Saranac Lake 2023 Winter Carnival Schedule of Events

Saranac Lake 2023 Winter Carnival is around the corner, held February 3-12, with the schedule of events and button design by Garry Trudeau having been revealed. Get ready for the North Country’s premiere winter entertainment event, going strong for 126 years!

saranac lake winter carnival 2023 fireworks over ice castle
photo via ILoveNY.com

In addition to an all-star lineup of music at The Waterhole during Saranac Lake 2023 Winter Carnival, the week long Adirondack event features the signature ice palace (built entirely by volunteers from solid blocks of ice pulled from Lake Flower), as well as fireworks, ski and snowshoe races, art shows, book sales, concerts, variety shows, and much more. The finale features a unique gala parade on Sunday, February 13.

Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, a native of Saranac Lake, has also released his button design for the 2023 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. The theme for this year – ‘Roman Around Carnival’ – depicts an illustration of Doonesbury character Zonker as a Roman Emperor, on the shape of an ancient coin with the year 2023 displayed in roman numerals. Trudeau has created the Winter Carnival button design since 1981 to benefit the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

According to Adirondack Daily Enterprise, buttons are available at a multitude of Saranac Lake businesses, starting later this week.

Saranac Lake 2023 Winter Carnival Schedule of Events

Thursday, FEBRUARY 2, 2023 

11:00 am – 12:30 pm AND 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Drop off times for the Winter Carnival Sun Catcher Contest  at the NYS Boat Lauch to the right of the Ice Palace, Display and voting throughout Carnival, See the How to Make an Ice Sun Catcher Video 

5:30 pm *22nd Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner – Open to Past Royalty Only ($, Red Fox Restaurant, 5034 Route 3, contact Marilyn Bigelow at 518-891-1286)

Friday, FEBRUARY 3, 2023

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace) 

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm *Live Music–Blessid Dirt at the Campfire Adirondack Bar & Grill (Hotel Saranac, 100 Main St)

7:30 pm *Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation of Winter Carnival Royalty  (Harrietstown Town Hall, 39 Main St)

Post Coronation *Winter Carnival Royalty Reception (Elks Lodge #1508, 30 Broadway Ave)

8:30 pm *Live Music–Annie in the Water wsg The Reflexions, doors open 7:30 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Saturday, FEBRUARY 4, 2023

10:00 am – 6:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

10:00 am NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run – 4 miles (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

10:00 am – 3:00 pm Edward Jones Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest (Prescott Park next to the State Boat Launch)

10:00 am – 4:00 pm *Paul Smith’s Booster Club Chocolate Festival (Romano’s Saranac Bowling Lanes, 11 Bloomingdale Ave)

11:00 am Long Run Wealth Advisors Curling Exhibition (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)

11:00 am *Paul Smiths College Woodsmen Exhibition (Riverside Park)

12:00 pm Heat Keepers Icicle Contest — prizes for longest natural icicle (Riverside Park, icicle check-in at 11:30 am)

12:00 pm Lake Placid Curling Club “Hit the Button” Curling Competition — Open to all ($, Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)

12:30 pm Saranac Teachers Association Little Ladies Fry Pan Toss — For Girls 6-17 (Riverside Park, Registration 11:00-12:00)

1:00 pm *Women’s Civic Second Corn-a-ment Cornhole Tournament (On the ice in front of Saranac Waterfront Lodge, $40 registration fee per 2-player team. Contact Deb Reilly at debreilly6@gmail.com for information. Register at https://linktr.ee/wintercarnivalcornament)

1:00 pm Taylor Rental Ladies Fry Pan Toss — For Ladies 18 and Up (Riverside Park, Registration 11:00-12:30)

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm *Spaghetti Dinner at St Bernard’s School Cafeteria presented by Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 787 and Knights of Columbus Council 599, Take Out available ($, St. Bernard’s School, 63 River St, Orders taken 4:30 to 6:30 at 518-354-0825)

7:00 p.m. (roads closing at 6:15 pm) Lighting of the Ice Palace and Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks Display (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

8:30 pm *Live Music–Underground System wsg TBA, doors open 7:30 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Sunday, FEBRUARY 5, 2023

10:00 am – 6:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

10:00 am – 3:00 pm Edward Jones Arctic Golf (Prescott Park next to the State Boat Launch)

10:00 am – 4:00 pm *–BACK THIS YEAR– Skate Lake Colby sponsored by Adirondack Health — Demos, Free Skate, Straight Line Drag Races for Ice Skates and Kick Sleds 2 pm to 3 pm. (Beach at Lake Colby)

10:00 am *White Stag Downhill Ski Races (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, 92 Mt. Pisgah Lane, $)

11:00 am – 2:30 pm *Arctic Bar-B-Que — Friends of Mt. Pisgah (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, Mt. Pisgah Lane, $)

1:00 pm –NEW– The Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza, a bathing suit-clad round-the-town bike ride (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

1:00 pm LifePower Chiropractic Ultimate Frisbee Games (Saranac Lake High School Football Field, 79 Canaras Ave, Call 518-637-3238 for details)

2:30 pm Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters FlowerBall (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)

Monday, February 6, 2023

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

3:30 pm *Scavenger Hunt for Middle School Students (Saranac Lake Youth Center, 29 Woodruff St)

5:00 pm Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception ($, Hotel Saranac, 100 Main Street)

6:00 pm Winter Carnival Royalty Dinner ($, Hotel Saranac, 100 Main Street)

7:00 pm *Main Street Exchange presents “Roman Around Carnival” Fashion Show, Three rounds of Roman fashion: Ancient attire based off of Social Class, Gods and Goddesses, Ancient Roman attire in modern times. Contact Main Street Exchange to purchase tickets. ($, The Graragery, behind Grizzle-T’s on Dorsey Street)

8:00 pm *Live Music–Ryan Montbleau (Solo) wsg Hayley Jane, doors open 7:00 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm NEW– Family Night at the Ice Palace sponsored by Hudson Headwaters Health Network (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

6:00 pm Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races — All Ages (Dewey Mountain, Route 3, call 518-891-2697, Children’s Event Fees paid for by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)

6:00 pm *Bacchanalia Feast at the Hotel Saranac (Hotel Saranac, 100 Main St)

7:30 pm *Music–Beat Authority Dance Party, doors open 7:00 ($, Half of ticket sales donated to NCPR The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Thursday, February 9, 2023

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

6:00 pm American Management Association Torchlight Skiing and Fireworks (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, 92 Mt. Pisgah Lane)

8:30 pm *Live Music–The Frank White Experience: Tribute to Notorious B.I.G. wsg TBA, doors open 7:30 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Friday, February 10, 2023

10:00 am Adirondack Bank Innertube Races (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, 92 Mt. Pisgah Lane, Children’s Event Fees paid for by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Coakley Home and Hardware Children’s Skating Races (Saranac Lake Civic Center, 213 Ampersand Ave, Children’s Event Fees paid for by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)

1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm  Coakley Home and Hardware Family Open Skate with Free Hot Chocolate (Saranac Lake Civic Center, 213 Ampersand Ave)

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm *Live Music–Big Boss (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway) 

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Tentatively)  Firefighter’s Broom Ball (Saranac Lake Civic Center, 213 Ampersand Ave)

7:00 pm *–BACK THIS YEAR– Rotary Club Variety Show, Tickets available at Chamber of Commerce, Ampersound, NBT Bank ($, Harrietstown Town Hall, 39 Main St)

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm *Live Music–Moment’s Notice in the Great Hall (Hotel Saranac, 100 Main St)

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm *Live Music–John Warchol (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway)

8:30 pm *Live Music–The Mallett Brothers Band wsg Saints and Liars, doors open 7:30 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Saturday, February 11, 2023

8:30 am *Mason’s Pancake Breakfast with the Carnival Characters ($, Location TBD)

10:00 am – 6:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

10:00 am *CanAm Snow Rugby (Saranac Lake High School Track Field, 79 Canaras Ave, Call 518-524-5841)

11:00 am *Paul Smiths Woodsmen Exhibition (Riverside Park)

12:00 pm Gala Parade Line-Up (Register at Nice N Easy Mobil, 196 Broadway Ave)

1:00 pm Gala Parade presented by Casella Waste and North Country Community College (From the firehouse on Broadway to LaPan Highway)

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm *Live Music–Rose & the Bros at the Post Parade Party (Free Show, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm *Live Music–After-Parade Toga Party w/ Darkside Skinny Dippers (Free, The Rusty Nail, 83 Broadway Ave) 

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm *Live Music–Big Boss (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway)

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm –NEW NIGHT–  Saranac Waterfront Lodge Snow Ball ($, Saranac Waterfront Lodge, 250 Lake Flower Ave, Tickets are available at Waterfront Lodge)

9:00 pm – Midnight *Live Music–Sonic Boom (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway)

9:00 pm *Live Music–West End Blend wsg Chestnut Grove, doors open 8:00 ($, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

Sunday, February 12, 2023 — last day

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)

10:00 am Community Bank Adult Cross-country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, Route 3, Call 518-891-2697)

11:00 am Bionique Testing Labs Snowflake Volleyball Tournament (Saranac Lake Civic Center, Rotary Field, 213 Ampersand Ave)

11:00 am Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters FlowerBall (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)

12:00 pm Adirondack Health Youth Cross-country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, Route 3, Call 518-891-2697, Children’s Event Fees paid for by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm *Live Music–Jae Dani (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway)

1:00 pm Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade from the Hotel Saranac to Harrietstown Town Hall (Meet at the Hotel Saranac, 100 Main St)

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm *Live Music–The Ditrani Brothers at Bloody Mary Sunday (Free, The Waterhole, 48 Main St)

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm *Live Music–Michael Lashomb (Bitters & Bones, 65 Broadway)

7:30 pm Guide Boat Realty Winter Carnival Slide Show (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

8:00 pm Guide Boat Realty “Storming the Ice Palace” Closing Fireworks Display (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)  

The 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will be held February 2-11. Mark your calendars now!

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