MaltaMama - Family Fun Things to Do | Malta, NY, Saratoga County

Feeling adventurous?  This afternoon in Ballston Spa is a Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt at 1pm.  This event is part of the Kids' Creekside Village Summer Series but this one starts at Wiswall Park.  Meet Shannon Hansen at Wiswall Park at 1pm to begin an exciting and unique scavenger hunt throughout the village. Come see all our village has to offer. Bring your digital camera or camera phone to snap pictures at designated locations. The hunt will start and Wiswall Park and end at Kelley Park.

As I mentioned in yesterday's racetrack post, tonight is Twilight Racing.  We are heading there after my husband gets home from work.  Looking forward to it!

If you feel like trekking to Albany, Park Playhouse in Washington Park has their Kids Summer Program which is a production of the musical Annie.  This free show begins at 5:30pm, Friday-Sunday.  Blankets, chairs and dinner or snacks, and bug spray are ideal items.  I really love that show!

If you missed the show, Lisa Loeb at Universal Preservation Hall on Wednesday was good, clean fun.  Her voice was just as good as I remembered from (way) back in the day and her vibe was cheery and upbeat.  A kids show with a cool factor! 

Thanks to all who entered the Water Safari giveaway and the last-minute Lisa Loeb ticket giveaway this week!  I hope you all have a nice weekend.  See you Monday-

Breakfast at the track - Horses start warming up early and you can bring breakfast (or eat at the tracks buffet breakfast for $14.95 adults/$7.95 kids) and watch!  It's a nice opportunity to experience the track without all the hustle and bustle.  Gates open at 6:45am, but as long as you leave by 10am, you will get your $10 parking fee back.  **Best bet**- pick up breakfast on the way and arrive by 8am.  Enter through the main entrance and pay $10 to park.  Leave by 10 and get your $10 back. 

Backstretch Tours - Each racing day (not Travers or closing day) you can take a backstretch tour, which is a free 45 minute (mostly) walking tour of the race track behind-the-scenes.  Strollers are not permitted by the way.  The first tour starts at 7:30 and the last departs at 9am.  **Tip** Get there early and plan to take the earliest tours!  The tours fill up and usually people get turned away for the last couple tours.  Best days to catch a tour are Monday and Wednesday because they tend to be the slowest days.

Twilight Racing - Post time starts at 2:30 instead of the usual 1pm.  What that means is that last race is later in the evening.  If you arrived by 5:30pm, you'd still be able to catch a few races and it won't be as sunny or as busy as going midday.  Admission is same as always: $3 for anyone over 12.  Twilight Racing dates are this Friday, July 29th, and Friday, September 3rd. 

Family Fun - There is a small playground (see picture) on the track grounds and there is a kids 'discovery' tent which offers a few activities for little one's.  On August 31st Hannaford sponsors a Halloween party with parade, and on Saturday/Sunday September 4-5th is the annual Family Fun Fest. 

Last week I took the kids blueberry picking at Winney's Farm in Schuylerville.  Winney's is a real no nonsense place; no fanfare, no fancy add-on's, no pony rides or expensive baked goods, not even a website!.  Winney's farm simply has blueberries, and a boat load of them.  My quality control team (Robby & Angie) and I along with two friends checked in at Winney's, got our buckets and directions on where to go pickin'. 

There were a couple spots, both a short drive away from the main farm stand.  (I mean like less than a mile away).   The blueberries were abundant, easy to pick and even easier to eat!  My team and I hit the ground running and quickly filled the bottom of our buckets.  (Logistics: I had Angie in the Beco carrier and Robby walked)  Blueberries are really easy to pick with kids because it's obvious which ones will be tasty, they are low to the ground and unlike strawberries, no stems to fuss with. 

After about 45 minutes of picking, we had a good amount of blueberries and decided to call it a day.    We ended up with over 4 lbs. of blueberries at a cost of $10 and change.  The experience of picking-your-own is totally worth it, and the blueberries were delicious.  Winney's Farm is located in Schuylerville, about 20 minutes outside of Saratoga. 

Winney's Farm
113 Winney Dr
Schuylerville, NY 12871-1919
(518) 695-5547

BTW, AlbanyKid has an extensive post about pick-your-own places in the Capital District. 

One giveaway ends, another begins!  Congratulations to Jen F. who won the Enchanted Forest/Water Safari tickets. 
I mentioned yesterday on Facebook that Lisa Loeb is performing a family show tomorrow, Wednesday at 4pm at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga. 

When:  Wednesday, July 27th at 4pm
Where: Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs
Tickets: $15 each, kids two and under are free

I used to be a Lisa Loeb fan, so I am excited to attend this show with my kids.  I'm even more excited to be giving away 2 tickets for the show to a MaltaMama reader!

This is a quicky, so enter by 11pmEST tonight!
Entering is easy:
Congrats to Michelle Arndt!  Enjoy the show- 

About Lisa Loeb
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb started her career with the platinum-selling Number 1 hit song "Stay (I Missed You)" from the film Reality Bites. Loeb continues to grow as an artist and to push herself and her career forward with a creative zeal and an inner drive not often seen.  After her recent marriage and becoming a mom in 2010, she is currently working on "Camp Kappawanna", a children's musical inspired by her CD Camp Lisa. The musical debuted in July 2010 in Miami, FL at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. 

I hope everyone had a nice weekend!  We attended a wedding in Brooklyn and spent some time on Long Island with some friends, who happen to also be relatives.  It was good to be away, but nice to be home.   This week is looking good weather-wise and there are as always lots going on.  Here are a few... 

Today:  Enter the Giveaway until 8pm tonight!  Another major giveaway announcement will be coming up soon, maybe even end of the week! 

This Tuesday (and every Tuesday through track season) there is an arts and crafts fair in Congress Park. 

Tuesday & Wednesday:  The Summer $1 movies this week at Crossgates are 'Cloudy With Meatballs' and 'Karate Kid'. 

Wednesday:  The Zucchini Brothers are doing two free concerts at Saratoga Library.  Both are happening in the Dutcher Community Room on the first floor.  First show is 11am, second is at 1pm.  The Zucchini Brothers are a fun band that performs music for kids.  They are very entertaining. 

This Friday, July 22nd marks opening day for the Saratoga Race Course.  Whether you're a race fan or not, the impact of the track can be felt everywhere.  Your parking options are limited, your dining options have slightly raised their prices, your drive up Broadway takes three times as long, and your go-to fun places have become tourist attractions.  Despite some annoyances, I love this time of the season because the city just buzzes with activity and life.  I also love to go to the race track and try my luck on the horses!  Whether or not you're into the track, you can benefit from the extraneous activities that come with. 

Today, at 11!  The Saratoga Library is doing a family concert in Congress Park at 11am.  This week: Old-Time Family Dance with Peter, Paul & George.  It's held near the Arts Center, or in case of rain inside the library in the Dutcher Community Room.  **I had this listed incorrectly on my event calendar.  My apologies!!

Friday & Saturday:  Hats Off To Saratoga Festival.  Music and entertainment up and down Broadway.  I love this event because it features some of Saratoga's finest including Soul Session, Rich Ortiz, Sirsy and lots more!  It starts at 7pm.  Full schedule here. 

Want to avoid downtown Saratoga madness?  Head over to DiDonna's for food and ice cream overlooking beautiful Saratoga Lake.  They offer breakfast too!   Or, all weekend: The Saratoga County Fair!

Tonight, Wednesday 7/20 starts the Performing Arts Family Series in Clifton Common in Clifton Park.  The Common is located on Vischer Ferry Road and very easy to find.  All shows are free and start at 7pm.  They typically get a good turnout for these shows so get there early if you want a seat up front.  Tonight features local faves The Zucchini Brothers. 

Thursday after the 95+ degree BSpa Farmer's Market from 3-6pm, Sonny and Perley a local jazz/lounge duo will be performing (sweating) in Wiswall Park starting at 6pm. 

Friday is another installment of the Kids' Creekside Village Summer Series and this week it's free ice cream courtesy of Stewarts!  I'm a huge fan of Stewarts ice cream so I'm pretty sure we'll make it to this event.  1pm is the start time, but line up early folks, free ice cream brings out the masses. 

Stay cool today by visiting local water spots!  Also, it won't keep you cool today, but enter the Water Safari Giveaway!

The fair has arrived and all the dangerous rides, greasy food, smelly animals and interesting people came too.  There's a whole lot to love about the fair, but I'm glad it's only one week of the year.  Read my fair recap from last year to get you ready! 

The dates are today, Tuesday, July 19th through Sunday, July 24th.  Admission is $8 per person, but kids under 52" are free.  Friday-Sunday admission is $10.  Military with active ID are in free.  Hours are 9am-midnight, so you're sure to be able to make it!  

There's lot going on at the fair all week.  Daily schedules are here so you can pick and choose when to go. 


This picture should get you excited...


Have fun at the fair!

I love this giveaway because it's all about summer fun!  Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge, NY is giving away two tickets to a lucky MaltaMama reader.  The tickets include admission, unlimited rides, and all the shows and attractions at NY's largest water theme park!  This place is great and they have tons of family-friendly rides and cool shows. 
We did this giveaway last year too and winner Rachel O. had a blast with her family. 

You have until 8pm EST on Monday, July 25th to enter.  Winner will be randomly selected (using random.org)
You can have up to THREE entries!  Here's how to enter...

1.  Leave a comment on this blog post and let me know what your favorite water ride is.  Could be the lazy river, tube slides, wave pool, or anything!  = One Entry 

2.  'Like' Enchanted Forest Water Safari AND MaltaMama on Facebook and leave a comment here = One Entry

3.  'Follow' @WaterSafari AND me @ColleenPierre on Twitter and leave a comment here = One Entry

Good luck everyone!