Saranac Lake Winter Carnival in the Adirondacks

Non-stop winter fun begins on February 1st when the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival gets under way. The largest Winter Carnival in the East, featuring a palace of ice and diverse forms of winter fun has been growing in popularity for more than 100 years. The weekend of February 1, 2 and 3 will kick off Winter Carnival with entertainment for all. There will be music, fireworks, exhibitions and sporting events.

Winter Carnival starts with the crowning of the King and Queen of Winter Carnival 2008 at the Coronation of Carnival Royalty in the Harrietstown Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2008. During this event, the King and Queen – who will preside over all the events – are named. Former Kings and Queens select the pair in recognition of their contributions to the community. Also Friday evening, “Music & Mirth” will make its 4th annual appearance at Bluseed Studios.

The scheduling committee has finally conceded that we are not going to be able to convince the National Football League to change the date of the Superbowl to meet our convenience. Therefore, a number of events that have been held on Sunday evening have been moved to a very crowded Saturday schedule. Throughout Saturday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the annual Business and Professional Women’s Chocolate Festival and the Lutheran Church Women’s Craft sale will tale place at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Also at 10:00 a.m., the Ice Palace Fun Run begins at - you guessed it – the Ice Palace. The race is a four-mile trek which will weave through the village.

The Petrova Winter Carnival, which includes games and tests of skill for families and children, also begins at 10 a.m. Entertainment and food will be available. At 11 a.m., Winter Carnival celebrates the rejuvenation of one of its oldest events – the sport of curling – with an exhibition on Lake Flower sponsored by The Adirondack ARC. Come out to the State Boat Launch site and learn about the sport from men in kilts. The Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen will put on an exhibition at 11 a.m. in Riverside Park. During the school year, the team competes throughout the North Country, then at Winter Carnival the team demonstrates its skills. The team chops and saws its way through pure Adirondack timber. Continuing the Riverside Park festivities, the popular Ladies Fry Pan Toss will follow at 12:30 p.m.

The focus shifts to the Mt. Pisgah Ski Center for the White Stag Downhill Ski Races which take place throughout the afternoon, commencing at 1:00 p.m. This popular race features categories for all members of the family. The evening brings torchlight skiing at 5:30 p.m. – a great event for both the participants and the spectators.

The Seventh Annual Figure Skating Spaghetti Dinner will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church. The Ice Palace lighting will take place at 7:00 followed immediately by the Guide Boat Realty Opening Ceremonies Fireworks display. An array of colorful lights will glimmer from within the Palace while a spectacle of luminous radiance erupts in the sky above the palace and Lake Flower. The historic Harrietstown Town Hall will host “The Zambonis” – Rock’s Lord of the Rinks sponsored by the Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, another event returning after a long hiatus is Pond Hockey. A tournament will commence at 10:00 a.m. It is expected that the winner will be crowned by 2:30 p.m.

SECOND WEEKEND OF WINTER CARNIVAL

The second weekend of Winter Carnival emphasizes sporting events, includes the variety show and not one, but two parades. And it all winds up with a spectacular fireworks display. Friday, February 8 is a day off for the local schools. Most of the students (and a few teachers) find their way to Mt. Pisgah by 10:00 a.m. for the Adirondack Bank Innertube Races. Willingness to descend on snow at high speed with minimal control is much more important than skill.

The Saranac Lake Free Library also begins its book sale at 10:00 a.m. and continues until 4:00 p.m. For those kids who would rather skate then tube, the Children’s Skating Races are at 12:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. The Adirondack Artist’s Guild hosts its 10th Year Anniversary art show and reception featuring violinist Kama Prellwitz from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at their gallery, 52 Main Street. The Rotary Club’s annual variety show opens at 7:30 at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Advance tickets are a must.

Saturday, February 9 begins with two breakfast opportunities. There will be a pancake breakfast at the Adult Center Sponsored by Whiteface Mt. Lodge 789 Masonic Temple from 8:00 to 11:00. Or, possibly for a different age group, Grimace and Carnival Characters will be at McDonald’s. The McDonald’s festivities take place from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The Carnival Characters then move to the Ice Palace from 10:00 am until 11:00 am for fun and photos. At 10:00 a.m., The Mountaineers will host a rugby game at the Spencer’s Boatworks Field. Also at 10:00, the book sale continues at the Saranac Lake Free Library. From 11:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., the Lions Club will be selling chili at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Across the street, also at 11:00 am, Paul Smith’s College will be putting on a woodsmen’s exhibition. Grab a cup of chili and head on over to watch these students making sawdust and wood chips out of Adirondack softwoods. The Hotel Saranac hosts the Paul Smith’s College Alumni Reunion from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m. with a get-together and cash bar. Also at 12:00. the parade line-up begins on Lake Colby Drive. The Gala Parade, sponsored by the Franklin County Bicentennial Celebration begins at 1:00 p.m. and proceeds down Broadway and up Main Street past the reviewing stand set up in front of Town hall.

After the parade, Habitat for Humanity will host a chicken and biscuits dinner at the Methodist Church. At 7:30, the Pendragon Theater hosts “Twelve Angry Men”. Finally, 9:00 brings a dance at the Hotel Saranac with Double Axel.

Sunday, the last day of Winter Carnival, brings a whole bunch of sporting events, a parade for the little revelers and the grand finale. Dewey Mountain hosts cross-country skiing for adults at 10:00 a.m. followed by events for kids at 12:00 noon. At 11:00 am, the Snowflake Volleyball Tournament can be found at the Rotary Field next to the Civic Center and Snowshoe Softball takes place just around the corner on John Munn Road at the Elks Field. From 12:30 p.m. until 3:00, Sara the Snowy Owl and her helpers will be painting children’s faces at the Harrietstown Town Hall and this leads very naturally into the Kiddie Parade which starts at 2:00 p.m. The Kiddie Parade is sponsored by The Adirondack Arc and the Keeseville Pepsi-Cola distributor. At 3:00 p.m., the S.L.Y.A.A. will sponsor the 11th Annual Baroque Concert at the Methodist Church.

Finally, everything comes to its official close with the American Management Association Carnival Slide Show and Gala Fireworks Display at the Ice Palace. This takes place at 7:30 p.m. And this brings our Winter Carnival to a close for another year. We hope everyone had a great time and invite you all back next year.

To keep posted about next year’s Winter Carnival, call the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 518/891-1990 or 800/347-1992. The first major announcement, sometime in March or April will be the theme selected for 2009.

Further information about the Winter Carnival can be obtained by contacting the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 39 Main St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983, or at 1-800-347-1992, (518) 891-1990 or www.saranaclake.com.