International Spa Heritage Festival to Take Place Oct. 9-10 Saratoga Spa State Park

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The International Spa Heritage Festival will take place Oct. 9-10 at Saratoga Spa State Park.   

The festival celebrates Saratoga as an international destination for health and wellness and will include representatives from some European spa towns.  

The International Spa Heritage Festival, part of the Centennial Celebration for the 100-year anniversary of the New York State Park System, was announced by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The event will be open to the public and feature a conference with guest speakers, a community festival, and an international health and wellness travel expo.

The international delegation includes European officials, mayors, and tourism leaders from more than 11 countries, including Italy, Spain, Croatia, Germany, and France.

Established in 1909 to protect the waters from commercial exploitation, Saratoga Spa State Park became a renowned spa destination for bathing and drinking mineral water for health benefits. The park is known for its waters, classical architecture, and natural beauty. In 1935, extensive development championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt created the iconic architecture that the park is known for today, much of which was directly modeled after the great spas of Europe.

The two-day celebration will include a Guest Speaker Series and Conference and a family-friendly Community Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and a Health & Wellness Expo & European Spa Town Showcase and a Bathrobe Walk – during which members of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) will be featured in the signature closing event, including a leisurely stroll through Saratoga Spa State Park in their bathrobes. 

For more information about the International Spa Heritage Festival, and a full schedule of events during the two-day event, go to: https://historicthermaltowns.com/.