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.
December’s First Friday is December 6.
Join us for a holiday-themed First Friday, highlighted by the annual Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting!
Many businesses will be open with holiday activities, refreshments and specials. Come shop, dine and enjoy the festive atmosphere in our “Village of Friends”!
Use pull down locations below for more details of activities at different venues.
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.
First Fridays is proudly brought to you by the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association.
Presented By:
Pull down locations below for more details.
First Friday Locations
Front / Low / Charlton Streets
Join us at Daisy Dry Goods for Ballston Spa’s Annual Holiday Celebration. We will have discounts of 10% – 20%, tasty treats, and the music will be on. December 6 – 8. Friday 1pm – 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
Free Champagne and high-end wine tasting from 5-8 pm. Come by and try some wines that will make perfect gifts for your loved ones or for yourself! This tasting is can’t-miss!
Boho Chic will have extended hours until 8 pm with complimentary refreshments for our shoppers and parade attendees!
Milton Avenue / Rt. 50
Midtown Wine & Spirits will be sampling Evan William’s Eggnog with Danish Butter Cookies for First Friday December 6th! We will be checking customers ID if they choose to sample. Midtown will also be serving non alcoholic Eggnog for the kids.
Corina Contemporary Jewelry and Fine Crafts
89 Milton Ave
It’s December First Friday…Holiday Parade, Tree Lighting and festive fun throughout the Village!!
Stop in before, during, or after the parade for hot chai and loads of cookies! The shop is full of hand-poured candles, handmade cutting boards, Adirondack copper earrings, holiday ornaments and of course, hand-crafted jewelry!!
Blue Topaz and Turquoise, December’s beautiful birthstones offer us peacefulness, creativity, wisdom, nobility and protection. All Turquoise and Blue Topaz jewelry will be 20% off Friday night and all day Saturday!
Enjoy our famous Whitehouse Pizza, only available on First Fridays, 5–9 p.m., Eat In or Take Out! Lunch menu also available.
Stop in and warm up during the parade we will have $1.00 hot chocolate in the back of the shop.
Drop in between 5 and 9 to paint 2 wine glasses or 1 wine bottle for $30. Please allow 2 hours for painting. Choose any design, or make up your own! Anything that we offer on canvas can be painted on glass! $30 includes two glasses.
Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
101 Milton Avenue
Parade night festivities at the church include simple crafts for children, a movie in the sanctuary, complimentary hot cocoa and treats. The high school band will also perform in the lower level.
Washington Street & Malta Avenue
Happy Holidays from Glint Glassworks Studio! Come warm up before, during or after the Holiday Parade at our famous hot chocolate bar and enjoy some holiday cookies! Our flameworking demonstrations will delight all ages and bring some extra heat!
The Studio will be full of one-of-a-kind glass treasures, from handmade glass ornaments, to jewelry and sculpture. Enjoy 10% of classes booked First Friday evening, as well as 10% off Gift Certificates for future classes to spread some holiday cheer. Glass grab bags make the perfect stocking stuffer, for just $5, with surprise items inside valued at $8 to $100. Opportunities to Give the Gift of an Annual Membership will also be available all evening!
Stop in to Saha Yoga and enjoy an evening of holiday children’s activities before Santa arrives. Warm up, have a treat and let the children have some fun.
Come join us from 5:30-8:30p (before, during or after the parade)~ with our COMPLIMENTARY~ Face Painter and Caricaturist! We will have hot chocolate, beverages, cookies and other goodies as well! Bring in a toy for “Toy’s for Tot’s” and receive a $5.00 off coupon towards any hair service! We will have other raffles, so stop in and get warm with us!!
Bath Street
The holiday season is upon us, which abounds with fun, family, and the question of what to give for gifts. Please feel free to stop in and purchase a gift certificate for a loved one, because giving the gift of self care is never a bad choice. I will be in the office with open hours from 4pm to 7pm for you to stop in. In addition to gift certificates, I will have the capability to do quick massages and answer any questions you might have. Prior to 4pm I will maintain regular by-appointment-only hours. I hope to see you that evening before the parade!
If you’re struggling to find me: On Bath Street I am across the street from the police and courthouse. The building is blue/gray, and it’s on the opposite side of the little alley from the Saratoga EOC. Enter the front door and go left. It is a multi-tenant building.
News
September First Friday Re-Cap
September’s First Friday brought out visitors and scavenger hunters, celebrating this year’s final Movie in the Park, Mary Poppins Returns. Adults and children alike visited our participating businesses and local shop owners to enjoy all the special happenings around the Village and hunt for a Mary Poppins Returns character hidden in each business. Their reward… Read more »
6th Annual Chocolate Fest–and the Winners are….
Chocolate Fest—How Sweet It Was! Several hundred chocolate fans came out on a frigid 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. The competition for our taste buds was fierce! Here are the winners for the 2019 Chocolate… 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″]
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 »
December 2015 First Friday
Printable list of events for December 4 First Friday
First Fridays in Ballston Spa Photos
The first Friday of every month participating stores are staying open late. From 6pm-9pm there will be Live Music-Art Exhibits-Story Telling-Poetry Readings-Demonstrations and more.