Five things you can do in Saranac Lake on Halloween week

As the fall foliage drifts away into the history books and winter is still a few weeks away, some ask what we do for fun during the in-between time?  We fully embrace the arts and indoor events  this time of year! Of course we still get outdoors as well, but indoor events are a most welcome distraction as the temperatures dip to the chilly level.

This coming week it’s all about the Halloween theme for the most part. At the Paul Smiths Visitors Interpretive Center until November 2  you can pay a visit to their gallery and check out the New Moon Art Show, featuring artist Matt Burnett, photographer Ed Murphy and artist Melissa Burnett. Matt Burnett's art focuses on natural forces and living history. Photographer Ed Murphy's images explore the natural beauty of the northern Adirondacks, focusing on the mountains and vistas of Norman Ridge and the flora and fauna of the Bloomingdale Bog and the VIC. Melissa Burnett is a painter whose medium of choice is water mixable oil paints.

Also at the Paul Smiths VIC on October 26th, they’re celebrating the season with an event called The Lore of the Raven. Meet a live Raven and explore the mythology behind this very intelligent and classic Halloween bird.

Speaking of Edgar Allen Poe ("The Raven"), Pendragon Theatre presents "Ghost Tales", a reading of selected works from Poe’s collection of short stories. His short stories are artfully written, yet heart droppingly eerie. Listen to local talent bring life to several of Poe’s most famous stories, including The Tell-Tale Heart on Wednesday, October 30. They’re even serving beer and wine by donation at the performance!  Call Pendragon at 891-1854 for more information. 

If you haven’t experienced a corn maze, or have and want another great challenge and to get outdoors for a bit, don’t miss Tucker Farm’s Great Adirondack Corn Maze in Gabriels (a 10 minute drive from Saranac Lake on Route 86. This year’s maze is a combination of the best of the past mazes, so those who’ve experienced it before have a ‘leg up’ this year!

The maze is open Wednesday and Thursday from 1 pm til dusk, with Flashlight Nights on Fridays and Saturdays through the last weekend in October, when the maze is open from 1 pm until 10 pm (no one enters the maze after 9 pm however). A special flashlight night takes place on October 26th. The maze opens that night at 7 pm (no one will be allowed in the maze between 5 and 7 pm.  

For a spooky start to your Saturday, stop by the St. Bernard Church Cemetery on Ampersand Avenue at 10:30 am for the "Helping the Dead Come Alive" tour. Local storyteller, Bob Seidenstein will lead the tour to benefit Historic Saranac Lake.

The cemetery is the final resting place for some famous and colorful former residents. There is a nominal fee of $5 per person to benefit Historic Saranac Lake. Rain, snow or shine - the tour will go off as scheduled!

For those who’d like to learn to “upcycle” some of their unused household items, check out Bluseed Studios’ Family Upcycling Workshop on October 25.  Stephanie DeJoseph, and independent designer and artist will teach this creative and innovative workshop. Repurpose, recycle and create! 

If you’re planning to spend a night or two in Saranac Lake, check out our lodging pages for some options.