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Celebrate the Snow with a Winter Carnival
By Laura Clark
Do any of the following scenarios describe your current situation?
(1) You like winter, but your friends and family members need to be convinced.
(2) You feel marginally guilty when you head outdoors for some winter fun and leave your spouse to baby-sit your kids.
(3) After a month of inhaling pungent locker room aromas, your lungs are more than ready for a vacation.
(4) You are tired of your usual winter sports and want to try something different.
If this strikes a
chord, then consider sampling a winter carnival or two. Begun as a means
of promoting winter tourism and combating cabin fever, winterfests have
mushroomed to include indoor as well as outdoor activities appealing to
a wide range of ages and interests. Many of the individual events offered
are free; some require a fee for participation. Here's a sampling of winter
carnivals within a half-day driving range.
Adirondack Region
January 26-February
5, Malone Winter Carnival
If you like to mix your outdoor excursions with concert-going and dancing,
go to Malone and experience a jazz and swing concert on February 1, dance
the night away at the Winter Ball on Feb. 3, or listen to the Orchestra
of Northern New York on Feb. 3. The entire family will enjoy the Titus
Mountain torchlight parade and fireworks on Feb. 2, and the winter carnival
parade through town on Feb. 3. Call (518) 483-3760 or visit www.malone-chamber.com.
February-entire
month, Speculator Winter Festival
If you love the outdoors and enjoy the quiet side of the Adirondacks,
this is the place to go. For mainstream adventurers, there's the Piseco
Airport 10K Cross Country Ski Race on Feb. 3, or International Paper Company's
Annual Kunjamuk Kick 10K Cross Country Ski Race on Feb. 17. For more offbeat
entertainment, try the Lions Club Poker Run on Feb. 10 or Piseco Fire
Dept. Poker Run on Feb. 17. Just get in your snowmobile or car, locate
each of the seven stopping points listed on your race map, and start to
collect your winning poker hand. Call (518) 548-4521 or visit www2.telnet.net/community/adrkmts.
February 2-11,
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
The oldest winter festival in the eastern United States, the Saranac Lake
Winter Carnival marks its 104th year with the theme, "Do the Locomotion."
Originally begun as a celebration of Adirondack life by tuberculosis patients
taking the cure, the 2001 version still features the time-honored parade
through town, ice skating races, and, of course the Ice Palace, a temporary
monument to the village's ice-harvesting industry. Constructed of over
1,500 four hundred to eight hundred pound blocks of ice, the castle is
lit from inside by a dazzling array of colored lights. This sight alone
is worth the trip.
Other events include
snowshoe races at North Country Community College on Feb. 3, at Paul Smith's
College on Feb. 8, and at Dewey Mountain on Feb 9. There are kid's Nordic
ski races on Feb. 3 and the Ice Palace 4 mile Fun Run is on Feb. 4. For
a memorable experience, plan on participating in the torch light skiing
at Mt. Pisgah on Feb. 4. Finally, if you've never seen snowshoe softball,
your opportunity is Feb. 9! Call (800) 347-1992 or visit www.saranaclake.com.
February 3-25,
Lake George Winter Carnival
Based at Shepard's Park on Lake George, traditional events include dog
pulls on Feb. 3, Polar Club swims and skydiving exhibits (every weekend).
A fairly unique competition is the snowmobile water skip, where snomobilers
test their courage by jumping their machines over holes dug into the ice
on Feb. 10-11. The losers get wet. Drag and oval snowmobile races are
held on Feb. 17-18. Events are continually being added, so it is best
to check the web for updates. Visit www.lakegeorgeinfo.com or call (518)
668-5755.
February 11 &
16-18, Indian Lake Winter Festival
For $5.00 you can help in the fight against diabetes and participate in
LeShoe de Blue on Feb. 11 in Blue Mountain Lake. This 5.5-mile snowshoe
race climbs up Blue Mountain, for a total of 1,800 feet of elevation gain.
The good news is that once you reach the summit, you get to run back down.
This promises to be a true test of stamina and determination. The following
weekend offers snowmobile races on Feb. 17 and an ice fishing derby on
Feb 18. At the Ski Hill on Feb. 18, there will be ski and snowboard races,
an evening torch run and fireworks. Call (800) 328-5253 or visit www.indian-lake.com.
February 16-18,
Old Forge Winter Carnival & Snowflake Derby
The McCauley Mountain Ski Center in Old Forge, hosts an ice skating party
on Feb. 16, and a chili cook off and cardboard sled races on Feb. 18.
The kids will enjoy participating in the Snowflake Derby Ski Races. Call
(315) 369-6983 or visit www.oldforgeny.com.
February 17-18,
Raquette Lake Winter Carnival
If you're looking for a family-oriented fest with a friendly small-town
atmosphere, this is it. Now in its 45th year, this carnival is run entirely
by volunteers with many events for children. The busiest day is Feb. 17,
when there are sled & saucer races, and snowshoe & ice skating
races. Competitions are organized by grade level so every child has a
fair chance. That evening, families enjoy a traditional tug-of-war capped
off by a bonfire and fireworks. Call 518-624-3077.
Capital-Saratoga Region
February 2-4,
Winterfest 2001, Saratoga Springs
Just attending all the events will give you a good workout, as the Winterfest
is held in the city as well as in the Saratoga Spa State Park and on the
Bog Meadow Trail. Many of the Spa Park events will appeal to outdoors
enthusiasts: snowshoe nature walks on Feb. 3-4, ice skating, Nordic skiing,
a Special Olympics Nordic Ski Sectional Meet on Feb. 3, dogsled rides
on Feb. 3, and a 5K snowshoe race on Feb. 4. When it's time to warm up,
visit the Wild Things Environmental Wildlife Exhibit featuring live owls,
hawks and other native species on Feb. 3-4.
On my list of not-to-be-missed
experiences is the Candlelight Cross-Country Ski/Snowshoe/Walk at the
Bog Meadow Nature Trail at night, Feb. 3. Kids can enjoy sledding in Congress
Park on Feb. 3-4, with a follow-up thawing out period at the YMCA's Winter
Carnival or the Saratoga Springs Public Library's read-aloud with community
celebrities event on Feb. 3. One of the fests most popular activities
is the "Chowderfest" on Feb. 3, where sixteen area restaurants
offer their best chowder for $1.00 a bowl—with tasters voting for
their favorites. Call (518) 584-3255 or visit www.saratoga.org.
Vermont
February 17-18,
Burlington Winter Festival
Held at Burlington's Waterfront Park, this festival boasts several unique
events. The first is a statewide snow sculpture competition; the winning
team represents Vermont at next year's national competition. The other
must-see attraction is an outdoor snow playground on Feb. 17, complete
with tunnels, icy slides and ropes to climb, as well as a snowshoe obstacle
course. Call (802) 864-0123.
Whether your goal
is to experience new and different adventures or simply to enjoy an active
winter day with family and friends, you will find what you are looking
for and more at the area's many winter carnivals. If you plan to participate
in the competitions or attend the concerts or dances, be sure to call
ahead or check the websites to see if registration or pre-purchased tickets
are necessary. Happy winter!
Laura Clark is an avid trail runner, snowshoer and cross-country skier,
and a Children's and Young Adult Librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public
Library.
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