Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
    • Seasons
    • See all
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Accessibility
    • Arts
    • Attractions
    • Downtown
    • Health & Wellness
    • History
    • Live Music
    • Parks
    • Shopping
    • Stories
    • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
    • Hiking
    • Nature Walks
    • ADK Guides & Tours
    • Birding
    • Boating
    • Camping
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Cycling
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Paddling
    • Snowmobiling
    • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • North Country New Year
    • Northern Current
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Packages
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
    • Accessibility
    • Downtown
    • Getting Here
    • Greater Region
    • Guide
    • Stories
    • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
  • Local
    • Local
    • See all
    • Live Here
    • Meet the Locals
    • Real Estate
    • Town of Harrietstown
    • Town of North Elba
    • Town of St. Armand
    • Village of Saranac Lake
    • Do Business Here
    • Chamber Job Board
    • Essex County IDA
    • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
    • Professional Services
    • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Community Initiatives
    • Arts & Culture Master Plan
    • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
    • Saranac Lake Brand
    • Village Community Development Department

Celebrate Paddling ADK

Homepage Story 11 Getting First Night Ready
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
      3. Seasons
      4. See all
      5. Spring
      6. Summer
      7. Fall
      8. Winter
      9. Accessibility
      10. Arts
      11. Attractions
      12. Downtown
      13. Health & Wellness
      14. History
      15. Live Music
      16. Parks
      17. Shopping
      18. Stories
      19. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
      3. Hiking
      4. Nature Walks
      5. ADK Guides & Tours
      6. Birding
      7. Boating
      8. Camping
      9. Cross-Country Skiing
      10. Cycling
      11. Downhill Skiing
      12. Fishing
      13. Golfing
      14. Ice Fishing
      15. Mountain Biking
      16. Paddling
      17. Snowmobiling
      18. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      4. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      5. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      6. North Country New Year
      7. Northern Current
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Packages
      7. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      8. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
      3. Accessibility
      4. Downtown
      5. Getting Here
      6. Greater Region
      7. Guide
      8. Stories
      9. Seasons
      10. Spring
      11. Summer
      12. Fall
      13. Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
      2. See all
      3. Live Here
      4. Meet the Locals
      5. Real Estate
      6. Town of Harrietstown
      7. Town of North Elba
      8. Town of St. Armand
      9. Village of Saranac Lake
      10. Do Business Here
      11. Chamber Job Board
      12. Essex County IDA
      13. Franklin County Economic Development Co.
      14. Professional Services
      15. Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      16. Community Initiatives
      17. Arts & Culture Master Plan
      18. Downtown Revitalization Initiative
      19. Saranac Lake Brand
      20. Village Community Development Department

Getting First Night Ready

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!

Pamela Merritt

December 12, 2017

Share

New Year's Eve is a special, even unique, holiday. It is the only one which celebrates both the old, and the new.

It is a time to look backward and forward. To take the stress off of such endeavors, you should also have a good time.

To help with that, Saranac Lake's First Night gives you many choices to celebrate the turn of the year — your way.

It's also a great gift idea. With events for all ages, why not invite the whole clan for a holiday celebration this year?

The arts

The 12th annual First Night Saranac Lake is an all-ages celebration of many arts. There are 18 performers among 10 venues from 6 p.m. to midnight. The range of entertainment includes live music from many different cultures.

Kick back to some fine country fiddling, move your feet with samba or swing, or get down and get funky.

At the Elks Lodge, enjoy the eclectic sound of Black Mountain Symphony, they move between baroque violin and funk-rock. They are followed by Primate Fiasco, with their unique blend of high-energy dance music played on old-school instruments.

If that's not your cup of tea, go bluegrass with North Country favorite The Atkinson Family, debuting at First Night Saranac Lake this year. The crowds couldn't get enough of Vermont fiddler Patrick Ross, who fronted the bluegrass quartet Hot Flannel last year.

Maybe you are looking for a good laugh. This year, First Night welcomes local favorite, and nationally renowned, stand-up comic Owen Benjamin. Or perhaps you'll enjoy throwing out ideas for the improv comedy troupe Completely Stranded, a First Night favorite.

There will be plenty of family shows. This year welcomes the Nate & Kate Kids Show, a husband and wife team who mix songs and juggling. Everyone can get into the groove of Soma Beats, a local African dance troupe. LoonWorks is a perennial First Night favorite -  magic, clowning, and (if you wish) audience participation, what could be more fun?

Close the party with the amazing sounds of Soulsha, a self-described “Afro-Celtic funk” band from Boston. If you haven't danced to a high-energy blend of bagpipes, African percussion, fiddle, horns, bass, and drums, there is no need to wait any longer. First Night organizers are intent on keeping dancers out on the floor until the stroke of midnight.

That is when everyone drifts out to the downtown lakefront, where there will be a snowflake drop (our Adirondack versoin of the classic ball drop), and then fireworks over Lake Flower. The sight of brightness splitting the black velvet sky and reflecting off the ice and snow makes for a very special end to 2017.

The ease

Whether you are looking for a fun night out with the children, or a fun night out with the adults, First Night makes getting around easy. Most of the venues are walkable, and there are shuttle busses available for the ones further away.

As seen below, First Night lets you assemble an enjoyable night from your favorite kinds of entertainment.

Josee Allard will be playing her original feel-good songs, while drama fans can enjoy the bits of different plays put on by the Adirondack Shakespeare Company, chosen to entertain and enlighten teens and adults.

This year there are two acts inspired by Roosevelt presidents. Colorado-based impersonator Joe Weigand becomes Teddy Roosevelt in a show he performed this fall to a packed town hall in Saranac Lake.

Roosevelt Dime, named for FDR rather than TR, is a swinging downstate band full of soul and banjo, while Saranac Lake swing jazz band Crackin’ Foxy shows off the chops that enlivens their audience year after year. The Caramelo Trio are for samba, bossa nova, tango and other Latin American fans.

First Night mixes up the lineup every year, but everyone welcomes back Adirondack songwriting legend Roy Hurd. Country fans will celebrate the return of Gabrielle Rabideau and Movin’ On.

Whatever the interests of your group, you can find the right act to expand, and enjoy, that sound and feel.

The eats

All of our dining will have chefs and bartenders looking for a special chance to show off their talents. Many of them are downtown, part of the walkable area.

From comfort food to gourmet, the night can be a lovely dinner or a series of interesting appetizers. There's nothing quite like opening the door to a blast of warmth, both from the indoor heat and the greetings you will get.

No matter where you gather, or who you gather with, this is a time to discuss the Old Year, and what you want to see in the New Year. Relax, and enjoy!

Remember, those resolutions don't kick in until the next day.

Be there.

Button sale locations, performer bios and photos, donation and volunteer opportunities, and more can be found at our First Night page.

Did you know you can also buy your buttons online? Availabe now: adults (ages 20+) are $15 in advance or $20 day of; teens (ages 13-19) are $7; and kids 12 and under are free.

Share

Packages and Promotions

range

Valid Apr. 1

- Oct. 31

Valid Apr. 15

- Oct. 31

Bike & Stay

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Explore the beauty of Saranac Lake and the newly developed Adirondack Rail Trail.

package
Activities and Attractions
range

Valid Apr. 1

- Jan. 30

Valid Jan. 21

- Jan. 21

Pet Getaway

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Your dog deserves an Adirondack getaway too. Book our pet friendly hotel near Lake Placid welcomes every member of your crew. Book our Pet Package...

package
range

Valid Apr. 1

- Oct. 31

Valid Apr. 15

- Oct. 31

Fish & Stay

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Enjoy a 2-hour fishing session on Lake Flower for two, guided by expert anglers.

package
Activities and Attractions
range

Valid Apr. 1

- Oct. 31

Valid Apr. 15

- Oct. 31

Golf & Stay

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Tee off at one of the Adirondacks' historic golf courses, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views.

package
Golf
range

Valid Apr. 18

- May. 13

Valid Apr. 18

- May. 13

Canadian Love - Victoria Day Package

Traverse Lodge

Traverse Lodge

20% off stays from May 15 to May 20 for our Canadian friends!

package

Valid

-

Valid Apr. 1

- Apr. 1

The Wild Center Family Getaway

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Enjoy 2 adult and 1 child admission tickets to The Wild Center, where nature meets discovery.

package
Activities and Attractions
range

Valid Apr. 1

- Oct. 31

Valid Apr. 15

- Oct. 31

Paddle & Stay

Voco Saranac Lake

Voco Saranac Lake

Escape to the serene beauty of the Adirondacks and immerse yourself in nature as you paddle the tranquil waters of Lake Flower in a kayak, canoe,...

package
Activities and Attractions
range

Valid Aug. 1

- Aug. 3

Valid Apr. 1

- May. 31

BikeADK Loves Canada - Weekender

BikeADK

BikeADK

Canadian Residents receive 15% off Registration!

package
Other
Load More
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•All Are Welcome•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES

Success!

You have successfully entered this contest. Be sure to check your inbox for your customized travel inspiration.

Thank you!

Thanks for updating your information. Be sure to check your inbox for your customized travel inspiration.

Thank you!

Thanks for being awesome by subscribing to our newsletter. Be sure to check your inbox for your customized travel inspiration.

Success! Message Sent.

Thanks for being awesome. We have received your message and look forward to talking with you soon.

Thank you!

Thanks for being awesome. You can now download the guide.

Thank you!

You have successfully completed the Snowmobile Map Request form. You should receive a physical copy by mail in 1-2 weeks.

Share to: