A hallmark event in the North Country of New York, the 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will kick off later this week, starting February 1 through February 11. The history-rich event is a celebration of Saranac Lake, dating back to 1897 and the longest running event of its kind in the United States.
Former Saranac Lake resident and Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau has designed the 2024 Winter Carnival button, lending the influence of 1940s horror and comic books and to accent the “Creepy Carnival” theme. Find out how to pick one up, either by mail or at businesses in Saranac Lake.
As is tradition, the ice castle is being built along the shores of Saranac Lake, with a recent process photo shared on Facebook by Meachele Burgoyne Manchester.
Of course, no Winter Carnival is complete without the live music at The Waterhole all throughout the week. Pick up a week long pass and save! Things kick off on February 2 with Annie in the Water and Organ Fairchild. Get the full scoop and ticket details here.
2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Schedule
Thursday, February 1
11am to 12:30pm & 4pm to 5:30pm: Drop off times for the Winter Carnival Sun Catcher Contest at the NYS Boat Launch to the right of the Ice Palace; display and voting throughout the Carnival. Find info on Sun Catcher Contest.
5:30pm: *23rd Annual Past Royalty Mixer & Dinner – Open to past royalty only, $, at the Red Fox Restaurant
Friday, February 2
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
7:30 pm *Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation of Winter Carnival Royalty, at Harrietstown Town Hall
Post Coronation *Winter Carnival Royalty Reception, at the Elks Lodge
Saturday, February 3
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run at the Ice Palace – 4 miles, at the Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
10am to 3pm: Edward Jones Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest (Located at Prescott Park)
10am to 4pm: *Paul Smith’s Booster Club Chocolate Festival, at Romano’s Saranac Bowling Lanes
11am: Long Run Wealth Advisors Curling Exhibition, on Lake Flower near the Ice Palace
11am: *Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen Exhibition, at Riverside Park
12pm: Heat Keepers Icicle Contest, at Riverside Park (icicle check-in at 11:30am)
12pm: Lake Placid Curling Club “Hit the Button” Curling Competition, on Lake Flower & open to all ($)
12:30pm: Saranac Teachers Association Little Ladies Fry Pan Toss, at Riverside Park (for girls 6 to 17, registration from 11am to 12pm)
2:30pm: New Time & Day! LifePower Chiropractic Ultimate Frisbee Games (Saranac Lake High School Football Field, Call 518-637-3238 for details)
1pm: Taylor Rental Ladies Fry Pan Toss, for ladies 18 and up, at Riverside Park (registration 11am to 12:30pm)
5pm to 7pm: *Catholic Daughters/Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner going to local scholarships. (St. Bernard’s School Cafeteria 63 River St $)
7pm: Lighting of the Ice Palace & Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks Display (roads close at 6:15pm)
Sunday, February 4
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am to 3pm: Edward Jones Arctic Golf, at Prescott Park
10am to 3pm: *Skate Lake Colby sponsored by Adirondack Health – demos, free skate, straight line drag races for ice skates and kick sleds 2pm to 3pm, at the beach at Lake Colby
10am: *White Stag Downhill Ski Races, at Mt. Pisgah
11:30am: *Arctic Bar-B-Que with Friends of Mt. Pisgah, $, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
1pm: The Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza, a bathing suit-clad around town bike ride (Located at Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)
2:30pm: Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters Flower Ball, on Lake Flower ice car A “Totally 80s” ice car sculpture in progress on January 27, 2022.
Monday, February 5
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
7pm: *Ecunemical Service (St Lukes Church followed with cider & donuts, Rev Vance Mortinsen & Rev Bill Cooper)
Tuesday, February 6
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
5pm: Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception, $, Hotel Saranac
6pm: Winter Carnival Royalty Dinner, $, Hotel Saranac
Wednesday, February 7
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 7pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
5pm to 7pm: Family Night at the Palace, sponsored by Hudson Headwaters Health Network, at the Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
6pm: Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races at Dewey Mountain, all ages
Thursday, February 8
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
6pm: American Management Association Torchlight Skiing & Fireworks, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center)
Friday, February 9
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am: Adirondack Bank Innertube Races, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
12:30pm to 2pm: Coakley Home & Hardware Children’s Skating Races, at Saranac Lake Civic Center
1pm to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
2pm to 4pm: Coakley Home & Hardware Family Open Skate, free hot chocolate, at the Saranac Lake Civic Center
7:30pm: *Rotary Club Variety Show; tickets available at Chamber of Commerce, Ampersound, and NBT Bank; $; at Harrietstown Hall
TBD Firefighter’s Broom Ball, at Saranac Lake Civic Center
Saturday, February 10
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 11am: Meet the Winter Carnival Characters at the Ice Palace (Located at Ice Palace)
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: *CanAm Snow Rugby, at the Saranac Lake High School Track Field
11am: *Paul Smith’s Woodsmen Exhibition, at Riverside Park
12pm: Gala Parade Lineup, register at Nice n Easy Mobile
1pm: Gala Parade presented by Casella Waste and North Country Community College, from the firehouse on Broadway to LaPan Highway
New Time & Day Guide Boat Realty “Storming the Ice Palace” Closing Fireworks Display (Ice Palace)
Sunday, February 11 – Last Day
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 3pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: Community Bank Adult Cross-Country Ski Races, at Dewey Mountain
11am: Bionique Testing Labs Snowflake Volleyball Tournament, at Saranac Lake Civic Center, Rotary Field
11am: Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters Flower Ball, on Lake Flower
12pm: Adirondack Health Youth Cross-Country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, Call 518-891-2697, Children Event Fees covered by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)
12pm to 1:45pm: Face painting before Kiddie Parade (Located at Hotel Saranac)
2 PM: Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade from Hotel Saranac to Harrietstown Town Hall
Visit here for a printable Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2024 schedule and for more info on events and buttons.
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