Henry Street Bike Party {Sunday, June 21st}

Looking for something to do this Father’s Day? Look no further! Henry Street is throwing down the biggest block party ever celebrating bicycles of all shapes and sizes that will excite the kids and adult kids alike! Join in the fun this Sunday, June 21st from 12 to 4pm, for the Henry Street Bike Party event!

Register to race in the city’s first ever BIG WHEEL RACE, enter for a chance to win BICYCLE DECORATION CONTEST and bring the kids and their bikes down to participate in the KIDS BIKE PARADE.

Live music, food, vendors, beverages of all kinds, activities and entertainment for the whole family!

Register for the event or find more details about the Henry Street Bike Party at www.henrystreetbikeparty.com or visit the facebook event page here!

Saratoga Balloon and Craft Festival {June 19th-21st}

This weekend, June 19th-21st, is the Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival at the Saratoga Fairgrounds (162 Prospect St
Ballston Spa), a wonderful family-friendly event showcasing hot air balloons, fine crafts, live music, local food and an amazing kids zone including face painting, airborne artwork, and games sponsored by Stewarts.

They’ll have 100 Artists and Artisans displaying and selling their original works, and food vendors including fresh cut French fries, sausage sandwich, Middle Eastern Food, steak sandwich, chicken wraps, Ben and Jerry’s ice Cream, hot dogs, meat ball sub, sliders, coffee, espresso, wood oven pizza, funnel cakes and fried dough, Greek salad, chili, smoothies, hamburgers, and more.

The Balloon Launch is a memorable experience! They have over 20 Hot Air Balloons with four liftoffs and the “Best Balloon Glow in the U.S.” Launches at the Saratoga Balloon and Craft Festival happen Saturday and Sunday mornings at 5:30-6:30am and Friday and Saturday evenings at 6-6:30pm. You can even take a hot air balloon ride! Click here to book a ride now!

Launches are weather dependent, so check the Festival facebook page for updates, and click here for their complete schedule and website.

WEEKEND Stuff to Do: Sept. 19th-21st

FRIDAY

• Story time for preschoolers & toddlers is this morning at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga at 10:30, head down to see if your child can find Tally Ho! and win some loot!
  

• Hundreds of hot air balloons take to the sky at the 42nd Annual Adirondack Balloon Festival, taking place September 18th – 21st. There will be balloons of all shapes and size. Watch from the ground as they take off into the sky or go for a ride and see a view you won’t soon forget! Free admission.

SATURDAY

• Ellms Family Farm opens today! Discover corn maze fun for young and old, pumpkin patches for pick-your-own-pumpkins, and old-fashioned activities for Fall family fun! Evening Halloween hayrides (not too scary for the tiny tots!) and awesome apple cider donuts create memories and family traditions when you visit Ellms Family Farm.

• The Northeast Ballet Company Nutcracker auditions are today at Proctors Theater and everyone is welcome to audition!Audition times are as follows:
  12:00 -1:00 pm Children’s roles (age 5-8, must be 5 on 9/20/14)
  1:00 – 2:30 pm Children’s roles (age 9-12)
  2:30 – 3:30 pm Act One-Party Scene (Adult roles-Actors/Dancers)
  3:30 – 5:00 pm Variations (Age 13 & up, Ladies please
  bring pointe shoes if on pointe)
  

  Registration fee is $25.00 (cash, check or charge)
  Registration forms will be available on audition day.

  For more information about the Northeast Ballet Company, click right here.

• Celebrate at the Saratoga Springs City Center’s 30th Anniversary with a Family Fun Day! In honor of the City Center’s success, they are opening their doors for a family fun celebration on Saturday, September 20th for a day full of fun. Free and Open to the Public from 10am – 10pm. Starting with the Kids Cook Off at the Farmers’ Market, Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, Bounce Houses, Children’s Music and Crafts, Lots of Entertainment – ending with the Outdoor Movie on the Street at Dusk!

• It’s Nickelodeon’s WORLDWIDE Day of Play today and you can celebrate at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga on Saturday, September 20th from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Enjoy 1/2 price admission & a day full of special activities including Exercise Activities with Go Kids from 12:30pm-3pm, Self-guided scavenger hunts throughout the museum, a Special Autumn Story Art Program at 1pm in the art room, “What’s Inside Me with Stuffee” Program at 2:30pm in the art room (enjoy a healthy snack while learning about health & nutrition) and Roller Coaster Building from 10am-12pm in the art room! Be sure to stop in and play!

SUNDAY

• The Henry Street Harvest Festival is today from 12-4pm in Saratoga Springs and is so much fun for the entire family! Activities include live music, a dance performance, entertainment, festive food, seasonal snacks, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a dunking booth (you might even see a familiar face in that dunking booth around 2:30, hint hint), and a live broadcast from 101.3 The Jockey. The Henry Street Harvest Festival is one of Saratoga Springs’ most fun family events, and each year brings bigger crowds! Last year more than 1,000 people came out and supported this event. This year will be even bigger, click here for more info!

• The beautiful Yaddo Gardens are open to the public year round. This September, however, Yaddo welcomes guests to the Yaddo Mansion and various other buildings for the first time since 2011 and only the sixth time in history. Tours will be offered that feature sites on the private portion of the estate not ordinarily available to the public. Tickets for the tour must be purchased in advance, click here for more info.

Need even more ideas for weekend family fun? Check out the Mamatoga September Calendar (and get a sneak peek at October’s line up) by clicking the photo below! Have a great weekend everyone! xoxo

WEEKEND Stuff to Do: June 26th-29th

Did you sign the kids up for a local summer reading program yet? Many of them have signups online and are super easy to take part in, click here for all the info and get those kids reading this summer! Here is a post that might come in handy this weekend, some great and easy Pinterest crafts and activities your kids will love, I can’t wait to try out those little ice boats, too cute!

SPAC’s 37th annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is taking place this weekend, did you enter to win 4 tickets to Sunday’s performances yet? What are you waiting for?! A winner will be chosen at random Friday morning at 10am, click here to enter!

How about heading out as a family to pick your own strawberries? Here is a guide to some local spots for pick your own, including a super easy and super sweet recipe to pair with your freshly picked fruit!

THURSDAY

• Sirsy takes the stage tonight in the 2014 Ballston Spa Summer Concerts in the Park series from 6-8pm! Concert is FREE and open to the public, held amid the lovely Wiswall Park gardens following the Thursday afternoon Farmers’ Market.

FRIDAY

• There is a Nature Scavenger Hunt at Saratoga Spa State Park today at 10:30am. Come out and enjoy the outdoors while searching for various items found in nature. Kids will be making nature mobiles at the end with the materials that they find on the scavenger hunt. All ages welcome. Registration is required. Fee is $3 per person or $5 per family. Please call 518-584-2000 Ext. 150 to register.
  

• Storytime is today at Northshire Bookstore at 10:30am on their Children’s Floor, free and open to the public, drop in for a good book!

• UpBeat On the Roof at the Tang Museum rooftop at Skidmore is tonight from 7 to 8:30pm. “Jeanne O’Connor and the New Standard” soulfully reinterprets the music of the great songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s on the Tang Museum rooftop. Rain location is inside the museum.

SATURDAY

• Kids can bring their own dolls and hear the story of Coppélia as told by Margot Fonteyn, and learn to dance! Boys and girls ages 2 and up are welcome to dress up in their own dance or doll costume. Come get your face painted, participate in fun games, and experience dancing on a green screen! Food and drinks will be provided. Cost: $5 per child to be paid at the time of the event Reservations requested. Limit of 20 children. Contact the National Museum of Dance by phone: (518) 584-2225 ext. 3001 or email: info@dancemuseum.org. From 10-11:30am.

• Opera Saratoga’s 53rd Annual Opera Festival will include The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart taking place tonight at Spa Little Theater at 7:30pm. It is a story of love and loyalty where we journey with Prince Tamino through trials and tribulations, which are overcome by perseverance and victory. A brilliant combination of comedy and profundity, it is no wonder that this operatic fantasy sits high among the most popular operas of all time. Cost is $10-$85, click here for tickets and more information.

SUNDAY

• Is there a pirate or princess hiding in your child? Sign them up to attend the exclusive Pirate and Princess party! The Children’s Museum will be open to only pirates and princesses (and their caregivers) on the morning of June 29th. Come dressed for the occasion! Don’t have a costume? No need to worry, pirates will be make an eye patch and parrot craft while, princesses will create a magic wand and crown. Decorate a pirate or princess cookie, get your picture taken with a princess and/or pirate, and participate in a special scavenger hunt for Saratoga’s lost jewels and booty. And that’s not all… enter two FREE Melissa & Doug raffles, each valued over $65! This event is appropriate for children ages 3 and up. Pre-registration and prepayment required: $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Seating is limited, so sign up today! Just call the museum at (518) 584-5540. From 10am-12pm.

• It’s the 21st Annual Family Fun Day, sponsored by the Village of Ballston Spa and Town of Milton from 3-10pm at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds! Free activities include: bouncy bounces, carnival rides, music & dancing. Children’s activities: Bell Ringer Game 3-5 pm, Pie Eating Contest 4:30pm, Free Bicycle Giveaways 5:30pm (must be present to win) and a Spectacular Fire Works Show at 9:30pm. For more information, call the Ballston Spa village office at 885-5711. Admission is free.

Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival this Weekend!

The first ever Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival is taking place this weekend at the Saratoga Saratoga Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa!
The Saratoga Balloon & Craft Festival has something for everyone:

• Morning and Evening Balloon Launches
• Tethered Balloon Rides
• 100 artists and artisans tents, specializing in pottery, graphics, glass and more!
• 25 Specialty Food Producers from local restaurants and caterers
• Craft Beer Tent
• Continuous Live Entertainment on the Main Stage
• Food Court

There are events for the kids, too! The Kids Zone offers hands-on craft activities and Art Takes Flight event will be a hotspot for family visitors.

Kids Zone Events:

• “Musical” petting zoo
• Face Painting
• Jugglers
• Walkabout Balloon

On Friday and Saturday evenings, Saratoga Fairgrounds will be illuminated by dazzling colors and shapes as the participating balloons light up for a balloon glow. Click here for an interactive map of the festival grounds, and here for their facebook page to stay in the loop!

Adult Admission $10 and children 17 and under get in for free. Glow admission just $5 for adults and children.

North Country Horses “Time to Ride” Open House Sunday June 22nd

Mamatoga favorite North Country Horses has entered to compete in the TimetoRide 100 Day Horse Challenge by introducing 100 or more new people to horse activities in 100 days. This is a nation wide program that aims to welcome 100,00 new comers to horses across the country. What is TimetoRide? TimeToRide is designed to connect American families, specifically moms, to horse opportunities in their local area. It is a program coordinated by the American Horse Council in cooperation with a host of other equine organizations and breed associations.

Join them for an open house on Sunday, June 22nd from 11am – 3pm with activities that include demonstrations, Drill Team, Barrel Racing, Jumping, and Pole Bending. Kids will be able to Paint the Pony, learn about grooming and of course Pony Rides will be available. There will be a learn to rope station and lots more, and there will be food available as well! For more information, visit the event page on facebook here. North Country Horses is located at 438 Clark Road in Gansevoort and you can contact them at (518) 441-5959 for more information. This event is free and open to the public, hope to see you there! 

SaratogaArtsFest Event Spotlight: Kids Do Art & Beekman Street Art Fair Sunday, June 15th

SaratogaArtsFest kicks off this week starting on June 11th and I wanted to highlight a few of our favorite not to miss events! The Beekman Street Art Fair and Kids Do Art combo on Sunday is one of the best family friendly events for SaratogaArtsFest and is great for everyone in the family. First the Beekman Street Art Fair starts at 10am, with a juried art and craft fair, musical groups, street performers, and gourmet food trucks representing the taste of Saratoga (including our family favorite, Slidin’ Dirty). The fair is held outdoors, rain or shine, and the area is closed to traffic for family-friendly events. More than 40 artists are set up along Beekman Street, in the heart of Saratoga County’s art district, displaying fine art and craft, including demonstrations in papermaking, ceramics, and weaving. It’s perfect to stroll around, grab some lunch al fresco from one of the food trucks and listen to some great live music.

After you’ve gotten your fill of the Art Fair walk over to Universal Preservation Hall for Kids Do Art, an afternoon of hands-on activities for children 12 years and under, from noon to 3pm. Your budding artists can express themselves through clay sculpture, illustrations, crafts, music, dance, and more. To add to the fun, Universal Preservation Hall will host a performance of Cowboy Dave Around the World by Albany Symphony Orchestra (taking place at 12:15) and a performance by Saratoga Jazz Tap (taking place at 2pm). The kids just loved both of these events last year and there was so much for them to try. The outdoor art fair coupled with the indoor hands on art event makes for a perfect day out, below find some photos from last year’s events and make sure to stop by this year!

Admission for both the Beekman Street Art Fair and the Kids Do Art event are free and open to the public. To find the full listing of the great events SaratogaArtsFest has to offer this year click here.

 

Frozen tonight in Ballston Spa’s Wiswall Park!

I have a feeling this is going to be a popular event tonight, it’s the first FREE movie in the park for Ballston Spa’s First Fridays and guess what? They’re showing FROZEN! I know, I know, you haven’t seen it enough times yet, so here is your chance to see it under the stars! Bring your chairs and blankets and head to Wiswall Park in Ballston Spa, the movie starts at dusk (approx. 8:30pm). Click below for a parking map that shows some suggested parking areas.

There will be plenty going on for First Friday too, Cake Placid is having their ribbon cutting ceremony at 5pm for a ribbon cutting and “Frozen”-themed treats. There will be free samples, raffles and face painting!

Plus you can join your favorite downtown businesses as they host vendors from the Ballston Spa Farmers Market and get an exclusive sneak peek of this season’s vendors before the official market opening (Thursday, June 12). Head to the Bundle Store, staying open till 8, where Sling Babies will be renting baby carriers from 5-8pm. Click here for the full rundown of what businesses are taking part, there are a TON of great little events going on all over! 

Cantina Kids Fun Run: Sunday, June 1st

Coming up on Sunday, June 1st is the Cantina Kids Fun Run! This is always such a great local event for kids, and the best part is it benefits Pediatric Emergency Services at Saratoga Hospital, something vital to all families in our community. This year they have a new location too in Congress Park near the Carousel! A great way to get outside, be active and help raise much needed funds, don’t miss this great race that the kids will love. You can even run as a family, strollers are welcome! Check out the details below and register soon!

• Pre-registration fee on or before May 23rd is $15 per runner. $20 after that date and on race day.
• Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Event begins at 9:00 a.m.
• Two courses: Choose the ¼-mile course or the 1-mile course.
• 101.3 The Jockey onsite, bounce house, face painting & healthy snacks — Runners, family and friends welcome!
• Pre-register by May 23 to receive an event T-shirt & water bottle (children only)
• Medals for all runners up to age 12. Top 3 boys and top 3 girls from each course will receive trophies.
• Run as a family. Strollers welcome.

Click here to register online now!

 

 

WEEKEND Stuff to Do: May 9th-11th

FRIDAY

• Today at 10am is the Spring Wildflower Walk at Saratoga Spa State Park. Enjoy a relaxing walk around the park while learning about the medicinal qualities, legends, and folklores surrounding the wildflowers that grow here. All ages welcome. Registration is required. Fee is $3 per person or $5 per family. Call 518-584-2000 Ext. 150 to register. Click here for more info on the family friendly events taking place in the park during May.
  

• Kids story time is at 10:30 up on the Children’s Floor at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga, free and open to the public.

SATURDAY

• Head to the Saratoga Senior Center at 5 Williams Street in Saratoga Springs for a great craft show with some beautiful and interesting crafts, just in time for Mother’s Day. Admission is $1, from 11am to 4pm.

• The Learn to Swim Registration is at 3pm at the Saratoga Spa State Park today. Sign kids up to join Spa Park’s two week swimming program. Fee is $45 per student. Please call (518) 584-2000 Ext. 116 for more information.

• Demo alert! Join Healthy Living Market and Cafe’s Demonstration Coordinator, Christina Davis, from 11-2, at their Demo Center on Saturday for a recipe sampling of various Mother’s Day brunch ideas from savory scones to loaded vegetable tarts to tea sandwiches. Whether Mom prefers a leisurely breakfast in bed or a family brunch around the table, you’ll delight her with Christina’s recipe ideas! Don’t forget to also stop by the Cheese Shop from 12-4pm, where they are happy to welcome back The Flour Girl Bakeshop for their monthly sampling! Come taste their indulgent variety of their crowd-pleasing desserts that are perfect for your Mother’s Day Celebration!

SUNDAY

• Get moving on Mother’s Day at the Mother Lovin’ 5K! The race starts at 9am rain or shine at the Saratoga Spa State Park and you can register day of starting at 7:30am, cost is $30. The race raises funds for Kelly’s Angels, Inc., a local organization to help local children who have lost a parent to cancer. The family-friendly event attracts families from all over the Capital Region who wish to celebrate mom while raising money for “fun grants” for Capital Region children. Mother’s Day is especially meaningful for Kelly’s Angels. Kelly Mulholland, beloved mother and teacher, was the inspiration for the event. Kelly lost a battle with breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 37, leaving behind her husband and two young children. The Mother-Lovin’ Day 5K encourages families to participate together in a celebration of the important role that moms have in our lives. To learn more about Kelly’s Angels, click here to find them on facebook.

• Llamas are in the Library today at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 2-3:30pm. Kids can get an up close and personal encounter with live llamas from Katrina and Gary Capasso’s Dakota Ridge Farm. Owners will introduce their llamas and share some llama facts. Celebrate Mother’s Day with a reading of “Is Your Mama a Llama?” and children will have the opportunity to pet the llamas so bring your camera! For all ages. Free and open to the public.

• There will be a fantastic Tribute to Mothers Concert at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs from 3-5:30 today featuring the award winning Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra and Conductor Maestro Gioacchino Longobardi as they present a Mother’s Day program of engaging classical music featuring selections from Grieg, Piazzola, Bach and Paradis. Bring your mother and enjoy a program that will delight the entire family! Free and open to the public.

• Looking to treat your own mom (or be treated) for something delicious for Mother’s Day? Click here to find Saratoga Food Fanatic’s Mother’s Day Food and Events Guide with tons of info on local spots featuring Mother’s Day specials!

• Today from 9am -12pm is the Native Plant Sale. Want to learn an easy way to help the environment? Join them at Saratoga Spa State Park on May 11th from 9am to 12pm to learn more about native plants! A variety of native flowering plants and shrubs will be provided by Fiddlehead Creek Nursery and Wild Things Rescue Nursery. Both nurseries are family owned and operated business’s that grow native plants for sustainable landscapes. They’ll discuss with you the benefits of planting native and ways that you can use native plants in your own backyard. They will also have a Mothers Day craft for the kids. The event will take place at the Spa Farmers Market outside the Lincoln Bath building in Saratoga Springs. Please call Andy Damon (518) 584-2000 Ext. 122 for more information.

• Visiting the Children’s Museum at Saratoga today? Moms and grandmother’s get in free today for Mother’s Day!