COLONIE — Hand in hand, children, parents and grandparents moved in a widening circle as traditional Albanian music played across Cook Park in Colonie. The scene captured the spirit of the region’s first Albanian Festival, a gathering where generations came together to celebrate a shared heritage.
Organizers believe that hundreds of Albanian families live in the Capital Region, but until Saturday, they say there had never been an event dedicated to bringing the community together. More than a year in the making, the festival was organized by Tatiana Benack, Ida Bojaxhiu Mazzotta and Aleksander Tupe, along with support from community volunteers.
The festival was hosted by Noteworthy Resources, a local nonprofit founded by Benack that focuses on creating spaces where conversations about mental health are normalized, particularly within immigrant and refugee communities. As a first-generation Albanian American, Benack saw the festival as a way to celebrate her heritage while addressing a topic that has often been difficult to discuss within her own community…