We hope everyone has been having a lovely start to the new year! Some of the best winter events in the Adirondacks are still to come. Now is the perfect time to book a trip upstate.
Empire State Winter Games
First up is the 2022 Empire State Winter Games February 3rd through 6th — just in time to get you in the spirit for this year’s Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. This Adirondack community-driven event includes a variety of winter sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsled, broomball, figure skating, freestyle moguls, luge, ski orienteering, snowboard cross, speed skating and more. There are also several adaptive sports such as as adaptive snowboard cross and hockey.
The Games kick off with the Opening Ceremony on February 3rd, which this year will be held on the beach at Mirror Lake. The ceremony features the Parade of Athletes and families, friends and spectators are encouraged to come cheer them on.
You can get in on the action once the games begin. It’s free to watch any sport, though some of the venues charge an entry fee. If you’re interested in taking in all the games have to offer, it’s worth getting an ESWG Olympic Sites Passport. Along with catching all the games, you’ll have the opportunity to tour these historic venues. Both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics were hosted here!
Lake Placid‘s own Main Street will host the The ESWG Athlete Village all weekend this year. There will be giveaways, hot chocolate and a chance to meet the athletes! And GO-Cottage is perfectly located for a visit to Main Street.
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is another wonderful Adirondack tradition and a unique seasonal experience. You can break the chill at this year’s Carnival February 4th through February 13th!
History
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival began in 1897, when Saranac Lake was earning its reputation as a site of healing and rejuvenation. Because of its natural beauty, with plentiful mountains and lakes, Saranac Lake provided a sanctuary for those in poor health. The Pontiac Club of Saranac Lake founded the Carnival to promote outdoor sports and games. Since 1897, the Carnival has developed into a 10-day festival. It’s the longest-running event of its kind in the eastern U.S.
The Carnival organisers wanted to produce an experience that: “1 – Is first and foremost safe for all, 2 – Speaks to its years of heritage & history, 3 – Adds to the quality of life of the village as a community, & 4 – Breathes new hope and promotes happiness & well-being to its residents.”
Events
This year’s Carnival is chock full of fun activities. There’s so much to choose from; here are just some of the events going on over the course of the Carnival:
- Saturday, February 5th: Lighting of the Ice Palace and Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks Display
- Sunday, February 6th: White Stag Downhill Ski Races
- Tuesday, February 8th: Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception
- Wednesday, February 9th: Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races
- Thursday, February 10th: American Management Association Torchlight Skiing and Fireworks
- Friday, February 11th: Adirondack Bank Innertube Races
- Saturday, February 12th: “Totally 80s” Art Exhibit at the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery
- Sunday, February 13th: Adirondack Health Youth Cross-country Ski Races
- Sunday, February 13th: Guide Boat Realty “Storming the Ice Palace” Closing Fireworks Display
Check out the rest of the schedule here.
Theme
Another long-running tradition at the Carnival is the collectable Winter Carnival button. Since 1981, the Carnival has been lucky to have Garry Trudeau, “Doonesbury” comic creator and Saranac Lake native, design the buttons and posters. The theme of the 2022 Carnival is “Totally 80s”.
Loppet
We are crossing our skis for the return of Lake Placid’s annual Loppet at Mt Van Hoevenberg. The Loppet and Kort-Loppet run on a modified version of the 50km course for the 1980 Winter Olympics. They’re your chance to follow in the footsteps (or skis) of Olympians! The Loppet is a full 50km and the Kort-Loppet is 25km. There are also shorter Citizen’s Challenge Races, at 12.5km, 6km, and 3km.
The one-of-a-kind cross-country ski race is slated to take place on March 5th. It’s a must-attend in the Adirondack community, so check back in for more details!
In the meantime, you can make your very own Loppet with friends and family. Mt Van Hoe recently added 4km more of World Championship-rate trails for over 50km of cross country trails! Check out our post here for more on all Mt Van Hoe has to offer.
We’d love to host you at GO-Cottage for all of these fun winter events. So book your stay with us now!
