Displaying items by tag: Rachel Mann Rosan

Saratoga’s All-American Celebration: Three Days of “Happy Birthday USA” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – What makes a great Fourth of July? 

Whatever your answer, Saratoga’s All-American Celebration has you covered. There’s so much to do, it’s hard to fathom how you will get to it all. Fortunately, the organizers have centralized the activities, primarily in and around Congress Park and along Broadway from Van Dam Street to the Holiday Inn. 

The exception to this, of course, is the Firecracker4 road race, which by its nature will be all over the place. See a preview article about the race on page 28.

So, what are your key ingredients to a great Fourth?

Fireworks? There’s no more magically incendiary name in these parts than Alonzo, who will be blasting off on schedule at 9:30 p.m., accompanied by full John Phillip Sousa soundtrack regalia.

Food? The Seventh-Annual All-American BBQ & Dessert Fest will sport no less than 17 participants (plus two doggie-Q vendors) competing for your culinary affection (and votes).

Music? How about the best in the business at the top of their game? That would be The Audiostars, ladies and gents.

History? Publisher Beatty’s favorite subject (see page 8) is covered in spades. From General Burgoyne and a Declaration of Independence reading, from gangsters to classic cars to historical tours, ours is a town that always looks back as a springboard to looking forward.

Here’s a wild card: How about no tax dollars spent? Yes, kudos to Saratoga’s All-American Celebration, Inc. It is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 organization composed entirely of volunteers; dedicated to bringing family fun and patriotic pride to residents and visitors. They proudly state in their mission statement that they are not affiliated with nor funded by the City of Saratoga Springs.

Now that’s a category of independence we can all get behind. So happy birthday USA! Here’s the schedule of events. Detailed descriptions, map and more information is at SaratogaJuly4th.com.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, July 3

Saratoga Springs History Museum Exhibit Grand Opening  "Vice"

6 to 8 p.m.

Canfield Casino, Congress Park

Fireside Chat with “General Burgoyne”

Thursday, July 3

7 to 8 p.m.

Bookmaker’s Fireplace Patio at the Holiday Inn

Friday, July 4

Firecracker4 Road Race

(See page 28 for preview)

9 to 10:30 a.m.

Broadway in front of the City Center

All-American Parade & Patriotic Pooches

11 to 11:30 a.m.

Broadway from Van Dam Street to Spring Street

Family Day in Congress Park

11a.m. to 3 p.m.

Congress Park

Parade Characters Family Photo-Op

11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Congress Park at the Carousel

Seventh-Annual All-American BBQ & Dessert Fest

11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Various locations throughout downtown and outside the Holiday Inn

Each tasting is $1, paid to each participant on location.  

Vote for your favorites and get a commemorative T-Shirt for only $10 when you turn in your stamped ballot at the Ballot Turn-in Tent in Congress Park.

Participants:

Around the Corner/Dolce Cafe

Grasso's Italian Ice

Park Side Eatery

Backstretch BBQ

Hampton Inn & Suites Saratoga

The Parting Glass

Bookmakers at the Holiday Inn

Hattie’s

Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk

Henry Street Taproom

Saratoga Olive Oil Company

Fifty South Restaurant

Saratoga Salsa & Spice Company

Gaffney's

Kilwins

Seven Horse Pub

The Merry Monk

Dawgdom  (Doggie BBQ)

Impressions (Doggie BBQ)

All-American Classic Car Show

Noon to 4 p.m.

Congress Park Plaza

Historic City Tour

Congress Park: Statues and Stories

1:00pm to 2:30pm

Meet at the Congress Spring Pavilion in Congress Park

Family Time in Saratoga

4 to 6:30 p.m.

Party in the Park

with the Audiostars

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Congress Park

Live Reading of the Declaration of Independence

9:15 p.m.

Congress Park

Fireworks / Patriotic Music

Sponsored by

Saratoga Casino & Raceway

9:30 p.m.

Congress Park

Saturday, July 5

Closing Ceremony 

BBQ & Dessert Fest Winners

Awards Presentation 

Noon

Congress Park

SARATOGA COUNTY — Though both little kids and adults are excited and awestruck by the colorful, loud fireworks that take place every Independence Day, most pets are not. Humans are able to associate these noises with the celebrations going on—but all pets hear are terrifying noises that, to them, could be threatening.