Glen Sanders Mansion was the scene for the traditional dinner - complete with Colonial attire - that kicked off the Colonial Festival of 2003. Dr. Ronald Kingsley and Louise Basa, archaeology instructors at Schenectady County Community College, attended the dinner that marked the beginning of a yearlong schedule of events. According to the Schenectady Heritage Area that has coordinated the Festival, the festival is intended to be "a tribute to our forefathers and the spirit and commitment with which they faced the challenges of colonial life".

The Colonial Festival is sponsored by the Schenectady Colonial Project in cooperation with the Schenectady Heritage Area and has a schedule of events that began with the dinner at Glen Sanders this February 6th though October of 2003. Dr. Kingsley and Ms. Basa, along with four other presenters, participated in the "Archaeology of Colonial America" presentation given on February 9, 2003. Presenters spoke on subjects relevant to the archaeology of Schenectady.

Other topics include a Revolutionary War Encampment and Reenactment on May 3 - 4, 2003, Forefathers Day on June 15, 2003, and a Beginning Blacksmithing Class on July 13-14, 2003 and July 19-20, 2003.

For a complete list of the Festival events, please click on the following link: http://www.schist.org/colonial.htm.