Lake Placid – Fall in Upstate New York. It’s closer than you think.
If you’ve been driving around Lake Placid in recent days and look very closely, you can already see some changing foliage. We’ve had some cool nights and dry conditions in general – basically the perfect storm of weather to facilitate this metamorphosis.
So here in the Adirondacks, we roll with that and embrace the beautiful colors that are coming. However, it’s a season marked by more than just fall foliage. We have an event lineup that also says autumn has arrived!
Here’s an early look at the months ahead, with help from Lake Placid Legacy Sites. All of these venues are just minutes from the Mirror Lake Inn.
I Love BBQ and Music Festival: Sept. 2-4 at the North Elba Show Grounds. This aromatic event raises needed funds for the Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid. Great food and entertainment, including bluegrass superstars the Gibson Brothers, pro wrestling, BMX bike exhibitions, kids park and did we say great food?
US Figure Skating Classic Sept. 12-16: An international field of skaters comes to the Olympic Center with competitions for all ages from novice through the senior level.
Castle Conquest Sept. 24-25: A grueling trifecta of roller skiing on the World Cup level trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, followed by the challenge of 22-calibre marksmanship at the biathlon shooting range. Both of these are slated for Saturday. The event concludes Sunday with an 8-mile footrace up the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway.
USA Bobsled Push Championships Sept. 30-Oct. 1: The iced start training ramps at Mt. Van Hoevenberg provide the competition venue for the top male and female bobsled athletes. The goal is to push a bobsled as fast as possible on the ice.
Jumpapalooza Sept. 30-Oct. 1: The USA Nordic National Championships, U.S. Ski Jumping and U.S. Nordic Combined National Championships are held. Watch the action while you enjoy some great grub and a cold beverage.
Oktoberfest Oct. 1-2: Munich comes to Whiteface Mountain except we add a gondola ride to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain to accompany Bavarian food, bier and local vendors.
Dick Button Artistic Skating Festival Oct. 2: We celebrate Olympic champion and commentator Dick Button with performances, workshops and live presentations by Ice Dance International, Ice Theatre of New York and Next Ice Age.
Flaming Leaves Festival Oct. 7-9: The centerpiece event is FIS Continental Cup ski jumping with our beautiful fall colors as the backdrop. Then add live music, great food and drink, and regional vendors.
Lake Placid Half Marathon and 10K Oct. 8: It’s the Lake Placid Classic that originally started as a marathon in 1970 from Paul Smiths to Lake Placid. This is a family-friendly race that raises needed funds for local causes.
Lake Placid Trail Challenge Oct.15: This is a testing 13-mile trail run at Mt. Van Hoevenberg that brings runners through the entire venue.
USA Skeleton Push Championships Oct. 22: Comparable to the bobsled push championships, although these world class men and women will push skeleton sleds.
As you can see, we are blessed here. Along with spectacular leaf peeping, we have events and activities framed by beautiful colors.
Fall is a great time to visit with cool mornings and nights, wrapped around warm and comfortable days.
If you are planning a tour of eastern foliage, it’s best to start here in a region that’s first to change. Then work your way south.