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Turning Point Weekend: Festival Food Music Parade FUN!
30th Year Anniversary – Theme: Turning Point Parade – Celebrating 30 Years!
Grand Marshall: Marvil Patrick
Sunday, August 3rd: Parade on Broad St. From 1PM- 2:30PM
Historical Week Programming:
Click on each date below to discover the festive activities.
Turning Point Parade – Celebrating 30 Years!
Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Enjoy a parade with small-town charm featuring over 100 units, including marching bands, fire and rescue teams, law enforcement, reenactors, and military groups. The route follows Broad Street.
• Distance: 1 mile
• Duration: 1+ hour
• Suggested: Water, bug spray, sun protection, and a chair
Colonial Life for Kids
Time: 11:30 a.m.
What was it like to grow up in the colonies? Join Joy Hanchett at the Schuylerville Public Library to explore the daily experiences of 18th-century children. Learn about their education, chores, health, and pastimes—and sample a sweet treat from the era!
• Location: Schuylerville Public Library, 52 Ferry Street
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Ages: 6–12 recommended; all are welcome
• Hands-On History
Twilight on the Trails
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Experience Hudson Crossing Park by the light of the full moon. As dusk settles, observe crepuscular creatures—foxes, deer, bats, and fireflies—on this sensory-rich, family-friendly walk.
• All ages welcome
• All abilities welcome
• Group size limited to 20 — register early!
• Registration required: www.hudsoncrossingpark.org/twilight-on-the-trails
Writing the Revolution
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Join Anne Clothier, Assistant to the County Historian, to explore how words helped shape the Revolution. Examine replicas of 18th-century broadsides and letters, then try writing with a quill, printing with a block, and setting type. Toys and games from the era will also be available.
• Location: Schuylerville Public Library, 52 Ferry Street
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Ages: 6–12 recommended; all are welcome
Hikes & History Cruises
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Blend local history and ecology on this boat-and-hike adventure. Participants are split into two groups: one hikes ¾ mile along a mowed trail while the other enjoys a Mohawk Maiden Cruises boat ride. Groups switch halfway at the Canal Overlook.
• Distance: ¾ mile
• Duration: 1+ hour
• Suggested: Water, sun protection, bug spray, and sturdy shoes
• Best for ages 12+
• Registration required: www.hudsoncrossingpark.org/hikes-and-history-cruises
Women of the Saratoga Campaign
Time: 6:30 p.m.
We know the names—Burgoyne, Arnold, Schuyler—but what about the women? Anne Clothier shares powerful stories of women who served, suffered, and persevered during the Saratoga Campaign.
• Location: Schuylerville Public Library, 52 Ferry Street
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Women’s history
• All ages welcome
Native New York
Time: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Drop in to explore Indigenous life in the Saratoga region. Charlene DuBuque, Director of Education at the Saratoga County History Center, leads hands-on sessions about food, shelter, and seasonal traditions of Northeastern Woodland Nations.
• Location: Champlain Canal Region Gateway Visitors Center, 30 Ferry Street
• Drop-in | Plan for ~1 hour
• Hands-On History
• All ages welcome
Stories Beneath Our Feet: A Walk Through Hudson Crossing Park
Time: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Join historian Mike Bielkiewicz for a walk along the Champlain Canalway Trail. Discover the land’s deep history—from First Nations to Burgoyne’s “Bridge of Boats” to canal-era industry and the Underground Railroad.
• Location: Meet at the Dix Bridge area, Hudson Crossing Park
• Distance: 1.5 miles
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Suggested: Water, sun protection, bug spray, and sturdy shoes
• All ages welcome
Schuyler’s Saratoga
Time: 4:00–5:15 p.m.
Take a walking tour of Schuylerville with Town Historian Sean Kelleher, Vice Chairman of Saratoga 250. Visit the grounds of General Philip Schuyler’s estate and learn about his Revolutionary leadership.
• Location: Gateway Visitors Center, 30 Ferry Street
• Distance: 1 mile
• Duration: 1 hr 15 min
• Suggested: Water, sun protection, bug spray, and sturdy shoes
• On-site parking available
• All ages welcome
An Evening with General Schuyler
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Experience the Revolution through the eyes of General Philip Schuyler in this first-person portrayal by local historian Jon Jasewicz.
• Location: Gateway Visitors Center, 30 Ferry Street
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Living History
• All ages welcome
Saratoga County Water Works
Time: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Explore the science and history of water with educator Charlene DuBuque. Kids test pH levels, trace log drives, and compare waterwheel technologies in this hands-on STEM activity.
• Location: Gateway Visitors Center, 30 Ferry Street
• Drop-in | Plan for ~1 hour
• Hands-On History
• All ages welcome
Trails of Revolution: Knox, Schuyler, and the Winter That Forged America
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Join Saratoga Historian Sean Kelleher for a vivid look at the 1775–76 winter campaign that changed the course of the war. Learn how Henry Knox hauled cannon from Ticonderoga and how General Schuyler’s actions helped lift the Siege of Boston.
• Location: Gateway Visitors Center, 30 Ferry Street
• Duration: ~1 hour
• All ages welcome
19th Annual Cardboard Boat Races Festival
Time: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join Hudson Crossing Park for “Boats and Beacons: Landmarks Along the World’s Canals,” celebrating the Erie Canal Bicentennial. Teams build and race boats made entirely of cardboard and duct tape across the Hudson! Tower-building contests, food vendors, and awards for creativity make this a highlight of the summer.
• Location: Fort Hardy Park Beach, Schuylerville
• Info & registration: www.hudsoncrossingpark.org/cardboard-boat-races
• Family-friendly
• Multiple prize categories
• Cardboard only — creativity required
Turning Point Festival at Fort Hardy Park
Time: Starts at 4:00 p.m.
Cap off the week with live music, food trucks, local drinks, and fireworks over the Hudson River. Bring your family, appetite, and a chair for this can’t-miss summer tradition!
• Location: Fort Hardy Park, Schuylerville
• Suggested: Water, bug spray, sun protection, and a chair
• Family-friendly

Why Is This Important?
The Turning Point Parade & Festival commemorates the American Victory at the Battles of Saratoga on October 17, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. In the months prior to October 8, 1777, the British suffered about 2,000 casualties. Burgoyne’s forces, now down to about 6,000 men, took refuge in a fortified camp on the heights of Saratoga (today’s Schuylerville).
There an American force that was approaching 20,000 men surrounded the exhausted British army. Faced with such overwhelming numbers, Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777. By the terms of the Convention of Saratoga, Burgoyne’s depleted army marched out of camp “with the Honors of War” and stacked their weapons along the west bank of the Hudson River at Fort Hardy. Saratoga was a decisive and important victory. It was the turning point of the American Revolution.

The Turning Point Parade is one of the largest parades in Upstate New YorkThe parade marches on for one and one-half hours. It contains 15 musical groups and over 100 other units.
The Parade Committee is Always Looking For Volunteers to Help With The Parade & Festival. Please Consider Volunteering!

"We appreciate contributions & sponsors. If you can help in any way, please see our Contact Us page or use the donate button."
*Partially sponsored by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce