Annual Heritage Day Festival puts fun spin on Saratoga’s history

Women dressed up in expensive traditional clothing, covered in sparkling sequins and feathers. The Silicon Valley Accordion Society set the mood with a lively, jazzy tune. As the sun glared down over the city, local families and organizations set up tables in front of the Saratoga History Museum, preparing for the day’s festivities.

These preparations were all part of the annual Saratoga Heritage Day Festival, which showcased the town’s historical events and trends, from noon to 3 p.m. on Oct. 4.

The event also helped to highlight the museum itself and the old one-room school house next to it. Visitors were provided tours by traditionally dressed tour guides.

This year, some of the tables that were set out included wood carving, traditional Chinese brush painting and rug-braiding. The Girl Scouts of Northern California entertained kids with late 1800s crafts such as making pot holders and clothes pin dolls at one table.

Senior Makayla Harrigan, one of the Girl Scouts who helped at the event, said she enjoyed the experience.

"It was fun to be a part of a historical event,” Harrigan said. "The kids looked like they were enjoying themselves and the dolls were a big hit."

The event kicked off with an old-timey band called the Wildcat Mountain Ranglers at noon, followed by a skit performed by decked out Saratoga citizens at 1 p.m., a lecture about the 1850s by noted author Lisa Robinson at 1:30 p.m. and a closing performance by the California Youth Chinese Symphony at 2:30 p.m.

The event attracted citizens from all over the Bay Area. And local newspapers also covered the event, taking pictures and interviewing the participants.

Harrigan found the Heritage Day both interesting and educational, welcoming other students to visit next year.

“It is important for our town to be aware of its history and celebrate it all together,” Harrigan said.