Chowderfest is one of Saratoga Springs most beloved annual events, the restaurants and shops go all out to make the best chowder to serve to eager Saratogians and this year will be no different! Chowderfest is also a great activity to do with the kids, but doing a little planning ahead will guarantee it will be a fun time for everyone. I’ll give you some ideas of the best route to take when you have little ones in tow along with some alternative options for warming up and letting
little ones have some fun in between your chowder sampling!
First let’s go over the details. It goes from 11am to 4pm this Saturday, February 4th and here is how it works: Pick
up a ballot form at any participating establishment, go around and
taste different soups and chowders for $1 a cup (3oz. serving) and vote
for your favorite! Complete your ballot form and pick up your official
Chowderfest long-sleeve T-shirt for just $7! Ballot drop-offs and
T-shirt locations will be at the Saratoga County Arts Center, the
Saratoga Springs Visitor Center and Saratoga Springs City Center. The
Winner Awards Ceremony will be in front of the Saratoga Springs City
Center at 6:00 p.m. For a FULL LIST of Chowderfest Participants click here. And don’t forget you can buy a handy dandy Chowderfest Chug too! The chugs are re-usable, environmentally friendly mug/lid/spoon combinations.
They are available to purchase at Crafters Gallery, Impressions of
Saratoga, The Local Pub & Teahouse and Just Plain Good for only $5
each!
Let’s start off at last year’s winner, The Parting Glass. It is best to hit up this favorite early because it does tend to get MOBBED, and they’ll be having Irish Celtic Session and Irish Stepdancers from 12-3 pm.
But this one is a good starting point, you can pick up your ballot, try
your chowder (they are serving Shrimp & crab chowder with Bailey’s
Irish Cream crouton topped with Jameson candied lobster) and then head
across the street and try Scallions. Head to Tiznow next and then you can walk down the block for the first kids break at the Saratoga Springs Public Library where they will be having Saturday Family Story Time from 11:30-12 for children ages 2-5. with a parent or caregiver. No registration is necessary for Story
Time, you can drop in, warm up and get in a good kids book, all for
free! Even if you don’t make it to the Library in time for Story Time it
will still be a great warm up spot, head down to the children’s room
and let them play and explore while you all get nice and toasty warm
again.
Walk up Caroline Street and you can try Dango’s, Sperry’s and Gaffney’s (getting full yet?) as you head up to Broadway. You can warm up at Piper Boutique where the Police Benevolent Association will be serving free hot chocolate and coffee in front of from 11 am-4 pm. While you’re there, try the Farm to Table chowder they are serving up.
Next head over to Flores Fine Art Gallery for some Kids Dessert Chowder served up by the Children’s Museum at Saratoga! From there head over to the City Center where Saratoga Hospital will be serving their hearty vegetable clam chowder which will be gluten and dairy free (Four Seasons will also have a vegan and gluten free chowder as well)!
Also this year, Radio Disney will be at Chowderfest! Head over to the Saratogian’s parking lot to rock out to the sounds of Disney from 2-3:30 pm. From there you can head to the Children’s Museum at Saratoga and let the kids run around and expend some of those chowder calories
and warm up cold little hands. From there drop your ballot off to cast
your votes and pick up your t-shirts at the Saratoga County Arts
Center, the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center or Saratoga Springs City
Center. You can try the chowder at Hattie’s and Irish Times (always
favorites of mine) and the dessert “Phish Chowder” at Ben & Jerry’s as one last hurrah before you head home. And don’t forget about all of
the other fantastic local spots to try chowders in between as well if
you’re still hungry! Also, stop by Impressions on Broadway any time between 12 pm to 5 pm to get your free official printed Chowderfest Photocard!
If you’re going to be bringing your
four legged family member downtown for Chowderfest there are some fun
activities for them as well (or if you just have some dog loving little
ones)! Coming back for the fourth year in a row will be the “Dog Chow Down”! Starting at 1pm at the Saratoga Downtowner Motel, a contest between the stores participating in making dog chowder will
compete! The Chow Down will feature Mayor Scott Johnson, his wife Julie
and their dog Biff. Sloppy Kisses, Dawgdom and Impressions of Saratoga
will battle head to head in the chow down! Plus, kids are welcome at the Doggiebooth set up at Dawgdom from Heather Bohm-Tallman Photography. Get a great picture of your doggie from 11 am-4 pm with no sitting fee!
Print proceeds will go to benefit a local not-for-profit animal
organization.
Another great family activity going on that day will be the WinterFest Cardboard & Duct Tape Sled Races At Prestwick Chase,
100 Saratoga Blvd, Saratoga Springs from noon-3pm. The races will be
held on the front lawns of Prestwick Chase and there is no charge for
admission and no entry fees for sled contestants, so you can take a
break from the chowder tasting to check this out too!
Finally, on Sunday if you need to work off some of that chowder before watching the Super Bowl you can take part in the 13th Annual Saratoga SPA Winterfest 5KM Snowshoe Race at Saratoga Spa State Park! That’s right, a snowshoe RACE! Click here
for details and the application. There will be a limited supply of Dion
snowshoes available for $5 rental fee. Email laura@saratogastryders.org
to reserve a pair or phone Jeff Clark at 518-581-7550.