The annual winter carnival at Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks is the oldest winter festival in the Eastern United States. The carnival will celebrate it's 110th anniversary, during this year's festival which runs from
February 2 through February 11.
"The Fabulous 50's" is the theme for the popular carnival.
The origin of the Winter Carnival can be found in Saranac lake's history as a world famous health resort. The village was a thriving community, nestled deep in the Adirondack wilderness. The pristine setting was well known for providing rejuvenation for hundreds of tuberculosis suffers. Patients came from all over North America to "take the cure".
The natural beauty of the mountain caused many patients to experience a renewed passion for life. The long, cold Adirondack winters offered an array of cold weather activities, such as sledding, skiing and skating. To break the winter's chill and promote outdoor sports, the Pontiac Club was formed. In 1897 the Pontiac Club sponsored the first "Mid-Winter Carnival".
110 years later, the Carnival is a 10 day long event. Two local citizens are honored by being selected as King and Queen of the Carnival. A royal entourage is formed to assist the King and Queen in their royal duties.
Each Carnival has a theme. This year's theme is: "The Fabulous 50's". the Carnival offers an array of sporting events including snowshoe, Nordic ski ski races and Alpine ski races. There are two parades.
Six weeks before the Carnival the process of collecting ice for the ice palace begins. Blocks are cut from the Pontiac Bay and moved via conveyor belt. The palace design varies from year to year, but on average each palace has over 1500 blocks. The palaces are from 70 to 90 feet long and 10 to 60 feet high. An array of colored lights is placed within each design. Each night the placed is transformed into a vivid sculpture of ice and light.
Here is a partial schedule of events for the Winter Carnival. Further information is available in their website.
Thursday, February 1
Past Winter Carnival Mixer and Dinner
Friday, February 2
Coronation of Carnival Royalty
"The Fabulous 50's" is the theme for the popular carnival.
The origin of the Winter Carnival can be found in Saranac lake's history as a world famous health resort. The village was a thriving community, nestled deep in the Adirondack wilderness. The pristine setting was well known for providing rejuvenation for hundreds of tuberculosis suffers. Patients came from all over North America to "take the cure".
The natural beauty of the mountain caused many patients to experience a renewed passion for life. The long, cold Adirondack winters offered an array of cold weather activities, such as sledding, skiing and skating. To break the winter's chill and promote outdoor sports, the Pontiac Club was formed. In 1897 the Pontiac Club sponsored the first "Mid-Winter Carnival".
110 years later, the Carnival is a 10 day long event. Two local citizens are honored by being selected as King and Queen of the Carnival. A royal entourage is formed to assist the King and Queen in their royal duties.
Each Carnival has a theme. This year's theme is: "The Fabulous 50's". the Carnival offers an array of sporting events including snowshoe, Nordic ski ski races and Alpine ski races. There are two parades.
Six weeks before the Carnival the process of collecting ice for the ice palace begins. Blocks are cut from the Pontiac Bay and moved via conveyor belt. The palace design varies from year to year, but on average each palace has over 1500 blocks. The palaces are from 70 to 90 feet long and 10 to 60 feet high. An array of colored lights is placed within each design. Each night the placed is transformed into a vivid sculpture of ice and light.
Here is a partial schedule of events for the Winter Carnival. Further information is available in their website.
Thursday, February 1
Past Winter Carnival Mixer and Dinner
Friday, February 2
Coronation of Carnival Royalty
Type in Your Comments Below
Vonnie Chestnut
01/11/2007
Sounds wonderful and relaxing. I have been to a 3 day festival, but never a 10 day. You did a wonderful job describing all there is to do.
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