Category Archives: Holiday Shopping

By Carol Ann Conover

The holiday season brings festive cheer to Saratoga County with a packed calendar of events celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. From tree lightings and Victorian celebrations to holiday markets and train rides, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Saratoga Springs

The 50th Annual Saratoga Holiday Craft Marketplace takes place Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Admission is $5 in advance or $10 at the door, and proceeds benefit the Saratoga Center for the Family. The marketplace, held each year on Small Business Saturday, features handcrafted gifts and goods from regional artisans—an ideal kickoff for holiday shopping while supporting local makers and community programs.

The Saratoga Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Dec. 4, 2025, in downtown Saratoga Springs, marking the official start of the holiday season. The ceremony features festive music, hot beverages and visits from Santa Claus.

Immediately following, the 39th annual Victorian Streetwalk will transform downtown Saratoga Springs into a Victorian wonderland from 6 to 9 p.m. The evening includes carolers in period costume, live music, church tours with hot beverages and sweets, and shopping at downtown businesses. Santa will greet visitors in his cottage following the tree lighting. Broadway and nearby streets will close to vehicle traffic at 3 p.m., reopening by 10 p.m. City garages and side-street parking remain available, and the event is free to the public.

The Village of Ballston Spa is set to transform into a winter wonderland this December. The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) has invited the community to celebrate the annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting on Friday, December 6, along Milton Avenue.

A beloved hometown tradition, this holiday parade draws thousands of spectators to enjoy the festive floats, fire trucks, and community groups that illuminate the village. The parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. from the north end of Milton Avenue and continues down to West High Street. 

Following the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their grand entrance on an Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Company truck to light the Christmas tree in Wiswall Park.

This year’s parade also supports the Toys for Tots campaign in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, and U.S. Marine Corps. Volunteers will be collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys along the parade route and at Wiswall Park during the tree lighting.

Traditionally known for its bustling summer season, Saratoga Springs proves it has more to offer all year long with a diverse lineup of public events at the Saratoga Springs City Center. As the cooler months arrive, the City Center invites both locals and visitors to enjoy a series of exciting and inclusive events, showcasing Saratoga Springs as a vibrant year-round destination.

• Saratoga Comic Con – November: A family favorite, Saratoga Comic Con draws fans from across the region for a weekend filled with pop culture, cosplay, and collectibles.

• Center for the Family Craft Marketplace – November 30, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Taking place on Small Business Saturday, this event supports local artisans and crafts people, with unique handcrafted goods perfect for early holiday shopping. As the 49th annual holiday marketplace, the event will feature over 130 crafters and artisans, offering everything from woodwork to candles and gourmet foods.

The iconic Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train is back on the rails, bringing holiday joy and supporting local food banks across North America. For the third year in a row, Franklin Community Center has been selected as the local beneficiary for the Saratoga Springs stop, with the event set to take place on Monday, November 25 at 7:20 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Train Station at 26 Station Lane. 

The event, which is free to attend, will feature live performances by James Barker Band and Clerel, offering festive entertainment for the whole family. Thanks to a special collaboration with B&B Plumbing and Heating, a top plumbing and HVAC company in Saratoga Springs for over 25 years, attendees will also enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes as they gather at the station to welcome the brightly decorated train.

“Our office is conveniently located next to the train station, giving us a front-row seat to the CPKC Holiday Train. Last year, we saw this as a great opportunity to support the Franklin Community Center at the event, so we decided to serve hot chocolate to encourage donations,” said BJ Kozlowski, owner of B&B Plumbing and Heating. “It was such a hit that we’re doing it again this year.” 

By Jill Nagy

Whether you are planning a party for 100 people or an intimate family dinner, local caterers can help  out. 

Augie Vitiello said that he can serve a party of 100 in one of the private rooms at his restaurant, Augie’s Family Style Italian Restaurant in Ballston Spa, without disturbing service in the main dining area. 

Kenny Bourbeau prepares a family meal every week that customers can pick up at the Saratoga farmers’ market on Sunday or have delivered to their home on Monday. He works our of a commercial kitchen in his home, also in Ballston Spa.

Bourbeau, doing business as Kenny B, changes the dinner menu weekly. Recently, it was chicken enchiladas, roasted butternut squash, and a poblano soup. Menus serve four to six people and range in price from $45.99 to $65.99. 

He also caters private dinners in homes or drops off meals. In those cases, he works with the customer to develop the menu. For Thanksgiving, he plans to offer “supporting sides” but not full meals. He does not do desserts. He is working on menus for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays but expects to include hors d’oeuvres and possibly a lobster macaroni and cheese.

If he prepares a dinner in a customer’s home, Bourbeau charges $40 an hour for shopping, cooking, serving, and clean-up. He buys most of his food at the Saratoga farmers’ market. And he does wash the dishes.

First Night, the once heralded event on New Year’s Eve where thousands of people came to Saratoga Springs to ring in the new year, returns this year in a revamped form.

 It was absent for two years due to COVID  and funding concerns.

It also has a new name—the Saratoga New Year’s Fest—and is a multi-day attraction with live music, family-friendly activities, a 5K and fireworks.

One of the headline acts will be the Cowboy Junkies, a popular alternative country and folk rock band from Canada.

Rock, blues, jazz and country artists are among the festival’s growing lineup. Other acts include The Samples and the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, who will  perform on the main stage at the Saratoga Springs City Center (as will the Cowboy Junkies).

Other acts announced include the Grateful Dead-inspired Garcia-inspired Deadgrass & Friends, country music rising star Jenny Grace,   Grit N Whiskey, Kevin Richards, Cait Devin, Danielia Cotton, Albert Cummings, Jeffrey Gaines and Heather Maloney.

The Saratoga City Music Hall will also host contra dancing. The weekend-long festivities will begin with a Friday night kick-off party on Dec. 30 at Putnam Place.

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association’s annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting will take place Friday, Dec. 3. 

The parade step-off time is 6:30 p.m., proceeding on Milton Avenue and ending in Wiswall Park on Front Street. It ill be followed by Santa lighting the village Christmas tree. 

The parade is a hometown-style holiday tradition, with firetrucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village. 

Organizers said that 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.

Officials said entries in the parade will be judged this year in the following categories: Best Emergency Vehicle Entry, Best Ballston Spa Community Members Entry, Best Walking Entry and the Brightest Light Award—the brighter and more festive, the better.

The parade is part of  the holiday-themed First Friday, Ballston Spa’s signature monthly event, which celebrates its 17th year in 2021.  Home to unique shops, museums, and a host of popular restaurants, Ballston Spa showcases that on its First Night events.

In the December version, many businesses will be open with special holiday activities and specials, while Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians and Union Fire Company band members will perform holiday music on the street corners.

The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association’s annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting will takes place, Friday, Dec. 1.

The step off time is 6:30 p.m., proceeding on Milton Avenue and ending in Wiswall Park on Front Street with Santa lighting the Christmas tree.

The parade features 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.

Organizations, groups or businesses that would like to take part can visit www.ballston.org to register, or contact Ellen Mottola at the BSBPA office at 518-885-2772 or info@ballston.org.

The parade headlines a holiday-themed First Friday, Ballston Spa’s signature monthly event, which celebrated its 13th year in 2017.