SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, in partnership with the Saratoga Springs History Museum/Canfield Casino, announced this week the return of the Ghosts of Saratoga Guided Trolley Tour—a 90-minute ride through the city’s most storied sites, just in time for the Halloween season.
Led by trained guides, the tour draws on research from noted ghost hunter David Pitkin and other paranormal investigators, weaving together accounts that have made Saratoga Springs a portal of alleged paranormal activity.
With overwhelming demand for last year’s Ghosts of Saratoga Trolley Tours, the 2025 season will expand to feature two tours operating simultaneously on each date. Guests may choose to begin their adventure at either the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center or the Saratoga Springs History Museum/Canfield Casino. If one starting point is sold out, simply check the other—both offer the same experience.
The tours will occur on Thursdays, Oct. 2, 9, 16, and 23 between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.discoversaratoga.org/saratoga-springs-visitor-center/services/tours/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra (SSSO) will kick off its 92nd season, titled “In Other Words,” with appearances at both the Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and the MainStage at Proctors in Schenectady.
This season of SSSO features music inspired by literary greats like Arthur Conan Doyle, Martin Luther King, Jr., William Shakespeare, and more. The first concert, “Fate & Turmoil,” will be 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Zankel and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Proctors.
Beethoven’s “Overture to Egmont” will set the stage with heroic intensity, while Strauss’ “Macbeth” will bring Shakespeare’s tragic character to life in dramatic orchestral form. The program concludes when SSSO is joined by guest pianist Philip Edward Fisher for Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphony No. 2, The Age of Anxiety,” a jazz-infused journey inspired by W. H. Auden’s epic poem.
Before each performance, patrons are invited to join Artistic Director and Conductor Glen Cortese for a free pre-concert talk. The talk for this first performance will be 6 p.m. at Zankel Music Center and 2 p.m. at Proctors
Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors in person, by phone at (518) 346-6204, or online at sssony.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Summer 2025 just ended but plans for summer 2026 have already begun.
Country music star Riley Green is the first artist to be officially booked to perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) for the 2026 season. He’ll take the stage on Friday, June 19 during his “Cowboy As It Gets” tour. Openers will include Justin Moore and Drake White & Hannah McFarland.
Green has charted four top-20 Billboard country hits, including “Half of Me,” “Different ‘Round Here,” and “There Was This Girl.” He won an Academy of Country Music Award in 2020 for Top New Male Vocalist. Last year, he was awarded Musical Event of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me” (featuring Ella Langley) by the Country Music Association.
Front cover of “Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana” provided by author Bridget Farry.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local author Bridget Farry has released her debut children’s book, “Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana,” illustrated by DFG Illustration and published by Saratoga Springs Publishing.
The book is inspired by the real-life journeys of Farry’s rescue dog, Cooper. From paddleboarding on glacial waters to spotting wildlife and enjoying outdoor concerts, Cooper’s adventures celebrate the beauty and magic of Big Sky Country, all while leaving no trace behind. A portion of every purchase will support animal rescue organizations and climate change initiatives.
“I wrote this book to inspire kids to be curious about the world,” Farry said in a news release. “I think every adventure, big or small, can teach us something new, build confidence, and spark imagination. My hope is that young readers will eagerly take those first steps into a new adventure with excitement and wonder.”
“Cooper’s Campervan Adventures: Montana” is available in local stores, including Impressions of Saratoga, G. Willikers Toys, Saratoga Outdoors, and Saratoga Springs Publishing. It can also be purchased online at the author’s website: https://www.pawprintbks.com/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced this week that the popular “Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival will return for a free day-long concert on Saturday, Oct. 4 from noon to 5:30 p.m. Taking place on SPAC’s Charles R. Wood Stage, the festival will feature five bands (Misty Blues, Tom Chapin, Chatham County Line, Farah Siraj, and Aleksi Campagne) that explore roots, global, bluegrass, pop, and indie-folk music.
“Each year, this festival reaffirms how powerful collaboration can be. By joining forces with Caffè Lena, we’re able to present world-class artists across genres in a way that is welcoming and free to all — reflecting our shared commitment to art, nature, and community,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC.
“This festival embodies what makes our partnership with SPAC so meaningful: we share a belief that music should be accessible, joyful, and woven into the fabric of community life. Every year, people show up ready to celebrate that spirit, and it’s a gift for all of us,” said Sarah Craig, executive director of Caffè Lena.
The collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena first launched in 2017, encompassing jointly curated and presented programs at both venues.
Guests are welcome to bring in food, drink, blankets, and lawn chairs for the concerts. Food concessions will also be available. The concerts will take place rain or shine. Visit spac.org and caffelena.org for additional details.
Canal Tunnel, Oil on Canvas by Samuel Leone. Image provided by Main Street Studio.
CHARLTON — Main Street Studio will be hosting a solo exhibition and sale of work by local artist Samuel Leone titled “Summer Landscapes” from Sept. 13 – 21. For two weeks, the gallery located at 786 Charlton Road will be filled with Leone’s impressionistic landscapes capturing summer skies, lazy river reflections, and winding country roads.
“Summer Landscapes” features new work created by Leone during a residency program at the Mount Gretna School of Art, where Leone painted daily from observation in the forested community of central Pennsylvania, as well as scenes from Wychmere Harbor on the Cape, Saratoga County farmland, and bustling New York City.
Leone is a graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and is completing his BFA in Fine Arts at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. As a developing artist, Samuel finds inspiration working outdoors in nature and continues to grow his plein air painting practice.
The opening reception for “Summer Landscapes” is on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public with light refreshments being served.
Gallery hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.mainstreetcharlton.com.
Photo of Tower of Power performing live provided by Proctors Collaborative.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — For 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered some of the best in funk and soul music, and one of their next stops is the Universal Preservation Hall, where the band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Tower of Power has traveled the world, released their own hit singles, and backed legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process, they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as recognizable as the one from Detroit.
Tickets are on sale through the Box Office in person, via phone at (518) 346-6204, or online by visiting atuph.org.
Image provided by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Saratoga-Capital Region.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Ebony Hillbillies, one of the last remaining African American string bands in the United States, will be at the Saratoga Spa State Park on Sunday, Sept. 28 for a free concert and special children’s hour.
The concert will be held on the Victoria Pool Lawn, 58 Roosevelt Dr. In case of inclement weather, the performance will relocate to the Saratoga Music Hall at 474 Broadway. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.
Children’s Hour | 3 – 4 p.m.
Suitable for all ages, this Children’s Hour introduces young audiences to the deep roots of American music. The band begins by focusing on an instrument, song, and style that capture the culture/moment in time. This experience culminates with children sharing or showcasing what they have heard, experienced and learned.
Live Concert Performance | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Following a short intermission, enjoy a full live performance from The Ebony Hillbillies.
The entrance to the SPAC School of the Arts, located behind the former Museum of Dance on South Broadway.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — For now, a row of ukuleles remain unplucked. A dance studio stands empty. A piano’s keys sit still and quiet.
The SPAC School of the Arts fall semester begins in less than two weeks, and when it launches on Sept. 15, a building located behind the former Museum of Dance on South Broadway will become filled with sounds, movements, and performances.
The school is playing host to a range of classes that will wrap up on Nov. 21. Included in this year’s offerings: youth and adult ukulele for players of varying experience; improv for youths; acting for teens; adult ballet and contemporary dance; adult jazz; private piano lessons; and much more.
One class that the school’s Vice President of Education Dennis Moench and Director of Learning and Engagement Jess Bien are most excited about is “Playing Shakespeare,” a new offering taught by Skidmore College faculty member Dennis Schebetta.
“The thing that we love about this class is that it’s Shakespeare, but it’s also very low-stakes and it’s very accessible,” Bien said. “There’s a lot of improv incorporated into it and it represents what we do and what we aim to do, because it’s just about the process of creating and coming together with others. It’s not product based. There’s no formal performance at the end of it, but it’s a space for people to just come together and play.”
The casual but creative attitude of the Shakespeare class provides a microcosm of many of the school’s programs. The key is to allow people of all ages and abilities to meet in-person, explore an activity or interest, and walk away from the experience feeling like they enjoyed themselves. There’s little pressure to nail a particular line, or perfectly perform a certain dance maneuver. Rather, enjoyment, creativity, and improved mental health are the end goals.
“What we would really like to do is be part of this national conversation that is really gaining a lot of interest in the effect of the arts on people’s wellbeing and how it is essential, necessary, and not just something that only a privileged number of people can be a part of,” Moench said.
A collection of ukuleles, ready for plucking. The SPAC School of the Arts will be hosting five different ukulele classes during the fall semester. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.
The SPAC School of the Arts has partnered with Skidmore College for a course that invites adults over the age of 55 to take a creative movement class alongside the college’s dance students. The goal is to promote healing and wellbeing via the connections made between participants. A researcher at Skidmore intends to collect data from the class to see what the impact of such an experience might be.
“We’re really researching a lot of current studies that are out there,” Moench said. “The World Health Organization, for example, just came out with one about isolation and its effect on health and wellness, and we’re looking at a number of different data points, including social connectedness. We’re actually measuring working memory as well in the adults and in the students to see if there’s any significant impact on that and their overall sense of wellbeing.”
In other words, not only can a SPAC School of the Arts student learn more about Shakespeare or dance or music, but they may also be able to boost their mental health. The growing field of neuroaesthetics, which studies the psychological impact of art and music, is steadily providing more evidence that the creation and appreciation of art could be more of a necessity than a hobby. Some have even considered art as a tool needed for the survival of myriad cultures throughout history. It’s an ambitious field of study, and it’s one that has found a warm and welcoming home at the SPAC School of the Arts.
Those interested in enrolling in a class can do so online. Adult ballet is an especially popular course that may fill up by the time this story is published. But there are plenty of other offerings, many of which are favorites of the local community. To learn more or to register for a class, visit spac.org/school-of-the-arts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Frank Spotnitz—a TV writer/producer with credits that include “The X-Files,” “The Man in the High Castle,” and “Medici”—will be at the X-Files Museum in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, Sept. 21 for a meet and greet. The event will run from 1 to 5 p.m., with $40 tickets available at the door.
Some of Spotnitz’s notable “X-Files” writing credits include the episodes “Memento Mori,” “Millenium,” and the two-part “Dreamland.” In total, Spotnitz contributed to nearly 70 episodes of the hit series. He also helped author both “X-Files” films, released in 1998 and 2008, respectively.
Beyond his work on “X-Files,” Spotnitz created, executive produced, and wrote multiple episodes of “The Man in the High Castle,” an Amazon Prime Video series that garnered critical acclaim and won two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. When the pilot episode premiered in 2015, it became one of the most-watched original series debuts in Amazon’s history.
Spotnitz also created the Netflix historical drama series “Medici,” which chronicled the rise of the Medici political dynasty during the Italian Renaissance, and CW’s “Leonardo,” about the life of da Vinci.
The X-Files Museum (technically named The X-Files Preservation Collection) remains the world’s only museum dedicated to the 90s sci-fi/horror show, which has developed a cult following after its initial, wildly successful run on the FOX network.
