Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2020

Get ready for some cold weather fun as you gear up for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival!

When is the Winter Carnival?

The 2020 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will run from Friday, January 31, 2020 to Sunday, February 9, 2020. The 2020 theme is Myths & Legends.

Where Do the Events Take Place?

The Winter Carnival takes place at various locations throughout Saranac Lake, NY. The iconic Saranac Lake Ice Palace, shown below, can be found on the shores of Lake Flower at Pontiac Bay.

What Events Will be Happening in 2020?

Stay tuned for the 2020 schedule as it becomes available! For an idea of what to expect, check out the previous carnival's details:

Browse the 2019 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Schedule

Please note that the information below is preliminary. An asterisk (*) indicates an event not run by the Winter Carnival Committee, and the dollar sign ($) indicates a cost associated with an event.

Monday, January TBD, 2019

• 4:30pm to 7:30pm: High School Court Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser (Belvedere Restaurant, 102 Bloomingdale Avenue, $)

Thursday, January 31, 2019

• *5:30pm: 18th Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner, open to past royalty only (Red Fox Restaurant, 5034 NYS Route 3, contact Marilyn Bigelow at 518.891.1286, $)

Friday, February 1, 2019 - First Day

• 7:30pm: *Women's Civic Chamber Coronation of Winter Carnival Royalty (Harrietstown Town Hall)
• TBD: *Post-Coronation Winter Royalty Reception

Saturday, February 2, 2019

• 10am: NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run (4 miles) (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)
• 10am to 4pm: Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest, register before 01/27 (Prescott Park next to the State Boat Launch)
• 10am to 4pm: *Lutheran Church Women's Bake and Craft Sale (Harrietstown Town Hall)
• 10am to 4pm: *26th Annual Chocolate Festival by the Paul Smith's College Boosters/NYS Woman, Inc. (Harrietstown Town Hall)
• 11am: Casella Waste Systems Curling Exhibition (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)
• 11am: *Paul Smith's College Woodsmen's Exhibition) Riverside Park)
• 11am to 2pm: *Petrova Winter Carnival for Kids (Petrova Elementary School Cafeteria, $)
• 12pm: Hit the Button Curling Competition (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)
• 12:30pm: Saranac Lake Teachers Association Little Ladies' Fry Pan Toss, for girls ages 6 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 17 (Riverside Park, $), Registration is 11am to 12pm at the event
• 1pm: Taylor Rental Ladies' Fry Pan Toss. (new time). (Riverside Park, $), Registration is 11am to 12:30pm at the event
• 2:30pm: ANCA Flower Ball (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)
• 5:30pm to 7pm: *Spaghetti Dinner sponsored by Catholic Daughters Court St. Bernard (St. Bernard's School Cafeteria, River Street, $)
• 7pm: Lighting of the Ice Palace and Cape Air Opening Fireworks Display (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

Sunday, February 3, 2019

• 10am to 5pm: Blue Line Brewery Arctic Golf (Prescott Park next to the State Boat Launch)
• 10am: *White Stag Downhill Ski Races (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, $)
• 11am to 2:30pm: *Arctic Bar-B-Que (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, $), presented by the Friends of Mt. Pisgah
• 1pm: H&R Block Ultimate Frisbee Games (Saranac Lake High School Football Field), call 518.637.3238 for details

Monday, February 4, 2019

• 7pm: *Interfaith Service Celebration (St. Luke's Church)

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

• 3:30pm: *Scavenger Hunt for Middle School Students (Saranac Lake Youth Center)
• 5pm: Grand Marshal Reception (Hotel Saranac, cash bar)
• 6pm: Royalty Dinner (Pages' dinners sponsored by the Adirondack Motel), (Hotel Saranac, $), RSVP and meal choice required by 02/01, call 518.891.4367

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

• 6pm: Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races (all ages) (Dewey Mountain, $), call 518.891.2697

Thursday, February 7, 2019

• 2:30pm to 6:30pm: *30th Annual Winter Book Sale (Saranac Free Library, Thomas B. Cantwell Community Room, $)
• 6pm: American Management Association Torchlight Skiing and Fireworks (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center)

Friday, February 8, 2019

• 10am: Adirondack Bank Innertube Races (Mt. Pisgah Ski Center, $)
• 10am to 4pm: *30th Annual Winter Book Sale (Saranac Free Library, Thomas B. Cantwell Community Room, $)
• 12:30pm: Coakley Ace Hardware Children's Skating Races (Saranac Lake Civic Center)
• TBD: *Firefighters Broom Ball (Saranac Lake Civic Center)
• 7:30pm: *Rotary Club Variety Show (Harrietstown Town Hall, $), this event usually sells out - get your tickets ahead of time

Saturday, February 9, 2019

• 8am to 11am: *Mason's Pancake Breakfast (Saranac Lake Adult Center, $), sponsored by Whiteface Mountain Lodge (789 Masonic Temple)
• 8:30am to 9:30am: *Breakfast With the Winter Carnival Characters at the Mason's Pancake Breakfast (Saranac Lake Adult Center)
• 10am to 11am: Stewart's Shops Meet the Winter Carnival Characters (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)
• 10am: *Can-Am Snow Rugby Game (Saranac Lake High School Track Field), call 518.524.5841 for details
• 10am to 4pm: *30th Annual Winter Book Sale (Saranac Lake Free Library, Thomas B. Cantwell Community Room, $)
• 10:30am to 3:30pm: *Lion's Club Chili Sale (Harrietstown Town Hall, $)
• 11am: *Paul Smith's College Woodsmen's Exhibition (Riverside Park)
• 12pm: Gala Parade Line-up (Register at Nice N Easy Mobile, line up on Upper Broadway)
• 1pm: Gala Parade (Broadway and Main Street from Ampersand Avenue to LaPan Highway)
• Post-Parade Winter Carnival Parade Bands Sound-Off (Harrietstown Town Hall)
• 6pm: *Death & Acids, a Murder Mystery by Gem*Boy Productions (Elks Club, 30 Bloomingdale Avenue, $)

Sunday, February 10, 2019 - Last Day

• 10am: Community Bank Adult Cross-Country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, $), call 518.891.2697 for details
• 11am: Casey McHugh Pond Hockey Tournament (Bloomingdale Fields, $), call 518.637.4669 for details
• 11am: Bionique Testing Labs Snowflake Volleyball Tournament (Saranac Lake Civic Center, Rotary Field, $)
• 11am: Snowshoe Softball (Elks Field, John Munn Road, $)
• 11am: ANCA FlowerBall (Lake Flower near the Ice Palace)
• 12pm: Key Bank Youth Cross-Country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, $), call 518.891.2697 for details
• 12pm to 1:45pm: *Lunch at the Carousel With the Stewart's Shop Carnival Characters (Adirondack Carousel, $)
• 12:30pm to 1:45pm: Snowy Owl Face Painting for Children (Harrietstown Town Hall)
• 2pm: Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade (Main Street)
• 3pm: 24th* Annual Saranac Lake Young Arts Association Winter Carnival Baroque Concert (First United Methodist Church, donation requested)
• 7:30pm: Guide Boat Realty Winter Carnival Slide Show (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)
• 8pm: Guide Boat Realty "Storming the Palace" Closing Fireworks Display (Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

• 6pm: Post-Winter Carnival Committee Wrap-Up Meeting, 2019 Critique (LGI Lecture Room, Saranac Lake High School)

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

• 2pm: Post-Winter Carnival Slideshow (Saranac Village at Will Rogers)
• 7pm: Post-Winter Carnival Slideshow (Saranac Village at Will Rogers)

Wednesday, February TBD, 2019

• 6pm: Winter Carnival Volunteer Recognition Dinner (Red Fox Restaurant, 5034 NYS Route 3, 5pm to 6pm cocktails)

Tuesday, March TBD, 2019

• 6pm: Winter Carnival Committee Meeting - Theme Nominations (LGI Lecture Room, Saranac Lake High School)

Tuesday, April TBD, 2019

• 6pm: Winter Carnival Committee Annual Meeting - Elections and Theme Selection (LGI Lecture Room, Saranac Lake High School)

What Is The Ice Palace?

• The centerpiece of the Winter Carnival
• Built on the shore of Lake Flower's Pontiac Bay at the NYS boat launch
• Still constructed in the same way as it was in 1898 (the first year it was built)
• The Ice Palace is open to the public throughout the duration of the carnival
• Ice is harvested in blocks from Lake Flower and stacked to form the Palace

See photos of the ice palace through the years »

Who Is Responsible For The Winter Carnival?

The Carnival is organized by a group of volunteers called the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee.

Need More Information?

Go to the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival website »

Find more Adirondack winter carnivals »