover illustration: AI-generated scene of a downtown theater.
By Dawn Michelle Laguerre | Mohawk Valley Voice | Thursday, November 12, 2026
The next ten days bring college theater, holiday shopping, zoo activities, hockey and independent films to Utica, Rome and Clinton. This selective guide covers Thursday, November 12, through Saturday, November 21, 2026. All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
This Mohawk Valley Weekend Guide highlights various events and activities taking place from November 12 through November 21, 2026.
Start with your group’s interests and budget. A preschool zoo program is a different outing from an evening play with mature themes. Several events require tickets or registration, and a listed starting price may not include fees. Check the linked organizer before leaving home for changes, remaining availability and accessibility arrangements.
Theater and an evening out
She Kills Monsters at Utica University
When: November 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; November 15 at 2 p.m.
Where: Ralph F. Strebel Student Center auditorium, Utica University, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica.
Admission: $10 general admission and $5 for students, plus online fees. The theater department’s posted ticket information says cash only at the door.
Qui Nguyen’s play follows Agnes as she enters the Dungeons & Dragons adventure left by her late sister, Tilly. The fantasy setting makes room for a story about grief, identity and connection. This is a theater choice for audiences comfortable with adult themes and language, not an automatic recommendation for young children.
Utica University Theatre’s announcement and posted ticket details | Friday performance ticket page | University release with the full performance schedule and content advisory. Select the correct performance when buying.
Cabaret at Hamilton College
When: November 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m.; November 14 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Where: Romano Theatre, Hamilton College, Clinton.
Admission: $10 public, $6 for senior citizens and the campus community, and $4 for students.
Hamilton’s production, directed by Mark Cryer, offers another nearby live-theater option. Check remaining seats through the college rather than assuming a performance is available. The box-office number listed with the series is 315-859-4969. Audience suitability and access arrangements should be checked directly.
Official 2026–27 performing arts series | Our Cabaret coverage.
Music, history and community
The Sound of America: 250 Years
When: Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m.
Where: Oneida County History Center, 1608 Genesee Street, Utica.
Admission: The current event page does not state a price. Confirm admission with the center at 315-735-3642.
Monk Rowe and the Five Families Ensemble use music and historical context to explore the country’s 250-year journey. The program connects national themes, including freedom and inequality, with regional history such as the Erie Canal. It is a useful choice for listeners who enjoy hearing the stories behind the music.
Official event details | Our concert preview.
Holiday shopping in Rome
Holiday House gala and market
Where: Carpenter Center, 308 West Bloomfield Street, Rome.
- Gala: Friday, November 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 each, or $25 each when buying two or more. The evening includes wine, hors d’oeuvres and shopping.
- Market hours within this guide: November 14, 15 and 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door; purchases cost extra.
The organizer advertises more than 40 vendors. The market is a lower-cost browsing option, while the gala is an evening outing with refreshments. The organizer also lists November 22 market hours, but that Sunday falls outside this edition’s ten-day window.
Gala information | Market information | Our Holiday House guide.
Family and children’s choices
Two different outings at Utica Zoo
Happy Hibernators: Friday, November 13, from 10 to approximately 10:45 a.m., Utica Zoo, Utica. The learning program is geared toward ages 3–5, although all ages are welcome. Preregistration is required. The program costs $5 per child in addition to regular zoo admission; the base admission charge was not verified for this guide.
Cubs Cotillion: Saturday, November 14, from 4 to 7 p.m., in the zoo’s Visitor Center. This indoor family event includes music, a light buffet and animal presentations. The listed price is $35 per child and $10 per adult. The suggested audience is children ages 3–12 with guardians, though the zoo welcomes all ages. This is the rescheduled date for the event originally planned for June 20.
Choose the morning program for a shorter educational visit or the cotillion for a longer family evening. Check registration availability before making plans.
Zoo’s current event and registration listings | Our November zoo coverage.
Saturday hockey
Utica Comets vs. Syracuse Crunch
When: Saturday, November 14, at 6 p.m.
Where: NBT Bank Arena at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica.
Admission: The official ticket listing showed prices starting at $33. Seat availability, fees and final totals may vary.
The home matchup offers a regional hockey outing for sports fans and families. Compare the full ticket total before choosing seats, and check the arena’s current entry and bag policies.
Official game schedule | Official ticket information.
Film choices, including next week
Munson Film Series
Where: Munson, 310 Genesee Street, Utica.
Admission: Individual ticket prices were not verified. Use the film’s ticket listing before planning your visit.
- Fjord: Friday, November 13, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Munson lists Cristian Mungiu’s film as a 146-minute, subtitled, unrated production.
- Once Upon a Time in Harlem: Wednesday, November 18, and Friday, November 20, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Munson lists the William Greaves and David Greaves documentary at 100 minutes and not rated.
These are options for viewers seeking independent cinema and documentary work. “Not rated” is not an assurance that a film suits every age. Confirm the screening location within Munson and any renovation-related visitor changes before traveling.
Official November film schedule and ticket links | Our Munson and Harlem film briefing.
Looking ahead to November 20–21
TANYS theater festival in Rome
Where: Rome Community Theater, 8911 Turin Road, Rome.
Admission: Current audience ticket and package prices were not verified. Check the organizer’s registration information; meals and social events are not automatically included with performance access.
The Theatre Association of New York State’s festival offers performances from companies across the state, with adjudicator feedback. It is especially suited to theater fans and people involved in community productions.
- Friday, November 20: Opening ceremony at 7 p.m.; Performance Session I at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 21: Performance Session II at 10 a.m.; Performance Session III at 2:30 p.m.
The festival continues November 22, outside this edition’s coverage dates. The official schedule says times are subject to change. The hotel discount deadline of November 2 has already passed, so do not budget on the earlier advertised group rate.
Official festival information | Official 2026 schedule | Our festival preview.
Before you go
The $5 Holiday House market and discounted student theater tickets are among the lower-cost choices with verified prices here. Zoo program fees can sit on top of admission, and sporting-event prices can change with seat selection. No event is described as free without current confirmation.
This is a selective regional guide, not a listing for every community or activity type. We have not filled geographic or category gaps with older events. Dates and essential schedules were checked against current organizer information for this edition; a listing does not guarantee that tickets remain or that a later cancellation will not occur.
