16 Recommendations to Make Your Adirondack Weekend Merry and Bright
Ski with the Santas, shop and sip, learn the truth behind America’s most hated man, preview a wild holiday play and a new Adirondack musical, catch World Cup Luge action and much more this weekend in the Adirondacks.
We want people to have the best time possible in the Adirondacks. That’s why each week, we meticulously curate a list of exciting outdoor adventures, live performances, living history experiences, and great ways to enjoy local food and beverages for everyone, visitors and locals.
Want to know what’s coming up beyond this week? Check out our events page. And to stay in the loop on all things ADK, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In Good Taste.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg in the Adirondacks will host elite athletes competing in the first stop of the FIL World Cup tour.
Join the crowd and experience the thrill of World Cup Luge, the fastest sport on ice. It's an excellent opportunity to witness some of the world's best athletes competing against each other.
The Lake Placid Holiday Stroll offers a variety of fun and exciting activities, such as a skating party, photo sessions with Santa, wine tastings, live musical performances, a free movie screening, Santa Sunday at nearby Whiteface Mountain, a scavenger hunt, a massive Holiday Parade through town, and the list goes on.
Starting Friday, December 8, the Village of Schroon Lake will transform into a magical holiday wonderland for its 38th Annual Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration. This family-oriented, town-wide event has been running for 38 years and will include various holiday activities organized by local businesses and organizations.
The Town of Chester Library will host an artist reception for local artist Stevie Artemis Latham, whose exhibit, “Dawn and Dusk — Photographs on the Lake,” will be on display in the Ruplin Gallery in December.
Join the artist and view the exhibit on Friday, December 8, from 4 to 5 pm.
Tannery Pond Center presents Warren Miller’s 74th movie celebrating ski culture. Get ready to go deep into the stuff of which snowy dreams are made with “ALL TIME” on December 8 and December 9.
Warren Miller movies are a must-see event for any true ski enthusiast and are extremely popular. To reserve your tix, visit TPC’s website.
Looking for some great holiday shopping? Fill your shopping bags with locally sourced food from farms and producers and gifts and decor from local artisans at Whallonburg’s Holiday Market.
Stop by and browse the wide selection of meats, cheeses, produce, bread and baked goods, maple products, sauces, jams and other great Made in the ADK products.
Join historian and author Jack Kelly in Lake George for a discussion of his latest work, “God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man.” The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance sponsors the event.
Oak Mountain’s annual holiday fair includes family-friendly activities, events, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Attendees can shop locally from Adirondack artists and craftspeople. Local businesses and individuals are also invited to donate an artificial, decorated tree, wreath or ornament for a silent auction.
The Gem, smokehouse and hand-crafted cocktail bar in Bolton Landing presents a holiday Makers Market. Shop beautiful handmade gifts and support local artists. And while you’re there, treat yourself to a glass of holiday cheer with a masterfully-mixed cocktail.
Experience a wild holiday journey when the Adirondack Stage Rats stage a reading of a new work by acclaimed playwright Ginna Hoben. The playwright will be on hand to discuss, schmooze, answer questions, and share a cup of holiday cheer.
Decorated tractors, firetrucks, ATVs and more will take over the village of Granville, New York, for their 6th Annual Holiday Lighted Tractor Parade. Event organizers expect to have 60+ participants and thousands of spectators. Participants are encouraged to use as many lights and be creative as possible.
Full of intrigue, mistaken identities, humor and heart, this musicalized reinterpretation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, “The Wrong Box” —coauthored with his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne—blends contemporary sensibilities with classical clowning to create a hilarious work of theater is sure to entertain North Country audiences.
Get in the holiday spirit at one of the East Coast’s top skiing destinations. Visit Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY, on Sunday, December 10, wearing a FULL (head-to-toe) Santa or Mrs. Claus costume, and you will receive a free lift ticket for the day.
And check out the video from Santa Sunday 2022 below.
The Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake hosts a staged play reading of “Decked!” by the Adirondack Stage Rats. With a nod to the classics, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol,” this all-female seriocomic play explores themes of family, grief, letting go, and moving on. The playwright will be at the performance to discuss and answer questions.
The Adirondacks’ pre-eminent fine arts museum, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, delivers a must-see exhibit that offers a unique and insightful glimpse into Edgar Degas, one of the most well-known and influential artists of his time.
Find the ultimate shop local experience at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts Holiday Craft Show.
By purchasing from Adirondack artisans, you can support your favorite non-profit organizations while supporting the talented craftspeople in your community.
It’s a great weekend to be in the Adirondacks.
In addition to these special events, ski season has begun in the ADK.
Gore Mountain is open and reports they’ve received 6” of snow in the last week. And they’ve been making snow. Check out their current snow report.
Whiteface Mountain is also open, with 8” of new snow in the last week. Read their snow report before heading out to ski.
Next weekend’s events include:
Tupper Lake Holiday Stroll on December 15.
Holiday Shopping at the ADKX in Blue Mountain Lake on December 16.
Holiday PJ Party at Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake on December 16.
Warren Miller’s “ALL TIME” in Lake Placid on December 16.
Winter Solstice Luminaria Walk in Essex on December 21.
