This marks saratoga living‘s inaugural entry of The Calendar, our expertly curated list of the top events, live music, readings, workshops and everything else in between hitting the Capital Region on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of each week. The Calendar will be updated every Thursday, so that you’ll have a jump on your weekend plans. Below, you’ll find one “featured” event, which we think is a must-see, along with a number of additional goings-on that should be on your radar. You’ll never have to ask, “What’s going on in Saratoga?” ever again.
Saratoga Beer Week – February 20-24
Saratoga’s Beer Week actually began on Tuesday, February 20, with an Official Kick Off Party at Henry Street Taproom. The annual celebration will continue through the weekend—with three featured events happening on Thursday (Whiskey Night), Friday (Cider Night) and Saturday (Beer Summit). “This is our seventh year which is really cool,” says Beer Week Coordinator Samantha Yates. “We have 160 craft beer samples from more than 80 breweries, some of which are local and some of which come from as far as Alaska.”
As is tradition, Saturday’s Beer Summit will be the can’t-miss event of the weekend, but festival sponsor America On Tap will be holding several major sampling parties at the Saratoga City Center as well, including the aforementioned Whiskey Night (a Beer Week first!) and Cider Night. Also on tap for the weekend, local vendors such as Toga Threads and Spirichill will be selling their wares onsite to festival-goers; the Albany Football League will have a table for potential new registrants; and reps from Schenectady County Community College will be spreading the word about their new brewing program. “It’s the end of February. Beer Week is the best way—if you’re a beer, cider or whiskey lover— to kick off your spring,” says Yates. “Come and spend your weekend meeting new people and sampling all these craft beers!”
How do you get to and from Beer Week without a set of wheels? America On Tap has you covered: They’ll be providing shuttles to and from the Saratoga City Center for patrons who may leave the event too tipsy to get behind the wheel and drive home. (Plus, there’s always Uber or Lyft.) Beer lovers who want to celebrate in style may be interested in signing up for the Saratoga Arms’ Beer Week package, which includes a three-night stay at the hotel, mere minutes from the event; exclusive in-room gifts; and, the morning of the Beer Summit, a four-course “Brewer’s Breakfast Bash” sponsored by local brewers Schmaltz. Proceeds for the Beer Summit’s coatcheck will go to Kiwanis, an international co-educational service club dedicated to finding creative ways to pursue the needs of children through fundraising and projects in their local communities.
Friday, February 23
- Saratoga Cider Night – 6pm at Saratoga Springs City Center – 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
- Peak Organic Tasting – 1-3pm at EBI Saratoga – 112 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs
- February Painting Special at Open Art Studio – 2-6pm at Art in Mind Creative Wellness Studio – 272 Saratoga Rd, Glenville
- Olympic “Learn to Curl” Open House – 6-9pm at the Schenectady Curling Club – 1084 Balltown Rd., Schenectady
- Fire & Ice Bar at The Mill – 2-5pm at the Mill on Round Lake – 2121 US-9, Round Lake
- Live Music by VIVID – 6pm at The Saratoga Winery – 462 NY-29, Saratoga Springs
- Michael Perry – Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy – 6pm at the Northshire Bookstore – 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
- Kid’s Ice Fishing – 10-2pm at Moreau Lake State Park – 605 Old Saratoga Road, Gansevoort
Saturday, February 24
- Saratoga Beer Summit – 12pm at the Saratoga Springs City Center – 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
- Mineral Springs Tours and Tastings – 11am-2pm at Saratoga Spa State Park Creekside Classroom – 50 Geyser Rd, Saratoga Springs
- Whiskey & Bombfires – 3pm-6pm at The Saratoga Winery – 462 NY-29, Saratoga Springs
- Get Up Jack at The Parting Glass – 8pm at The Parting Glass Pub – 40 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs
- Dover Quartet – ELM Chamber Music – 8pm at Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College
- Christian Brothers Academy 9th Annual Indoor Yard Sale – 8am-3pm at Christian Brothers Academy – 12 Airline Dr. Colonie
- Brewers’ Breakfast Bash 4 Course Beer Pairing Breakfast – 9am at Saratoga Arms – 497 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
- Bourbon County Lunch – Saratoga City Tavern – 19-21 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs
- Beer and Oysters with Bolton Landing Brewin Co. – 12pm at Henry Street Taproom – 86 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs
- Science at the Library – 1pm at Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park
- Snowshoe by the Light of the Moon Guided Tour – 5:30-9pm at Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, 139 Lapland Lake Rd., Northville
Sunday 25
- Open Mic – 2-5pm at the Saratoga Winery – 462 NY-29, Saratoga Springs
- Dollar Oyster Night – 5-9pm at Mouzon House – 1 York Street, Saratoga Springs
- Family Yoga with Vanessa – 10:30am at Lilananda Yoga – 585 Saratoga Rd., Schenectady
- February Painting Special at Open Art Studio – 12-4pm at Art in Mind Creative Wellness Studio – 272 Saratoga Rd, Glenville
- Longfellows Wedding Show – 11-3pm at Longfellows Restaurant – 500 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs
- Recovery Ramen Brunch Party – 12-3pm at Sinclair Saratoga – 17 Maple Ave, Saratoga Springs
- Meditation Immersion Workshop – 1-5:30pm at Hannah’s Healing Wellness Studio – 376 Broadway L5 & L6
- Albany Sports Card & Memorabilia Show -9-3pm at the Park Manor Hotel – 7 Northside Drive, Clifton Park
- 8th Annual Bowling for PAWS – 12-4pm at Spare Time – 375 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
- Sunday Fun Day Glitter Jars – 2-4pm at The Candle Collective – 20 Prospect Street Building 2, Suite 214, Ballston Spa
