SHALOM FESTIVAL 2009 in Saratoga Springs Congress Park

The face-painted kids are thrilled to show off their Shofar-blowing skills, on the Shofars they helped make at the Shalom Festival in Congress Park...

SpongeBob with a Jewish Twist... spread throughout the park during the Shalom Festival, they share Jewish messages of "Love They Fellow", "Torah Letters" etc...

Rabbi Abba of Saratoga Chabad and Rabbi Yossi of Clifton Park Chabad at the "Pickle for a Nickle" Kosher pickle cart.

Looking at the vendor side of the festival from the Canfield Casino side of Congress Park.

A Chassidic Facepainting..

Tooting his own horn!

Yoel Sharabi, noted Israeli and Sephardic singing sensation brought melody and joy to those gathered under the pavilion and even to those strolling through Congress Park that Sunday..

Sharabi did a Shtetl song and skit...

Playing at the Spring...

Kids played along with amateur instruments...

This person is learning to blow his own Shofar...

Incredible Larry makes an incredible catch right in front of his young audience. Not only did he do several shows, but he brought a large trunk of kid-friendly equipment for youngsters to learn juggling and balancing techniques, in between his shows.

The entertainment alternated between shows by Incredible Larry and live music by Yoel Sharabi.

The Judaica and Art booth. Mezuzot, Havdalah candles, Shabbat candlesticks, and Chanukah Oven-Mitts for Latkes were among the items on sale. Further down the vendors row, there were booths selling Aleph-Bet stickers and tracers, mixed-media art spelling Chai and Shalom..

Edible Sandart! Carefully funnel the colored sugar into a tube, with an amazing array of colors, and have something sweet to nibble through the rest of the day.

Phil Singer did amazing caricatures, capturing the spirit of his 10-minute models...

Face-painting by Laugh-a-lot the clown, was also a big hit. Lots of kids liked hearts and stars, but some tigers and clowns came out of it, too...

Shalom Festival in the News...

Bottom front cover of The Jewish World Newspaper, Albany NY:

From the Daily Gazette, Schenectady NY:

from the Times-Union, Albany NY:

This year's Shalom Festival featured:

	Israeli-Sefardic singing sensation Yoel Sharabi (who can harmonize two flutes playing at once!) highlighted the entertainment at this year's Shalom Festival.
	The "Lower East Side Kosher Pickle Giveaway" with a pickle-making demonstration and free pickle tasting (offcially, a nickle a pickle...)
	Laugh-A-Lot the clown will do face-painting and balloon creations for kids.
	Incredible Larry (see his website: www.IncredibleLarry.com) has amazing Shtick and also taught kids to juggle in between his shows.
	The Shofar Factory returned to the Shalom Festival. Fashion a real ram's horn into a Shofar and learn a little how to blow it.
	Edible sand-art, a caricature drawing opportunity, a puppet theater, a giant Jewish connect-four game, arts and crafts and more activities...
	Art By Audrey, Frenchey Loeb's Jewelry, and an on-site Judaica gift shop were some of the booths with items for sale.
	Kosher Felafel, hotdogs, nosh and cold drinks were available for sale.
	Saratoga Apple sold fresh produce and apple cider.

And while you're in beautiful Congress Park...

	check out and ride the 50cents Carousel...
	taste the various natural mineral springs around the park
	take photos at the many beautiful photo spots
	find the fish in the fish ponds
	see the Spit and Spat statues
	notice of the elaborate Saratoga landmark video camera housings
	Peek inside the Canfield Casino
	Visit the Saratoga Springs History Museum inside the Canfield Casino

For more information contact Rabbi Abba at Saratoga Chabad:
saratora@aol.com / 518-526-0773

Click below for Shalom Festivals by year:
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and the Shalom Festival Index Page