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October 17, 2019Inaugural “Downtown Schenectady Fall Spooktacular” Brings Seasonal Fun to Gateway Plaza
The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) invites the community to enjoy a free autumn afternoon of art, music, food, vendors, and other activities, all touched with a haunted hint of Halloween. The inaugural Downtown Schenectady Fall Spooktacular takes place Saturday, October 19, 2019, from 2 – 7 p.m. at Gateway Plaza, located at the corner of lower State Street and Washington Avenue.
Jim Salengo, executive director of the DSIC, said, “Downtown is fortunate to have this fantastic new festival space at Gateway Plaza, and our Fall Spooktacular is a great way to showcase the park while highlighting much of the fun that autumn brings. We look forward to welcoming family and friends from around the area to enjoy a day in downtown during this beautiful time of year.”
Gateway Plaza and adjacent Railroad Street will feature a wide variety of fun for all ages. On stage, live music from the band Running the River will entertain the crowd throughout the day and, on the road, hay rides around the park will give guests a unique view of the festivities. On Gateway’s great lawn, a Jack ‘o Lantern bounce house will provide kids with an energetic outlet.
Adults can also fit in some exercise during the Fall Spooktacular during Downtown Schenectady’s first-ever Goat Yoga session. From 3:00-4:00 p.m., NY Goat Yoga will conduct a 45-minute yoga class in a special fenced area – complete with an array of baby goats, which will interact with participants – followed by 15 minutes of goat playtime, pics and selfies. A participation fee of $25 applies for advance registration; on-site registration is $30. Class space is limited.
A major highlight of the event will be Jack o’ Lantern carving headed up by Kids Arts Festival with help from C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios, culminating at dusk in a lighted display of the ghoulish gourds created throughout the day. A limited number of free pumpkins for carving will be available through Black Horse Farms; guests may also bring their own. Younger trick or treaters can instead choose to paint their pumpkins with C.R.E.A.T.E. A panel of judges will bestow awards, with top winners receiving tickets to the November 19 evening performance of Disney’s smash Broadway musical FROZEN, which comes to Proctors from November 10-24. Runners up will receive FROZEN merchandise. Separately, attendees will also get the chance to enter a free raffle for FROZEN tickets and merchandise.
Eating, drinking, shopping and crafting will feature prominently during the Fall Spooktacular. Vendors include:
- Alaturco Mediterranean Grill
- Beautiful Things
- Bittersweet Candle Co.
- Bittersweet Maple
- Black Horse Farms
- C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios
- Electric City Barn
- EQWilbert
- FitFoodArt Shop
- Great Flats Brewing
- Healing Lily
- La OM Jewelry
- Mike’s Hot Dogs
- miSci
- Nine Pin Cider
- Orchard Lane Boutique
- policybabes
- Schenectady ARC
- Sprinkleista Bakery
- Sugar Oak Farms LLC
- Tanya Lupi
- The Makeup Curio
- Ume: urban massage elite
- Willow Photography LLC
- Willow Home and Photo
The event will conclude with a free presentation of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Schenectady County’s large outdoor movie screen.
The Downtown Schenectady Fall Spooktacular is presented by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation with assistance from the Schenectady County Office of Special Events and C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios. Funding support comes from the Arts Center of the Capital Region. For additional information, visit the DSIC’s Facebook page or website.
