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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » This weekend can be called “Festival Weekend.” Or put another way - it’s not the time to start your diet.
There are at least five major outdoor festivals taking place in the area. All offer great food, music and learning experiences. If you schedule wisely you can visit them all.
Do you prefer moussaka or lasagna? Zeppole or loukoumades? They are each delicious and similar, except one is Greek, the other Italian. They can be found at either the St George Greek Food Festival on Liberty Street or the Italian Festival at Union and Jay Streets in Schenectady.
Fortunately you don’t have to choose one over the other. The Italian Festival is one day only -- Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. The Greek Festival runs for three days: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Since they are only a few blocks from each other you can do both in a single day, or spend a full day at each.
The Italian Festival is a typical street fair. It’s on Jay Street just off Union Avenue, which happens to be the home of several of the best Italian restaurants in the area. Establishments like Perreca’s and Cornells will be open for business. Better yet, they and other restaurants have outdoor stations in front of their buildings selling some signature food items.
It’s not just food and drink that will be available. There are craft and specialty vendors lining the street as well. And there is almost constant music on two stages. The main stage performers go from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring popular local groups like Grand Central Station, Happy Daze and the Protones.
The Greek Festival takes place inside both the Hellenic Center and a huge tent at the rear of the building. There are tables which make it easy to consume Greek specialties like Moussaka, Chicken Souvlaki, Lamb Shanks Youvetsi or Dolmades. As for deserts they’ll be pastries such as Baklava or Souvlaki. The Greek Festival probably does at least as much takeout as they do eat in.
However, if you do stay to eat, you will be able to appreciate the ethnic music styles of Prometheus and enjoy the dancing of the St. George Youth Dancers.
Another three-day event taking place this weekend is the Tugboat Roundup in Waterford. There will be plenty of vendors to offer food and drink, as well as near-constant music and family entertainment. However, in Waterford the emphasis is on the powerful boats that come from all over the state (and beyond) to participate in this Tug Festival.
The boats are not only for viewing. Several boats will be available to go aboard, explore and learn from the crews. The Caldwell Belle will be taking paying customers out along the Hudson for 45-minute tours throughout the day.
At the Tug Fest gawking is not only permitted, it’s encouraged. Perhaps the best day to gawk is Friday, as during the day as the tugs meet at Corning Preserve in Albany. They start up river to Waterford about 3:45 p.m. Most boats arrive at the dock by the Waterford Visitors Center by 5:30 p.m. and the music continues until 7 pm. Things start again at 11 a.m. on Saturday and continue until after the fireworks display which begins at 8:30 p.m. Sunday the festivities start at 10 a.m. and things close after the awards are given for competitors and tugs.
Saturday is the toughest day to schedule. If you love music it might be hard to leave Jennings Landing in Albany’s Corning Preserve where the Albany Jazz Festival takes place. This event shows how hard it is the pigeonhole the term jazz. There are five groups performing and each set a different mood. There’s swing dance, jazz funk, fusion, bop and African-influenced jazz. It’s all free and goes from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saratoga Springs is hosting one of area’s favorite festivals this weekend. The 17th edition of SPAC’s Saratoga Wine and Food Festival is Friday and Saturday. It opens from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday with “Fired Up.” It’s a grilling competition between several top area chefs. Everyone wins as the audience – as well as the judges - gets to sample the food.
Saturday is the Grand Tasting, where hordes of vendors and restaurants offer samples of fine wine and spirits. Adding to the fun, 20 area chefs will be offering samples of their signature dishes. It’ll take place at SPAC from 1-4 p.m., with a VIP hour noon-1 p.m. You must be 21 or older to attend.
Dieting will resume on Monday.