By Khalida Sarwari
It was a sight that would have made Charles Dickens proud. For one night, Victorian England appeared to have been reincarnated in downtown Saratoga, complete with the sounds of horses clopping up and down Big Basin Way and a handbell choir ringing holiday music. Those in attendance would agree it was a scene ripped right out of A Christmas Carol.
“It was a magical night,” said Laurel Perusa, a member of the tree-lighting event organizing committee. “Blaney Plaza looked spectacular.”
The Nov. 29 event marked the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce’s annual tree lighting and open house, held annually on the day after Thanksgiving. This year’s winter celebration even included snow, as a snow-blowing snowman covered the landscape with a white blanket and the Chamber sold packets of the synthetic, nontoxic snow for $5 each.
“It was the best one I’ve ever been to at in the Village,” Perusa said of the event that also included wandering carolers, carriage rides and a visit by Father Christmas.
The evening’s festivities offered something for everyone, from a sold-out wine stroll to a snow zone and crafts activities for the children. Costumed characters strolled up and down Big Basin Way as members of the Bayshore Lyric Opera sang Christmas carols with Saratoga children, and musicians played holiday music.
As part of one of her final duties as mayor, Jill Hunter presided over the tree lighting. Later in the evening, costumed drivers took celebrants on free horse-drawn carriage rides up and down Big Basin Way, and merchants opened their doors to give visitors a head start on their Christmas shopping.
Paula Cappello, chairwoman of the Heritage Preservation Commission, noticed an unusually enthusiastic and energetic crowd.
“It was something very special,” she said. “There just seemed to be a lot of camaraderie.”
As the sounds and Christmas music permeated the air from one end of town to the other, longtime resident Jack Mallory, dressed as Father Christmas, greeted children of all ages. Elsewhere, craftspeople sold their wares and vendors offered hot dogs, kettlecorn and roasted chestnuts.
The Saratoga History Museum created holiday cards for wounded veterans and presented a holiday exhibit, titled “A Victorian Christmas,” featuring turn-of-the-century dolls, toys and ornaments.
The Saratoga Youth Commission used the opportunity to collect food and toys for underprivileged children, and the BookGoRound held its annual sale of gently used and holiday books.
Saratoga holiday season begins with tree lighting, open house
