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Saranac Lake is another quaint, charming Adirondack village, located about 9 miles from Lake Placid. It has an interesting history as a world-famous health resort, known for its tuberculosis treatments. The origin of the Winter Carnival can be found within that history.
The first year of this event was back in 1897. At this time, Saranac Lake was already a thriving community, offering health and recuperation to hundreds of sufferers of tuberculosis from all around the world. Coming to the Saranac Lake area to recover from this disease was called "taking the cure." The pure mountain air and natural beauty were an important part of this cure, and inspired people to explore the long, cold Adirondack winter. Thus, the first Winter Carnival was born.
This first event was only 2 days long. There were sponsored skating races, a parade, and an "ice tower." It's interesting that those activities are still featured in every Carnival in some way or another.
The festival has evolved into a 10-day long event that is eagerly anticipated by the locals as a welcome break from the daily winter routine. Each Carnival has a theme that's used as a basis for decorations, the parades and the Carnival buttons. The theme for 2008 is "Hooray for Hollywood."
Every year the Carnival begins with a Royal event - the coronation of the King and Queen! Two local citizens are honored each year, being recognized for their volunteer effors throughout the year. The two local colleges will provide a Prince and Princess for the Royal Court. The rest of the Court is made up of local high school seniors and Pages from the elementary school. The Court is rounded out with the Archbishop and Chamberlain whose jobs include crowning the royal couple, along with proclamations and other royal duties.
Of course, winter sports are a huge part of this seasonal celebration. Some of the events are serious, such as the nordic ski races, skating races, and a logging skills competition. Other sporting events are not quite so serious - for example, the volleyball game played in knee-deep snow and the softball game played on snowshoes! Definitely a must-see!
There are two parades featured in the Winter Carnival every year. The Gala Parade is always held on the next-to-the-last day of the festival. This one showcases the whole Saranac Lake area community in a march through the entire town, wearing comical costumes and riding on colorful floats, accompanied by jubilant bands. Then, on the last day of the festival is the Kiddie Parade, starring Saranac Lake's children.
As if all that weren't enough, there are also dramatic presentations by the Pendragon Theatre and a Murder Mystery Dinner. In the historic Harrietstown Town Hall there is an old-time amateur revue and dinners, dances and concerts all over town.
Perhaps one of the best-known traditions of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is the Ice Palace. This is really an awesome feat of engineering, built every year by volunteers who cut huge blocks of ice out of Lake Flower to build the Palace. 
Building starts about 6 weeks or so before the Carnival begins. The ice blocks are 2 feet wide and four feet long, from one to one and a half feet thick and weigh between four and eight hundred pounds!
The blocks are moved to the shore by conveyor belt and then set in place using "peaveys" (poles with hinged metal hooks) and ice tongs. A "mortar" made of slush is then applied to the blocks to cement them in place. This lovely ice sculpture is different every year and is really huge - up to 60 feet high! Making it even more beautiful are the colored lights placed inside it and lit each night. This Palace has come to symbolize the Winter Carnival.
The Carnival runs from February 1 - February 10, 2008. Please click here for a complete schedule of events (opens in a new window).
If you need a break from the everyday, why not come to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid in February and celebrate winter with us!
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