The Saratoga Village Development Council (SVDC) hosted its 21st annual St. Paddy’s Party on March 14, inviting local children and their families to search for “green gold” hidden throughout downtown.
Participants who collected the correct number of “green gold” were rewarded with a dollar bill.
Along the way, treasure hunters encountered streets scattered with pennies, live music and multiple booths highlighting aspects of Irish culture, specifically Saint Patrick’s day traditions.
To showcase more of the Irish culture behind Saint Patrick’s Day, SVDC also hosted groups of musicians. Outside Big Basin Cafe, a band played guitars and maracas creating a lively atmosphere. Other musicians performed on the streets, serenading visitors as they walked between different booths.
One performer, dressed in a kilt, played the bagpipe, drawing a crowd with the distinctive sound of the traditional instrument.
Additionally, SVDC hosted several booths offering treats and activities, which were set up throughout downtown. One booth offered temporary leprechaun-style tattoos.
SVDC also invited several organizations to host and run activities. For example, the Saratoga Youth Commission — including juniors Preksha Jain and Kevin Chen — organized activities for children and families to do such as paper gold pots and St. Patrick’s Day necklaces. Girls Scouts sold cookies and hosted an activity where children could make Irish lanterns.
In past years, the event has also featured booths offering green popcorn, cotton candy and even nail painting. Jill Hunter, chairman of SVDC, has been organizing the event for over 21 years.
SVDC was originally formed to increase community events in the village, particularly for younger families, with the goal of hosting events for children each month. Now the program hosts four events each year: Love Notes in February, St. Paddy’s Party in March, America the Beautiful in July and Witchy Walk in October.
The idea for St. Paddy’s Party initially sprung from Hunter’s Irish heritage. Growing up on the East Coast, Hunter said she was surrounded by many Irish immigrants and descendants of Irish immigrants in the New York area, inspiring her to create the same environment for children here in Saratoga.
“I raised my four children in Saratoga, and I want the children of Saratoga to think to themselves: ‘It was a wonderful place to grow up,’” Hunter said.
Part of her legacy has involved nurturing and expanding this environment for more than 20 years.
“A lot of the parents who now have children that they bring — they came as children when they were young. My favorite part is working with the people,” Hunter said.
But this event hasn’t just brought the younger families together. It connected everyone from senior citizens to kindergarteners and even some high school students.
Junior Kevin Chen volunteered at the event with the Saratoga Youth Commission. Although Chen was older than the event’s target demographic, he ended up enjoying engaging with his community.
“I wasn’t really connected with the community, but now spending an hour or two here made me realize how active this community is,” Chen said. “[I loved] talking with the parents and seeing the kids have fun.”
