Gavin Tree Lighting Ceremony
On Friday, December 4, the public is invited to attend the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Gavin Park. The fun begins at 6 p.m., with holiday songs, led by Glenn Dorman at the piano along with Frosty, Rudolph and Santa’s elves. At 6:45 p.m., the lights will go up on Gavin Park’s beautiful Colorado Spruce tree. Then, Santa will arrive to meet and greet the crowd. From 6:45 – 8:30 p.m., the fun will continue inside the Dailey Gym, where Santa will hand out candy, treats, and gifts. There will be holiday movies for the little ones, cards to decorate for our friends at Home of the Good Shepherd and more opportunities for everyone to sing songs of the season. Refreshments will be served from 7 – 8:30 p.m. This event will take place, rain, snow, or moonlight and is free to the public. For more information, contact Gavin Park, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., at (518) 584-9455.
Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
The annual holiday parade and tree lighting will take on December 4. 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 has become a hometown-style holiday tradition, with fire trucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village. In lieu of a grand marshal this year, the parade will spotlight the Toys for Tots campaign, in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, Saratoga County Sheriff Department and 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 Holiday Parade is a true community event so parade participants are welcome.
Holiday Sale
In conjunction with Schuylerville’s village-wide celebration of St. Nicolaas, Old Saratoga Reformed Church located at the corner of Pearl and Burgoyne St., will be having a holiday sale. New and gently used Christmas items will be available, including Hallmark decorations and collectables. There will be a basket raffle, a bake sale, and much more at bargain prices. Hours are from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (518) 695-3479, 9 a.m. – noon, Monday – Friday.
Holiday Market
Olde Flax Mill Gallery Shop Hosts the Holiday Market. The Holiday Marketplace will feature a gathering of crafter tables in the upstairs gallery space at 88 Broad Street, Schuylerville. The annual marketplace is the ideal spot to find unique, affordable, one-of-a-kind crafted works for Christmas, holiday, hostess and New Year’s gifts. Watch skilled artisans work their fine crafts: traditional rug-hookers, knitters, spinners, potters, woodworkers, mosacists, fiber and fabric artisans and more. Our unique market will commence Saturday, December 5 through Sunday, December 20, only open on the weekends. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, you may call the gallery at (518) 695-5534.
Stillwater’s 7th Annual Holiday Craft Fair
The craft fair will be held on December 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stillwater Area Community Center, located at 19 Palmer St., Stillwater. Vendors welcome. For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Fabulous Christmas Cookie and Candy Sale
On Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Charlton Freehold Presbyterian Church is having a Christmas Cookie and Candy Sale. Let us do the baking! The church is located at 768 Charlton Rd., Charlton.
Gifting the Adirondacks Holiday Fair
On December 5, Adirondack Folk School instructors will showcase and demonstrate handcrafted items, works of art and crafts. The Adirondack Folk School is dedicated to teaching the arts, crafts, and culture of this unique Adirondack region. It will be held at the Adirondack Folk School located at 51 Main St. in Lake Luzerne from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call (518) 696-2400 or visit www.adirondackfolkschool.org.
A Ballerina’s Tale
The National Museum of Dance is excited to host a screening of the refreshing new documentary, A Ballerina’s Tale. This feature documentary tells the story of ballerina Misty Copeland, and her journey to becoming the first African-American Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater. Huffington Posts says about Copeland “Besides making history this past summer when she became the first black principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, she’s successfully defied odds with her muscular and less than traditional ballerina aesthetic. She’s changed the ballet world forever.” The screening will take place Saturday, December 5 at 7 p.m. at the Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Riggi Theater. Tickets are $10 per person, and includes popcorn. For more information and to purchase tickets please call (518) 584-2225 x3001. Seating is limited. National Museum of Dance is located at 99 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
New York City Trip
Town of Greenfield Recreation Department is sponsoring a bus trip to New York City on Sunday, December 6. We provide the transportation you make your own plans. Bus will leave Town Hall at 7 a.m. Drop off is at Bryant Park. We leave NYC at 6 p.m. Reservations are on a first come first serve basis. Registration is at Town Hall, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Cost of the trip is $40. Any questions please call Karyn Zanetti at (518) 893-7432, ext. 307 for more information.
Service of Advent Lessons and Carols
Join us for a service of Advent Lessons and Carols sung by the choir on Sunday, December 6, 3 – 4 p.m. at Bethesda Church, located at 41 Washington St., just off Broadway. Refreshments will follow. For more information call 518) 584-5980.
a ca-CELEBRATION!
Tis the season of giving back to our community! Come join us in an a ca-CELEBRATION! on December 7 at 7:30 p.m. with Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus. Hear traditional & modern holiday classics in women¹s 4-part a cappella harmony with all proceeds to benefit Code Blue. This event will take place at the Knights of Columbus, 50 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs. Admission is payable at the door. Suggested donation: cash or canned goods and/or warm outerwear such as hats, scarves, gloves or mittens. In the event of cancellation due to weather, our snow date will be December 14, 7:30 p.m. Please check our website for update at www.saratogasoundtrack.org or call (518) 747-3823.
It’s Pickins’ Time
Get Ready for a Great Evening of Music. On Wednesday, December 9, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., the popular Ballston Area Seniors Pickins’ Session will be held at the Milton Community Center, located at 310 Northline Road, Ballston Spa. Admission is free, open to the public, and there is ample free parking.
We are having a fun season with extemporaneous, off-the-cuff musical jamming by local talented musicians. The Sessions could use fiddlers, base players…even a harmonica, to make the evening more diversified and entertaining. Musicians are invited to play solo, background or join up with a group. Amateur musicians to professionals, members or non- members, young or not-so-young, are invited to come and recapture the joy of playing. Some folks from the audience come up and sing along with the group as well. Please bring finger foods to share – can’t have music without some munchies. So, bring your guitar, banjo, fiddle, harmonica or whatever you use to make music – or just come.
Brown Bag Lunch Series
On December 10 the next Brown Bag Lunch Series will be held at the H. Dutcher Community Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library from noon to 1 p.m. The subject will be History of the Saratoga Drum and Bugle Corps, presented by Jeff Perkins, of the Avant Guard Drum and Bugle Corps, Saratoga Springs
Open and free to the public
Breakfast with Santa
The Annual Breakfast with Santa is on Saturday, December 12, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Henry Cornell Post 234 on 23 Pleasant Street in Ballston Spa. Kids 12 and under can enjoy a hot breakfast with Santa Claus. There will be a holiday raffle for parents. The event is open to the community.
Who Killed Christmas 2
An original play with a myriad of interesting characters that will be featured at Free Spirit Fellowship on Sunday, December 13, at 10:30 a.m. Join us as we determine who is the guilty party. For more information call (518) 885-3149. The church is located at 1425 West High Street in Ballston Spa.
Christmas Cantata: “Stars of Glory”
The Christmas Cantata to be presented by the Ballston Spa Combined Church Choirs on Sunday, December 13, at 6 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, 202 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa. Hors d’oeuvres precede the concert at 5 p.m.
