Saratoga New Year's Fest

12/23/2023

Hah! YES SIR..

BOTH of 'em are part of our Fest lineup!
(Maybe they can share a bus?)

Sometimes your next door neighbor also brings home a Boston Music Award 🙌 😂

A big congrats to Matt Stubbs and the dudes in GA-20, these guys are such a great band.

12/22/2023

Remember: the Block Party is PRE (pre-fireworks) and FREE!

It's one of our 'COMMUNITY GIVE-BACK!' components.

While we're on the subject: please consider adding a $ or $$ to your Badge Purchases, benefiting Shelters of Saratoga.

12/22/2023

Our Joan Osborne Interview:

Joan calls in to WAMC's Sarah LaDuke in advance of her appearance at the Fest. It ends up being a 23 minute chat!
Great stuff; take a listen here:

https://www.wamc.org/podcast/the-roundtable/2023-12-20/joan-osborne-performs-at-saratoga-new-years-fest

The City of Saratoga Springs, NY Joan Osborne Bailey's Saratoga Death Wish Coffee Druthers Brewing Company
398 Group Downtown Saratoga Springs Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Discover Saratoga NY Saratoga Springs City Center

Joan Osborne and her band will perform at 9 p.m. on 12/31 at The City Center Main Hall in downtown Saratoga Springs, New York as part of The Saratoga New Year’s Fest.

12/21/2023

It's Magic!

Presto Pete and Incredulous Chris roll into the Fest to hit the big outdoor stage at the Fest Block Party @ downtown on NYE (right alongside the City Center).

They'll show off their stuff, right before Tops of Trees crank up the BIG ROCK CONCERT, followed by 6PM fireworks (happening right there).

Who's going?

Pete and Chris Amusements Tops Of Trees Downtown Saratoga Springs Hometown Saratoga, NY Discover Saratoga NY Saratoga Springs City Center

12/20/2023

Who's ready for a little twangy-twang?

Ward Hayden & The Outliers combine various elements of the wider 'country music' tag: Traditional. Outlaw. Alternative. Country-Rock.

"Hank Williams Meets Dwight Yoakam". It's old school and new school--both!

Catch the fellas in the COUNTRY ROOM at the City Center, along with the Kevin Richards Country Kickers gang of line dancers.

It's gonna be a kick!
Get you Badge now at just $25, before they go up in price and get a service fee added.

12/20/2023

VIP's are running LOW . Go Get 'Em!

Includes: the great buffet meal (below), entry to the Hang Out Area (side-of-stage; with other important people!) and front-section seating at the Headline Shows (Robert Randolph @ early / Joan Osborne @ late. Plus: the Badge to wander into all the other shows Downtown Saratoga Springs on the weekend.

12/20/2023

AFTERNOON JAZZ!

The SWING DOCS: a big, Big, BIG BAND that is set to fill the JAZZ JOINT with music in the AFTERNOON of Dec 31. 3PM, to be exact. Right inside the doors of the City Center, the downstairs meeting room

SKETCHES OF INFLUENCE will play immediately after.

Come on down, and enjoy the scene. It's perfectly timed to happen right before the Block Party and Fireworks.

12/19/2023

The pre-fireworks free! Block Party's BIG ROCK CONCERT!

Please welcome TOPS of TREES!
This is the kind of local act we love to support: they're good and they are making original music.

Trunk-Funk is what they call it: a drum and bass vibe featuring a soulful horn section, fervent guitars and classic organ, pulling you by the waist into a melodic funk pilgrimage.

"A modern interpretation of soulful music steeped in early R&B, funk and blues.".

They will hit the stage at approx 5PM, right after the PETE & CHRIS BIG MAGIC SHOW.

Enjoy some sample clips in the Comments, below . Support Local Music. And did we say.....FREE????

Tops Of Trees

" NY's Biggest New Year's Celebration North of Times Square"
(formerly: First Night - Saratoga)

12/19/2023

Thanks to the Saratoga Business Journal for the look-in and the insight as to what we're thinking over here....

Last year’s Saratoga New Year’s Fest — a post-COVID revival of what was formerly known as First Night — was developed by its new organizers in the spirit of a “necessary reinvention and re-imagining” of an annual event that had simply run out of momentum after two-plus decades. That turn...

12/18/2023

Say What?
* They do it in NYC. Montreal, Buffalo. Rocky Mtn Ski Country is filled with these all season long.
* If they can do an outdoor winter community affair, hearty Upstate'rs can do so as well. Right? Right.

A community give back: a free event @ 4:00 until 6:30. No tix needed. Just come on down.
Let's see how it all works out!

12/18/2023

New versions (better!) of the FINAL SCHEDULE and a VENUE MAP are in-motion; due later this week.

12/18/2023

Fireworks: last year our decision-making team was faced with this question of WHEN to launch the fireworks:

Choice A: Midnight, in the old tradition?
or...
Choice B: 6PM, so kids could attend?

The discussion and vote took about ten seconds.: 6PM.... and we're told that SSPD threw high fives when we told them the decision.

A photo from last year, courtesy Times Union:

12/17/2023

Hungry? What's to Eat at the Fest? Here's the VIP's menu!

Served 5-7 in the VIP section @ The Main Room at the City Center. Cash bar.

NOTE: a hearty Vegetarian Selection is also @ right there.

YES: there ARE still tickets for the VIP section.

12/17/2023

Fest Act Preview:

Here is the recent Rolling Stone magazine feature on Jim Weider.

The "Master of the Telecaster' will be at Universal Preservation Hall as he and THE WEIGHT BAND kick-off our Fest at the special SATURDAY NIGHT - Dec 30th show, with THE NTH POWER.

Your weekend Fest Badge gets you in! Start the weekend off right!

Guitarist Jim Weider joined the Band in 1985, and spent 14 years on the road alongside Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson.

12/17/2023

TIX PURCHASE ALERTS --- Buy Fest tix with confidence; buy from trusted sources.

We must be getting popular for there ARE some scammers popping up with Fest tix offers.:

Please note that the OFFICIAL and LEGIT fest tix come from our trustworthy ticketing service: Event Create. We can also accommodate PAYPAL, via your messaging us thru here @ directly.

Beware of individuals claiming "I have tix I can't use" type of deals

We are glad to verify any such sorts. E-Mail us at SNYFestBoxOffice ( at the g address) with any concerns. We will be happy to protect your $ interests .

12/15/2023

THE PRIMER:
Downtown Saratoga lights up the region on New Year's Weekend !
The three components of the Fest are:

1. Fireworks & Winter Block Party (Free)
- New Year's Eve (Sunday)
- Ellsworth Jones Plaza (the small street @ the City Center)
- 4:30: Pete & Chris: The Kids Magic Show
- 5:00 Big Rock Concert :Tops of Trees
- 6:00 Our World Class Fireworks

2. World Class Entertainment (w/Badge)
- Friday (Bonus Show)
- Saturday (Kickoff Show)
- Sunday Early (Local Music Stroll)
- Sunday Later: (NYEve Shows)
- 28 acts in 22 Locations
- Badge Purchase Required: One Badge=GA to all Shows
- Upgrades (VIP; Guaranteed Seating) are available
- KIDS (Under-16) are FREE to all of these shows

3. The First Day 5K Road Run
- On New Year's Day , Jan 1, 11AM
- 600+ Participants

The Saratoga New Year's Festival is a joint production of the following founders / organizers:
- The City of Saratoga Springs, NY
- Discover Saratoga
- The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
- The Saratoga City Center
- The 398Group

12/15/2023

New Addition to the Lineup! : Drummer / composer Joe Barna leads his acclaimed Sketches of Influence into the Fest's Jazz Joint, joining the Swing Docs big band there.

It's a great way to jump start your New Year's Eve -- in the mid-afternoon at the City Center @ leading up to the outdoor Block Party show and the fireworks.

12/13/2023

The hottest act in electric blues, appearing at the Fest on NYE!

At UPH, with Tracy Bonham and Toubab Krewe in a very exciting (and diverse) triple bill.

A Fest Badge gets you these three bands and all the others, from Friday night to Saturday night to Sunday afternoon & night.

12/12/2023

Alert: the Fest/Dogs in a Pile Combo tickets are now Sold Out.

A GA Badge will get you access into the show, but there may be a line as only a set amount of Badge entries can be accomodated at any given moment into the venue.

We will try to get more Combo tix. If so, they will be put on sale without notice. Keep checking.

Note: there ARE a few Saturday Dogs tix left. Buy those thru Putnam Place.

12/12/2023

Start the new year off properly!

12/11/2023

The Parting Glass Pub serves as the Official Irish Pub of the Fest. Of course it does!

Its famed Music Room --- which has hosted 20 or so Grammy winners over the decades --- is one of the great live music spots in the 518 .

Three acts, delivering a nice variety of Irish/Celt musical flavorings; going from before the 6PM fireworks (which are across the street) and deep into the night.

The biggest question of all: will someone drop on his knee and propose marriage; like what happened last year????? We shall see,....

Toss the Feathers Triskele Maggies Clan

12/09/2023

We're entering the homestretch on the pre-planning of this year's edition and are ready to deliver some big time fun to Downtown Saratoga Springs.

Get your all-shows Badge ($25) to join that fun. These discounts are a limited quantity -- and we should hit that limit in a few days. After that, the price rises and a small service fee gets added. So, save a few $$ now.

Info & Tix: www.SaratogaNewYearsFest.com

12/07/2023

Year Two of this now being run on New Year's Day--and on this very cool route.
Sign up for it now

We look forward to hosting the 2nd Annual Saratoga First Day 5K! Join us on January 1st for a 5K run/walk through Downtown Saratoga Springs! Whether you run or walk, this event will kick off your 2024 in a healthy way.

Whether you run or walk, we welcome you to gather your friends and enjoy a social stroll down the Spring Run Trail (weather permitting!)

Register: https://www.zippy-reg.com/online_reg/index.php?e=1827

12/07/2023

In the Local Media: We Be Quoted:

"The fact being that the SSPD is very appreciative of how we've actually lightened their load on New Year's Eve from past years, for (among other reasons):
1. Moving the fireworks from midnight to 6PM
2. Moving the 5K Run from NYEve night to NYDay morning
3. Shifting the visitors flow from sidewalks to inside the various venues
4. Ending earlier (approx 10:30)
5. Attracting a problem-free audience with our programming"

"Overnight lodging stays up are significantly with this new format. That is a plus for our other hospitality sectors as well."

"A winter music fest in the northeast US is a rare and unique breed. This is something the town can take to the bank into the future."

"We've got this thing at just the right size and structure where we are offering a great event while not imposing any -- as in zero -- negative impacts on the community"

"In lining up the entertainment, I seek that fine line between quirky-cool and popular."

12/07/2023

Add'l SEAT UPGRADES for the Headline Show at City Center ($35; includes the $25 GA all-venues Badge) have been added and are now available.

IF you already bought the GA BADGE but seek to add this at +$10: direct inquiry to [email protected]

12/05/2023

Extra. Extra. Read all about it in today's news:

New Yorks's biggest New Year's party north of Times Square. Saratoga's famed "First Night" returns with a new name.

12/04/2023

Want to VOLUNTEER for the Fest?

Get a look at possibilities here:

THE SARATOGA NEW YEARS FEST Volunteers receive the following consideration: - Two comp drink tickets - Two comp Fest Badges Sunday Volunteers: - Also have access to the Staff/Vols COLD BUFFET in City Center Hit the Submit button--that's all we need at this time. We will FOLLOWUP with a REMINDER/INST...

12/01/2023

On the Saturday "night before" Fest Kickoff show: it's fast-rising The Nth Power, bringing their uplifting message of hope of love to the UPH stage in front of The Weight Band.

11/30/2023

FEST BOOKING PHILOSOPHY:

In tee'ng up this year's musical lineup, the goal was:

* "Make it so everyone finds one act they are willing to pay a few bucks for. Then they will realize that they're getting another 27 thrown in for free."

11/30/2023

ATTENTION JAM BAND NATION:

Q: In town for DOGS IN A PILE at Putnam Place on New Year's Weekend? Pay attention:

FYI: There are a WHOLE LOT of acts (28) playing in a whole lot of spaces (22) around downtown -- and they are ALL taking place before the two Dogs shows.

We're talking: ROBERT RANDOLPH, Joan Osborne, Organ Fairchild, The Nth Power, DJ Logic, Halfstep, Toubab Krewe, GA-20, and outdoor Block Party, Fireworks....and more.

The best part? It only costs you $25 to add an all-access Fest Badge to your music jam.

11/30/2023

Afternoon Fun on New Year's Eve: it's a Big (BIG) Band experience with the one and only Swing Docs. Special Guest tba.

11/30/2023

A Big Thanks to those of you adding a buck or two onto your Badge checkout to benefit this year's charitable organization:
Shelters of Saratoga

Together, we will help get them thru the winter.

11/29/2023

Fest Schedule 2.0: Easier to read.
Now up on the Fest web site
www.SaratogaNewYearsFest.com

11/29/2023

Q: Who is the hottest act in electric blues today?

Move over, Black Keys -- it's GA-20 and they are coming to the Saratoga New Year's Fest!
This award-winning act is spearheading the nation's 'Traditional Electric Blues Revival' and is quickly gaining momentum with both their chart-topping releases and their thrilling live showcases.
You NEED to check this band out.

11/29/2023

"Bluegrass Superstars" (NY Times), multiple Int'l Bluegrass Music Association award winners (including 2x Entertainers of the Year) ... criticial and audience favorites.....let's welcome to the Fest at an early 4PM concert on NYE @ Universal Preservation Hall ......

THE GIBSON BROTHERS

11/28/2023

2x Grammy nominee Tracy Bonham (w/ her trio) kicks off the NYE triple bill at Universal Preservation Hall -- right after the big fireworks. Don't miss this one to kick off your night.

11/28/2023

Get your IRISH on---at the Official Fest Irish Pub (The Parting Glass, of course.

Three acts, early & late, including pre-fireworks--which are right across the street.

The Parting Glass Pub Maggies Clan Toss the Feathers Triskele