UPCOMING CALENDAR

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Saratoga Hilton’s 25th Annual “Breakfast with Santa” is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 24 at The Saratoga Hilton; 534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. The Saratoga Hilton’s 25th annual “Breakfast with Santa” will take place on Christmas Eve at the hotel. The special anniversary event will feature a festive buffet breakfast, fantastic gift raffles and a fun visit from Santa himself. Doors open for seating and raffle tickets go on sale at 8:30 a.m. Entry for the event is $12 for adults, and $6 for children aged 4 to 12 years old (little ones under 4 eat free). Families are welcome to take a picture with Santa during the event. Early attendance is encouraged. Each year, The Saratoga Hilton donates all proceeds from the breakfast and raffle to a local charity. This year, proceeds will benefit Beyond My Battle, a Saratoga Springs-based nonprofit organization that provides emotional support, education, resources and awareness to people with chronic illnesses and their families. Contact: 518-584-4000. Website: www.thesaratogahotel.com.

HOLIDAY KIDS BIKE GIVEAWAY: Bikeatoga will be holding its annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway on Saturday December 7, 2019 in Saratoga Springs. Over the past several months Bikeatoga has collected and refurbished used kids bikes specifically for this event. Parents or guardians of children who are in need of a free bicycle must call the Bikeatoga Phone line at 518-542-5464and leave a voicemail. You will receive a return call with an appointment for Saturday December 7th, and directions to the Bikeatoga Workshop. The Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway is by appointment only, and a parent or guardian must be present. Helmets will be provided by Adirondack Trust, The Christopher Dailey Foundation and Bikeatoga. Bikeatoga is prepared to give away approximately 60 bikes to needy children through age 17. The best selection of bikes is for younger children, and selection of some bike sizes is limited. We cannot guarantee we will have the size requested.

TRAVEL TO SPAIN WITH SARATOGA ARTS: Saratoga Arts is sponsoring a tour to Spain May 1120, 2020 and invites you to a trip overview for “Spain: A Treasure Chest of Wonders” at 11:30 am, Saturday, December 14 at Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Explore one of Spain’s best kept secrets on this trip that begins in the north where you can discover the Basque Country with a visit to Bilbao and the seaside town of San Sebastián. On the way south to Madrid revel in the vistas and vineyards of the Rioja Region and the historic city of Segovia with its Roman ruins and medieval old town. Then on to the bustling metropolis of Madrid, whose highlights include a visit to its Royal Castle and the famous Prado Museum. From there we will enjoy an excursion to the famed city of Toledo, the city of three cultures: Jewish, Muslim and Christian. A special bonus is an overnight in one of Spain’s paradors, a historic building transformed into a hotel. The trip price is $3399 land only, double occupancy. For additional information, go to www. goedventures.com, contact goedventures@gmail.com or call Mary at 607387-3322.

ARTISAN’S MARKET: Artisan’s Market returns to Brookside Museum Nov.30 through Dec. 23. For the 19th year the Artisan’s Market will return to Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton Street, Ballston Spa for the holidays beginning on Small Business Saturday November 30 from 12- 5 PM. A wide selection of handcrafted products created by local artisans, including soaps and lotions, ornaments, jewelry, spices and syrups, cutting boards and home décor will be available for holiday shopping. Each purchase supports the Saratoga County Historical Society and the local artisans. The market will be open Tuesdays -Thursdays 10-4 PM, Fridays 10-6 PM, Saturdays 12-5 PM and Sundays 12-4 PM, concluding with a special finale on Monday, December 23 10-4 PM. Contact the Museum at info@brooksidemuseum.org or call 518-885-4000 for more information.

TRIVIA NIGHT: Saratoga Springs Lions Club & Saratoga Springs History Museum present Trivia night at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020 at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs. Teams are made up of six players at $50 per person or $300 per team. Dinner is included for each team participant. Pre-registation is required. To register team for the History Museum, visit www.saratogahistory.org/trivia-night for a team application and email the completed form to jparillo@saratogahistory.org. Payment can be made online or via check. To register in person, visit the Museum shop Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you represent a company, please provide your logo via email to jparillo@ saratogahistory.org. Questions? Email Jamie or call 518-584-6920 x102.

HOLIDAY GALA: 14th annual Holiday Gala at the Canfield Casino. 7 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs. Dinner stations by Longfellows, live music by Erin Harkes and Mike Lemme, dancing, silent auction, photo booth. $75 pre-order, $80 at the door, $65 junior/members ticket. Tickets are available online at www.saratogahistory.org.

PERILS OF JOURNALISM: The Women’s Press Club of New York State will present a panel discussion and invites the community to dialogue with the experts regarding the current Perils of Journalism and threats to freedom of the press on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Key Auditorium (Room 202) in Roger Bacon Hall at Siena College, Friars Drive, Loudonville. Admission is free for WPCNYS members and college students with a valid ID. A $10 donation is suggested for all others. Light refreshments will be served. While walkins are welcome, advance registration is appreciated. Doors open at 6 p.m. Accessible parking is available in Parking Lots G and H. For further information or to register in advance, please visit womenspressclubnys.com/events.

HOLIDAY PARADE: The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association’s annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting takes place Friday, December 6. 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. The parade is a hometown-style holiday tradition, with fire trucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village. Once again this year, the parade will spotlight the Toys for Tots campaign, in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, Saratoga County Sheriff Department and U.S. Marine Corps. Volunteers from these organizations will be on hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys from spectators along the parade route as well as at the tree lighting. The Holiday Parade is a true community event so parade participants are welcome. If your organization, group or business would like to take part in the parade that night, go to www.ballston.org to register, or contact the BSBPA office 518 8852772 or info@ballston.org. The parade headlines a holiday-themed “First Friday”, Ballston Spa’s signature monthly event, which celebrates its 15th year in 2019. Home to unique shops, museums, and a host of popular restaurants, Ballston Spa pulls out the stops for December’s First Friday by filling the village with a merry atmosphere. Many businesses will be open with special holiday activities and specials, while local churches plan musical performances that evening. Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians and Union Fire Company band members perform carols on the street corners. 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. Additionally, a community art project “A Village of Friends” will feature painted banners and posters by residents young and old displayed on lampposts and in storefronts throughout the village.