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Festival Celebrates Saratoga as an international
destination for health and wellness
Representatives of the spa towns of Europe set to honor historic
park
The
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today
announced the International Spa Heritage Festival will be held at Saratoga
Spa State Park October 9-10. This festival, part of the Centennial
Celebration for the 100-year anniversary of the New York State Park System,
will celebrate the spa heritage of the park and city and aim to position them
as a premier health and wellness destination. The event will be open to the
public and feature a conference with guest speakers, a community festival,
and an international health and wellness travel expo.
"We are excited to welcome the European
Thermal Towns Association and visitors from across the world to Saratoga Spa
State Park in Spa City," said
Randy Simons, Commissioner Pro Tempore of the Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation. "Saratoga
Spa State Park, its dedicated staff and our incredible park partners are
ready to host this event and again demonstrate how the New York State park
system is a national treasure."
The highlight of the event is the arrival of
a delegation from the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), to honor Saratoga Spa's heritage and share European spa
culture with Americans. Certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of
Europe, EHTTA is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating Europe's
mineral thermal waters and spa towns' heritage. It represents 50 thermal
destinations in 18 European countries, Saratoga Spa State Park became an
international partner of EHTTA two years ago. The delegation includes
European officials, mayors, and tourism leaders from more than 11 countries,
including Italy, Spain, Croatia, Germany, and France.
Established in 1909 to protect the waters
from commercial exploitation, Saratoga Spa State Park became a renowned spa
destination for bathing and drinking mineral water for health
benefits. The park is known for its waters, classical architecture, and
natural beauty. In 1935, extensive development championed by Franklin D.
Roosevelt created the iconic architecture that the park is known for today,
much of which was directly modeled after the great spas of Europe.
Today, Saratoga Spa State Park is one of New
York's top five most visited State Parks and a National Historical Landmark.
The baths remain open, thanks to the robust operation of the Roosevelt Baths,
a private partner of the park. Like its counterparts in Europe, Saratoga Spa
State Park includes numerous cultural, recreational, and wellness
opportunities for visitors including live performances at Saratoga Performing
Arts Center, museums, golfing, yoga classes and numerous walking paths
through shaded forest.
The two-day celebration includes:
Wednesday, October 9:
·
Guest
Speaker Series and Conference – Celebrate the NYS Parks Centennial and
discover what it means to be a spa town and learn about Saratoga Spa State
Park's European heritage
·
Family-friendly
Community Festival – A free festival featuring the Spa City Farmer's Market,
artisan fair, guided tours, food trucks, and live entertainment
·
Evening
Jazz Bar at the Hall of Springs
Thursday, October 10:
·
Health
& Wellness Expo & European Spa Town Showcase – Explore European spa
towns at this expo
·
Bathrobe
Walk – Join EHTTA in their signature closing event, a leisurely stroll
through Saratoga Spa State Park in their bathrobes
According
to a Global Wellness Institute report, wellness tourism is projected to
double by 2027, with significant growth in thermal/mineral springs and mental
wellness.
Riccardo Mortandello,
EHTTA President and Mayor of Montegrotto Terme in Italy, said, "Saratoga Springs developed based on the model of European
spa towns. Sharing and celebrating our common heritage together for the first
time is a great opportunity for both Europeans and Americans and we are
grateful to have Saratoga Spa State Park as such a driving force behind the
organization. Together with our EHTTA Scientific Committee they have
developed our "European Thermal Heritage Day Event" to an international
conference. Thanks to the European Travel Commission and strong partners we
can add the dimension of tourism promotion, inviting to discover the
outstanding value of spa towns with their heritage and health benefits."
Empire State Development
Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "Saratoga Spa State Park is a jewel in New York's
crown of state parks, and a must-see destination to complement any relaxing
getaway. It is the ideal location to host the International Spa Heritage
Festival, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the historic healing
waters at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa, and the city's namesake mineral
springs. I LOVE NY welcomes the festival to the Spa City and encourages
visitors planning a trip to extend their stay and explore all the regional
food, history and culture that make it easy to love New York."
Senator Jim Tedisco said, "As we commemorate 100 years of state parks in
New York State, it's fitting the historic Saratoga Spa State Park will
celebrate this centennial milestone as a destination for health and wellness
with the International Spa Heritage Festival. This special event will be another
fabulous tourism draw to Saratoga Springs and aratoga County in what has been
a banner year for events for the 44th Senate District."
Assemblywoman Carrie
Woerner said, "There are
more than ten mineral springs in the Spa State Park and, since the 1800's,
people have traveled far and wide to come and enjoy their natural beauty and
healing powers. Two hundred-plus years later this special park and its waters
are still attracting visitors from all over the world. I'm truly grateful for
Governor Hochul's focus on mental wellness and for promoting our beloved
Saratoga as a wellness tourism destination. I'm especially looking forward to
the lighthearted closing event that's planned. Nothing says ‘spa' like a
leisurely Bathrobe Walk!"
Saratoga Springs Mayor
John Safford said, "What a great opportunity for the
country to be reminded of the exceptional historical significance of this
wonderful area of New York State and the role of the State Park in preserving
and enhancing this history."
The festival is co-produced by EHTTA
with additional partners including I LOVE NY, City of Saratoga Springs,
Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Spa Performing Arts Center, and the Natural
Heritage Trust. For more information on the Spa International Heritage
Festival or to inquire about sponsorship or participation, please visit: https://historicthermaltowns.com/
Governor
Hochul's "Get
Offline, Get Outside" campaign builds on her efforts to promote healthy
living among young people and families across New York. Governor Hochul
recently signed nation-leading legislation – the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act and
New York Child Data Protection Act – to protect kids from addictive
social media feeds and shield their personal data from online platforms.
2024 marks the 100th anniversary the
State Parks system. Celebratory initiatives include ‘Blazing A Trail,' an interactive timeline chronicling the agency's history
and influential figures; an exhibit
in the New York State Capitol's State Street Tunnel currently on view; the Share Your Story project, which invites people to tell their own stories relating
to Parks and Sites; the Centennial Challenge, which encourages people to win prizes by participating
in various activities at parks and sites; and the release of the Centennial Collection merchandise, which includes t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more.
Additional initiatives will be announced throughout 2024.
The New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250
parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and
more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on
any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in
celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.
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