First Friday events are held on the First Friday of every month. Enjoy special happenings in many downtown shops, restaurants and museums– including featured shop promotions, art displays and demonstrations, family activities, live music, refreshments, with many venues open later into the evening.
There will be NO First Friday in January, as we gear up for February’s First Friday, featuring the 6th Annual Chocolate Fest!
Click on the News links below for more information about the event!
Remember to purchase your First Friday Fanatic pin for $1 at most First Friday venues and use it every First Friday for special discounts at participating First Friday businesses.
Thank you for supporting our downtown businesses every month!
First Fridays is proudly brought to you by the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association.
Sponsored By:
Pull down locations below for more details.
First Friday Locations
Front / Low / Charlton St.
We will have complimentary wine and chocolate treats for our shoppers during the Ballston Spa Chocolate Festival.
Creative Endeavors will be celebrating Chocolate Fest with a “Sweet Treats” Art show! We will also be hosting a Chocolate Chef! The gift shop will be open featuring a great selection of affordable, handmade gifts cards, framed prints, and original art work as well as the Executive Closet consignment clothing boutique. Stop by and get some chocolate and buy some “sweet” art!
Travel back in time to an 18th Century Chocolate House.
Discover the history of chocolate. Savor delectable samples of hot chocolate made with a historical flair and taste sweet treats of the Colonial Era. View demonstrations of how chocolate was prepared in the 18th Century and hear about how its use has changed over the past two centuries.
All ages sitting 5:30-6:30; 21+ sitting 7-8:30. with special adult chocolate concoctions.
Tickets: $15 for SCHS Members; $20 non members.
Seating is limited. Pre-register at https://brooksidemuseum.networkforgood.com/events/10138-colonial-chocolate-party.
Milton Ave. / Rt. 50
Featuring Chocolate Fest chef Inked Baker. Stop in!
Stop on by to participate in our Annual Chocolate Festival in Ballston spa. We will be hosting chocolate chef Bel Sapore with a tasty sweet offering! Come taste enjoy and vote for your best in the village and have lots of fun. Hope to see you!
Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
101 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa, NY
Stop in on First Friday and enjoy our chocolate fountain! We will have a variety of dipping items and other refreshments. You just pick and enjoy! We will also have a regular table of child and adult appropriate activities which will relate to chocolate and Valentine’s Day!
Washington & Malta Ave.
Doubleday House Antiques will be open during the Ballston Spa Chocolate Festival. We will have some tasty chocolate treats for guests to sample, and we will be giving 10% off on all purchases made during the festival hours!
News
6th Annual Chocolate Fest
What better way to liven up a cold February evening than with CHOCOLATE! As part of our monthly First Friday Events, the BSBPA is excited to present our 6th Annual Ballston Spa Chocolate Fest. This year’s family friendly event will be held on Friday, February 1, 2019, from 6-9 pm. Area restaurants, bakeries, and chefs… Read more »
2019 Chocolate Fest Participation Information and Chef Application
What is Chocolate Fest? As part of our monthly First Friday Events, we will continue to present our February family fun event – the Ballston Spa Chocolate Festival. Area restaurants, bakeries, and chefs are all welcome to compete in a chance to showcase their talents and tastes by preparing small sample sized chocolate offerings to… Read more »
The People and Places of July’s First Friday
Some of the friendly faces and special places on July’s First Friday. ” ngg_triggers_display=”never” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
2018 Chocolate Fest-February 2, 2018
Our Chocolate Fest judges, Vic, Lanie, Bill, Glenn and Noah, had the tough assignment of tasting ALL the entries— a chocolate smorgasbord! And the judges’ choices for the best of the 2018 Chocolate Fest are— Savory: Chocolate pulled pork with slaw by Sweeney’s at 50 Shades of Hair Dessert (Sweet): A TIE Assorted Chocolate cheesecakes… Read more »
May First Friday–Ribbon Cutting, Student Artwork and Tasty Treats
May’s First Friday saw a celebration of student artists with displays in several venues throughout downtown. We also officially welcomed CMK & Associates Real Estate to the village with a ribbon cutting, joined by the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County. ” ngg_triggers_display=”never” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
April First Friday “Pick A Reading Partner” Photos
April’s First Friday brought out families to visit many of our downtown businesses and enjoy listening to readers, as we celebrated “Pick A Reading Partner Night” with Ballston Spa elementary schools. Thank you to all our “mystery readers” who volunteered their time and to all the venues who hosted them! ” ngg_triggers_display=”never” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
April First Friday Mystery Readers Wanted!
The Pick A Reading Partner (PARP) Reading Celebration is Friday, April 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The event is being coordinated by the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, First Friday business participants and the local elementary schools and PTAs. PARP is a program designed to encourage parents, family members and friends to read to… Read more »
Ribbon Cutting for Avon Products/Team Best–New Location!
On March 3, 2017, the BSBPA celebrated with a ribbon cutting to mark the grand re-opening of Avon Products/Team Best’s new, larger location at 102 Milton Avenue. Joining us, along with owners Darryl & Sherry Best and Heather Couvertier, were Ballston Spa mayor John Romano, Chamber of Southern Saratoga County’s Pete Bardunias, BSBPA board members, fellow… Read more »
2017 Chocolate Fest–How Sweet It Was!
Hundreds came out on a chilly February evening to stroll the village and sample a delicious assortment of chocolate specialties offered by chocolate chefs, ranging from sweet to savory to beverages. Visitors also enjoyed art shows, special sales and music on the First Friday. The competition for our taste buds was fierce! Here are our… Read more »
2017 Chocolate Fest Premier Sponsor
We are proud to announce Prolific Marketing as our Premier Event Sponsor for our 4th Annual Chocolate Fest, First Friday, February 3rd, from 6-9pm. Thank you to this wonderful team for their support!
2017 Chocolate Fest Application
Prospective chocolate chefs for the 2017 Chocolate Fest, please read the entry information, and print, fill out and return the application, along with your $15 application fee to BSBPA/2017 Chocolate Fest, PO Box 386, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Any questions, please contact the First Friday committee: firstfridays@ballston.org.
2017 Chocolate Fest Sponsorship Opportunities
PREMIER SPONSORSHIP HAS BEEN FILLED AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. Pay for your sponsorship online