Before the Adirondacks developed into a world-class tourist destination, the locals could become a little bored during the snowy winters. Skiing wasn’t yet en vogue, snowmobiling wasn’t yet invented and folks in the Saranac Lake area felt like the needed something to break up the monotony. Right before the 19th century passed, they came up with a solution that’s grown in scope and popularity for over 100 years—the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
Originally, the one-day festival features a few games and served as an excuse for community members to get out and “do something”. From those humble beginnings, a great tradition was born. Today, the little community event has grown into a ten-day celebration of community and the Adirondack mountain lifestyle in Saranac Lake.
It seems like every small town has a festival of some sort. Some of them are notable, others are forgettable. You can rest assured that a visit to the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will not be a disappointment. It’s a great event that offers a ton of entertainment for everyone.
The events include two parades. The Ice Palace is always a popular event and monument to the Carnival, but some would argue that the special parade just for children is even more fun to watch. Some people however, are doers instead of watchers. They might enjoy themselves more by participating in a few of the many sporting activities and contests scheduled over the ten days of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
The Winter Carnival came into being before television, radio or movie theaters in the Adirondack Mountains. That’s undoubtedly why musical and dramatic programs quickly became a part of the annual activities. They’re still going strong today. It doesn’t much matter what’s on TV during the carnival—there’s always something more entertaining going on live in Saranac Lake! It’s probably tough to find anyone who even bothers turning on the television during the carnival.
We usually associate fireworks with the Fourth of July. In the Adirondacks, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival offers explosions to rival those of Independence Day. They don’t just shoot off the fireworks once during the carnival. It happens twice every winter and there’s nothing quite like watching those colorful explosions in the night sky on a crisp winter evening in front of an amazing Adirondack mountain backdrop.
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival keeps growing, but it’s never outgrown its roots. Even though it now stretches over ten days, it still manages to maintain that same sense of community that it had when locals made the decision over 100 years ago to organize a day of fun activities.
If you’re planning a trip to the Adirondack Mountains during the winter months, check the schedule carefully and see if you can squeeze in a day or two of the Saranac Lake Winter carnival. You don’t need to live in the area to enjoy the festivities. If you come ready to have fun and with a sense of the carnival spirit, the people of Saranac Lake will be happy to make you part of their special annual celebration.