There is no better way to kick off the year than by taking advantage of the 2025 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival and all the events it offers.
Whether you’re interested in beautiful ice sculptures or exhilarating winter sports competitions, the 2025 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has 10 days of events that you do not want to miss. The Carnival begins on Friday, January 31st, and goes on until Sunday, February 9th.

Beginning in 1897, the carnival started as a grassroots, volunteer-driven event that was meant to help break up the deep winters. During this time, Saranac Lake also became a research and cure center for tuberculosis, so the carnival also acted as a way to help boost patients’ morale.
Long ago, Saranac Lake was in the “ice trade” of cutting blocks of frozen water to serve the refrigeration needs of turn-of-the-century cities, giving the village the equipment and expertise to build the infamous Ice Palace. The Ice Palace, which is constructed every year, is an integral part of the festival, and the construction techniques used are the same ones used over 100 years ago.

Every year, “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau designs a new, themed, collectible pin as a fundraiser for the event. For just $5, you can find one of these buttons at many Saranac Lake businesses or during your trip to the Ice Palace and start your collection!
The lighting of the Palace takes place on Saturday, February 1st, and will remain lit until the closing night, February 9th. The carnival’s theme, Music Legends, will also be on display inside the ice palace in costumes and at all of the events.
Over the course of ten days, the carnival has something to offer for everyone. If you’re interested in sports, there are ski and snowshoe races, the Ice Palace fun run, a curling exhibition, and even arctic golf.
Saranac Lake 2025 Winter Carnival Schedule Of Events
Thursday, January 30, 2025
5:30 pm-8:00 pm 2025 24th Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner at the Red Fox Restaurant
7:00 pm-9:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
Friday, January 31, 2025
6:00 am-9:00 pm The All Day Clue Hunt starting at The History Hut and Gift Shop
5:00 pm-7:00 pm Cool Vibes and Visuals at the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery
7:00 pm-9:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
7:30 pm-11:45 pm The Waterhole Presents: The Mallet Brothers Band & Eastbound Jesus
7:30 pm-9:00 pm 2025 Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm 2025 Winter Carnival Royalty Reception
Saturday, February 1, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm 2025 All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival Button Making at The Saranac Laboratory Museum
10:00 am – 12:00 pm 2025 NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run
10:00 am – 3:00 pm 2025 Edward Jones Arctic Golf Build-An-Obstacle Contest at Prescott Park
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Paul Smith’s Booster Club 31st Annual Chocolate Festival at Romano’s Saranac Lake
11:00 am – 2:00 pm 2025 Long Run Wealth Advisors Curling Exhibition at Lake Flower
11:00 am – 1:00 pm 2025 Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen Competition at Riverside Park
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 2025 Lake Placid Curling Club Hit The Button Curling Competition at Lake Flower
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch near the Ice Palace
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Little Ladies Fry Pan Toss 2025 Sponsered By Saranac Lake Teacher’s Association at Riverside Park
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Women’s Civic Corn-A-Ment Cornhole Tournament at Voco Saranac Lake
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Ladies Fry Pan Toss Sponsered By Taylor Rental at Riverside Park
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
2:30 pm – 4:00 am Ultimate Frisbee Sponsered by Lifepower Chiropractic at Saranac Lake High School Football Field
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm 2025 Catholic Daughters/Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner at St. Bernard’s School Cafeteria
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 2025 Lighting of The Ice Palace and Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks Display
7:30 pm – 11:45 pm Blind Owl Band Winter Carnival Reunion at The Waterhole wsg Folk Faces *SOLD OUT*
8:00 pm – 11:45 pm Carnival Rave st the Garagery
8:00 pm – 11:30 pm The New Adirondack Jazz Quartet, Presented by Lake Flower Landing
Sunday, February 2, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
10:00 am – 3:00 pm 2025 Edward Jones Arctic Golf at Prescott Park
10:00 am – 3:00 pm 2025 Skate Lake Colby at Lake Colby Beach
10:00 am – 1:00 pm 2025 White Stag Downhill Ski Races Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
11:30 am – 1:00 pm 2025 Arctic Bar-B-Que at Mt Pisgah Ski Center
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Tug of War Sponsered by Rice Furniture at Riverside Park
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch on Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm The Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza at The Ice Palace
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Cosmic Bowl and Boogie at Romano’s Saranac Lanes
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Flowerball at Lake Flower
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Lawn Chair Ladies Meet and Greet at The Garagery
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
5:30 pm – 11:00 pm Blind Owl Band’s Winter Carnival Reunion at The Waterhole (NIGHT 2) wsp Arthur Buezo
Monday, February 3, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at The Lake Flower Launch
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Snow Shoe Races at Dewey Mountain Recreational
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm The Last Waltz at The Saranac Lake Free Library
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Artists’s Night at The Palace- Plein Air Drawing and Painting
6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Music Legends Take Over at The Saranac Lake Hootenanny
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm 2025 Ecumenical Service at St. Luke’s Church
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Ice Palace Accesibility Day
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival Button Making at The Saranac Laboratory Museum
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Rolling Stones in Concert at The Lake Saranac Free Library
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm 3rd Annual Winter Carnival Fashion Show at The Garagery
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival Button Making at The Saranac Laboratory Museum
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Family Night at The Ice Palace
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm This is Spinal Tap at The Saranac Lake Free Library
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Soggy Po’ Boys LIVE- Winter Carnival at The Waterhole
7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Illusionist Leon Etienne at Harrietstown Town Hall
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm ADK Stage Rats: Who’s Holiday by Matthew Lombardo at The Garagery
Thursday, February 6, 2025
6:00 am – 9:00 pm All Day Clue Hunt at The History Hut and Gift Shop
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival Button Making at The Saranac Laboratory Museum
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch
6:00p m – 9:00 pm Karaoke Competition at The Saranac Lake Free Library
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm 2025 American Management Association Torch Light Skiing and Fireworks at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
7:30 pm – 1:00 am The Waterhole Presents Annie In The Water wsp What? LIVE
Friday, February 7, 2025
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Winter Carnival Button Making at The Saranac Laboratory Museum
10:00 am – 12:00 pm 2025 Adirondack Bank Innertube Races at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Cure Porch On Wheels at Lake Flower Boat Launch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm 2025 Coakley Home and Hardware Children’s Skating Races at Saranac Lake Civic Center
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Coakley Home and Hardware Family Skate with Free Hot Chocolate at Saranac Lake Civic Center
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 2025 Firefighter’s Broom Ball at Saranac Lake Civic Center
7:30 pm – 1:00 am LUCID wsg All Night Boogie Band at The Waterhole
7:30 pm – 11:00 pm 2025 Paul Smith’s College Hockey vs. Jefferson Community College at Saranac Lake Civic Center
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm 2025 Rotary Club’s Variety Show at Harrietstown Town Hall
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm ADK Stage Rats: Who’s Holiday by Matthew Lombardo at The Garagery
Saturday, February 8, 2025
8:00 am – 11:00 am 2025 Masons’ Pre Parade Breakfast at Saranac Lake Adult Center
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Skate Lake Colby!
10:00 am – 11:00 am 2025 Meet the Winter Carnival Characters at The Carousel
10:00 am – 12:00 pm 2025 CanAm Snow Rugby at Elks Field
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 2025 Gala Parade Lineup at Nice n Easy Mobil
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 2025 Gala Parade on Broadway Street
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm The Big Takeover at Winter Carnival Post Parade Party FREE SHOW at The Waterhole Music Lounge
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm 2025 Battle of The Bands Awards Presentation- Immediately post Gala Parade at Harrietstown Town Hall
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Snowball at voco Saranac Lake
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Storming The Ice Palace Closing Fireworks Display
8:00 pm – 2:00 am Chestnut Grove and Hayley Jane Band at The Waterhole Music Lounge
Sunday, February 9, 2025
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 2025 Adirondack Health Youth Cross Country Ski Races at Dewey Mountain
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Arthur Buezo at Bloody Mary Sunday at The Waterhole
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 2025 Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade at Hotel Saranac
2:45 pm – 5:00 pm 2025 Hobby Horse Race at Riverside Park
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm 27th Annual SLYAA Winter Carnival Baroque and Beyond Concert at United Methodist Church
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP at The Pendragon Theatre
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm 2025 Winter Carnival Slide at Will Rogers
Countless events are going on every day of the carnival for people of all ages and all interests, and you can view the full event calendar here.
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