Saratoga News
News
Mustard Walk offers a glimpse back at Saratoga's rich heritage
By Shannon Burkey
As the mustard flowers return to Saratoga, the city's Historic Preservation Commission is preparing for the sixth annual Mustard Walk that will take place Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the historic 18-acre Heritage Orchard.
"The idea of this festival is to emphasize the beauty of our orchard and how lucky we are to have this space in Saratoga," said event coordinator Nancy Anderson.
Although it is called a mustard walk, the festival is also a celebration of the city-owned orchard that has been producing fruit from the cherry, apricot and prune trees that have blossomed in it since the 1700s.
Only 75 people attended the first festival six years ago. But over the years, more Saratogans have come out to celebrate the orchard's history and the resources it brings to the city. Last year's festival drew an estimated 2,000 people, and organizers are expecting at least that many again this year.
"Having the Mustard Walk helps people to support and recognize our Saratoga history through the centuries by learning about what this valley used to be like," said Norman Koepernik, chairman of the preservation commission.
A highlight of each year's festival is the "year in the life of an orchard" docent-led tours. The docents offer an extensive history of the orchard as they take participants, knee-deep in mustard, into the heart of the trees.
"We want people in Saratoga to know about the orchard and to know that it's their property and they can go into it anytime they want," Anderson said.
For the children, this year's Mustard Walk will also offer storytelling, face painting, donkey cart rides and a visit from Mother Nature. The adults will have plenty to keep them busy, too. Along with mustard tasting and recipes, local winemakers will pour samples of their wines. Music will be provided by the country group the Skillet Lickers, as well as Lee Ann Welch's fiddle class.
Another large draw of the festival is the display of antique cars and farm equipment. This year, a Model A, a Model T and a Chevy club will participate.
"We like to showcase the old cars and farm equipment because we want people to see how it was in the early years to farm the orchard," Koepernik said.
Along with the fun, Anderson said, the event is a good learning experience for the children who may not know about the history of the orchard or what it was like to grow up in Saratoga decades ago.
"It's a neat day for the kids," she said. "Even though the orchard is here, they are still city kids and have no idea what it's like to grow up in the country. This is a great way for them to experience what it's like."
In the early 1900s, Saratoga held a yearly blossom festival to celebrate the blooming of the fruit trees in orchards throughout the valley. But through the years, houses went up and orchards were torn down and eventually the blossom festival ceased to exist, according to Anderson.
With the spirit of that festival in mind, the Mustard Walk began. Koepernik said the preservation commission would like to look into bringing the blossom festival back to continue to celebrate the agrarian history of Saratoga.
"Eventually, we would like to combine the Mustard Walk with a blossom festival," he said. "Saratoga has such a history with the blossom festival, and this recognition will help to bring people to our area and into our Village."
Until that can happen, Koepernik would like to continue to see Saratoga residents come out to celebrate the beauty of their city through the Mustard Walk.
"The purpose of this festival is that the orchard is beautiful in its natural setting," he said. "From being dormant, to the grass, to the mustard, to the blossoming of the trees. It's a respite among a metropolitan area."
