CELEBRATE AUTUMN
Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association’s Fall Fest this weekend
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The Saratoga SpringsDowntown Business Association’s 19th annual Fall Fest will take on a whole new look this year, featuring a full weekend of reimagined fall festivities.
Although attendees won’t see the traditional pumpkin rollingor annual costumeparade, the 2020 event will include new activities that extend over a three- day period from Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25 in downtown Saratoga Springs, with some virtual components.
The festival, which is free and open to the public, has been designed to offer selfguided fun for the whole family as a celebration of autumn and Halloween.
Families can take part in a Great Saratoga Pumpkin Hunt and search a variety of downtown shops and restaurants for pumpkins decorated with scenes of historic local landmarks, painted by local artist Cathi Anne Cameron. Participants who find all 20 pumpkins, which will be visible from the outdoors, could win a prize. Participation forms are available in downtown shops and businesses as well as online at saratogaspringsdowntown. com.
Formsmust be droppedoff by 5 p.m. on Sunday at Impressions of Saratoga, Caroline + Main or Northshire Bookstore to be entered to win one of three Downtown Saratoga Springs Gift Baskets valued at $200 each. Winners will be notified on Halloween.
Additionally, three nights of ghost tales will be told by Joe Haedrich of Haunted Saratoga Tours. Each evening of the event at 6:30 p.m., Haedrich will be live on the Downtown Saratoga Springs Facebookpage. First,
on Friday, he will present “A Haunted Adelphi Hotel.” Then on Saturday, he’ll tell “Ghostly Tales of the Arcade Building,” and on Sunday, he will spotlight a “Spooky Olde Bryan Inn.”
“In all three cases, there are very good stories,” Haedrich said of the different locations. “We’ve got some great ghosts to talk about.”
Believers and skeptics alike are invited to watch the presentations, which will include lots of tidbits about Saratoga Springs history.
Each night a viewer will be randomly selected to receive a signed copy of Haedrich’s book “Haunted Saratoga.”
Those exploring Saratoga Springs over theweekend will notice downtown store windows decorated with festive themes, and a variety of businesses will be offering “devilish deals” all weekend long.
Also, local favorite miniature horse Upset, mascot of The Dark Horse Mercantile, will be making a special appearance downtown sometime throughout the weekend!
To top it off, food and drink specials will be offered at participating downtown restaurants. A list of participating restaurants and offerings can be found online at saratogaspringsdowntown.com.
“Fall Fest looks very different this year, but our downtown is still a destination. We are hoping that this reimagined weekend, gives people a reason to come downtown and support all of our local businesses,” Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association President Deann Devitt said. “We are so very lucky to have sponsorship support from many local businesses and organizations and couldn’t have done this without each and every one of them.”
“This unique Halloween celebration encourages families to share leisurely weekend fun together, enjoying the hospitality of the Saratoga Springs businesses and the great spirit of the community,” a press release from the association said, reminding attendees to wear face coverings during the event.
More information about the Saratoga Downtown Business Association, as well as a full list of Fall Fest events, is available online at saratogaspringsdowntown.com and www.facebook.com/downtownsaratogasprings.