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Category:
Published: July 2007
Experience history and tradition, or enjoy some of the exciting new adventures offered in Saratoga, the Capital Region's most treasured summer destination.
Summer has arrived again in Saratoga. Bring on the horses, the hats, the golfing and glamour. We in the Capital Region are lucky enough to have one of America's most charming summer destinations right in our backyard. As you head to the track, be sure to take advantage of some of Saratoga's other traditions and treasures.
Opening day of the track kicks off on Wednesday, July 25th, followed on that Saturday by the 11th Annual Silks & Satins 5K run through the streets of Downtown Saratoga. This popular race, a fundraiser for the NY Special Olympics, is expected to draw over 1,200 runners. If you'd rather dine than run, there are other exciting ways to have fun and support the Special Olympics this opening weekend.
Saturday night, deck yourself out in your evening best for their black-tie fundraising gala, complete with gourmet food and drinks, live music and dancing. Sunday, enjoy a day of racing, and join Saratoga's finest at the Satin, Silks & Stars Luncheon at the Racetrack's At the Rail Pavilion.
As you celebrate Saratoga's heritage of horses this year, treat yourself to some of the other great offerings at the racetrack. From Hat Contests to Chili Championships, there are special days at the track for everyone to enjoy. Take part in the Travers Day festivities on August 25th, and cheer on your favorites at the Running of the Travers, one of the oldest stakes in thoroughbred racing. If you can't get enough of the horses, head over to the new Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and experience the harness track. Or, watch an action-packed game of Polo at Whitney Fields, local home to Polo games for over 100 years. You can even stroll onto the field during half time to help replace the divots, a favorite spectator tradition.
If you'd like an insider's view of the races, or if you're bringing the kids to the track, consider starting your day with a morning tour of the historic Saratoga stables. Explore the barns, experience a day in the life of a thoroughbred, and watch a starting gate demonstration. Tours run every fifteen minutes on race days between 8 and 9am. Or, take the tots to the Saratoga Children's Museum, where kids can discover adventures in science, history, community, and arts. On opening day of the track, learn about millinery and make a fancy hat to wear at the races. Check the museum's summer calendar for weekly storybook tea parties, and science programs ranging from stream safaris to film canister rocket making.
Saratoga has a rich and varied arts life, which blossoms in the summer. Dance, music, galleries, theatre the opportunities abound. Celebrate the strength, grace and beauty of the NYC Ballet at SPAC through July 21st. Enrich your ballet experience with a trip to the National Museum of Dance, where you'll learn about the history and art of dance. The first Thursday of every month, Saratoga's downtown art galleries hold city-wide art openings, anchored by the opening reception at the Saratoga Arts Center. Skidmore College is home to both the Tang Museum and the New York Summer Writers Institute. The Writers Institute sponsors public readings by award-winning authors and poets almost nightly throughout July. Featured writers this summer include Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Ondaatje, Russell Banks, Richard Howard, Carolyn Forch, and Jamaica Kincaid. Enjoy the Tuesday Afternoon Concert Series at Saratoga National Historic Park, or a day of Shakespeare in beautiful downtown Congress Park. This year, Saratoga Shakespeare Company offers their rendition of "Much Ado About Nothing." Browse through the work of over seventy artists at Art in the Park August 21st, or take a walk and steep in beauty and inspiration on a guided tour of the gardens at Yaddo, Saratoga's world-famous artists' retreat.
If you're a history buff, relive the past on Saratoga's landmark battlefields as
His Majesty's 24th Regiment of Foot returns to encamp on the scenic grounds where their regiment stood 230 years ago. Thursday evenings in July, the National Historic Park also offers ranger-guided evening tours of the battlefields, and children's activities at Schuyler House, including colonial games, cooking and candle making. The weekend of August 10th offers a fun three-day benefit to support the Saratoga Springs Historic Society, with an antique show and sale at Canfield Casino.
Summer in Saratoga is beautiful and bustling. Browse through antiques and boutiques, indulge in the exquisite cuisine, stroll the parks, celebrate the architecture and history, bet on a few good horses and, this summer, make Saratoga your spot for new discoveries and adventures.
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