Click here to suggest a theme for the 2025 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival! 

Thanks for joining us at this year's Creepy Carnival! For more information on the selection of 2025's Winter Carnival theme, click here.

2025 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Dates - COMING SOON!!

Buttons and Posters

2024 Posters and Buttons are Available!

Sales from buttons and posters designed by Garry Trudeau support the Winter Carnival.

Buttons by Gary Trudeau

Based on Doonesbury Character

“Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau has released his button design for the 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Using the Winter Carnival’s designated theme “Creepy Carnival” Trudeau’s illustration shows “Doonesbury” character Mike being chased by a green monster and falling through the ice while skiing. Trudeau, who was raised in Saranac Lake, has created the Winter Carnival button design since 1981 to benefit the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Where Can I Buy Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Buttons?

At the Carnival

Buttons will also be sold during Winter Carnival at its gift shop and history hut located on River St at the boat launch.

Through the Mail

They are also available through mail order by sending a check payable to:

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee,
Attention: Barb Martin,
P.O. Box 566,
Saranac Lake, New York 12983.


There is an additional cost for shipping based on quantity of buttons ordered: 1-4 - $5.50, 5-8 - $6, 9 or more - $8 (prices subject to change

Past Winter Carnival buttons are also available for $5. For more information contact Barb Martin at (518) 891-2382.).

The button costs $5 and will be available at the following merchants in Saranac Lake. 

(This list is subject to change.)

  • Adirondack Daily Enterprise
  • Adirondack Wine & Liquor
  • Adirondack Back (Main St. & Church St.)
  • Ampersound
  • Bear Essentials Apparel
  • Blue Moon Cafe
  • Coakley Home and Hardware
  • Carcuzzi
  • Community Bank (Broadway)
  • Fusion Market
  • Hyde Mobil (Lake Flower & Broadway)
  • Kinney Drugs
  • NBT Bank
  • Hotel Saranac (Academy & Main gift shop)
  • Rice Furniture
  • Rusty Nail
  • Saranac lake Area Chamber of Commerc
  • Saranac Lake Wine & Liquor
  • Saranac Lake Waterfront Hotel
  • Romano's Saranac Lanes
  • The Village Mercantile
  • Waterhole
  • Will Rogers

Winter Carnival Posters

Garry Trudeau has designed the Winter Carnival posters since 2012.

The 2024 Carnival posters feature an expanded version of the button design. Beneath text that reads “from the chamber of chills … Creepy Carnival” are Mike, the green monster and more Doonesbury characters that avid fans will recognize, above labels: “The Duke, The Ex and The Freak.”

The posters, much like the buttons, raise money for the following year’s Winter Carnival.

Trudeau has signed 100 posters this year, which will cost $75 each, including tax. There is an additional cost for shipping if local pick-up is not possible.

Signed posters are available to purchase by contacting Cheryl Joyce via email at wcpostersales@gmail.com or by phone or text at 518-524-2731. Those who have purchased signed posters last year should contact Joyce to continue the numbered series. Unclaimed numbered posters will be made available to the public on a first come/first served basis. Those interested in joining the waiting list can contact Joyce.

A raffle will be held for signed poster number one. Sales are limited to 100 raffle tickets at a cost of $5 each. Tickets are available from Joyce now through the end of Carnival on Feb. 11, at which point the winning ticket will be drawn and the winner notified.

Unsigned posters are for sale at Ampersound, Academy and Main gift shop, the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Rice Furniture. Payment is by cash only. Unsigned posters can also be purchased during carnival at the Winter Carnival History Hut located near the Ice Palace.

The cost for an unsigned poster is $20 including tax. In addition to current year posters, some prior year unsigned posters are still available for $10. Posters for years 2012 and 2017 are completely sold out. To purchase a poster by mail, contact Joyce. There is an additional cost for shipping




The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee, formally known as the Society for Promotion of Winter Carnival, Saranac Lake, Inc., is a not-for-profit 501(c)(4) organization of volunteers dedicated to planning and presenting an annual mid-winter festival. This 10-day, communitywide event traces its roots to a one-day Winter Carnival held in 1897 by the Pontiac Club. The Carnival honors its heritage every year by building an Ice Palace from blocks of ice harvested from Lake Flower’s Pontiac Bay, where carnival events have been traditionally held for generations. For more information, visit the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival website at www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com. The 2024 Winter Carnival will take place February 2-11,2024.