Saratoga County History Center

Farmers' Market
2021-07-31 09:00 - 13:00, 2021-07-29 15:00 - 18:00, 2021-07-24 09:00 - 13:00, 2021-07-22 03:00 - 18:00, 2021-07-17 09:00 - 13:00, 2021-07-15 15:00 - 18:00, 2021-07-10 09:00 - 13:00, 2021-07-08 15:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates | NY

Family Fun Fridays at Brookside
2021-07-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Take a playful trip back in time to the 18th century every Friday afternoon of the summer break at Brookside Museum. Children, along with their parents, are invited to join reenactors Erin and Henry in playing with reproductions of centuries-old toys and games. The calendar may read 2021, but Fridays at Brookside will be like 1771!
“Family Fun Fridays” is a limited series: July 30 and Aug 6, 13, and 20, from 2-4 p.m. The events are free and open to the public, though participation may be limited depending on numbers. Donations are appreciated.
In addition to the historical games and interactions, Brookside Museum will be open on those days, 1-5 p.m. There are four brand new exhibits, including the innovative “Social Life of Hats” display and the exhibition on Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family (sponsored by Stewart’s).

Sounds of Summer from the Brookside Porch
2021-07-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The Saratoga County History Center is pleased to welcome instrumentalists from the American Federation of Musicians to perform two concerts at Brookside Museum. Performers, including several from the Albany Symphony Orchestra, will be playing popular melodies on Brookside’s grand front porch while guests relax on the spacious front lawn. On July 25 at 3 p.m., the band will delight the crowd with jazz and dance tunes. Guests are encouraged to sing and dance along. Students and representatives from the famed Dance Factory of Saratoga Springs will be on hand to teach audience members a few basic steps and, perhaps, even put on a show. This concert is free and open to the public. Guests should bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Rain dates will be Wednesday, July 28.

Sounds of Summer from the Brookside Porch
2021-07-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The Saratoga County History Center is pleased to welcome instrumentalists from the American Federation of Musicians to perform two concerts at Brookside Museum. Performers, including several from the Albany Symphony Orchestra, will be playing popular melodies on Brookside’s grand front porch while guests relax on the spacious front lawn. On July 21, 3 p.m., the ensemble will treat visitors to a selection of toe-tapping pop favorites. Guests are encouraged to sing and dance along. This concert is free and open to the public. Guests should bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets.

Experts Next Door Series Episode 13: "Life and Death in Ancient Nubia"
2021-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 | NY
Expert Next Door Series Episode 13: “Life and Death in Ancient Nubia”
Dr. Mindy Pitre, Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Lawrence University
This program will be held on Thursday, July 15 at 7pm
Join the Saratoga County History Center and Dr. Mindy Pitre for the thirteenth event in our virtual Expert Next Door Series. Dr. Pitre, a professor of anthropology, will discuss her work as a bioarcheologist and discoveries she has been a part of Aswan-Kom Ombo Archaeological Project in Aswan, Egypt. This virtual event will take place on Thursday, July 15th at 7pm.
Preregistration is required. Click HERE to register.

Handicap Entrance Dedication
2021-07-13 14:00 | NY
Several donors will be honored with a plaque for providing funds to enable the building to be handicap accessible.

Soroptimist Garden Tour
2021-07-11 11:00 - 16:00 | NY
Tickets are on sale now for the 26th Soroptimist Secret Gardens Tour set for Sunday, July 11. The tour features a dozen unique gardens in Saratoga Springs (including three on one street), Ballston Spa, and Schuylerville.
Visitors will find a wide variety of designs and plantings, water features and one-of-a-kind mosaics and sculptures. You’ll stroll through pergolas, follow a path to a monarch butterfly waystation, wander along a pond, meander past fruit trees and brush past grasses.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour, if still available. This is a self-guided tour, which will take place July 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Garden descriptions, a map and suggested driving directions are provided with the ticket, but you go at your own pace in the order you like.
Tickets can be ordered online or purchased in person at Northshire Bookstore at 424 Broadway in Saratoga Springs; Lifestyles of Saratoga at 436 Broadway, Saratoga Springs; all four Cudney’s Cleaners retail locations; and Faddegon’s Nursery at 1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham. Please check ahead to ensure ticket availability.
Visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org to reserve tickets online and learn more about Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, a professional women’s service organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women, girls and their communities. Click here for a link to story and photos about the gardens. Also, Enjoy a sneak peek recording of Zoom interviews and photos with three of this year’s garden owners, hosted by the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Click here to Watch Secret Gardens Revealed.

Sheep to Shawl
2021-06-27 12:00 - 16:00 | NY
On Sunday, June 27, 2021, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., sheep, lambs, farmers, herders, and shearers, including the famous Fred the Shearer, will assemble on Brookside’s lush front lawn to demonstrate every facet of sheep husbandry, shearing, and weaving to produce the wool clothing that was so ubiquitous in colonial America. Sheep to Shawl is an interactive, family-friendly event. Young and the young-at-heart will have fun petting the sheep, meeting farmers, and participating in demonstrations. The event is free and open to the public – A terrific opportunity to enjoy the wonderful weather, learn a thing or two, enjoy some quality family time, and see all the exciting changes at Brookside.

Grand Opening
2021-06-26 13:00 - 17:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The Saratoga County History Center is thrilled to announce the grand reopening of the beloved Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa!
Summer hours starting June 26 will be Thursdays 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Tour of Clute's Dry Dock on the Erie Canal at Vischer Ferry
2021-06-26 10:00 | NY
On Saturday June 26 at 10:00 AM the Saratoga County History Roundtable will sponsor a tour of Clute’s Dry Dock on the Erie Canal at Vischer Ferry The tour will be led by Clifton Park Town Historian John Scherer, and will begin at the Historic Whipple Truss Bridge at the main entrance to the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve. The Walk will explore three versions of the Erie Canal – The original Clinton’s Ditch of 1825, the enlarged canal of 1842, and the Erie-Barge Canal of 1918 as well as Clifton Park’s first settlement at Fort’s Ferry. Please pre-register by e-mail to saratogacohistoryroundtable@gmail.com with the number of attendees and your phone number.

Reopening Members Reception
2021-06-25 19:00 - 21:00 | NY
Reopening Members Reception
Invitation Only

Thymly Herb Garden Dedication
2021-06-21 11:00 | NY

Expert Next Door Series Episode 12: “New York, Joseph Smith, and the Fight for Religious Freedom”
2021-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Expert Next Door Series Episode 12: “New York, Joseph Smith, and the Fight for Religious Freedom”
Dr. Spencer McBride, Associate Managing Historian of the Joseph Smith Papers Project
This program will be held on Thursday, June 17th, at 7pm
Join the Saratoga County History Center and Dr. Spencer McBride for the twelfth event in our virtual Expert Next Door Series. Dr. McBride, a prominent historian and published author, will be discussing his newest book and exploring the remarkable, though short-lived, political career of Joseph Smith, the New Yorker who founded Mormonism, waged a literal war for religious freedom, and launched a quixotic run for the White House. This virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 17th, at 7pm.
Preregistration is required. Click HERE to register.

2021 Craft Fair
2021-06-05 10:00 - 15:00 | NY
The Saratoga County History Center will hold a craft fair on Saturday, June 5th, 2021 from 10am – 3pm on the beautiful grounds of the historic Brookside Museum.
Shop a wide section of locally handcrafted items and farm products. All proceeds benefit the Saratoga County History Center education programs.
We are pleased to announce that we we are completely sold out for vendor spaces! If you would like to be contacted about the 2022 craft fair, please email bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org.

Brooks Barbecue at Brookside
2021-06-04 15:00 - 18:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Enjoy a delicious meal and help a great cause.
For over 40 years, Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum has provided high-quality K-12 educational programing, and shared and preserved our local history. COVID 19 has impacted our ability to share, but we are still here, growing and following our mission to keep history alive. Please help us to continue to provide high quality programs for our entire community.
SCHS/Brookside Museum will be selling Brooks’ BBQ chicken dinners to go on Friday, June 4th, 3-6pm for $14. Each dinner will include:
1/2 chicken, baked potato, cole slaw, roll, drink and a cookie.
Take-out only

Purchase your tickets HERE.

Saratoga Springs High School SPA Program, Student Presentations
2021-06-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Saratoga Springs High School SPA Program, Student Presentations
Topic: Human Rights Issues since WW2
2 nights: 7pm, June 1; 7pm, June 3
Free & open to the public
Register HERE
Registrants will receive a Zoom link.
