Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo - Saratoga Opera Event for Children
2025-03-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Together with Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts, Saratoga County History Center is proud to present a performance by Opera Saratoga, especially for children

Frida Kahlo and the bravest Niña in el Mundo is an interactive children’s opera composed by Joe Illick with libretto written by Mark Campbell. The story is about Mariana, a young girl living in Mexico City in the late 1940s. Mariana’s family encourages her to have her portrait painted by the renowned artist, Frida Kahlo. Mariana is initially frightened, but is emboldened and charmed by Kahlo, the animals in her household including a monkey, a parrot and a dog, and a visit by the exuberant artist Diego Rivera. As Mariana sits for her portrait, she learns all about Frida’s life, and begins to understand the meaning of bravery.
The 45-minute opera explores the art of Frida Kahlo as well as themes of courage and family.
Opera Saratoga will be presenting this opera in the Long Room at The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum on Saturday, March 8th at 2pm.
This opera is appropriate for ages 5-11.
All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Register HERE
The concert is open to the public and free, though donations are always appreciated, either online or at the event.
Follow the Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts on social media for more arts events in Ballston Spa through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bspaarts/ ) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bspaarts/)
This program is a joint event offered by Saratoga County History Center and the Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts.

Historian Tea Talks: Love Your Neighbor
2025-03-19 15:00 - 16:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
On Wednesday, March 19th, at 3pm, for the first of the 2025 season of Historian Tea Talks, Saratoga County History Center will host Ruby Marcotte, a 4th generation traditional artist of Abenaki Native American and Quebecois French heritage, and previously Town Historian for the Town of Day, who will present a program, “Love Your Neighbor”, about her life growing up in an informal, out of the way community, “on the mountain”, west of Corinth, a community with a rich, long history of connectedness.

Tea and cookies will be served. Registration is free and recommended, but a donation of $5 per registration, online or at the event, would be appreciated to support the programs of Saratoga County History Center.
This event is sold-out.

Historical Sewing Sessions for Reenactors and those Looking to Volunteer at Saratoga 250 Events: Bedgowns & Wrapping Gowns/Banyans
2025-03-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join us for an afternoon of stitching, tea, and camaraderie as we share information, resources, and ideas for clothing that can be worn during upcoming events related to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

All are welcome to attend these free gatherings, but pre-registration is required. Email aclothier@SaratogaCountyNY.gov to sign up.

January 25: Aprons
February 22: Caps & Accessories
March 22: Bedgowns & Wrapping Gowns/Banyans
Participants can work on any project, but these will be the subjects of focus for anyone wanting additional help and guidance. Options will be included for men’s, women’s, and children’s garments.
Limited fabric selection available with advance notice. Beginners are welcome.

Saturdays, 1-4 pm at Brookside Museum
21 Fairground Avenue,
Ballston Spa, NY
Sponsored by Saratoga250 and the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum.

Historian Tea Talks: Saratoga in the Gilded Age and the Lost Park
2025-04-02 15:00 - 16:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
On Wednesday, April 2nd, at 3pm, for the third of the 2025 season of Historian Tea Talks, Saratoga County History Center with host Hollis Palmer, who will present a program “Saratoga in the Gilded Age and the Lost Park”.
This event is sold-out.

Well Dressed: Gowns of the 1770s - Public Program & Workshop by Emily Stringham
2025-04-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Well Dressed: Gowns of the 1770s
A public program & workshop by Emily Stringham of At the Sign of the Golden Scissors
Public Program: Friday, April 4 at 7 pm – Free
Workshop: April 4-6 – $295
Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum
21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, New York

Learn about the importance of this garment that was worn by women of all classes. The Friday evening program will cover the social history and construction details of the garment and also include an opportunity to view an original gown from the 18th century. The Friday evening program is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is encouraged.
Register HERE.

The three-day workshop will guide participants through the making of the gown and is $295. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration opens at noon on Saturday, February 22 at https://atthesignofthegoldenscissors.com/pages/workshops

Traveling the Mother Road: America's Route 66
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
US Route 66 had its official beginnings in 1926 when the Bureau of Public Roads began the nation’s first federal highway system. The creation of the road led to development of businesses all along the route and created the American idea of “road trips.” But, as we come close to its 100th anniversary, do you know that you can still travel most of that road and relive the era when cars were beginning to dominate the American scene?

On Thursday, April 10th, at 7pm, join Joanne and Rick Reynolds, in Brookside Museum, as they share the story of their personal and professional road trip from the beginning to the end of America’s Route 66 – from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California. This presentation is not a travelogue but an examination of the story of this road. Full of stories, pictures, and an emphasis on preservation of the past for all to experience now and into the future.
The presentation is free to attend, but donations are always welcome and appreciated, either online or at the event.
Register HERE.

Random Acts of Poetry: Writing Workshop
2025-04-12 09:30 - 11:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join the Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts and SCHC at Brookside Museum for the Random Acts of Poetry Writing Workshop. The event will be led by Elaine Handley and ages 10 and up are welcome.
This event is free, but registration is required. Sign up HERE

Day of Celebration: Portraits, Play & Progress
2025-04-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Mark your calendar and join us on Saturday, April 12th, at 1PM, for a day of celebration and new beginnings.
We’ll unveil Portraiture: Faces and Legacies, a new exhibit featuring stunning portraits from our collection, including rarely displayed pieces.
We’re also thrilled to announce the grand opening of the History Hunters Hangout, a dynamic, interactive space for children and families to engage with history through hands-on activities, creative play, and games.
Take this opportunity to also meet and welcome Suzanne Maloney, our new Executive Director.
Refreshments will be served as we celebrate these exciting Brookside milestones together.
RSVP HERE

Historian Tea Talk: Women of the Saratoga Campaign
2025-04-16 15:00 - 16:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
On Wednesday, April 16th, at 3pm, for the third of the 2025 season of Historian Tea Talks, Saratoga County History Center with host Anne Clothier, who will present a program “Women of the Saratoga Campaign”.
This event is sold-out.

Having a Layer Flock in Your Backyard
2025-04-26 08:30 - 13:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Having a layer flock in your backyard, a class to cover:

Local laws or how to make them chicken friendly

Breeds

Housing/pen design

Feed

Egg collection and care

What to do with older birds

The latest info on the bird flu

Class size has been limited and early sign up is suggested.
Register HERE
Presented by the Milton Grange #685
The Milton Grange is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the rural community through a variety of volunteer and educational activities.

Random Acts of Poetry: Performance Reading
2025-04-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join the Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts and SCHC at Brookside Museum for the Random Acts of Poetry Performance Reading. Hear Poetry by Steven Guilfoyle and other local poets!
Register HERE

The Cello Experience Sound Bath
2025-04-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
This event is sold-out.

The Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts presents The Cello Experience! Enjoy an afternoon of Cello Sound Therapy with Demetria Koninis of The Cello Experience. Relax, restore and realign with the soothing vibrations of the cello. This immersive sound healing session blends deep, resonant tones to promote balance and inner peace.
Bring a yoga mat, blanket or cushion for comfort.
While this even is free to attend, registration is required as space is limited to 20 people.
*Registration information with be shared with the Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts.

Sheep to Shawl Community Day
2025-05-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The long-running interactive “Sheep to Shawl” program at Brookside Museum returns to the Saratoga County History Center. Sheep, lambs, farmers, herders, the famous Fred the Shearer, and the Rock Day Spinning Guild will assemble on Brookside Museum’s front lawn to demonstrate every facet of sheep raising, shearing, and spinning to produce the wool clothing that was so ubiquitous in early America. Sheep to Shawl is a hands-on, family-friendly event. Young and the young-at-heart will have fun petting the sheep, meeting farmers, and participating in demonstrations. A terrific opportunity to embrace the spring weather, learn about Saratoga County’s agricultural past, and enjoy some quality family time. We are grateful to the Stewarts’ Shops Holiday Match program for their generous support of this educational opportunity.

Regional Pre-Contact Archaeology of New York State
2025-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
John Garbellano of Hartgen Archaeological Associates will explore aspects of New York State pre-contact archaeology and the broader cultural and environmental history of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley; archaeological sites evidencing the movements of Indigenous people since the end of the last ice age; and two projects Hartgen recently completed in the Towns of Malta and Cambridge, and how they fit into the larger picture of New York State Archaeology.
He will also discuss why Cultural Resource Management is an important service and contributor to New York State Archaeology.
Since 1973, Hartgen Archaeological Associates has successfully completed thousands of archaeological and historical resource studies throughout the Northeast. Our dedication to providing responsive and effective Cultural Resource Management services has helped advance archaeology in this region and the public’s understanding of the history and culture surrounding them. The Regional Pre-Contact Archaeology of New York State is important because of the larger, interconnected complex evidencing the movements of Indigenous people since the end of the last ice age.
This even is sold-out.

Summer Garden Program: Pollinator Partnerships: Advice from the Pollinator Community
2025-05-18 14:00 - 15:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Come and join the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum for an afternoon of celebrating and learning about the essential role of pollinators on Sunday, May 18, at 2:00 P.M. Listen as a lively panel of guests from the area’s community of masterful pollinator gardens discuss their efforts to create habitats for the pollinator communities that play a vital role in supporting the ecosystems and agriculture upon which our lives depend. Afterward, please join us for the naming and dedication of our nascent and evolving pollinator garden. After the day’s events conclude refreshments will be served.
Program Presenters:
· Tom Denny: Founder, SoBro Conservancy of Saratoga
· Suzanne Balet Haight: Owner: Balet Flowers & Design
· Valerie Robinson, Master Gardener: Saratoga Spa State Park
· Mina Dunnam, Master Gardener: Pauline’s Pollinator Habitat at Pitney Meadows Community Farm
REGISTER HERE

Miller's Backyard Barbecue
2025-05-30 15:00 - 18:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Summer is Here at Brookside Museum with Miller’s Backyard Barbecue

Include Brookside Museum in your dinner plans for Friday, May 30th, order some delicious Millers Backyard Barbecue and pick it up from Brookside Museum.
Chicken and pulled pork dinners are available for $15.00 and beef brisket dinners for $20.00 (beef brisket by pre-order only). All dinners include baked potato, cole slaw and corn bread. An 8 oz. serving of mac & cheese is also available for $5.00.
Drive-thru pickup/take out only.
There will be some additional meals available without pre-ordering (but not the brisket).
Reserve your meals HERE

Union Avenue Walking Tour
2025-06-11 10:00 - 11:30 | NY
Join local author and historian Hollis Palmer for a walking tour of the great cottages along Union Avenue and Circular street that ushered in the Gilded Age in Saratoga Springs. This mile and a half walk will begin across from Congress Park in front of Empire State College. Parking is available along Union Avenue and Regent Street. There are no bathrooms on this walk. Donations appreciated. The tour is limited to 25 people.
This event is sold-out.

Brookside Explorers Club: Flag Day Celebration
2025-06-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Brookside Explorers Club: Flag Day Celebration
Join us for the very first event of the Brookside Explorers Club, a new history and learning club for kids! Explore the history and fun of Flag Day through storytime, crafts, and play in this engaging and educational event. Kids of all ages are welcome to join the fun!
Date: June 14th (Flag Day)
Time: Drop in between 10AM-12PM (Storytime at 10:15AM)
Cost: $5 per child (pre-registration required – please complete form below)
For more information, please email our Education Director, Charlene Dubuque at charlene@brooksidemuseum.org

Brookside Explorers Club

Number of Children Quantity

Price:
$5.00

Quantity
Childs #1 First and Last Name * RequiredChild #2 First and Last NameChild #3 First and Last NameChild #4 First and Last NameParents Name * RequiredParents Phone Number * RequiredParents Email Address * RequiredTotal
$0.00

2025 Craft & Antique Fair
2025-06-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The Saratoga County History Center is thrilled to announce a county-wide craft fair! The family-friendly free event will be held at beautiful Brookside Museum on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10am to 3pm.
Guests will be able to shop a wide variety of locally handcrafted collectibles, antiques, and farm products. No mass-produced or commercially-made items will be permitted. This is a terrific opportunity for New Yorker’s to sample and appreciate the best of upstate artisans, farmers, and culinarians.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be held rain or shine.
Interested vendors can download the application HERE.

Porch Book Sale
2025-06-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join us on the porch for a book sale during the Craft and Antique Fair, Saturday June 21 from 10am – 3pm. Find rare and out-of-print Saratoga County history books.

Summer Garden Program: Olde Time Strawberry Social
2025-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join us Sunday, June 22 from 2 – 4pm for an Old Time Strawberry Social! Enjoy:

Corn Hole
Children’s Crafts
Add a seed to the been teepee

Suzanne Balet Haight of Balet Flowers will be hosting a Strawberry Pot class at 2:30pm.
Register for the Pot Class at www.baletflowers.com/contact-us
Enjoy fresh strawberries on homemade biscuits topped with real whip cream for $5.
Register HERE for your strawberry shortcake!

Mount McGregor Walking Tour
2025-07-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Grant Cottage Historic Site, 1000 Mt Mcgregor Rd, Gansevoort, NY, 12831, United States
Grant Cottage Historic Site Operations Manager Ben Kemp will lead this tour of the picturesque mountaintop that has hosted thousands of residents and visitors over the last 150 years, from U.S. presidents to TB patients, veteran and prisoners, sharing tales of tragedy, mystery, romance, and heroism. This walk will be less than a mile but over varied terrain with some inclines. Drive up Mt McGregor road from Rt 9 in Wilton. Parking is available at Grant Cottage. Registration required. Donations appreciated.
Register HERE

The Civil War Letters of Captain Luther M Wheeler
2025-07-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Local author David Handy will bring to life the Civil War experiences of Captain Wheeler as related in his letters to his family. Wheeler wrote about military life and the carnage of battles he participated in, including the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Handy has compiled these letters along with the authors commentary in his latest book, I Think I Shall See a Hundred Battle.
Donations appreciated to support the programs of the History Center.
This program is rescheduled from June 11. No need to re-register if you signed up for the earlier event

Register HERE

Brookside Explorers Club: Art Show & Landmark Creations
2025-07-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
🌟 Brookside Explorers Club: Art Show & Landmark Creations 🌟
Join us for our next meeting of the Brookside Explorers Club, a new history and learning club for kids! Artwork from the “Artists Inspired by Their Community” program, an exciting collaboration with Ballston Spa Middle School, will be displayed in the History Hunters Hangout from July-September. And on July 19th, History Scouts can join the fun by learning about some of Saratoga County’s most important landmarks through a learning activity, craft, and play in this engaging and educational event. Kids of all ages are welcome to join the fun! Parental supervision is required.
📅 Date: Saturday, July 19th
🕙 Time: Drop in between 10AM-12PM
💲 Cost: $5 per child (pre-registration recommended)
📧 For more information, please email our Education Director, Charlene Dubuque at charlene@brooksidemuseum.org
📝 Register here:

Brookside Explorers Club

Number of Children Quantity

Price:
$5.00

Quantity
Childs #1 First and Last Name * RequiredChild #2 First and Last NameChild #3 First and Last NameChild #4 First and Last NameParents Name * RequiredParents Phone Number * RequiredParents Email Address * RequiredTotal
$0.00

Summer Garden Program: The Victorian Fascination with Plants
2025-07-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
The Victorian language of flowers, floriography, was one of several nonverbal languages used by Victorians. Dr. Catherine Golden Indoor will speak more to this, using passages from Victorian literature as examples. Guests will also have the opportunity to make a tussie-mussie (flowers generously donated by Suzanne Balet of Balet Flowers and Design).
This Event is Sold-Out

Twelve Years a Widow: Finding the Footsteps of Anne Hampton Northup
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Anyone who has done historical research knows the difficulties in tracking down the stories of women, particularly working-class women, and especially women of color. The story of Anne Hampton Northup is remarkable. A much sought after cook, she was born free in Washington County, and is best known for being the wife of Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped in 1841 and subsequently enslaved for twelve years. But who was Anne, and how did she manage as a single woman, bringing up three children, for twelve years until her husband’s return?
Join Yale historian and Middlebury College teacher, Connor Williams, as he sheds some light on the story of Anne, not only about her life, but also about the challenges of uncovering that story.
Register HERE

Sounds of Summer Concert: Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors
2025-07-27 17:00 - 18:00 | NY
Sounds of Summer Concert: Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors
Sunday, July 27, 5pm
Join Dennis Searles and the Jazz Ambassadors for an evening of music and fun on the front lawn of Brookside Museum. This event is free and all are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and a picnic dinner to enjoy. This event is sponsored by Brookside Museum, Saratoga Arts, the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians and the Village of Ballston Spa Committee on the Arts.

Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Rail Tour
2025-07-30 11:00 - 12:30 | Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway, 9 Railroad Pl, Corinth, NY, 12822, United States
Owner and Operator Hal Raven and Rachel Clothier, Corinth Town Historian, welcome you aboard the vintage railcar the “Palmer Falls” on a 90-minute ride from Corinth to Greenfield and return. Sit back and enjoy scenic views, wildlife and stories of local sites and history. The train operates out of the Station at 9 Railroad Place in Corinth.
Special $25 price for History Center registrants. Registration required. Donations to the museum appreciated. Seating is limited to 45 people.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD-OUT.

Overhearing History a Revolutionary Saratoga Story – A Reading and Book Signing with the Author
2025-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Brookside Museum, 21 Fariground Ave., Ballston Spa, NY, 12020, United States
Join historian and author Anne Clothier for a reading of a new children’s publication Overhearing History a Revolutionary Saratoga Story. Travel back to Revolutionary Saratoga with 12-year old Nathaniel. Living in his family’s tavern, he overhears exciting, worrying – and sometimes confusing – talk about freedom and big changes coming to his town. This graphic novel, illustrated by Alex Portal, brings Saratoga’s Revolutionary story to life for young readers. After the reading there will be a book signing with the author and the book will be available for purchase.
Register for this free event here

Native New York at the Champlain Canal Region Gateway Center
2025-08-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Champlain Canal Region Gateway Center, 30 Ferry St., Schuylerville, NY, 12871, United States
Our Education Department is excited to be joining the Turning Point festival this year at the Champlain Canal Region Gateway Visitors Center for Native New York. Families are invited to stop in for a hands-on and self-paced exploration of Saratoga County’s earliest inhabitants, the Haudenosaunee people. Participants can try a hand at grinding corn, examine how natural materials were used, play with traditional games, and event make a craft to take home.
