The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is a staple for the Saranac Lake community during the winter. It is a perfect way to break the winter’s chill while promoting outdoor sports and games as well as coming together as a community. The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival always has a theme what could be a focus on a generation to superheros. This years theme is “Roman Around The Adirondacks” so if you plan on visiting or renting during the winter carnival pack your toga for one of the biggest celebrations in the Adirondacks!
History
The origins of the winter carnival began with the Pontiac Club what was formed in November 1896. Shortly after it was formed, they sponsored a one-day fancy dress winter carnival in 1897. It was expanded into the Pontiac Club Carnival in 1898. The winter carnival has not been held every year since the beginning. At points throughout the history, this event was every other year or even chunks in the 20’s, 30’ and 40s where event did not happen. It was resurrected in 1947-1948 and has been held annually since. The jewel of the carnival is the Ice Palace what was originally put in place in 1920 and made a comeback in 1955.
Current Winter Carnival
The current Winter Carnival has grown into a 10 day festival beginning the first weekend of February where it includes sports, performances, parades and fireworks over the period. The Carnival is organized by an all-volunteer group called the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee. One of the longest traditions of the Carnival is the Winter Carnival button. The buttons are collected by residents and visitor alike. They are designed by “Doonesbury” creator and Saranac Lake native Garry Trudeau who started them in 1981. Trudeau also started to design posters as a fundraiser for the Winter Carnival Committee.
The Winter Carnival begins each year with the coronation of the King and Queen who are two local citizens who have been chosen for their contribution to the Saranac Lake community through their volunteer work. Joining them are a Price and Princess who are elected by the local college, a court of Royal Lads and Lassies who are elected from the High School, Six Pages who are selected at the elementary school, a Chamberlain, and an Archbishop who are chosen to represent and crown the “royals”.
Activities Schedule
February 2, 2023
11 am – 12:30 pm AND 4 pm – 5:30 pm – Drop Off Time For The Winter Carnival Sun Catcher Contest
NYS Boat Launch to the right of the Ice Palace (Display and Voting Throughout Carnival)
February 3, 2023
1 pm – 5pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
6 pm – 9pm – Live Music – Blessid Dirt
Campfire Adirondack Bar & Grill At The Hotel Saranac – 100 Main Street
7:30 pm – Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation Of Winter Carnival Royalty
Harrietstown Town Hall – 39 Main Street
Post Coronation – Winter Carnival Royalty Reception
Elks Lodge #1508, 30 Broadway Ave
8:30 pm – Live Music – Live Music – Annie In The Water & The Reflexions – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 4, 2023
10 am – 6 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
10 am – NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run – 4 Miles
Ice Palace – State Boat Launch
10 am – 4 pm – Edward Jones Arctic Golf Build-An-Obstacle Contest
Prescott Park Next To State Boat Launch
10 am – 4 pm – Paul Smith’s Booster Club Chocolate Festival
Romano’s Saranac Bowling Lanes, 11 Bloomingdale Ave
11 am – Long Run Wealth Advisors Curling Exhibition
Lake Flower Near The Ice Palace
11 am – Paul Smiths College Woodsmen Exhibition
Riverside Park
12 pm – Heat Keeper Icicle Contest – Prizes for longest natural icicle, check-in at 11:30
Riverside Park
12 pm – Lake Placid Curling Club “Hit The Button” Curling Competition
Lake Flower Near The Ice Palace
12:30 pm – Saranac Lake Teachers Association Little Ladies Fry Pan Toss – For Girls 6-17 Registration 11-12
Riverside Park
1 pm – Women’s Civic Second Corn-a-ment Cornhole Tournament
Ice In Front Of Saranac Waterfront Lodge $40 registration fee per 2-player team Contact Deb Reilly at debreilly@gmail.com for more information
1pm – Taylor Rental Ladies Fry Pan Toss – Ladies 18 and up Registration 11 am – 12:30pm
Riverside Park
5 pm – 7 pm – Spaghetti Dinner Presented By Catholic Daughters Of Americas Court 787 & Knights Of Columbus Council 599 – $
St. Bernards School Cafeteria – 63 River Street – Take Out Available, Orders Taken 4:30 to 6:30
7 pm – Lighting Of The Ice Palace And Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks
Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
8:30 pm – Live Music – Underground System – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 5, 2023
10 am – 6 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
10 am – 3pm – Edward Jones Arctic Golf
Prescott Park Near State Boat Launch
10 am – 4 pm – Skate Lake Colby Sponsored By Adirondack Health – Beach At Lake Colby
Demo, Free Skate, Straight Line Drag Races for Ice Skates | Kick Sleds 2pm to 3pm
10 am – White Stag Downhill Ski Races
Mt Pisgah Ski Center – 92 Mount Pisgah Lane
11 am – 2:30 pm – Arctic Bar-B-Que
Mt Pisgah Ski Center – 92 Mount Pisgah Lane
1 pm – The Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza – Bathing suit clad round-the-town bike ride
Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
1 pm – LifePower Chiropractic Ultimate Fisbee Games
Saranac Lake High School Football Field – 79 Canaras Ave – Call 518-637-3238 for details
2:30 pm – Andirondack Lake And Trails Outfitters FlowerBall
Lake Flower near Ice Palace
February 6, 2023
1 pm – 5 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
February 7, 2023
1 pm – 5 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
3:30 pm – Scavenger Hunt For Middle School Students
Saranac Lake Youth Center – 29 Woodruff St
5 pm – Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception – $
Hotel Saranac – 100 Main Street
6 pm Winter Carnival Royalty Dinner – $
Hotel Saranac – 100 Main Street
8 pm – Live Music – Ryan Montebleau (Solo) & Hayley Jane – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 8, 2023
1 pm – 5 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
5 pm – 7pm – Family Night At The Ice Palace Sponsored By Hudson Headwaters Health Network
Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
6 pm – Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races – All Ages
Dewey Mountain – Route 3 – Call 518-891-2697 – Children’s Event Fees Paid For By Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club
8 pm – Live Music – Beat Authority Dance Party – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 9, 2023
1 pm – 5 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
6 pm – American Management Association Torchlight Skiing And Fireworks
Mt. Pisgah Ski Center – 92 Mt. Pisgah Lane
8:30 pm – Live Music – Frank White Experience (Tribute To Notorious B.I.G) – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 10, 2023
10 am – Adirondack Bank Innertube Races
Mt. Pisgah Ski Center – 92 Mt. Pisgah Lane – Children’s Event Fees paid for by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club
12:30 pm – Coakley Home and Hardware Children’s Skating Races
Saranac Lake Civic Center – 213 Ampersand Ave – Children’s Event Fee Paid By Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club
1 pm – 6 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
2 pm – 4 pm – Coakley Home and Hardware Open Skate with Free Hot Chocolate
Saranac Lake Civic Center – 213 Ampersand
7 pm – 10 pm – Firefighter’s Broom Ball
Saranac Lake Civic Center – 213 Ampersand
6 pm – Saranac Waterfront Lodge Snow Ball – Return of the Classic Formal Dinner & Dance
Saranac Waterfront Lodge – 250 Lake Flower Ave
7 pm – Rotary Club Variety Show – Tickets Available At Chamber Of Commerce, Ampersound & NBT Bank
Harrietstown Town Hall – 39 Main Street
8 pm – 11 pm – Live Music – John Warchol
Bitters And Bones – 65 Broadway
8:30 pm – Live Music – The Mallet Brothers Band & Saints & Liars – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 11, 2023
TBD – Mason’s Pancake Breakfast
TBD
10 am – 6 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
10 am – CanAm Snow Rugby
Saranac Lake High School Track Field – 79 Canaras Ave – Call 518-524-5841
11 am – Paul Smiths Woodsmen Exhibition
Riverside Park
12 pm – Gala Parade Line- Up
Register at Nice N Easy Mobil – 196 Broadway
1 pm – Gala Parade Presented By Casella Waste & North Country Community College
From Firehouse On Broadway To LaPan Highway
3 pm – Live Music – Rose & The Bros At Post Parade Party – Free
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
8:30 pm – Live Music – West End Blend & Chestnut Grove – $
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
February 12, 2023
10 am – 4 pm – Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop – History Hut Near The Ice Palace
Learn about the history of the winter carnival and purchase official merchandise
10 am – Community Bank Adult Cross-Country Ski Races
Dewey Mountain – Route 3 – Call 518-891-2697
11 am – Bionique Testing Labs Snowflake Volleyball Tournament
Saranac Lake Civic Center – Rotary Field – 213 Ampersand Ave
11 am – ANCA FlowerBall
Lake Flower near the Ice Palace
12 pm – Adirondack Health Youth Cross-Country Ski Races
Dewey Mountain – Route 3 – Call 518-891-2697 – Children’s Event Fees Paid For By Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club
2 pm – Live Music – Ditrani Brothers – Free
Waterhole Music Lounge – 48 Main Street
1 pm – Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade
Meet at the Adirondack Carousel – 2 Depot Street
7:30 pm – Guide Boat Realty Winter Carnival Slide Show
Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
8 pm – Guide Boat Realty “Storming The Ice Palace” Closing Fireworks Display
Ice Palace, State Boat Launch