The 90s Take Over the SPAC Lawn
If you grew up making mixtapes off the radio, arguing about whether Tupac or Biggie was better, or singing “Waterfalls” into a hairbrush, August 13 at SPAC is your night. Be Kind and Rewind — billed as the Ultimate 90s Experience — is bringing a full evening of the decade’s biggest hits to the Saranac Thursday series, and it’s completely free. No tickets. No cover. Just the lawn, the music, and a heavy dose of nostalgia.
The Saranac Thursday series runs every Thursday evening through the summer at SPAC in Saratoga Spa State Park, offering free live music in one of the most beautiful outdoor settings in upstate New York.
About Be Kind and Rewind
Be Kind and Rewind is exactly what it sounds like — a high-energy tribute to the 1990s that covers the full breadth of the decade. We’re talking pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, and everything in between. Think Nirvana next to No Doubt, Backstreet Boys segueing into Blink-182, TLC rubbing shoulders with Third Eye Blind. The 90s were wild like that — genre lines barely existed at a house party, and a good 90s tribute band captures that same chaotic energy.
What makes a show like this work on the SPAC lawn is the recognition factor. Every song triggers a memory. Every chorus becomes a singalong. You don’t need to know the band — you already know every song they’re going to play. That’s the whole point, and it’s a formula that absolutely thrives in a casual outdoor setting where the crowd came to have fun, not critique the setlist.
Venue Info
SPAC’s lawn was made for shows like this. The amphitheater in Saratoga Spa State Park gives you old-growth pines, open sky, and enough room for the whole crowd to spread out without stepping on each other’s blankets. On Saranac Thursdays, the vibe is laid-back and welcoming — families up front, friend groups scattered across the lawn, couples tucked into their favorite spots. It’s community music in the best sense.
Parking is free for the series. The lots closest to the lawn fill first, so arriving a little early gives you a shorter walk and more time to settle in before the music starts.
Tickets & Admission
Free admission. No tickets, no registration, no catch. Just show up. Music starts at 6:00 PM. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and whatever snacks and drinks you want for the evening.
Visit spac.org for the full 2026 Saranac Thursday lineup and schedule updates.
Why This One Hits Different
There’s a reason 90s nostalgia shows pack rooms everywhere they play. That decade sits in a sweet spot for a huge chunk of the concert-going population — old enough to trigger real memories, recent enough that the songs still feel current. On the SPAC lawn on an August evening, with the sun going down and “Semi-Charmed Life” ringing across the park, you’re going to feel seventeen again for about two hours. That’s worth the drive to Saratoga.