Special Thanks to:
Rob Grant for hosting this website and The Letterbox Workshop for its design and development.
Thanks to Mark Kurtz Photography for photo use.
Thanks to Pat Hendrick Photography for help with the Program Book.
Website maintained by Caroleigh Meserole and by Jeff Branch.
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, Feb. 3-12, 2012 is the longest-running event of its kind in the eastern U.S. Now celebrating its 115th anniversary, the Carnival began as a one-day event to break the monotony of the long Adirondack winter and has grown into a 10-day festival that includes sports, dances, performances, two parades and two sets of spectacular fireworks above the world-famous Ice Palace. Over the years, the Carnival has retained the warmth, charm and camaraderie of a community celebration. Looking for an application? Check out Forms and Publications.
The Winter Carnival Committee will meet in the Large Group Instruction Room at the Saranac Lake High School January 25th at 6:00 p.m.
AND SO IT BEGINS……..
Close Encounters of Carnival Time!
The 115th Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is about to begin with the laying of the first blocks of ice that will become the centerpiece of our Carnival—the Ice Palace. This year’s design will be as majestic as always. The design is created by a handful of veteran volunteer Ice Palace Workers and is brought to life by the “crew” of volunteer workers that show up both day and night for close to two weeks. The crew is a compilation of local citizens who take time from their jobs and busy lives to create the Ice Palace every year. On most days you can see onlookers standing around the palace as it is being built, watching the remarkable transformation of simple ice blocks into an architectural masterpiece. The process of creating the Ice Palace is outlined below:
Drawings have been done, measurements will be made and lines laid. The roar of the ice saw backed by the buzz of hand saws and thunk of the ice spuds fill the frozen air as the channel is cut, and blocks are separated from the ice field. Volunteers then pole each block over into the channel to the backhoe. With a rhythmic swing the block is plucked out by the backhoe jaws and set into the buckets of the tractors and bobcat. Off they roll to drop each one in place. The Ice Men then move or shave the block to level the foundation. Once this layer is complete the next row is staggered and the process continues all over again.
Next come the Slushers. A careful recipe of water and snow is mixed into pickle buckets and brought over to mortar the blocks in place, each crack and crevice filled to cement it all together. More slush, more blocks, more imagination, more creative work from the many dedicated volunteers and our palace will be ready for this year’s Invasion of the Space Aliens. Come join our annual effort!
Follow this link, to watch the progress!
To see past “Photos Of The Day” click here
2-3-12 The Ice Palace Workers (IPW 101) gathered at the ice palace on Thursday evening to celebrate the completion of the 2012 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival ice palace. The official lighting of the ice palace and Guide Boat Realty Opening Fireworks will take place on Saturday, February 4th at 7:00PM at the ice palace on Lake Flower.
2-3-12 All the past Royalty gathered at the Red Fox on Thursday evening for the 13th Annual Past Royalty Dinner.
The last finishing touches are being put on the ice palace, event planning is complete and the 10-day weather forecast is favorable for a great carnival. Enjoy!
Winter Carnival Announces the
Opening of the Winter Carnival Headquarters
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee would like to announce the opening of our Headquarters at the Adirondack Business Center (next to Lake View Deli & across from the Ice Palace) on Saturday, January 28th 2012 at 2pm. We will be open from 10-5 Sunday the 29th through Friday, February10th and on Saturday February 11th (parade day) from 8:30-12 noon. We will have Carnival buttons, Winter Carnival Souvenirs, and lots of alien accessories. We will also be selling raffle tickets for the #100 signed Gary Trudeau 2012 Carnival Poster. The winner will be announced at the end of carnival. In celebration of our 115th year tradition we will have some great old photos of ice palaces and past carnival royalty.
The Headquarters will have schedules and a great group of volunteers to answer your carnival questions as well. Please stop by for a visit and we look forward to seeing you! We would also like to thank Clarkson University for their generous donation of their space.
Have a Happy Alien Invasion!
The 2012 Winter Carnival Committee gather for a group picture after the January 25th meeting.
Rotary Club Variety Show tickets are now on sale. The show is on Feb, 10th at 7:30 at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Tickets are $13.00 if purchased prior to the show or $20.00 at the door (if tickets are still available). If you would like to purchase tickets prior they are being sold until February 7th at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Ampersound, Blueline, Chamber Of Commerce, Coakleys, Community Bank, Community Store, Echo Living, Eye Care For The Adirondacks, NBT Bank and Post Office Pharmacy. Starting February 8th tickets will only be available at the Chamber of Commerce. If you need tickets mailed to you, please email Bill Licata at bill50@roadrunner.com Its been recommended to buy early because tickets go fast.
Arts Council concert (Sat, Feb 4)
Arts Council Concert Sat, Feb 4 at The Harrietstown Town Hall.Showtime is at 7:30.Admission is $8, $4 for seniors and children under 5 are free. See the Schedule page for all events!
The signed Garry Trudeau posters are completely sold out. We do have lots of unsigned ones available still as well as raffle tickets available ($5 each, maximum of 100 to be sold) for signed Poster #1 of 100. Raffle tickets can be purchased by calling 518-891-4344, 518- 524-2731 or by e-mail casjdcksn@aol.com.There are also calendars and buttons available that can be purchased at various merchants in Saranac Lake as well as being mail-ordered. The calendar features the Mark Kurtz photo selected as National Geographic’s Photo-of-the-Day for September 20, 2011. The National Geographic link contains additional information concerning the conditions at the time the photo was taken and the techniques that Mark used to do so. See posts below for Calendar or Button purchasing information.
Its time for nominees for the King and Queen of the 2012 Winter Carnival!
Click here for the instructions on how to nominate someone!
The 2012 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival buttons are now available. They feature “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau’s illustration of Sir Zonker, made special for this year’s theme, “Space Alien Invasion.”
The buttons are $3.00 a piece and as of Dec. 20th, the buttons have been distributed to the list below. Mail orders are also available. Please send shipping address along with a check to: Barbara Martin- 230 Broadway Saranac Lake N.Y. 12983. Shipping is as follows: 1 – 5 buttons….. $2.00, 6 – 9 buttons….. $5.00, 10 buttons and up….. $ 7.00
Ace hardware, Adirondack Bank Main St., Adirondack bank Branch, Adult center, ADK Daily Enterprise, ADK Wine and Liquor, Amanda’s village Motel, Ampersound, Bear Essentials, Belvedere, Blooming Market, Blue Line Sports Shop, Blue Moon Café, Captain Cooks, Chamber of Commerce, Community Bank Main St., Community Bank Branch, Eco Living, Fusion Market, Goody-Goody’s, HSBC Bank, Hyde’s Mobile Nice and Easy, Hyde’s Mobile Broadway, Kinney Drug Store, K&E Enterprise, Lake View Deli, Maurice’s, McKenzie’s Restaurant, NBT bank, Norman’s Store, Post Office Pharmacy and Rice Furniture, Saranac Lake Discount Liquor, Vets Club, Waterhole, Will Rogers.
2012 Calendar Front
2012 Calendar Back
The 2012 Calendars (2nd Edition) are now on sale. The Calendar includes “Ice Palaces Of Our Past” and are available at SL Chamber of Commerce, Community Store, Rice Furniture and Little City Hair Cutters. The calendar features the Mark Kurtz photo selected as National Geographic’s Photo-of-the-Day for September 20, 2011. The National Geographic link contains additional information concerning the conditions at the time the photo was taken and the techniques that Mark used to do so. Shipping is also available! Costs are as follows: $13 per calendar + $3.50 S&H $25 for 2 calendars + $5 S+H Please mail a check to: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee P.O. Box 829 Saranac Lake, NY 12983 or email SLWinterCarn@aol.com
Purchase a 2012 Winter Carnival Poster created and autographed by Garry Trudeau (Illustrator of the Winter Carnival Buttons). The posters are $50 + $5 shipping and handling. There is a limited amount and they can be reserved by calling 518-891-4344, 518- 524-2731 or by e-mail casjdcksn@aol.com. The poster labled #1 by Garry will be raffled off. Unsigned posters will be available for $15 a piece at the Saranac Lake Chamber and additional locations will be anounced at a later date.
Winter Carnival is a well-known event throughout the United States. It attracts people from all 50 states as well as our Canadian neighbors. Supporting Winter Carnival is a great way to foster good will within the community while simultaneously reaching a large and diversified audience. If you would like to be a sponsor for the 2012 Winter Carnival please view the flyer and contact Jeff Dickson at 518-891-4344 or 518-524-2731. Click here to access the Sponsor Flyer.
Feb. 15, 2011: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee Chairman Jeff Dickson accepts on behalf of the Winter Carnival Committee a proclamation from the Saranac Lake Village Board, presented by Mayor Clyde Rabideau.
Here are the latest Photos of the Day from the 2011 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Photos by Mark Kurtz Photography.
You can see the rest of the Photos of the Day for 2010 and 2011 here.
Click here to read about the history behind the famous Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace. This is a very interesting and well written document created by Caper Tissot called “Ice Palace History”.
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival now has its own Facebook page, which is being updated regularly thanks to our friends at the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Thanks, Adrienne!
