Thirty-second annual Niska Day set for Saturday

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

It’s a theme that comes with many pop-culture references and the organizers of Saturday’s Niska Day have hit many of them.

The theme is “Vegas Style” and organizers will have jugglers, acrobats and even Elvises (yes, more than one Elvis) throughout the day.

One reference they probably won’t be able to pull off is the famous saying about the real Las Vegas, Niska Day spokeswoman Maureen McGuinness conceded, what with all the instant access to social media like Facebook and Twitter.

“Probably everything that happens at Niska Day won’t stay at Niska Day,” McGuinness said. “It will be out there.”

And what organizers hope will happen is a whole lot of people having a good time.

This year’s Niska Day is the 32nd edition, and it will consist of the annual parade followed by events on the grounds of Craig Elementary School.

The parade itself starts at 10 a.m., making its way from St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, formerly St. Helen’s, on Union Street to the Niskayuna High School parking lot by way of Van Antwerp Road, Grand Boulevard, Regent Street and Nott Street.

The grand marshal of the parade will be one of the Elvises.

From there, the festivities move to Craig Elementary, with craft vendors, games, rides and a food court. The annual fireworks display is in the evening.

Face cutouts will even allow event-goers to become Elvis themselves, or at least have a quick picture taken as Elvis. Another cutout will be wedding chapel-themed.

As far as getting everything together, McGuinness said this week the process has gone smoothly.

“It’s amazing that something so big can go so smoothly, all by a group of volunteers,” she said.

Parking for the events at Craig Elementary is available at the Medical Arts building next to the school, the Chinese Fellowship Bible Church next to the medical arts building and the soccer complex lot off Balltown Road, among other locations.

Niska Day is sponsored by the Niskayuna Community Action Program.