Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • 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
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • 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
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. 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. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      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. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Getting First Night Ready

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Pamela Merritt
December 12, 2017

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.

Related Stories

Decidedly Different Entertainment
Ampersand in Winter
A Winter Hike Up Haystack
From the Adirondacks to the Olympics and Back
Ice Fishing in Saranac Lake
Dip into Winter on the Jackrabbit
Getting Back to Nature
Sweet Indulgences - Saranac Lake's Coffee Hotspots
'Tis the Season
Five Ideas for Winter Family Fun
Saranac Lake Adventure Travel
Fall Events
Decidedly Different Saranac Lake
Hot Town, Summer in the Village
Finding Fun and Snowfleas at the VIC
Walking the Walk: ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
A Day of Winter Indulgence
An Artist's Haven
Hardwater fishing, decidedly different!
Lodging to Fit Your Winter Travel Style
Cross-Country Ski The Jackrabbit Trail
Finding Winter Finches — and other Cold-Weather Species
Skiing from Placid to Saranac Lake
6 Must See Winter Carnival Events
Mt Pisgah: Local and Loved Ski Hill
First Day on the Bog
Saranac Lake's Snowshoe Centers
Snowshoeing at the VIC
A Quintessential Holiday Experience
Saranac Lake Winter Fashion
A century of playing in the snow
5 Paths to Winter Adventure in Saranac Lake
Walking the Walk: 20 years of ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
'Round the Mountain Canoe Race - An Event For All Paddlers
The Excitement of Early Spring Birding!
WINTER IS COOL
So Much Snow! And Some Great March Skiing!
Let's Glide - Enjoy Fish Creek Park!
A Beautiful Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail
Top 5 tips for fishing on Lake Colby
Family Ski at Dewey
Canoodlers and Lawn Chair Ladies
Top Reasons to Visit Saranac Lake This February
Woods and Waters Trail, a great ski!
A Holiday Ski!
First Skis of the Season!
Downtown Holiday Shopping Guide
Getting First Night Ready
Be there at the finish!
Rugby — A Gentleman’s Sport
Sprung!
Vroom! Daffest Derby creator shares memories
Skiing and Exploring the Jackrabbit Trail
Maple, sweetener of the future!
Big Snow!!!!!
The coolest St. Paddy's Day
A Great Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail!
Dewey Mountain - Just Wild Enough
Treat Your Valentine With An Unforgettable Experience
Get out and snowshoe!
Ice Fishing First-Timer
Winter Carnival Invention: Arctic Golf
Counting Birds in the Olympic Region
Finding Birds on the Saranac Lake Christmas Bird Count
2016 Most Popular Blogs
We can dash through the snow
If self-care is naughty, I don't want to be nice
Get it together — First Night Saranac Lake
Make Holiday Memories at Moody Farm
Cross Country Skiing in Lake Clear
Early-Winter Skiing!
Enjoying Late Fall Cold Fronts And Their Migrants
A tree for the whole family
Great Fall Birding!
The thrill of snowmobiling
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
A Rainy Day Birding Trip in Madawaska
Planting seeds
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
An "event-full" spring
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Springing!
All things maple, in one weekend!
Our Winter Waxwing
Cross-Country Skiing on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing!
Jones Hill and Blue Hill, a mighty duo
Gray Jays!
Snowshoeing: day to learn, lifetime of fun!
Fun with Ice: Saranac Lake Creativity
2015 Most Popular Blogs
First thing's first: An insider's guide to First Night Saranac Lake
Dewey Mountain Recreation Area: A Great Place to Enjoy Winter!
Winter Events You Won't Want To Miss
Trotting for Turkeys
Select seven: Family hikes under four hours
Shopping without the stress
Dewey Mountain - satisfy that snow craving
Tubing: the sport to please the masses
Timeless Tubing at Mount Pisgah
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
Upcoming Fall Events
How to have fun at the Art Opening
A Wonderful Wellness Weekend
July is when things heat up!
Coming Home to Saranac Lake
Cycle Adirondacks: Pedal On Over
Learning to Love Every Season
In Defense of Mud Season
Skiing in April and on Easter - No Foolin'!
Boreal Birding In and Around Town
The Joy of Spring Skiing
Winter Birding with Signs of Spring
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
Jackrabbit Trail: Lake Placid to Keene
Jackrabbit Trail - Day 2: McKenzie Pond to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Winter Birding: Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths
An evening snowboard session at Mt. Pisgah
Jackrabbit Trail: Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond Road
Newbie Skier Tackles Titus
Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis
Friendly Snowshoe Up Baldface Mountain
Skiing the Fish Pond Trail
February Fun and Games in Saranac Lake
Wedding planning with the pros
Two sides of the Trifecta
Get ready to jam at Winter Carnival
Enjoying Winter Birding
A Winter Hike into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area
Nordic Skiing - Five Great Places
A Century of Ice Palaces
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
Enjoying White Snow to Take Away the Winter Blues
Wellness Resolutions: Easy does it!
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
An Adirondack You for 2015
Race, jam, dance and more in January
A Winter's Hike up Baker Mountain
Four Seasons of High Points
Hiking & Tracking Wildlife on Scarface Mountain
Extreme Ice Fishing
Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland
Early Season Cross-Country Ski Destinations
Fly our Adirondack skies
Searching for Boreal Birds
A night on the town in Saranac Lake
St. Regis Canoe Area - An Interesting Ski Tour
Where to find hot beverages
The First Ski of the Season!
A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events
A Guide to the Great Indoors
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
The Blind Owl Band: A true Adirondack band
Norman Bethune, the hero, the artist
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
The Horse Knows The Way
Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
See artists at work in the mountains
A cure cottage tour, a step back in time
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
Mid-summer events in Saranac Lake
Frankenstein Lives! In the old laboratory in the village
Events roundup for Saranac Lake
Art Event or Fun Party? BluSeed blurs the line
Daffest is just around the corner
VIC music sweetens a ski Sunday
Waterhole Wednesdays Feature Free Music
Skiing Upper Saranac Lake Loops
Winter Foodie Scene
BluSeed Studios planning for busy spring
Spoken Word: Poetry on Stage
Thursday Night Music Jam
Paul Smith Visitors Interpretive Center
Night Skiing at Mt. Pisgah
Mid-Winter Events 2014
Winter Carnival means live music
Top Five Winter Break Activities
Best Ice Fishing Holes
Building the Ice Palace
Tubing Adventures at Mt. Pisgah
Skiing Before the Melt
Basics for Ice Fishing Gear
First Time Ice Fishing
Slip Sliding Away Winter Hiking
Silent Night
Snowshoe Shopping
Lost and Found
New Years Eve Saranac Lake NY
Short & scenic hikes
Mount Arab
Winter Family Events
First Ski of the Season!
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Debar Mountain and Black Peak
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Ducks and Otters at Lake Colby
Muskrats!
Goodman Mountain
Ducks on the Pond
Painted Landscapes, Clay Demonstrations, and Chickens...all a part of the Artist at Work Studio Tour
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Hobofest tops the calendar this weekend
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Farm 2 Fork: Slow Food, Long Life
Hobofest Returns to Saranac Lake
Pianist Eugene Sirotkine performs August 6th concert to benefit Bartok Cabin
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area
Paper Making with a Purpose at BluSeed Studios
From carousels to magic lamps - events to tickle your Spring fancy
A Taste of Provence at Saranac Lake's Left Bank Cafe
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•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