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!!

Press Releases

Latest Posts

Carnival Coronation

The Women’s Civic Chamber is once again proud to host the Winter Carnival Coronation on Friday, February 2nd at 7:30 pm at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Doors open at 6:45pm.

2024 Ice Palace Construction to Begin

Construction of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 22. Scores of volunteers have been kept busy removing snow from the ice field on a daily basis for the last week.

Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop is located at the Lake Flower boat launch on River St next to the Ice Palace. The History Hut will display photos and memorabilia of past and present carnivals while the gift shop will sell buttons, posters, t-shirts, mugs and much more carnival related items.

King and Queen Nominations

Time to submit nominations for the Winter Carnival King and Queen!

Sun Catcher Contest

The Suncatcher Contest is Back for Winter Carnival- new this year - workshops to help you build a suncatcher

Kathy & Roger Steinbrueck Named Grand Marshal’s

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee chose Kathy & Roger Steinbrueck as its 2023 Grand Marshal's for the Gala Parade on February 11th.

Family Night at the Ice Palace

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, February 8,2023 from 5 – 7 p.m. our wonderful Ice Palace Hosts will welcome visitors for a very special "Family Night."

Winter Carnival 2023 Buttons Available!

Using the Winter Carnival's designated theme "Roman around Carnival," Trudeau's illustration shows "Doonesbury" character Zonker as a Roman Emperor depicted on the shape of an ancient coin with the year 2023 displayed in roman numerals.

Winter Carnival Accepting Parade Applications

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will take place on February 3- February 12, 2023, featuring a "Roman around carnival" theme.

Winter Carnival Accepting King and Queen Nominations

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is currently seeking nominations from the public for the 2023 Winter Carnival king and queen.

Win a Complete Set of Gary Trudeau's Winter Carnival Buttons

Saranac Lake- The raffle of a complete set of Garry Trudeau's winter carnival buttons- 1981-2022. A $10 donation will enter you in the drawing to be held on May 5, 2022- National Cartoonist Day!

History Hut and Giftshop

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is extremely proud to introduce the History Hut & Gift shop.

Winter Carnival 2022 Button Available!

Using the Winter Carnival's designated theme "Totally 80's," Doonesbury cartoonist Trudeau's illustration shows "Doonesbury" character J.J. sitting in the iconic 1980's Delorean time machine with the date set to February 4th, 2022.

Accepting King and Queen Nominations

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is currently seeking nominations from the public for the 2022 Winter Carnival king and queen.

2021 Carnival Theme is 'Mask-erade'

Members of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee, and members of the public who attended the committee meeting on September 15, have chosen ‘Mask-erade' as the theme for the 2021 Carnival.

Winter Carnival Meeting and Theme Selection Postponed

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee meeting scheduled for April 21 at the Saranac Lake High School has been postponed.

Gala Parade Results

The Saranac Lake Gala Parade, sponsored by Casella Waste Systems and North Country Community College, took place on February 8.

Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest Winners

The Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest was held on February 1 and challenged contestants to build miniature golf obstacles out of snow for the Arctic Golf event held the following day.

Winter Carnival Gala Parade

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Gala Parade, sponsored by Casella Waste Systems and North Country Community College, will be held on Saturday, February 8 at 1 p.m.

Winter Carnival Gift Shop and Headquarters

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Gift Shop and Headquarters opens for the season on January 31 at the ROOST office at 193 River Street.

Ice Palace Construction to Begin

Construction of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace is scheduled to begin on January 20. Construction involves harvesting ice from Lake Flower, transporting it to the shore and assembling it according to a blueprint.

Tom Catillaz Named Grand Marshal

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee chose Tom Catillaz as its 2020 Grand Marshal for the Gala Parade on February 8. Tom has been an important part of the community for many years.

Winter Carnival 2020 Button Available

Using the Winter Carnival's designated theme "Myths and Legends," "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau's illustration shows "Doonesbury" character Zonker as a knight riding a winged Unicorn and gazing at a sword.

New Icicle Contest

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee has introduced a new event called the Icicle Contest. The contest will be held on Saturday, February 1 at Riverside Park. Icicle drop-off begins at 11:30 a.m. and judging takes place at 12:00 p.m.

Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contestants

Saranac Lake, NY – The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is seeking contestants for the Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest on February 1 between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Prescott Park, next to the Lake Flower State Boat Launch.

Grand Marshal Reception and Royalty Dinner

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee invites the public to the Grand Marshal Reception and Royalty Dinner on Tuesday, February 4 at the Hotel Saranac located at 100 Main Street in Saranac Lake.

Winter Carnival Accepting Parade Applications

The Gala Parade will take place on Saturday, February 8 and there will be trophies awarded for floats and walking units in six different categories as well as the Louis Fobare Trophy for Best in Parade.

Winter Carnival Posters

Using the Winter Carnival's designated theme "Myths and Legends," Trudeau's illustration shows "Doonesbury" character Zonker as a knight riding a winged Unicorn and gazing at a sword.

Accepting King and Queen Nominations

The king and queen selection is based upon volunteerism within the community. Candidates should demonstrate a long-term and broad-based commitment to making life more livable, pleasant, and enjoyable – both for the people who live here and for those who visit.

Winter Carnival Accepting Vendor Applications

All vendors participating during the carnival are required to complete and return a vendor agreement form and submit a deposit check by January 17, 2020.