How to resolve AdBlock issue? Two of the main events discussed included the May 24 Family Night at the Spa and the August 2 Floral Fete Promenade.
The Family Night at the Spa is the first Saratoga 150 signature event. At the grounds of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, it will feature a variety of events including a picnic contest that awards $1,000 to the winner.
“If you buy a medallion, the medallion will get you and a child into the event,” said Saratoga 150 representative Joe Dalton. “If you don’t have a medallion, it will cost you $5. You just can’t beat the price. It’s all geared up to stay away from tuxedos and champagne and make this a soda and pretzel type of event.”
The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and feature both old-fashioned and present-day entertainment all evening. There will be four different ethnic bands (Irish, Italian, Polish, Latin), Irish step dancing, singing, orchestral sounds, ballets, jugglers, storytellers, a wildlife act and much more.
“You’re not going to be able to see everything in one night at that venue,” Dalton said. “If you get there at 6:30 p.m., you’ll end up not leaving until 9:30 p.m. There’s going to be so much going on.”
Awards for the picnic contest, judged by a panel of culinary and historical experts, will be announced at 8:45 p.m.
Among the details announced by Whitney and Hendrickson about the Floral Fete Promenade was the preparation involved. Local growers are planting a variety of flowers in early June, before the Floral Fete and more than a dozen carriages with floral designs will be present.
August 2 will provide a mini-replication of the event that took place in Saratoga in the late 1800’s and early 1900s. Whitney chose the Floral Fete for her annual racing season ball theme back in 1983.
The Saratoga 150 Floral Fete is an all-volunteer committee made up of area garden club members, fresh flower growers, floral designers and special events experts. The committee has studied the designs from the original Floral Fetes and plans to provide a similar celebration in the 150th year of thoroughbred racing in Saratoga.
Whitney and Hendrickson are underwriting all of the non-donated expenses of the August 2 events in addition to many other 150 projects.
The 2013 version will have 15 carriages decorated with similar types of real flowers and greenery, beginning at the corner of Route 50 and Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Highway and proceeding down Broadway at 7:30 p.m. on the eve of the 150th anniversary.
Whitney and Hendrickson will lead it in a white Vis-à-vis, landau-style carriage. The lead carriage is set to have pink roses representing the hybrid tea rose that is named for Marylou.
Carriages will be escorted by the official Saratoga 150 parade vehicle—red and white, four-stall, starting gate carrying famous New York jockeys. Other carriages will have New York-grown flowers of various colors and varieties. Saratoga Casino and Raceway entry will also be horse-drawn.
The Saratoga Auto Museum is expected to gather more than 12 antique vehicles from different eras to follow the carriages, including a 1901 Buick that is a replica of a vehicle owned by William C. Whitney.
“It’s very appropriate—the Whitney legacy is tied to the Floral Fete era, when William C. Whitney saved the race track,” Hendrickson said.
Other vehicles present in the Flora Fete will be decorated by Saratoga residents with those entries limited to 100 rolling “vehicles.”
The self-decorated rolling “vehicles” will join the horse-drawn entries and vintage cars at Walton St and continue with other entries south on Broadway to Congress Park.
Hopeful participants can apply online at www.saratoga150.com, where they will have to include a full description of how their floral vehicle will be decorated, including details on greenery and types of fresh flowers that will be used. The participants will also be chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis.
All who do participate will receive a special Floral Fete commemorative keepsake.
Bicycles, wagons, baby carriages and wheeled contraptions judged for prizes in individual categories. Also a “most creative” prize awarded.
Old-fashined Dixieland jazz music by Skip parson’s Riverboat Jazz Band will be in a trolley behind the self-decorated section.
Carriages will remain in Congress Park for public viewing and photos during the ice cream social, which starts right after the promenade.
Whitney and Hedrickson are also the the honorary chairs of the Floral Fete Promendade and the Ice Cream Social. Thee will be hand-dipped Stewart’s ice cream and a large birthday cake by Mazzone Hospitality to be cut as the crowd sings Happy Birthday.
“The Floral Fete Promenade and Ice Cream Social just seemed so appropriate,” Whitney said. “I love colorful flowers, beautiful carriages and parties.”
There will also be life-sized, Victorian-style cut-outs for picture taking, and both Whitney and Hendrickson had special Saratoga 150 tokens made to provide free carousel rides.
