SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—One of Saratoga’s most highly anticipated events is celebrating its 20th Anniversary on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Chowderfest, part of the annual Winterfest, takes place from 11 am to 4 pm and features chowder samples for $1 each at participating establishments, music and family-friendly activities. The event is coordinated by Discover Saratoga and presented by DeCrescente Distributing Company.
Event-goers can pick up a ballot from any participating restaurant, taste over 80 different chowder samples and vote for their favorite. Valid ballots can be turned in to the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center or the Saratoga Springs City Center or vote online at DiscoverSaratoga.org/chowderfest. Winners are to be announced inside the Visitor Center at 6:30 pm on the day of the event.
“From its humble beginning in 1999, Saratoga’s Chowderfest was created to drive business to downtown restaurants in what was normally a quiet time of the year”, said Todd Garofano, President of Discover Saratoga. “Since then, Chowderfest has grown from a handful of restaurants & bars with a few thousand-people enjoying downtown to over 90 restaurants, bars and venues participating throughout Saratoga County. The event regularly draws more than 35,000 people annually, coming from around the region and as far away as NYC, CT, NJ, Western NY, Boston and Montreal. It has truly become an economic driver as well as a temporary cure for cabin fever.”
Free shuttles to downtown Saratoga Springs will be available from 10 am to 6 pm at the Wilton Mall park & ride near Dick’s Sporting Goods and the Saratoga Casino Hotel. Visitors are encouraged to extend their Chowderfest experience by utilizing select hotel’s discounted rates, which can be found on DiscoverSaratoga.org/chowderfest. Stay warm during the event with an official Chowderfest beanie ($7) and long-sleeve shirt ($10 or $12 for 2XL), which will be sold at the City and Visitor Center. Bring some of your favorite chowders recipes home with the Commemorative Chowderfest Recipe Book ($10).
20th Annual Chowderfest is made possible by our sponsors: 99.5 The River, Saratoga Springs City Center, D.A. Collins Companies, Driscoll Foods, Q103, Saratoga.com, Saratogian, Westminister Bakers Co., WGNA, WPYX, Saratoga Casino Hotel, Clipper Magazine, Courtyard by Marriott Saratoga Springs, Fingerpaint, Stewart’s Shops, Lia Auto Group, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Today, Wilton Mall, Adirondack Trust, Amsterdam Printing, Bonacio Construction, Inc., Mc Gregor Links, and Prime at National Saratoga.
Over 35,000 people enjoyed Chowderfest last year and more than 130,000 samples of chowder were served. For a list of participating chowder vendors, Winterfest events and further details, visit DiscoverSaratoga.org/Chowderfest or call 518-584-1531.
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Discover Saratoga (Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau) is a key economic development engine for this community, whose mission is to contribute a positive impact on the local economy by promoting and marketing Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County as a world-class destination for meetings, conventions, groups and visitors.
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