Calendar
Friday, Dec. 7 BALLSTON SPA HOLIDAY
PARADE: The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association’s annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting takes place, Friday, December 7. The step off time is 6:30 pm, proceeding on Milton Avenue and ending in Wiswall Park on Front Street with Santa lighting the Christmas tree. After lighting the village Christmas tree, Santa Claus heads to Ballston Spa National Bank on Front Street where he visits with kids of all ages. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots along the parade route. The parade headlines a holiday-themed “First Friday”, Ballston Spa’s signature monthly event. Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians and Union Fire Company band members perform carols on the street corners. For more information, visit www. ballston.org. CHRISTMAS IN CAMBRIDGE WEEKEND: Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 7, for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Memorial Park in Cambridge. Local shops will have extended hours as sales in many locations and eggnog, cookies and treats in selected shops. For more information visit cam br id geny chamber. com or email cambridgechamber@gmail.com. CLIFTON PARK SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER; The Center’s Diabetes Support Group meets on the first Friday of each month, facilitated by Saratoga County Public Health Services. This month’s meeting features Shannon Lawler from the Alzheimer’s Association. 11 a.m. – noon, 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park. Call 518-383-1343 for more information. EMPIRE STATE YOUTH ORCHESTRA JAZZ CONCERT: Hear the ESYO Youth Jazz Orchestra and the ESYO Repertory Jazz Orchestra in concert on Friday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Guilderland High School, 8 School Road, Guilderland Center. Adults $10, students/seniors $5. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://esyo.org/programs/ concerts-events. GAVIN PARK TREE LIGHTING: Enjoy the magical lighting of a Colorado Blue Spruce tree in Gavin Park, Wilton, on Friday, December 7. A variety of holiday decorations will adorn the park, and the fire department will bring Santa so he can visit the children and provide a holiday surprise (while supplies last).
The whole family will enjoy costumed characters like Frosty, Rudolph and magical elves, as well as live holiday music, movies, crafts, light refreshments and more. 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., 10 Lewis Drive, Wilton. For more information call 518-584-9455. HISTORY MUSEUM GALA: The Saratoga Springs History Museum’s 13th annual Holiday Gala, with honorary chairpersons Michael and Marci Phinney, takes place on Friday, December 7, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Historic Canfield Casino. Longfellow’s Restaurant provides sumptuous dinner station and a silent auction makes holiday giving a breeze. Advance tickets $75, $80 at the door, junior/ member tickets $65. For more information visit http://www. saratogahistory.org/holidaygala-at-the-lakehouse. JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER: Popular blogger, author and speaker James Howard Kunstler, a Greenwich resident for the past six years, is the featured speaker at the Battenkill Conservancy’s Winter Holiday Fundraiser, “Our Downtowns – Our Battenkill,” on Friday, December 7. Kunstler’s talk,”A River Runs Through It,” is an ode to Battenkill Conservancy’s mission and its annual river festival. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Gather, 103 Main Street, Greenwich. Space is limited. For more information, call 518-677-2545 or email bkc@battenkillconservancy.org. SANTA’S PLAYLAND: Quick Response Restoration hosts its annual Santa’s Playland Open House on December 7 and December 8 from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at 2077 Route 9, Round Lake. Guests can visit with Santa, take a ride on horse drawn wagon or hop aboard a tractor drawn train ride. Refreshments of hot chocolate, coffee and cookies are served. The event is completely free to the public. SARATOGA FILM FORUM: “Wildlife,” a film that has nothing to do with animals, starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. 7:30 p.m., Springs Street Gallery, 110 Spring Street, Saratoga Springs. General admission $10, students with ID and Film Forum members $8. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. For more information and advance ticket sales visit www. Saratoga Film Forum. WINTER DANCE CONCERT: Skidmore College’s Winter Dance Concert features the
Skidmore premier of Paul Taylor’s “Runes,” the culmination of a three-week residency with members of Taylor2, a six-dancer ensemble established by the late Paul Taylor. 8 p.m., Skidmore Dance Theater. Adults $12, seniors $9, students $5. For more information call 518-580-5383. Saturday, Dec. 8
BIKE GIVEAWAY: Bikeatoga holds its annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway on Saturday, December 8, at the Bikeatoga workshop in Saratoga Springs. Approximately 60 bikes will be given away to children through age 17. Parents or guardians of children who are in need of a free bicycle must call the Bikeatoga phone line at 518-290-0065 and leave a voicemail. You will receive a return call with an appointment for Saturday, December 8, and directions to the Bikeatoga Workshop. The Giveaway is by appointment only, and a parent or guardian must be present. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association presents their annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 8, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. in the gymnasium of St. Mary’s School, 40 Thompson Street in the Village of Ballston Spa. Pancake breakfast will be provided courtesy of the Eagle Matt Lee and Union Fire Companies. Children and families will enjoy activities, live performances and a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. $5 per person; no reservations necessary. More information can be found at www.ballston. org. CAMBRIDGE FINE ART TOUR: Travel to the Village of Cambridge on “Christmas in Cambridge” weekend and visit six local artists in five locations on the Cambridge Valley Fine Art Tour from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. While in Cambridge visit the numerous restaurants, shops and galleries and take part in Christmas in Cambridge events around the village. For more information about the artists and a map to their locations, visit www. cambridgevalleyart.org. CHRISTMAS AT THE FORT: The Fort Plain Museum’s annual Christmas at the Fort will be held on Saturday, December 8, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Events include the debut of museum chairman Norm Bollen’s new book, “George Washington and the Mohawk Frontier,” a local author book fair, colonial Christmas music by the Liaisons Plaisantes, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. and