Friday, May 3
Welcome Back Spring Millers Backyard BBQ
Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa | 3 – 6 p.m.
There is a choice of a ½ chicken or ½ lb. of pulled pork dinner for $15, as well as beef brisket dinner for $20 (Brisket dinner is only available by pre-order). All dinners come with baked potato, coleslaw, and corn bread. An 8 oz. side order of mac & cheese is also available for $5. Barbecue is take-out only with drive-through pick-up. We encourage you to reserve in advance at www.brooksidemuseum.org or call 518-885-4000. All proceeds will be used to fund public education and children’s programs.
First Friday
Downtown Ballston Spa | 4 – 7 p.m. Downtown Ballston Spa will come alive with the sights and sounds of local art displays and activities. The event is a collaboration between the BSBPA and the Ballston Spa Central School District. Visitors can expect to see artwork created by local students from pre-K to high school, on display in participating businesses throughout the downtown area. The Malta Ave Elementary School Odyssey of the Mind team will be holding an ice cream fundraiser in Wiswall Park from 4:30-7 p.m., with all proceeds going towards their trip to World Finals in Ames, Iowa at the end of May. In addition to the art displays, visitors can enjoy food and drink specials at participating shops as well as special promotions. A list of participating locations can be found at www.ballston.org.
Saturday, May 4
The Third Annual Women in War Symposium
Old Saratoga American Legion Post, 6 Clancy St. Schuylerville | 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The Women in War Symposium features dynamic speakers who will present on topics related to the roles women played during the American Revolution. Whether patriot or loyalist, wealthy or impoverished, females were deeply affected by the war in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, exhibitors, book-signings, augmented reality demonstrations and more will be on display throughout the day. A Bus Tour of Historic Sites follows on Sunday, May 5 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Departing from the Saratoga National Historical Park Visitor Center, a curated tour with returning expert guide Pat Niles highlighting several lesser-known stories of women in the Saratoga Campaign. Those interested can register for both the symposium and tour or just one event by visiting the Saratoga250 website, www.saratoga250.com/events/annual-women-in-war-symposium
Big Truck Day
Spa State Park Parking Lots & SPAC Box Office Entrance, Rt 50, Saratoga Springs | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes will be on display for children to explore, featuring classic trucks, buses, rescue vehicles, helicopters, cement mixers, big rigs and so much more. Presale tickets are $7. Day of event $8.
2nd Annual Car Show Fundraiser
Cornell’s Used Auto Parts, 62 S Greenfield Rd., Greenfield Center | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All makes and models are welcome to participate, and people can expect food, yard tours, trophies, and lots of cars! Take a tour of Cornell’s lot and see what goes into running their business. All the funds received during the event will be donated to the Double H Ranch, which provides specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. For more information, please visit https://cornellsusedautoparts.com/
The Windbreak Planting
Pitney Meadows Community Farm, 223 West Ave., Saratoga Springs | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Calling for the hands and the hearts of our community to come plant with us! We believe that our Windbreak Planting Project is not just a one-time event but a legacy project that will grow and flourish for years to come. By becoming a part of this initiative, you will have a profound and lasting impact on the ecology of Pitney Meadows and the surrounding community.
Ballston Spa Cemetery Association Annual Meeting
Ballston Spa Village Library Community Room, 21 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa |10:30 a.m. Cemetery activities and financials during the past year will be presented, along with plans for the upcoming year. The public is invited to attend. Members of the Association are eligible to vote on issues related to the cemetery operations.
Introduction to Composting
Pitney Meadows Community Farm, 223 West Ave., Saratoga Springs | 11 a.m. – Noon. Confused about the best way to deal with the organic waste your household generates? Have you tried composting in the past and been frustrated by the result? The goal of this workshop is to demystify the process and help folks set up their own backyard composting system with minimum expense and (hopefully) maximum success. This workshop will be led by Jennifer Armstrong, Chair of Sustainable Saratoga’s Compost Committee. For more information, visit https://sustainablesaratoga.org/
Messages From Survivors: One Family’s Holocaust Legacy
Galway Public Library, 2112 East Street, Galway | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A powerful new traveling exhibit about the Holocaust, survival, resiliency, and the importance of family and remembering during the month of May, which will include a presentation of “Dance: A Morale Booster.” Hosted by the library working in partnership with The Memory Project Productions, Inc. and the Southern Adirondack Library System (SALS). The library will also host related programs, activities, and displays during the month designed to educate and to spark conversation about the time period.
New Exhibits Opening Reception
Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Ave., Ballston Spa | 2-4 p.m. The Saratoga County History Center will officially open three new exhibits for the 2024 season to complement our main exhibit, Saratoga County our Home which opened in 2023. Brookside Through the Years in the front hallway examines the people and businesses that have called Brookside home throughout its 232-year history. In the Long Room gallery, visitors can explore images of Broadway storefronts from Saratoga Springs in the late 1860s and discover the history of the early entrepreneurs and which modern businesses are housed in the surviving buildings. Another new exhibit, Unmentionables, invites visitors to consider the history of undergarments and displays petticoats, hoop skirts, shirts, stockings, bustles, and corsets from the museum’s extensive textile collection.
Sunday, May 5
Celebrate with Music
Saratoga United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs | 3 p.m. Saratoga Chamber Players will honor the late Peter Schickele (1936-2024). Schickele, known for his showmanship, his PDQ Bach recordings, but also for his serious compositions, wrote a rarely heard sextet to be performed by violinists Jill Levy and Lily Holgate, violists Sarah Adams and Caeli Smith, and cellists Eric Bartlett and Ashley Bathgate. Also on the program are Haydn’s String Quartet in G Major, Op.33, no. 5 and Brahms’ Sextet in G Major, Op. 26, no.2. Tickets are $30 for adults, seniors $25, and students $20. Full bios of the musicians and ticket purchase are at http://www.saratogachamberplayers.org.
Monday, May 6
Bacon Hill Cemetery Association Annual Meeting
Bacon Hill Reformed Church 560 Rt. 32 N, Schuylerville, 6:30 p.m.
Galway Preservation Society Program
Galway Town Hall, 5910 Sacandaga Road, Galway | Doors open at 6:45. We will have a brief business meeting at 7 p.m., followed by this month’s program on the history of Wolf Hollow by Michael Diana, Programs Manager, Historian and Director of Education for the Schenectady County Historical Society and the Mabee Farm Historic Site. This place once played host to a decisive battle that would change the course of local history. Michael’s presentation will untangle the legends from the history of the enigmatic Wolf Hollow. Our programs are always open to the public, free of charge. If you choose, annual family or household memberships are available for $10 per year.
Tuesday, May 7
Networking Breakfast
Sterling Real Estate Group, 1487 Saratoga Road, Ballston Spa | 8 – 9:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring either canned or boxed food items or personal care products for both men and women. These donations will support the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition in Ballston Spa. Cost for the breakfast is $10 —prepayment available at www.ballston.org or RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and pay at the door. Non-reserved walk-ins that morning are welcome. Business and community members are welcome; you do not need to be a BSBPA member to attend this event. Membership information will be available.
Saratoga Area Retired Educators Luncheon
The Ripe Tomato, 2721 US-9, Ballston Spa | Noon. All area retired K-12 public, parochial, private, BOCES teachers, librarians, teaching assistants and other school related personnel are welcome. For further information, call 518-584-1192.
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Monthly Meeting
Knights of Columbus, 50 Pine Road, Saratoga Springs. (CDA), Court McLaughlin #422 members gather inside at 5:30 p.m. for the May Crowning ceremony that signifies Blessed Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. This will be followed by recitation of the Rosary and refreshments until 6:30 p.m. when the meeting will begin. CDA is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in the Americas. Please join us. Any questions? Contact our Regent Lucille Koch by phone or text at 516-319-4577.
2024 Public History Award Celebration
Brookside Museum, 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa | 6 – 8 p.m. Priscilla Edwards, Town of Edinburg Historian, and Pat Peck, founding member of Heritage Hunters of Saratoga County, have been named as 2024 winners of the Saratoga County History Center’s Public History Award. There will be a celebration in their honor on the porch followed by a program in the Museum’s Long Room. Members of the public are invited to join friends and relatives of Priscilla and Pat in the celebration by registering below. The event is free, donations are welcome.
Jigsaw Puzzle Challenge
Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | 6:30 p.m.
Join a two-hour Jigsaw Puzzle competition to see which team can complete a 500-piece puzzle the fastest. The library will provide puzzles and prizes. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org
Wednesday, May 8
Roast Pork Dinner Take Out
Saratoga – Wilton Elks Club, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Take out only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order, 518-584-2585. Menu: Roast pork, mashed potatoes, vegetable, stuffing, applesauce, gravy, roll, and tossed salad. Cost is $15 per dinner. Cash only.
Green Drinks
The Parting Glass, 40-42 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs | 5 – 7 p.m. Green Drinks! A “green gathering” for those who work, volunteer, or have a passion for promoting the environment, conservation, and sustainability. Food, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase. Green Drinks is held monthly. While this is a networking event, solicitation is not allowed.
Thursday, May 9
Sunnyside Garden Party Supporting Secret Garden Tour
345 A Church St., Saratoga Springs | 5 – 7 p.m. Socialize and shop for Mother’s Day and for yourself at the Secret Gardens Kick-Off Garden Party. This annual event is free and open to the public, featuring wine and nibbles courtesy of Sunnyside, a host of chock-full raffle baskets, and background music provided by Phil Drum. Sunnyside donates to Soroptimist International of Saratoga County a portion of proceeds from sales during the two-hour event, including the purchase of gift cards. Visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org for more information and details. Email questions to.
Researching Your Historic Home
Ballston Spa Library, Community Room, 21 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa | 7 p.m. John Cromie will demonstrate how to research the age of your Ballston Spa house in this hands-on workshop using on-line historical and public resources. Along the way get to know your house’s history and those people who were a part of this Village community. Join us if you have an older home, live in the historic district, love history or are passionate about community character. Free admission and refreshments provided. Sponsored by the Ballston Spa Historic District Commission.
