You can bring tents and screen rooms into the festival grounds and can set them up in most areas (see the Interactive Park Map). If you set up a tent, you may want to consider breaking it down early, like around 5 or 6 o’clock because it's no fun doing it at the end of the night (ask me how I know).

 

 

 

DINING

If you don't want to leave, there are great dining options available within the SPAC grounds. In addition to the regular SPAC concessions, there are special food pavilions set up just for the Jazz Festival.

There are all types of food available - like Seafood, Chicken Dinners, Salads, and Quesadillas. Click on these 2010 Menu, 2011 Menu links to see the details from previous years.

 

 

LODGING

There are many lodging options available that are close to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The closest is the Gideon Putnam Hotel located next to SPAC and right in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Check out our LODGING GRID - there's information on 25 places to stay that are convenient to the Jazz festival grounds.

 

Many people bring several coolers and other supplies into the festival. Even though there’s re-entry allowed, you might be parked far enough away that you don’t want to make extra trips, so you can use handtrucks, two wheelers, and wagons to bring them in.

Don't have any glass containers in the coolers - you usually can't bring them in.

 

 

 

SPAC is located entirely within the Saratoga Spa State Park grounds.

There are two pools in the Spa Park - an Olympic size pool (the Peerless Pool) and a fancy, older pool (the Victoria Pool). Both have an admission charge, and to get to the Peerless Pool by car you need to pay the park admission fee (unless you have an Empire Pass).

There’s a cool swimming hole under the bridge from the main parking lot to the festival grounds. You can get there by following paths on the right side of the main gate. This is a great place to cool off during the sometimes hot afternoons.

CRAFT TENT

For the last several years there has been a craft tent on the end of the grounds by the Hall of Springs. There are some great crafters here with diverse pieces for sale, like musical instruments, clothing, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, photographs, food, and furniture.

You may want to bring some extra money for purchases (most vendors accept credit cards).

BORDERS TENT

The Festival added the Borders Tent in 2007. You can purchase CDs there and artists are available to sign them. If you already have CDs, bring them from home - you can get them signed too.

There is a plaza about a mile north of the main parking lot on Route 50, with a Price Chopper (groceries, prepared food, soda, water, and beer) and a liquor store.

Liquor stores are now open on Sundays in New York State and there are no longer blue laws that prohibit beer purchases before noon on Sunday.

 

 

The weather is usually very nice for the festival - sunny and hot during the day (75° +) and cooler at night (65° +). There may be a brief rain shower or thunder storm, but I can’t remember any year that was a complete rainout.

 

 

 

Don't let your kids keep you from going to the Saratoga Jazz Festival - it can be fun for them too.

You'll find lots of kids at the Festival and there are activities for them too.

Bring a pool.

Take them to the Park.