Fall Foliage & Fun in Saratoga!
Saratoga has everything you need to plan the perfect fall getaway
with that special someone in your life or your entire family.
Saratoga County includes several area museums, a wide variety of golf courses, world-famous mineral springs and spas, great shopping and amazing, unique local restaurants too. Whether it's a fall weekend getaway or a mid-week trip, Saratoga County is an autumn destination sure to delight you. Take in an intimate theater experience, step back in time at Saratoga National Historical Park, or just marvel at the change of seasons this weekend in Saratoga.
Highlights of Saratoga happenings are below. For a complete list of events, click here.
Special Events
Check out “The Way We Were Car Show,” or First Fridays in downtown Ballston Spa. Rowing regattas on Saratoga Lake make for spectacular viewing. And don't miss the Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest, Saratoga Showcase of Homes, Saratoga International Flavorfeast, the popular annual Fall Festival in downtown Saratoga Springs and more!
September
Guns N' Roses North America
Sunday, September 1, 2023
6:00 pm
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Iconic 80s metal powerhouse Guns N' Roses will kick off September's Live Nation SPAC concerts on September 1st. Don't miss these Hall of Famers, featuring Axl Rose, Slash, and their talented band, performing their gritty, sometimes outrageous hard rock.
Closing Weekend at the Track
September 2-4, 2023
Gates open at 11:00 am, 2:40 post time
Saratoga Race Course
The excitement of the 2023 meet will come to a close on Labor Day Weekend. Get in your last live thoroughbred racing fix with the final feature race, the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds, and see a preview of potential standouts in future Travers Stakes.
Saratoga Food Tour
Saturdays through Oct 28, 2023
12:00 - 2:30 pm
Meet at Olde Bryan Inn, 123 Maple Ave Saratoga Springs
Discover the tastes of Saratoga with our experienced guides. Learn the inside history of Saratoga and the area’s food culture while we visit several of the city’s most iconic restaurants. You’ll leave with a full stomach and new appreciation of our beautiful city.
Saratoga Lake Summer Bash
Saturday, Sept 8, 2023
12:30 - 6:00 pm
Saratoga Lake at Sandy Bay
End your Summer with a bang at the Saratoga Lake Annual Summer Bash! This is the 2nd annual boats only event, with 5000 watts of an amazing DJ's music of all genres to enjoy from the water. There may be live music too! This is a free event, and many boats are expected to float up to the sand bars of Sandy Bay. Lake access only!
Curtis Lumber
Car & Truck Show
Sunday, Sept 10, 2023
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Curtis Lumber, 885 Route 67 Ballston Spa
The event is free for spectators. 40+ awards and trophies will be awarded! Music by DJ Jason La Juene of Raven Events, giveaways, 50/50 raffle to benefit the WTEN Pet Connection, food trucks, and more! This is a fun family event, leashed pets are welcome.
Saratoga Hospital Golf Invitational
September 13, 2023
6:30 am - 8:00 pm
Saratoga National Golf Club
Saratoga Hospital’s Golf Invitational combines a spectacular day of golf at the award-winning Saratoga National Golf Club with the opportunity to support a very worthy cause: the Nursing Scholarship Program, providing nurses with financial assistance to pursue advanced degrees.
Outlaw Music
Festival
September 15, 2023
4:30 pm
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Spac is going strong in September hosting the 2023 Outlaw Music Festival. Catch Willie Nelson & Family headlining, along with an all-star lineup of country and folk stars The Avett Brothers, Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Brittney Spencer and Nathaniel Rateliff, and more.
Saratoga Arts - Art in the Park
September 16, 2023
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Historic Congress Park
Nearly 80 artists from the greater Saratoga and Capital regions will display and sell their original fine art and hand-crafted functional works in a beautiful setting. Artists will be on hand to discuss their drawings, paintings, jewelry, and other works of art.
50th Adirondack Balloon Festival
September 20 - 24, 2023
See website for full schedule
Floyd Bennett Airport, Queensbury
This year, the Adirondack Balloon Festival celebrates its 50th year delighting nearly 150,000 spectators. It traditionally starts with a street festival and craft fair, and weather permitting, presents up to 50 hot air balloons Saturday and Sunday.
Saratoga's Giant PumpkinFest
September 23, 2023
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saratoga Springs City Center garage
Bring the entire family to the Saratoga Springs City Center Parking Garage for the biggest pumpkin event of the season! The giant pumpkins begin arriving in the early morning with the weigh-off starting at 11. Free event with food venders and exhibits nearby.
1st Annual Taste of Toga
September 23, 2023
Main Event 3:00 pm, concert 6:00 pm
Saratoga County Fairgrounds
The first annual Taste of Toga is coming to the Saratoga Country Fairgrounds on September 23rd, 2023. We will be serving up local food from some of the best places in Saratoga County and bringing you some local live bands during the day and concert at night!
Caffè Lena's Fiddle and Foliage Festival
September 24, 2023
Noon - 4:00 pm
12 High Rock Ave, Saratoga
Join us at High Rock Park for live music from Adirondack Song Dogs, Oona Grady, James Gascoyne, Matt Griffin and more, as well as an open mic and games. Food and drinks offered by PJ’s BAR-B-QSA.Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for kids under 14.
The 23rd Great Pumpkin Challenge
September 30, 2023
9:00 am - noon
Saratoga Spa State Park
Join up to 2000 walkers, riders and runners for 5k, 10k, and kids fun runs. There will be abundant refreshments following the races and a raffle for all registered participants. Long-sleeve Moisture Wicking shirts to the first 1500 to register! Meet at Columbia Pavillion.
October
Saratoga Outdoor Farmers' Markets
Open through October, 2023
Wednesdays 3 - 6:00 pm; Saturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
High Rock Pavilion
Last call to take advantage of the crisp, cool days at Saratoga's outdoor farmers' markets. Join shoppers and entertainers as local farmers delight with high-quality local food and agricultural products. Our agricultural excellence is revered by locals and visitors alike.
Saratoga Food Tour
Saturdays through Oct 28, 2023
12:00 - 2:30 pm
Meet at Olde Bryan Inn, 123 Maple Ave Saratoga Springs
The Food Tour concludes at the end of the month. Discover the tastes of Saratoga with our experienced guides. Learn the inside history of Saratoga and the area’s food culture while we visit several of the city’s most iconic restaurants. You’ll leave with a full stomach and new appreciation of our beautiful city.
Saratoga Recycles
Day
October 7, 2023
9:00 am - 12 noon
SPAC West Parking Lot
For $5 per vehicle, plus $30 per TV or monitor, Sustainable Saratoga will collect and donate clothing & textiles (any condition), small appliances & electronics, scrap metal, eyeglasses, hearing aids, adult bikes, and more to benefit local charities. Please bring check or exact change.
Saratoga Showcase of Homes
October 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 2023
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Throughout Saratoga County
The 2023 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event will be held on 4 days over two spectacular weekends this fall on October 7-8 and October 14-15 featuring the regions finest, award-winning builders showcasing their new construction, landscaping and decor. Tickets are required.
The Saratoga
Book Festival
October 13 - 15, 203
9 am - 4:00 pm
6 Saratoga Springs Venues
The three-day festival features big-stage presentations and intimate conversations with acclaimed writers from near and far, including the Capital Region. In all, more than 25 different festival events will take place over the three-day weekend in more than six venues.
Back to the 80's with Jessie's Girl
October 21, 203
7:30 pm
Universal Preservation Hall
There is no decade like the Eighties and no party like “Back to the Eighties Show with Jessie’s Girl.” Called "The Best 80s Band in the Country," this talented tribute ensemble brings you back to the days of neon, big hair, and excellent music! Don't miss it; it's time to party like it’s 1989!
Cars on Union
October 21, 2023
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Union Ave between Nelson and East Ave
Rescheduled from June, the First Annual Cars On Union will be in full gear on Saturday, October 18. Register your exotic or rare classic vehicle to show and win prestigious awards. Judging begins at 10 am, awards center and 50/50 raffle start at 1:30. Enjoy amazing automobiles, great food, music and an exciting day out for the entire family!
Saratoga Downtown Fall Fest
October 21, 2023
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Downtown Saratoga Springs
You and your family won't want to miss an exciting day of events celebrating our beautiful Autumn! The Fall Festival offers games, pumpkin rolling races, pony rides, a costume parade, magic shows, and many more happenings. Best of all, there may be trick-or-treating!
Rock and Oddities Con
October 28 - 29, 2023
10:00 am - 7:00 pm both days
Saratoga Springs City Center
Spend Halloween weekend getting weird! Horror, Tattoos, food and music...we've got it all at Rock and Oddities Con! 100+vendors, costume contest, Beer, Food, tattoos, live performers, Witches Den, Haunted Maze, The Paranormal Experience and much more!
November
Haunted Saratoga
Ghost Tour
November 3-4, 2023
7:00 pm, Cost: $22
Meet at Saratoga Tea & Honey, 348 Broadway
Hear the stories that have lived on in our city for hundreds of years. They will enchant, entertain, and perhaps even scare you. Our 90-minute long walking tour will take you in search of the countless ghosts rumored to haunt the city. Total walking distance is less than a mile.
Fall Back 5k Trail Race
November 5, 2023
12:00 pm
Saratoga State Park
It’s that time of year! Set your clocks back, fall back in bed for that extra hour, and emerge bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to breathe crisp, autumn air and tackle some serious trails. Pre-race gathering, finish, awards, and day of race registration take place at the Saratoga Spa State Park Administration Building.
The 8th Annual Veterans' Ball
November 5, 2023
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hall of Springs
Veterans and Community Housing Project's 2023 Veterans' Ball will benefit Foreverly House, a home for homeless veteran moms and their children. $100 tickets include dinner and tantalizing desserts, live music and dancing, cash bar, silent auction, with an honorary ceremony for our veterans and military members.
NY State Free Fishing Day
November 11, 2023
Daylight hours
Downtown Saratoga Springs
Serenity on the water...without a license! Free fishing days invite the whole family to fish without a freshwater fishing license or recreational marine fishing registration. November's free fishing day will be the last of the year, so get out and try fishing for the first time, or get back into the sport!
Shelly Belly at Comedy Works
November 15, 2023
7:00 pm
Comedy Works
Michelle Rider, also known as Shelly Belly, has taken the comedy and social media scene by storm. Michelle’s relatible comedy consists of talking about things you won’t, but she will with a touch of off-color humor. Her high-energy, often biographical stand-up routine will keep you laughing!
Saratoga
Comic Con
November 18-19, 2023
Sat. 10 am - 6 pm, Sun. 10 am - 5 pm
Saratoga Springs City Center
Saratoga Comic Con, the largest comic con and pop culture event in the capital region, promises cosplay, guest stars, gaming, anime, sci-fi, furries, geeks, nerds, comic books, artists, vendors, and fans to the Saratoga Springs City Center! Awards will be handed out for kids and adults.
Black Friday/ Small Business Saturday
November 24-25, 2023
Most stores open by 10:00 am
Downtown Saratoga Springs
Come support local businesses and artisans, and save money while getting a jump on your holiday shopping! Downtown boutiques and shops open early--the earlier you shop, the more you'll save on gifts and treats for yourself.! What better way to shake off the post Thanksgiving feast doldrums!
Holiday Craft Marketplace
November 25, 2023
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saratoga Springs City Center
The 2023 annual Holiday Craft Marketplace returns! Sweeten your holiday shopping season by browsing through original handmade crafts, jewelry, art works from over 100 artisans. Your perfect hard-to-find gift is here! Proceeds help the Saratoga Center for the Family.
December
Saratoga Festival of Trees
November 29 - December 3, 2023
Check Website for Times
Saratoga Springs City Center
A Saratoga favorite! Come to an indoor winter wonderland of lights and festive decor. Walk through over 250 uniquely decorated trees, wreaths, and centerpieces. A fun event for all ages with Family Day, Breakfast and Sundaes with Santa and Santa's Workshop, and inspiration for your own tree.
Victorian Streetwalk 2023
November 30 - December 3, 2023
See website for days and times
Downtown Saratoga Springs
Victorian Holiday Magic returns in old-fashioned style as Saratoga Springs transforms into the 1800s! Witness the tree-lighting ceremony Thursday, and join Santa and Mrs. Claus at the gingerbread house Friday through Sunday. Fun for the whole family!
The McKrells Christmas Show
December 20, 21, 22, 2022
7:00 pm
The Parting Glass, 42 Lake Ave
Join in on a Saratoga holiday tradition with the McKrells and their toe-tapping Irish and Christmas music at the Parting Glass Pub.