Events

No matter how old I get, the anticipation of summer makes me think of glowing pink evenings, playing all day, fireworks, soft breezes, hot dogs, and most of all, extra time with family and friends. Summer in Saranac Lake is an ideal place to savor just such time, as the village takes advantage of the fine weather to host an array of wonderful outdoor events, from music to biking, running to... [Read More]

Winter is here and Saranac Lake is ready to celebrate  Photos by Mark Kurtz Photography Winter Carnival is what happens when you take Saranac Lake and throw it into a cauldron, sprinkle in a clever theme, and boil it down until all that’s left is a sweet syrup of feisty good humor. When Winter Carnival is on you can’t walk through downtown, let alone buy a cup of coffee,... [Read More]

A Chilly Start to Spring While winter held off the arrival of spring this year with both hands, warm weather is finally coming on in full force – and birds are coming with it. After all, even with the chilly weather we’ve had this spring, birds have been on the move – with ducks like Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and both Hooded and Common... [Read More]

If you’ve ever been to Saranac Lake, especially in winter, you’ve probably heard of Winter Carnival. It’s the longest-running event of its kind in the U.S., and it’s also one of the quirkiest. Let me explain. Every year, volunteers pull large blocks of ice from Lake Flower to build the ice palace, a stunning blue structure that people can walk through after the 10-day... [Read More]

The "Highway of the Adirondacks" began a long time before our present two-lane roads. It was much easier to paddle a birchbark canoe through a waterway, which offers fewer barriers than a dense forest. These were the abundant river and lake routes that were joined by varying length of carries, also known as portaging, or as I think of it, the option of "carrying a canoe on... [Read More]

The world's first Soap Box Derby started in Ohio in 1934. The Saranac Lake Daffest Derby came considerably later, in 2010. But the basics have not changed. Unpowered cars are launched down a ramp and rely on gravity for their speed.This event is a real crowd-pleaser, and has become an extraordinary part of our Daffest celebrations every spring.To get the lowdown on this new-to-us tradition, I... [Read More]

There’s something special about Saranac Lake, and the village’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is no exception. The parade kicks off the festivities at 4 p.m. It lines up on Olive Street and courses through downtown along the "Emerald Pathway." A tribute to the Emerald Isle and to Adirondack style, marchers include lads, lasses, bands, and clans of the area. As a testament to Saranac Lake’s... [Read More]

2016 TOP 3 BLOGS IN REVIEWWe scoured our blogs for the most popular, most informative, and just downright oddest pieces from the past year. In case you missed them when they were first published, here are our top three picks from the Saranac Lake Region. Enjoy!3) Five cool fall viewsThere are many, many places to view our spectacular autumn foliage. In the interest of easy access, we've narrowed... [Read More]

Submitted by guest blogger: Carrie Gentile   Here's a marathon any family can do: a Saranac Adirondack Holiday Marathon. What are the hallmarks of a classic holiday day in the coolest town in the Adirondacks? It starts, naturally, with snow and time spent with loved ones, melded with festive events and tried and true traditions. classic tree My favorite tradition is akin to a... [Read More]

Rain, Rain, Rain…And More RainNot every day of the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration was as perfect as the Osgood River paddle on Saturday. But, looking back on that fun weekend, we'd do it all over again.Sunday’s weather was the complete opposite of the beautiful day before. In fact, I had noted the thin wispy cirrus clouds moving overhead during our paddle - marking a change in the weather.... [Read More]

[img:je158runaboutrendezvous.jpg]Summer in Saranac Lake is a festival in itself. The village has created a seemingly endless stream of events and happenings in the parks, on the water, and in the historic downtown area.Celebrate natureStop by the Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) for the seasonal Teddy Roosevelt Bird Walks, held throughout the summer. The VIC also offers a wide range... [Read More]

Wondering where to toss that bouquet? Saranac Lake has some amazing places for that dream wedding. Gorgeous wilderness backdrops, charming churches, giant fireplaces, and soaring "Great Rooms," along with picturesque docks and boathouses and wildflower meadows.[img:wwppcakeandwildflowers.jpg]We also have talented artisans to craft those wedding favors, letter those invitations, make those... [Read More]

Carnival Style: A class all its ownTravelers to the Adirondacks in any given February will surely behold an unusual sight (or two) as they come upon the super-cool village of Saranac Lake. Walking along the streets, sipping coffee in a restaurant, or simply shopping at the grocery store, one is sure to encounter myriad characters, costumes, and just super-cool carnival celebrities.To the... [Read More]

There's never a dull moment in Saranac Lake The hardest thing about attending First Night Saranac Lake is knowing where to start. At its core, the event is more than a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration. It's more like a smorgasbord of all things Saranac Lake. That means there's so much art, music, dancing and revelry crammed into the little mountain village it's impossible to see it all... [Read More]

 The Trot comes to Saranac LakeI am, by no means, a runner. So the first time my co-worker Frank asked if I wanted to do a turkey trot, I was a little skeptical. What could possibly be appealing about getting out of bed on one of those rare days I get the chance to sleep in? (I should probably mention that during the work week, my shift doesn't start until 11 am, so I actually get to sleep... [Read More]

No matter if you have great artistic ability or are like me, without an artistic bone in your body, I have a recommendation for an afternoon activity that is sure to make you smile - and help decorate your home or office in the process! Paint and Sip is a two-hour painting event that combines a simple painting lesson and cocktails for an enjoyable afternoon of creativity! Everything you need is... [Read More]

One of the best ways to enjoy our Saranac Lake galleries is to attend an art opening. A gallery opening might sound intimidating, but don’t worry… our gallery openings are just like the Adirondacks:  easygoing, welcoming, and fun! They generally happen on Friday evenings, near the beginning of the month. I've put together four "insider" tips that will help... [Read More]

July is a wonderful time to visit the Saranac Lake Region. We have so many great events at this time of year. From traditional holiday celebrations and history tours all the way to some great modern talents in music and art, we have enjoyable options for every member of the family.Our Glorious FourthWe love a small town Independence Day. Join us!We start our celebrations with the 4th of... [Read More]

An In-depth Adirondacks Cycling Experience Guest Blogger: Jim Moore, Event Director • Cycle Adirondacks This August, Saranac Lake will host a new and unique event – Cycle Adirondacks, the first fully supported road-cycling tour of the Adirondack Park. The event will kick off with a celebration (which is open to the public) on Saturday, August 22, and finish a week later with a public “Finish... [Read More]

Get your groove on...The month of February in Saranac Lake kicks off with the longest running winter carnival in the USA. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has grown over the years to a full-on 10-day celebration of everything winter and then some. Each year the winter carnival committee chooses a theme nearly a year ahead of time to give everyone involved a chance to come up with costumes, floats,... [Read More]

By far my favorite thing about Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is the abundance of live music all over town. The Waterhole has a great lineup this year, including Moon Hooch and Donna the Buffalo, among others, and additional venues are stepping up their music game as well. Eric Munley, who books bands for the Waterhole, told me that he originally thought about trying to get all '60s-style bands,... [Read More]

It's a challenge to make a new person. We can use help.Saranac Lake was once a worldwide health destination. At the height of the tuberculosis epidemic this wilderness village drew famed doctors, skilled researchers, and celebrity patients. While we are all happy the tuberculosis plague has been conquered, there are still plenty of skilled people who love to help anyone with other health quests.... [Read More]

Saranac Lake is the perfect place to hit the town for an evening with friends. There are just enough bars to keep you busy, but not so many that you can’t stand up straight by the end of the night, and for the most part they are all pretty close to one another. I’ve found myself on an impromptu pub crawl through Saranac Lake just to meet up with multiple friends who are out in various places or... [Read More]

 Now that we’ve had a taste of snow in the Adirondacks (a little dusting last Sunday), I cannot wait to get back on the slopes at Titus Mountain Family Ski Center! Titus is currently my favorite ski slope in the area, because it’s a good size without being too big for me, and they tend to have the best snow coverage for my type of snowboarding.[img:titusmap1415-finalnologolowres.jpg]And... [Read More]

Norman Bethune is a famous Saranac Lake artist. His most celebrated work was created here, in the Trudeau Cottage Sanitarium, where he was both a doctor, and a patient. He was also an inventor: the Bethune shears, for thoracic surgery, are still in use today. He was a humanitarian: his many medical patents were donated to the cause of socialized medicine. He was an innovator: he organized... [Read More]

Are there ghosts in the Adirondacks? Does Saranac Lake have a haunted past? Sources say yes, and to be honest, it has a haunted present, too. Many of these old buildings have spooky tales to tell. I set out with a member of the Adirondack Park Paranormal Society to explore what has been seen - and heard - and felt - in what must be the most haunted town in all of the Adirondack Park. After... [Read More]

It's an art tour, a scenic drive, and a shopping opportunity, all in one. It's an Adirondack Art Tour! When it comes to scenic routes, Saranac Lake and the surrounding area has some of the loveliest. Whether we drive or bike, in any season, for any reason, our quiet wilderness roads access some of our finest vistas. Every year a local arts guild, Saranac Lake ArtWorks, organizes a tour of... [Read More]

Saranac Lake has an extraordinary place in its history, tucked between the lumbering and ice harvesting of its earliest times to the lure of its gorgeous scenery in the present. At the turn of the 20th Century, it was a world famous center for tuberculosis care (known as Taking the Cure) and research.While there were many local sanatoriums, some people were able to “take the cure” in a private... [Read More]

It was a unique opportunity to visit the Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum. To kick off an upcoming "Medical Marvels" series, which will feature a exhibit of antique medical devices, the Museum was hosting a series of free lectures. Saranac Lake takes great pride in having been a prominent turn-of-the-century science center, and we offer many such opportunities to explore this side of our... [Read More]

Saranac Lake has a unique performance space which features all kinds of different art, even at the same time. Music, photography, and painting were all on display during a special evening at BluSeed Studios. It had dogs and children dancing and people making new friends. It's an art opening in the Adirondacks.This gathering was to celebrate the return of a local group from a recent visit to... [Read More]

Midweek Live Music Sets In Saranac LakeIt’s March! Time to get out of the house a bit! Luckily, the Waterhole has announced a series of free Wednesday night concerts to keep us busy throughout the spring. [img:poster.jpg]It’s a slower time of year, so the Waterhole’s booking agent Eric Munley (who also plays mandolin in the Blind Owl Band) told me he was trying to scale things down to make... [Read More]

Poetry is alive and well in Saranac Lake.  [Read More]

Live music enthusiasts should be super psyched about the lineup this year for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.Saranac Lake already has a thriving music scene for such a small, secluded village, but Winter Carnival is one of the times each year when the music scene shines even brighter than usual. For 10 days, the village comes alive with live music from solo acoustic acts to marching bands to... [Read More]

First Night 2013 First Night’s origins trace back to mid-70’s Boston, where community-minded artists created a new kind of New Year’s party. Now, with upwards of 75 official “First Night” cities across the USA, the well-established First Night Saranac Lake shines in Northern New York as one of the best. In fact, in 2011, the Saranac Lake First Night button won the award for best event button in... [Read More]

The first Sparkle Village Craft Fair I attended was a small affair in the upstairs lobby of an old Saranac Lake hotel back in the early 90’s. I was producing and selling fleece headwear at the time and took in a modest amount over the two days.  The craft fair was in its early days and attendance was good, but not stellar by any means. A group of about a dozen vendors comprised the event at... [Read More]

[img:sue-young-at-work.jpg]The 7th Annual Artist at Work Studio Tour is upon us and what a weekend for it! Reports say that our leaves will be at peak and I must say that nature’s landscape is just as stunning as the man-made works that I am seeing today.The Artist at Work Studio tour is a free, self-guided tour of 50 artist’s studios that is organized and presented by Saranac Lake Artworks. It... [Read More]

While the leaves are busy beginning to change for our annual Adirondack Fall spectacle, think about joining in on one of our regional events. Saranac Lake will be alive with many cultural and historic events during the next couple of weeks.A most popular weekly summer event comes to a close with the final Third Thursday Art Walk on September 19th.  Galleries and sidewalks come alive with... [Read More]

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For the past few years there has been a unique event that is offered here in Saranac Lake, New York… The Farm 2 Fork Festival! This festival shows home cooks how to use local, fresh products in their everyday meals. There are demonstrations, workshops and of course lots of tasting with local ingredients. It’s held each year in RiversidePark at the end of summer (the first Saturday in September,... [Read More]

Eugene Sirotkine, internationally renowned pianist and conductor, will perform in a benefit concert for the Bartók cabin on Tuesday, August 6, 7:30PM at Cobble Spring Farm, in Bloomingdale, NY. Sponsored by Historic Saranac Lake, Sirotkine’s solo piano performance will feature pieces by Bartók as well as Handel, Beethoven and Schumann. Two years ago, Sirotkine visited the cabin in Saranac... [Read More]

Are you wondering what to do with your family this summer? Well, the Saranac Lake area has some awesome family friendly activities to do. Each has something different to offer and is worth making the trip for!  Adirondack Carousel  (Depot Street, Saranac Lake) [img:carousel-sh.jpg] We’ve all been on a carousel, but this one is truly different! All the animals are hand carved and hand... [Read More]

May seems to be the month for loads of arts and heritage events in the region. From art exhibit openings and talks by local artists, to music and theatre events, there's something for everyone from adults to kids.Pendragon Theatre has opened their summer season this month with Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp, a delightful dramatization of the saga about the boy who found a Magic Lamp. Performances... [Read More]