Category Archives: Holiday Guide

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association has begun preparations for its annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting taking place on Friday, Dec. 2 on Milton Avenue in the village.

A home-town style tradition, the event typically draws hundreds of spectators to Ballston Spa to watch the decorated floats, fire trucks and community groups parading through the village.

The parade steps-off at 6:30 p.m. on the north side of Milton Avenue and proceeds to West High Street. Following the parade, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will arrive on the back of an Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Company truck to light the tree in Wiswall Park.

Parade entries will be judged this year in the following categories: Best Emergency Vehicle, Best Float, Best Walking Entry, and the Brightest Light Award.

The parade will once again spotlight the Toys for Tots campaign, in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, Saratoga County Sheriff Department and the U.S. Marine Corps. Volunteers from these organizations will be on hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys from spectators along the parade route as well as at the tree lighting.

The popular Artisan Market at Brookside Museum is returning soon for the 2020 holiday shopping season.
The event will be held from Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, through Dec. 24 at Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton St. in Ballston Spa.
Its hours will be noon to 4 p.m. on Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Like its predecessors, the 20th installment of the market will feature only handcrafted products created by local artisans, including everything from natural soaps and lotions to unique ornaments and jewelry to scrumptious syrups and eatables.

A new campaign called “Save Our Locals” is aiming to help local businesses, particularly during the holiday season.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is leading the effort to bring awareness to community members on how crucial it is to shop at local, independent businesses to help ensure their survival as restrictions on businesses due to COVID-19 continues to take a toll.
The Chamber is partnering with business organizations across Saratoga County—including Discover Saratoga, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, Saratoga Springs City Center, and the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association—in this united effort to save local businesses.
“As winter nears, many local businesses continue to operate with severe restrictions placed on them in the effort to stop the spread of COVID 19,” Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said.

The 33nd annual Victorian Streetwalk will be held Thursday night, Dec. 5 in downtown Saratoga Springs.
Sponsored by the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, it will run from 6-9 p.m. Broadway will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at p.m. to from the ea past the Saratoga City Center to the north to the Spring Street intersection to the south.
CDTA will run free shuttle buses to the downtown area every 20 minutes—4:30-10 p.m.—from four parking lots: the Empire State College lot at 111 West Ave. on the city’s west side; silver sponsor NYRA’s Oklahoma training track at East Avenue and Union Avenue; the National Museum of Dance on South Broadway; and the Weibel Avenue skating rink parking lots on the east side of Saratoga Springs.

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association’s annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting will takes place Friday, Dec. 6.
The step off time is 6:30 p.m., proceeding on Milton Avenue and ending in Wiswall Park on Front Street with Santa lighting the Christmas tree.
The parade is a hometown-style holiday tradition, with firetrucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Between the parties, shopping, wrapping, and all the other endless activities that fill up the holiday season, preparing a meal, whether for just your family or a gathering, can be a daunting task. 

Some people leave it to the professionals who cater holiday meals.

Restaurants in and around Saratoga have many options to meet people’s holiday needs. Restaurant owners recommended planning ahead as much as possible, especially when hosting an event.  

Cathy Hamilton of Putnam Market in Saratoga Springs, said they ask for three days’ notice for most catering, although there are a few things they can do in a last-minute scenario.  

“Our catering menu has platters for groups both small and large. Often our customers have family favorites and use us to fill in the other sides, from shrimp platters to cheese platters. All of our food is made from scratch here in the store, so it tastes like homemade. It is also designed to be easy to heat, serve and eat,” said Hamilton.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center is again offering its popular Holiday Collection—customizable gifts for classical music lovers, jazz fans and aspiring ballerinas, alike.

The 2018 Holiday Collection includes the Trustco Bank Classical Season Flex Pass, which features a lawn seat for all performances of New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra and the opportunity to upgrade to the best available amphitheater seat for $5 for any performance, up to five times ($165 through Dec. 31); gift certificates,  which can be redeemed for tickets to any SPAC performance, Live Nation show or the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival; the flex ticket option for the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival ($56 through Dec. 31); holiday gift subscriptions to Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at SPAC and SPAC memberships.

For those who prefer to purchase tickets in person, SPAC will open the Hall of Springs Box Office (108 Avenue of the Pines) on Saturday, Dec. 15. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The regular Holiday Collection discount will apply with a one-day-only discount for purchases of the Trustco Bank Classical Season Flex Pass (available for $150, in person only) and no processing fees or facility fees.

Audiences can also enjoy hot chocolate and holiday cheer while making their purchase.

The Trustco Bank Classical Season Flex Pass includes lawn admission to all 2019 performances by New York City Ballet, July 16 – 20 (excluding the New York City Ballet gala) and the Philadelphia Orchestra, July 31 to  Aug. 17.

The Holiday Art Fair at the National Museum of Dance is an art-ful way to shop for the coming gift-giving season.

 The fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at the museum in the historic Saratoga Spa State Park, 99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs. 

The annual Holiday Art Fair is a juried fine arts and fine crafts fair of visual and performing arts. The show is staged throughout the Dance museum’s galleries and foyer. 

Organizers said many of the artists featured are new to the show and some are favorites back from the summer Art Celebration. 

“It is a great way to spend a fall weekend enjoying a beautiful art fair” says event director Sue Brown Gordon. 

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Anyone looking to capture the Holiday spirit in a more intimate and authentic way, far from overcrowded malls and parking lots, can head to shops in downtown Saratoga. 

From gourmet teas to spiced oils, to pet gifts to live music that promises to create a meaningful shopping experience, local businesses have it covered.

Many small businesses focus on getting people to check them out on Black Friday, Nov. 23,  and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24. Andrew Mitchell, store manager at Saratoga Olive Oil Co., 484 Broadway,  said  they will be stocked with olive oil and balsamic vinegar gift baskets, sampler boxes and locally crafted wooden box sets and gift boxes, handmade ceramic cruets and dip dishes. 

“Guests can come in and shop or ship out holiday gifts right from our website, “ said Mitchell. He said they will be offering discounts on Black Friday ranging from 10 to 30 percent off, as well as having $5 stocking stuffers. Small Business Saturday will also offer discounts throughout the day. 

Allie DeStefanis, store manager at Saratoga Tea & Honey,  348 Broadway, said this time of year, they have mini honey jars with wooden dipper available for $9, and they are only available for the holidays.