Holiday entertainment overview
SARARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> If indeed, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas “Tis the Season to be jolly,” there is plenty of help on the accompanying list of events to make that happen.
What better way to kick off a holiday season than strolling your community and sampling music, art, food and various entertainments? That what happens next Thursday. Dec. 5, in Saratoga Springs with the Victorian Street Walk and on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 12, in downtown Troy with the Victorian Stroll.
Both events are easy to enjoy and can be a lot more fun if you wear period clothing.
The entire season is filled with opportunities for family fun. For an evening’s entertainment you can take Santa’s Magical Bus to the North Pole, sing songs, listen to stories and meet Santa. Leaving from Rensselaer, the Yankee Trails excursion has several trips daily through Christmas Eve. Another fun family experience is driving through Albany’s Washington Park in your own vehicle where Capital Lights in the Park has 125 lighted scenes to enjoy.
If you prefer venue-style, wholesome family entertainment, Melodies of Christmas is once again at Proctors. This year it’s Dec. 19-22. Also the Albany Symphony’s annual holiday gala
The Magic of Christmas is at the Palace Theatre on December 14.
Both are delightful extravaganzas that will put you in the holiday mood.
In terms of numbers, the most popular holiday attraction is “The Nutcracker” ballet. There are four major companies offering multi-performance productions, (at Proctors, The Egg and the Palace), a marionette production by Salzburg Marionette Theatre is on Dec. 6-7 at Saratoga High Sschool and a film version performed by the Bolshoi Ballet is at Proctors Dec. 17. That’s a lot of Sugar Plum fairies on area stages.
There is an abundance of theater providing holiday fun as well. There are two productions of “A Christmas Carol.” One is at Proctors by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan; the other is at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, presented by Berkshire Theatre Group.
However, this year, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the holiday star. Capital Rep is telling the story presented as if it were a radio show. It runs in Albany through Dec. 22. Home Made Theatre in Saratoga is offering the traditional version of the tale over two weekends, Dec. 13 to 22, in Saratoga Springs. And, as a bonus, the film is available on the big screen at the Palace Theatre on Dec. 20.