Can't-Miss Events

Lake Placid and I Love NY Horse Show

When: End of June/early July

Where: Lake Placid Horse Show Grounds 

Two of the nation’s top Hunter and Jumper competitions held back-to-back over the course of three weeks. Visit Lake Placid for an hour or a whole day and see competition ranging from ponies ridden by tomorrow's champions to members of the U.S. Equestrian Team atop some of the world's best horses. Together the shows bring nearly 1,000 horses to Lake Placid.

Lake Placid Film Festival

When: October

Where: Palace Theater and Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Lake Placid

For more than 20 years the Lake Placid Film Festival has brought together independent filmmakers, writers and film fans for four days of movie watching, panel discussions and how-to workshops all in celebration of movies. The event includes a seemingly non-stop lineup of feature films, award-winning documentaries and dozens of short films.

Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll 

When: early December weekend 

Where: Lake Placid Main Street area 

This is one of the most beloved Lake Placid winter traditions. During the Holiday Village Stroll, visitors and locals can expect fun activities for kids, a chili-chowder Main Street cook-off, wine tastings, craft making, live entertainment and multiple Santa sightings, including his debut entrance to Main Street on a firetruck! For added fun, skiers and boarders at Whiteface receive free lift passes if they show up dressed as Santa! Come stroll and celebrate.  

Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration

When: September

Where: Downtown Plattsburgh

This three-day commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh and the War of 1812 includes battle reenactments, musical acts, fireworks, a parade, vendors and fun throughout the region. Attendees can see 19th century trades, like blacksmithing, herbal medicine, candle making, in action. Enjoy a kid-friendly day of hands-on crafts, face painting and farm animals. Sip on a beer brewed specially for the Battle of Plattsburgh. Take a guided historic walking tour of the city and much, much more!

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Pro Bass Fishing Tournaments

When: June, July & August

Where: Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh

Lake Champlain was recently named one of the top 100 best bass fishing lakes in the United Stated by Bassmaster magazine. So it makes for an ideal location for professional bass fishing tournaments throughout summer, hosted by the Adirondack Coast and the City of Plattsburgh.

Mayor's Cup Regatta & Festival

When: July

Where: Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh

A premiere sailing competition on Lake Champlain, the Mayor's Cup Regatta, kicks off the weekend followed by competitive races in Cruising, Racing and Multihull, with prizes for all classes. The Mayor’s Cup Festival is held yearly at Plattsburgh's City Beach, the crown jewel of the Adirondack Coast, boasting one of the longest freshwater sandy beaches in the United States. Hosted by the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club, the two-day celebration includes a 5K race, kayak rides, cornhole tournaments, live music and much more for the whole family to enjoy in upstate New York!

Lake George Winter Carnival

When: weekends throughout February

Where: Lake George Village

The Lake George Winter Carnival pulls out all the stops with fun, Adirondack-inspired activities, parades, exciting competitions and lots of live entertainment. Get a taste for the region as local restaurants go head-to-head in a series of cook-off competitions. Experience just how beautiful ice can be by browsing the many ice sculptures – and even ice bars – featured throughout the village.

Americade Motorcycle Touring Rally

When: 5 days in late May/early June

Where: Lake George

A true rider’s rally, Americade kicks off riding season with a massive multi-brand gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts and their bikes by the shores of beautiful Lake George. Join tens of thousands of fellow riders on some of the best motorcycle rides in New York. Explore the Americade Expo, with vendors from all over the world. Enjoy fireworks, scenic rides—unguided, guided and self-guided—contests, music and more.

In addition to a picturesque background, laid-back atmosphere, and winding roads for motorcycling, the Southern Adirondacks and Lake George area offers many restaurants, shopping spots and attractions, making it the perfect location for Americade.

Adirondack Balloon Festival

When: in September

Where: Queensbury

The Balloon Festival is a sight to behold. Colorful and creatively fashioned hot air balloons come from across the country and beyond to soar high above the majestic Adirondack Mountains. Come out, enjoy live music and watch these vibrant balloons take to the sky during this five-day celebration.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

When: First full week of February

Where: Various venues throughout Saranac Lake

The grandaddy of Adirondack winter carnivals, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has been creating winter fun and entertainment since 1897.

The centerpiece of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is the Ice Palace, built by volunteers on the shore of Lake Flower's Pontiac Bay at the state boat launch.

Now a 10-day festival that includes sports, performances, two parades and three sets of spectacular fireworks, this ever-growing event still retains the warmth, charm and camaraderie of a community celebration.

Organized by an all-volunteer group, the Carnival is a community-driven festival made possible by the efforts of many volunteers and sponsors.

Celebrate Paddling

When: month of June

Where: Various locations throughout Saranac Lake and the surrounding region

The Tri-Lakes area - Saranac Lake, Lake Clear and Tupper Lake - offers some of the best paddling in all of Upstate New York. This month-long celebration features paddlesport events, races, presentations, guided trips, river clean-ups and more. Celebrate Paddling culminates with a family-friendly paddling event has something for everyone, including races for all ages and abilities, boat demos from local Adirondack outfitters and information from boat builders.

Northern Current Music Festival

When: Sunday of Labor Day Weekend

Where: Riverside Park, Saranac Lake

Northern Current is a free, day-long music festival that’s family friendly and community centered. Their mission is to enrich cultural diversity by celebrating a myriad of musical heritages. It is held in scenic Riverside Park in the village of Saranac Lake, located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. A huge tent for the event ensures that the show goes on, rain or shine.

Adirondack WhiteOut Weekend

When: President's Day Weekend

Where: Clifton-Fine

WhiteOut Winter Weekend kicks off on Friday night with an ice luminary woods walk and ice jamboree. This free weekend event offers something for the whole family, whether it's "glow" ice skating, joining the annual snowmobile ride, contra dancing, snow shoeing, taking an art class and more! While in St. Lawrence County, the largest county in New York State, there are many additional winter activities to enjoy, including ice fishing and catching a college hockey game. 

Whitewater King of New York Race

When: Labor Day Weekend, September

Where: Raquette River in Colton and Beaver River in Belfort

Whitewater kayakers come from near and far for the Raquette River’s steep, technical rapids. As part of the King of New York whitewater series, The Raquette Race or “Beaver Fest” is considered to be the most difficult creek race in the Northeast. The Class V whitewater race series determines the year’s extreme whitewater “king” and “queen” of New York. Kayakers and spectators make a camping weekend of it, celebrating and socializing outside of race time—aka Beaver Fest. Watch this short film of the 2022 races. Find announcements and details on the event here.

Higley 100 Bike Ride

When: September

Where: Higley Flow State Park, Colton

Calling all road bicyclists. Enjoy a day of riding quiet paved roads through small Adirondack villages with fellow cyclists. Whether you register for the Metric Century 100 kilometer (62 mile) ride or the Half-Century 50 km (31 mile) ride, your biking expedition begins and ends at the 1,1150-acre Higley Flow State Park, which is nestled among Adirondack foothills on the picturesque Raquette River. Stay for a BBQ lunch after the ride!

Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge

When: May

Where: WIlmington

The Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge was founded to celebrate the joy of fishing, spirit of sportsmanship, preservation of the Ausable River and natural wonders of the Whiteface Region.  Rules for the catch-and-release tournament are simple: anglers are allowed to bring two barb-less hook flies of any combination or patterns. Once the flies are lost or unusable, they are out. Anglers must fish with a partner and each must record the total number of fish caught, the length of each fish, and the cumulative number of inches. Only fish handled by the angler and successfully released will count as caught fish. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative length of each fish caught. 

Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival

When: September

Where: Wilmington Bike Park, Wilmington

The Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival takes place every Labor Day weekend and includes skills clinics and guided rides for all levels, including absolute beginners. This three-day celebration features on-site camping, live music, local food and beer, bike demos, group rides for all abilities, shuttles, a kids’ race and over 25 miles of Adirondack-beautiful single track riding. Proceeds from the event support the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA)’s efforts to build and maintain local backcountry trails.

Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest

When: First weekend in October

Where: Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington

Traditional Oktoberfest celebration with themed food, music, and entertainment located on Whiteface Mountain

You do not need to have lederhosen in your wardrobe to kick up your shoes and raise a stein of German beer at the Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest. Mark your calendars for the weekend-long, Bavarian-style celebration with authentic music, dancing, food and beer. The family-friendly event offers activities for all ages and scenic gondola rides. Children ages 12 & under enjoy free admission.

Black Fly Challenge

Where: Indian Lake & Inlet, NY

When: 2nd Saturday in June

This legendary Adirondack bike race, held annually on the second Saturday in June, is a 40-mile gravel grinder. Pass through the Adirondack backcountry, cross through the rugged Moose River Plains and continue along waterways, dirt paths and dense forest trails. The Black Fly Challenge started as a small biking race in 1996 and has grown exponentially, with nearly 1,000 participants entering the competition each year and hundreds more gathering to cheer along the course.

Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival

When: June

Where: Hamilton County

The three-day birding festival features birding hikes, walks, safaris, outings and seminars throughout the forests that surround the hamlets of Long Lake, Indian Lake, Speculator, Raquette, Blue Mountain Lake, Piseco, Morehouse, Lake Pleasant and Inlet. More than half of the county’s million-plus acres are classified as wilderness or wild forest, making it a prime location for watching boreal birds. All field trips are free. Registration for events is required.

Great Adirondack Moose Festival

Where: Indian Lake 

When: September

Moose-y on over for the Great Adirondack Moose Festival, a multi-day festival of jam-packed special events, including a moose calling contest, old fashioned turkey shoot, and kid-friendly activities such as the ever-popular "Count the Moose Scat" contest. Discover the wild majesty of one of the most elusive animals of the northern forests and celebrate the return of moose to the Adirondacks!

CAT’s Grand Hike

When: Early May

Where: Champlain region

Champlain Area Trails (CAT) hosts their annual grand hike for all to enjoy! The hike features one of CAT’s trails for everyone to come together for a grand hike! The day-long hiking event connects communities and individuals who enjoy outdoor recreation and ends in a celebration party. 

Best 4th in The North

Where: Ticonderoga

When: 4th of July weekend

Where: Ticonderoga

Best 4th in the North is a weekend-long family friendly Independence Day held in Bicentennial Park. There are carnival rides, games, food, and live entertainment each night with a bang-up fireworks display to cap off the celebration on the evening of July 4. Be sure to visit the historic Fort Ticonderoga too, where you can travel back to the significant events in 1777 that were part of the fight for our nation’s freedom.

Adirondack Harvest Festival

When: Mid-September 

Where: Essex County Fairgrounds, Westport 

https://www.lakechamplainregion.com/eat-drink/farms-flavors

Fruit, vegetables and meat, along with products such as maple syrup, beer, wine, honey and cheese has been produced for centuries in the Champlain Valley. Experience the region's many farms in one and celebrate the bounty of fall's harvest at the Adirondack Harvest Festival. Learn about farming in New York. Try new foods and meet the makers.

Adirondack Music Folk Festival

When: mid-August

Where: Schroon Lake

A full afternoon of free music and happy listeners at the Dock Street bandstand overlooking Schroon Lake. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and some good friends. Make a weekend—or a week—out of your visit to this classic Adirondack resort destination.

Teddy Roosevelt Weekend 

When: 2nd weekend in September 

Where: Newcomb 

Teddy Roosevelt Weekend offers a step back in time to appreciate the 26th president’s journey from the southern Adirondack town of Newcomb to the White House, where he succeeded William McKinley after his assassination. Roosevelt is important to the Adirondacks not just because he vacationed here, but because he is perhaps one of the most influential environmentalists in American history—credited with founding our national parks system. From free wagon rides to kid-friendly games and challenges, an ice cream social and meeting a Teddy Roosevelt re-enactor, this kid-friendly event offers a weekend of family fun.

Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival

When: mid-September 

Where: Schroon Lake

“The most beautiful 36 mile 385 yards you will ever run,” the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival offers a scenic and beautiful run in Schroon Lake. The festival offers activities for everyone – a marathon, half marathon, 2 & 4 person relay run around the 9-mile-long, crystal clear, Schroon Lake, 5 & 10K races and a Kids Fun Run. 

SNIRT Run

When: April

Where: Barnes Corners

This is known as the biggest annual ATV event in New York State, when ATV enthusiasts gather for a one-day ride through Lewis County enjoying stops at local businesses through the course of the day. Named after “snow and dirt,” the SNIRT Run is good, muddy outdoor fun and a remedy for ATV enthusiasts feeling spring fever. An estimated 6,000 riders and passengers show up to this road-only event, hosted by Barnes Corners Sno-Pals Snowmobile Club.

Lewis County Fair

When: July

Where: Lowville

This classic country fair offers livestock shows, live entertainment, concessions, a circus, amusement rides and all kinds of competitions, including a mullet contest. It's a celebration of rural life and Lewis County's impressive agricultural heritage!

Cream Cheese Festival

When: September

Where: downtown Lowville

 Lewis County is home to the largest cream cheese plant in the world - and each September, residents and visitors alike gather in Lowville, New York for this annual festival. The event is free and offers a children’s discovery park, vendors and crafts.