The Turning Point Parade and Festival returns to Schuylerville, NY from Sunday, August 3 through Saturday, August 9, 2025. The week offers more than a dozen free public programs designed to celebrate Saratoga’s Revolutionary War legacy while engaging families in hands-on history, science, and cultural storytelling.
Events are free and open to the public, with locations across the Village of Schuylerville and nearby Hudson Crossing Park on the Hudson River in Saratoga County.
Anchored by the 30th annual Turning Point Parade on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1 pm, the week includes walking tours, living history, canal-era heritage events, and nature-based
learning. All events are family-friendly, with highlights for children, veterans, educators, and visitors of all ages.
“Our goal is to bring history alive for every generation,” said Schuylerville Mayor Dan Carpenter. “Whether you are watching marching bands and reenactors, writing with a
quill, or walking the trails of Burgoyne’s surrender, you are connecting with a story that changed the world – right here in Schuylerville.”
The parade, which features over 100 groups and organizations, including marching bands, reenactors, veterans, and first responders, travels along Broad Street, drawing
thousands of spectators annually. After the parade, continue to celebrate history and heritage during Historical Week at the following events and programs:
● Colonial Life for Kids (Aug. 4), introducing young learners to 18th-century daily life.
● Twilight on the Trails (Aug. 4), a full-moon exploration of Hudson Crossing Park.
● Writing the Revolution (Aug. 5), an interactive activity for ages 6-12 focusing on written correspondence and press techniques of the 18th century.
● Hikes and History Cruises (Aug. 5), learn about ecology and history as you boat and hike along the Hudson River and Champlain Canal.
● Women of the Saratoga Campaign (Aug. 5), a public talk on the overlooked roles of Revolutionary women.
● Native New York (Aug. 6), learn about food, shelter, and seasonal traditions of Northeastern Woodland Nations.
● Stories Beneath our Feet (Aug. 6), learn about history as you walk along the Champlain Canalway Trail.
● Schuyler’s Saratoga (Aug 7), walking tour of Schuylerville, including the grounds of Schuyler’s estate.
● An Evening with General Schuyler (Aug. 7), featuring living historian Jon Jasewicz.
● Saratoga County Waterworks (Aug. 8), explore the science and history of water with educator Charlene DuBuque.
● Trails of Revolution: Knox, Schuyler, and the Winter that Forged America (Aug 8), a public talk on the 1775–76 winter campaign that changed the course of the war
● Cardboard Boat Races Festival (Aug. 9), celebrating canal engineering through creative river races.
● The Turning Point Festival & Fireworks (Aug. 9), closes out the week with food, music, and fireworks at Fort Hardy Park.
Most programs are drop-in and do not require registration. Select programs, such as history cruises and twilight walks, require advance registration due to limited space. A
full schedule, including updates and accessibility information, is available online.
For 2027, as the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, organizers plan to move the parade to Surrender Day, Sunday, October 17. This is the exact date when the entire British army capitulated to American forces at Saratoga, marking the decisive turning point in the war.
The 2027 event will include expanded commemorations, reenactments, and a reimagined parade honoring the legacy of liberty and diplomacy forged on the fields around Schuylerville.
“This place mattered in 1777, and it matters today,” said Sean Kelleher, Town of Saratoga Historian and Vice Chairman of Saratoga 250. “The world watched when the
British surrendered here. In 2027, the world is invited to remember.”
For full event listings, volunteer information, and updates on the Turning Point Parade, visit www.turningpointparade.com
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