Live Music in the Town of Jay: Summer Finale and Upcoming Fall Series

As summer winds down, there is still plenty of live music to enjoy across our community. The JEMS (Jay Entertainment and Music Society) Summer Concert Series, presented in collaboration with the Town of Jay, is wrapping up its season at the Jay Village Green. Concerts run from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with refreshments available to benefit JEMS and the Amos and Julia Ward Theater serving as the rain location:

  • Saturday, August 29th: Knotty Paddy
  • Saturday, September 5th: Replay

The music does not stop when summer ends. Building on two wonderful shows this past spring, the Town of Jay is partnering with the Upper Jay Art Center (UJAC) for a free Fall Concert Series. Hosted at the Recovery Lounge, all fall performances begin at 7:00 pm and are completely free to residents of Jay and surrounding towns:

  • September 24th: Dawn Tyler Watson
  • October 1st: Charlie Millard Band
  • October 8th: Bad Penny Pleasuremakers

A final performance will wrap up the joint town series in December. To RSVP or learn more about the fall lineup, visit: upperjayartcenter.org

Both programs are proudly funded through our town’s allocation of Essex County Occupancy Tax funds.

 

Art in the Forks Coming to Au Sable Forks Next Saturday

Join us in Au Sable Forks next Saturday, September 5th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for the inaugural Art in the Forks! This new annual, daylong event celebrates our local arts community in an inclusive environment designed to foster community pride, support our creative economy, and assist with Main Street revitalization in Au Sable Forks. Attendance is completely free, and the schedule features local arts and crafts, music and dance performances, and interactive workshops for all ages.

To help support the event and our downtown commerce, attendees can purchase a $5 Collector’s Button. Buying a button unlocks special discounts at participating local businesses throughout the day, including ADK Mountain Spirits, Lance’s Pizza, Black Brook General Store, Young’s Studio and Gallery, The Forks Blend and Brew, and more. Make sure to stop by downtown Au Sable Forks next Saturday to enjoy the festivities and support our local creators and small businesses.

 

Business Grant Opportunities and DRI Momentum

Active business grant programs are building great momentum for our upcoming NY State DRI/Forward application, as highlighted in recent coverage by WCAX: https://www.wcax.com/2026/08/21/jay-eyes-state-funding-au-sable-forks-streetscape-overhaul/

Local business and property owners in the Town of Jay can currently apply for two impactful funding opportunities:

  • Town of Jay NY Main Street Program (NRDC): Offers grants up to $50,000 (covering up to 75 percent of project costs) for Au Sable Forks building facade upgrades, interior renovations, and site improvements. Apply by emailing: klong@northcountryruraldevelopment.org
  • Microenterprise Grant Program (Essex County IDA): Provides $5,000 to $35,000 for Town of Jay businesses and startups with five or fewer employees to cover rent, payroll, equipment, marketing, and inventory. Learn more by calling the Essex County IDA at: 518-873-9114

 

Farewell to Summer and Back to School

As August comes to a close, I want to wish all of our students, teachers, administrators, and staff a safe, exciting, and successful school year ahead. With buses returning to our roads and children walking to their stops, please keep traffic safety top of mind by obeying posted speed limits in school zones, stopping for school buses, and remaining extra vigilant during peak morning and afternoon commute times. Let us all do our part to support our schools and keep our children safe as a new academic year begins.

 

I hope you have a great weekend,

Matt