SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will present the 2023 Saratoga Giant Pumpkinfest on Saturday, September 23 in downtown Saratoga Springs. This free and fun-for-all-ages event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center parking garage. 

Growers from all over the state and the Northeast bring the biggest pumpkins from their harvest and compete for the coveted title of “Heaviest Pumpkin of the Year.” 

Attendees can view giant pumpkins, some over 1,000 pounds, and watch the official weigh-off, which begins at 11 a.m. The festival will include fall activities as well as food and beverage vendors, and is located near the Saratoga Farmers’ Market at High Rock Park.

“We’re excited to host this family-friendly event as a kick-off to Saratoga County’s fall season of promotions for local farms and our agricultural sector,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president Todd Shimkus in the release. “It’s hard to explain how large and heavy these giant pumpkins are until you see them, so our hope is that we will have many returning guests as well as first-time event attendees curious to see what the fuss is all about.”

For more information visit saratoga.org/tourism/giant-pumpkin-fest and follow the event on Facebook.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Senior Center’s new space at 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs was unveiled Sept. 12 with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Adjacent to the Saratoga Branch of the YMCA, the space covers more than 14,000 square feet, and will allow for increased programming for Seniors in Saratoga County.

The Dake Family and Stewarts Shops made a $3 million charitable gift that will allow the Saratoga Senior Center to co-exist on the Saratoga YMCA campus rent-free for 30 years.

“The seniors in our community are the backbone of what makes Saratoga such a great place to live, raise families and age,” says Lois Celeste, Executive Director. “We offer everything from dinners and trips to art classes, technology assistance, exercise classes, support for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s families, as well as a comfortable community center to socialize, make new friends and stay active. We encourage everyone to come and see what we do, try a new class or take a local or long-distance trip.”

Donations to the Saratoga Senior Center can be made online at saratogaseniorcenter.org/donate or by mailing a check to the center at 290 West Ave. Suite 1, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For more information about the Saratoga Senior Center or to volunteer visit www.saratogaseniorcenter.org or call 518-584-1621.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The 4th Annual Front Porch Music Fest – an event featuring musicians performing on 15 front porches on Spring Street – takes place 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16.

Artists sharing their musical gifts include: Tim Wechgelaer; Juniper; Ragged Company; Marty Brown; Edward King Duo; Curley Lamb; Ray Giguere & Dave Scheffel; Will Capuano; Rick Surferboy & Leslie Turner; Maggie Doherty & Katy Dwyer. 

Spring Street will be blocked-off from Court Street to Nelson Avenue during the family-friendly event. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Tickets for the area’s premiere new home tour, the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, are now on sale. This event is now celebrating 27 Years of exceptional homes!

Tickets are available at all Adirondack Trust branch locations, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury, Saratoga National Bank, Glens Falls National Bank and Roohan Realty on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. or can be purchased online at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. As always, each showcase ticket holder will receive a FREE shoe/tote bag at the first home visited!

The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is being presented over two fall weekends this year on October 7-8 and October 14-15. Tickets are $25 and this year’s edition has 10 locations on display. New this year are two showcase locations in Lake George!

Participating award-winning builders in this year’s event; Belmonte Builders, DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders, DSG Construction and Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, R & M Homes, The BDC Group, Whitbeck Construction and Witt Construction. It’s an incredible line-up of 10 homes from 8 award-winning builders. To view an interactive map and to scan a QR Code of the home locations, directions and much more, please visit the mobile friendly website.

This annual community event has contributed nearly $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS to our local charities. Proceeds from the Saratoga Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (www.rtsaratoga.org) and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (www.glensfallshabitat.org). For more details on the 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com. Check us out on FACEBOOK and follow all the updates on this year’s event!

About Saratoga 

Builders Association

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the wellbeing and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, realtors, attorneys and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, visit their website at saratogabuilders.org or contact Barry Potoker, Executive Director at 518-366-0946 or bpotoker@saratogabuilders.org

Sundown Sunday at the Washington County Fair Aug. 27, 2023, at the conclusion of the annual fair’s weeklong run.

SARATOGA COUNTY – The Saratoga Regional YMCA and Saratoga non-profit Bikeatoga have teamed up to sponsor an autumn getaway known as Saratoga Foliage Ride, Oct. 7-8.

The event will feature some of Saratoga county’s most scenic routes at the most beautiful time of the year. Along the way, riders will see history and horse farms, pumpkins, cider donuts and more. 

All participants will receive a buffet breakfast, a commemorative t-shirt and a day pass to the YMCA facility on West Avenue. 

Riders can choose one of three routes each day – 30, 50, and 75 miles. 

Saturday’s rides will visit the Saratoga Battle Monument and cyclists on the 50- and 75-mile routes will ride to the Saratoga National Historical Park, traveling through the very fields where American forces first defeated the British army.

For more information and to register, sponsor or volunteer, visit www.srymca.org/Saratoga-foliage-ride.

QUEENSBURY — The Adirondack Balloon Festival is back Sept. 20-24 for its 50th anniversary celebration. 

The event, the third largest in the nation according to organizers, will take place in multiple locations. 

“We are very proud that the event is 100% free for the community to enjoy,” said Erin Reid Coker, an event organizer and member of the Board of Directors.

The organizing committee has been planning for the event for the past several years. 

Events kick-off with a 50th anniversary cocktail reception and moonglow event at Hiland Park Country Club in Queensbury, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening, Sept. 20. Tickets, at $40/per person, are available via the festival website: www.adirondackballoonfest.org. 

At 4 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 21, an Opening Parade will take place from Downtown Glens Falls to Crandall Park, and Opening Ceremonies will take place at 5 p.m. featuring the inflation of the 50th anniversary special shape birthday cake balloon, and the inflation and launch of 10 balloons. 

The flight of more than 70 balloons launches Friday Sept. 22 at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, Queensbury. 

For a full schedule of events, go to: www.adirondackballoonfest.org. 

QUEENSBURY —West Mountain hosts a new Endless Summer Promotion on Saturday, Aug. 26 that includes free Scenic Chairlift Rides from 9 a.m.-3 pm.

Additionally, Aerial (High Ropes) Adventure, Mountain Biking, Mountain Bike Rentals, and Mountaintop Picnics are being offered at $15. Live music and vendors will also be available. 

Tickets are available to buy in advance at westmountain.com or by phone by calling 518-636-3699 ext 0.

For a full slate of activities, visit: www.WestMountain.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arts hosts a celebration of the opening of its brand new printshop 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26. 

The event is free and open to the public.

Additionally, a community mural – the painting of a giant paint-by-numbers mural is taking place at the center through Sept. 1. Interested participants may reserve a time slot to paint a section of the mural.

Saratoga Arts is located at 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Call 518-584-4132, or go to: saratoga-arts.org. 

WILTON — Climb an authentic fire tower without having to climb a mountain. 

Get a treetop view of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park and visit a re-created fire ranger cabin complete with a vegetable garden. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the weekend of Aug. 19- 20. 

Parking for the historic Cornell Hill Fire Tower is in Parking lot #3 on Scout Road. Children under the age of five are not permitted to climb the fire tower. The Historic Cornell Hill Fire Tower is owned and maintained by the Town of Wilton and is staffed by volunteers on behalf of the Town.

For more information, contact the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park office at 518-450-0321 or visit the website at www.wiltonpreserve.org.