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

I hope that lots of you come to The Children's Guide Halloween Bash this Sunday!  It goes from 11am-2pm and is at the Sportsplex of Halfmoon.  The cost is $3 per child.   I will be there with a booth and selling tickets for KidsGiving so definitely say hello. 

Get the costumes on, and bring the kids for some Halloween fun!  Games, Bounce Zone, Hamster Ball with Games2U, Dance Performances..oh and yes.. Trick-or-Treating with the vendors!

Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone!

Obviously being Halloween, this weekend is packed with costume-wearing opportunities!  This Saturday-Sunday in downtown Saratoga is the annual Fall Festival.  The event runs all day Saturday and Sunday and downtown is jam packed with fun activities!  There will be music up and down broadway, pumpkin decorating at Gaffney's, a petting zoo and ponies near Lillian's, arts and crafts at various locations, and lots more.  Take a look at the full schedule to pick and choose the activities that you like.   Sunday from 4-4:30 the carousel in Congress Park is open for business, and then at 4:30 there will be a kids costume parade down Broadway, starting near Eddie Bauer.

This event is sure to please kids and adults of all ages.  At the very least, it's another opportunity to wear those awesome costumes!

Thursday from 11am-12pm at the Saratoga Spa State Park there is a nature program called Preschool Naturalists for ages 3-5. This hour long program will focus on using the senses to explore a certain aspect of the outdoor world. This sounds like a lot of fun and I would go, but my son is not quite old enough.  This program costs $3 per person or $5 per family. Call to register 518-584-2000 ext 116

On Friday night, the Milton Community Center on 310 Northline Road is having a Halloween Party for kids from 6-8pm.  (they say Milton residents only, but I don't think they'll mind some crashers)  There will be a costume parade, games, snacks, tricks and treats! 

I am so excited to announce that Afrim's Sports super popular SoccerTots program is coming soon to Malta!  SoccerTots is a physical education class for kids 18 months-6yrs that involves fun, age-appropriate activities promoting teamwork, fitness, coordination, and self-confidence.  Yes there are soccer balls involved, but especially for the younger kids, it's more about fun and fitness. 
The Malta session starts on November 6th and runs for 6 weeks. 

Afrim's let my son Robby take a trial class a few weeks ago.  Robby had a blast and still talks about his SoccerTots 'team' and the coaches.  My husband was the one that participated with Robby at class but I watched from the sidelines as he ran like a crazy man up and down the field with a smile on his face.  They did cool games with cones and mini soccer balls, hula hoops and lots of other props.  The day we went (which I was told was a quiet day), the place was buzzing with activity and bursting with kids!  SoccerTots is wildly popular and it as easy to see why. 

Registration for the Malta session is open now!  The classes are 50 minutes and are offered on Saturdays at 9am, 10am and 11am and they are located right behind TreePaad on Route 9.  Check out the website for details on when the various age groups are meeting.

I recently wrote a story for The Ballston Journal about how to have a healthier Halloween.  For many of us, Halloween kicks off the season of bad eating.  I interviewed a local Registered Dietitian named Mary Beth McCue who had some great suggestions about how to change the 'culture' of Halloween.  Her suggestions in lieu of trick-or-treating included making new traditions like going apple-picking, hosting or attending a Halloween party, or simply going to fewer homes.  Also giving out healthier snacks like granola bars, or even coloring books or trinkets so you don't have TONS of candy at the house.  If you do wind up with tons of candy, freeze half of it, crush it up to use in trail mix, add it to plain yogurt, or use chocolate for oatmeal cookies.

Part of changing the 'culture' of Halloween is attending family-friendly events such as this Wednesday night's Family Story Hour at Malta Library.   On Wednesday, October 27th, the Malta Library is having a Halloween Family Story hour starting at 6:30pm.  Enjoy an hour of stories, games, and crafts with a Halloween theme.  Kids (and adults I suppose) can wear costumes.  Pre-registration encouraged, call: 518-682-2495.  Library hours for the Malta Branch are M-F 10am-8pm and Sat 9am-noon.  Happy Halloween week everyone!  

KidsGiving is a children's charity event benefiting local non-profit, To Love A Child and co-hosted by MaltaMama.  The event is taking place on Friday, November 12th at TreePaad in Malta.  In addition to all the fun at TreePaad, KidsGiving will feature crafts and games for kids, live music, a silent auction, world handicrafts, a bake sale and more.  It's a great opportunity for kids to learn about how to help underprivileged children in Haiti and Zimbabwe and to raise money for an amazing charity organization.

Tickets are $12/child, and kids 2 and under are $8. Your ticket price includes two hours of unlimited play at TreePaad (including laser tag, rock climbing, and the other 'extras').  Contact me (colleen@maltamama.com) for tickets or stop by TreePaad to purchase.  I hope that many of you will join! 

This Saturday is the annual Falling Leaves Festival in Ballston Spa.  It kicks off with a costume parade at 3:30pm (lineup at 3:15) from Wiswall Park making its way through town to end at Kelley Park. 
At the park, there will be a costume contest for prizes, food, lots of family activities and karaoke. The Festival concludes with a fireworks display beginning between 8:30-8:45 pm.  Admission is free and if the weather cooperates, it should be lots of fun! 

For more information about the Festival contact the Village office 885-5711.

I really enjoy going to Tiny Tots Tearoom in Clifton Park.  It's a great indoor activity (and we'll need more of those in the coming months), the kids have a blast, and it's relaxing for mama's too.  They serve good food and drinks for adults and kids.  If you haven't been yet, I definitely encourage you to check it out as they just extended their hours.  

The best part is that now through March, mention that you are a MaltaMama reader and you'll get 15% off!  MaltaMama readers also get $20 off a birthday party.  It's a great deal and I can't wait to take advantage of it.  

Their new hours are:
Tuesday - 9:30am-5pm
Wednesday - 12pm-7pm
Thursday - 9:30am-5pm
Friday - 9:30am-2pm

Price is $7 per child and $3.50 for siblings.   

Good luck finding a lot of information about this, but one of my favorite parks & playgrounds, Gavin Park is having a Halloween Harvest event for kids on both Friday, October 22nd and Saturday, October 23rd from 5pm-10pm, although 5-6pm reserved for younger kids.  The events will feature costume judging, a bounce house, refreshments, as well as a haunted hayride and a haunted house.  There will also be games inside the gym.  Hayrides are $5 per ride and proceeds will benefit Adopt-A-Soldier.  
For more info, call 518-587-8010. 

I'm definitely considering going on Friday and maybe will get to the park early for a little playground time and then join the Halloween events after. 

This Wednesday and Thursday there are story times at the Malta Library.  Wednesday is for preschool age, and starts at 10:30am, and Thursday is a toddler story time at 11:15, and another preschool time at 2:15.  Registration is not required, but try and make a courtesy call to the library that morning if you're attending.  518-682-2495 
I just posted about other area library story times in case you missed it. 

While you're in the community center, stop by the front desk and register for the Preschool Halloween Party on Tuesday, October 26th from 9:30am-10:45am.  This is a really fun event for kids 18mo-4yrs to come dressed on costumes and play games, hear stories, parade around the community center, have snacks and do a craft.  Malta residents are $8, everyone else is $9/child.   Adults are required, but adult costumes are NOT required, thank god.