On Deck
New York City Ballet returns, the Saratoga racing season begins, and more summer fun gets underway in Saratoga.
Wednesday July 9
Coppélia: The Nutcracker meets Cinderella in Coppélia, the iconic ballet that New York City Ballet will bring to SPAC this week! Catch performances Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2pm.
Siro’s Cup: Back for its 32nd year, Siro’s Cup will kick off this Saratoga racing season! Expect delicious food by Chef Noah Frese, live music, a silent auction, and a brief ceremony to honor Edward Swyer of Hudson River Farms. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Disability Services. The fun begins at 6:30pm.
Thursday, July 10
Opening Day: Saratoga may have already had racing in early June as well as last week for the July 4th Racing Festival, but this Thursday marks the official kick-off to Saratoga’s regular 40-day racing meet. Gates open at 11am and the first post is at 1:10pm.
Friday, July 11
An Evening with Shadowgrass: Experience the music of Shadowgrass, a bluegrass band that got its start when three of the founding members met at a fiddler’s convention when they were 9, 13, and 14 years old. Now a viral sensation, the group will perform at Putnam Place on Friday at 8pm.
Saturday, July 12
Silks and Satins 5k: Celebrate opening weekend of the track with the annual Silks and Satins 5k on Saturday at 8am. With mainly flat terrain, the race will take runners through Saratoga’s historic East Side and conclude at the Oklahoma Training Track.
Style Night @ SPAC: Looking for an excuse to get all dressed up? Saturday evening is Style Night at SPAC. Get inspired by the colorful costumes in Justin Peck’s sneaker ballet Mystic Familiar, and your look may just make it to the pages of Saratoga Living in our next “Fit Check” column! Then, stick around after the show for a dance party at the Charles R. Wood Stage with live music by Alta Havana.
Jam on UPH: Drawing inspiration from hip hop, funk, jam, soul, and electronic music, Jam on UPH is an evening featuring performances by Sophistafunk and Tops of Trees. (You may remember the latter from the 2024 Belmont on Broadway or Saratoga New Year’s Eve.) The show kicks off at 7:30pm at Universal Preservation Hall.
We Brew the Funny: On the second Saturday of every month, Artisanal Brew Works hosts live comedy at its taproom off Maple Avenue. This Saturday, headliner David Britton will be joined by crowd favorite Duncan Harris. Tickets are $25.
Sunday, July 13
Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in A Minor: NYCB’s last show at SPAC is Saturday night, but over in the Spa Little Theater, SPAC will present another can’t-miss show: the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s performance of Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in A Minor. The show starts at 3pm.