Saratoga’s Newest Fall Festival ‘Has it All!‘
Friday August 20th, 2010
Saratoga’s Newest Fall Festival ‘Has it All!‘
August 12, 2010 3:57 PM 0 0 Votes
by Yael Goldman
Saratoga TODAY
Local organizations and businesses come together in the name of good, old-fashioned family fun for The, first-ever, Hoopla!
This exciting fall-festival is designed with community in mind - the people, families, businesses and organizations that make Saratoga a healthy and exhilarating place to live and grow.
“The Hoopla is all about fun,“ Ardie Pierce, event organizer said.
Set for October 2 in the Victoria Pool Promenade at Saratoga Spa State Park, The Hoopla invites community members both young and old to step outside, discover and play.
The event has a “simplicity” theme, encouraging parents and people to enjoy the best of the basics, which means getting outside and being active. All aspects of The Hoopla are meant to signify that an afternoon of activity, learning and entertainment in a beautiful outdoor setting is not only free of cost, but promotes healthy habits and a healthier lifestyle.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the community is invited to attend the Expo, enjoy locally grown and produced foods, participate in a variety of children’s games and activities, and, of course have fun.
Mayor Scott Johnson will start The Hoopla with an introductory speech, and Paul Rosenburg and the Homespun Players will ignite the crowd and the celebration with a family square dance to get the mood going. For the rest of the afternoon, families are encouraged to take part in the workshops, try local foods, enjoy the music and participate in the games and activities.
Families will enjoy a large assortment of local vendors, live music and entertainment, potato sack races, Native American storytelling, letter-boxing, scavenger hunts, and a super-size, kids’ community art project sponsored by Fingerpaint Marketing. There will also be an open “jam session,“ for fun collaboration between any and all local musicians, so be sure to bring your instrument!
“In this economic culture, people are seeking inexpensive recreation for their families,“ Pierce said. “The Hoopla is free and open to the public, and the intent is to include everybody.“
But there is a twist: there’s also a mission behind the extravaganza.
The Hoopla is collaborative effort, creatively put together by Saratoga Spa State Park, Children & Nature Saratoga, the Waldorf School, Four Seasons Natural Foods and One Roof to educate families about making healthy choices and remind the community about the importance and ease of living more simply; about the importance and benefits of buying local, and taking advantage of local natural resources.
There is a strong connection between a child’s mental and physical health the amount of time they spend outdoors, which is why The Hoopla will also feature a variety of educational workshops for parents.
Jamie Butler-Binley will be hosting a forum on Juvenille Diabetes, while representatives from the State Park System will be discussing the importance of spending time outside in nature and ensuring that future generations of children will have open spaces to explore and learn. Other educational topics include: renewable energy, childhood nutrition, the importance of supporting local farms, and mind, body and soul workshops.
Following the Hoopla, the public is also invited to attend a wine and cheese reception and Kaiulani Lee’s live performance based on the life and work of Rachel Carson at Home Made Theater. Tickets are $20 and include the reception, performance and a second dessert reception to follow. A student discount will be available. To reserve your tickets, contact Ardie Pierce at (518) 495-9698.
For more information about the event or to register as a vendor, contact Richard Frank at
(518) 583-2205 or visit http://www.thehoopla.org.
