The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival may be several months away but the theme for 2024 has been chosen.

Halloween isn't just in October. At least not in Saranac Lake anyway where the annual festival is being turned into a Creepy Carnival for 2024.

The 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will be held February 2 -11. Get all the details on the upcoming carnival when they are released at Saranacklakewintercarnival.com.

Winter Carnival History

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival began in 1897. It wasn't always an annual event though. There were years in the 20s, 30s, and early 40s when it wasn't held. The carnival was brought back to life in the winter of 1947-48 and has been held every year since.

The Ice Palace disappeared for 35 years before making a comeback too. It stopped being built in 1920 but returned by 1955.

2019 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
Photo by Mark Kurtz Photography/Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
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National Recognition

The 2022 Winter Carnival in the Adirondacks was named among the best in the U.S. according to Thrillist.

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has everything: a Royal Court complete with coronation celebrations and courtly robes, arctic golf, an arctic BBQ, downhill ski races, snowshoe races, curling exhibitions, woodsman exhibitions, a ladies fry pan toss (why not!), themed parades, fireworks, and more.

The 2022 Winter Carnival went back to the 80s for a totally tubular event.

Credit - Meachele Manchester via IPW Local 101
Credit - Meachele Manchester via IPW Local 101
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Volunteers Brave Winter

Volunteers gather every January, braving the snow and cold to put together the centerpiece of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival - the Ice Castle.

Business owners, teachers, construction workers, elected officials, parents, and friends, make up the International Palace Workers (IPW Local-101), who cut ice and carry buckets of water and snow to pack between the blocks.

Take a look at the work put into creating the 2023 Castle.

Volunteers Brace Snow & Cold to Build Famous Ice Palace in Upstate New York

Volunteers brave the snow and cold every January to build the famous Ice Palace, a centerpiece of the annual SaranacLlake Winter Carnival.

2021 Winter Carnival Ice Palace in Saranac Lake is Totally Tubular

This year's Ice Palace in Saranac Lake is like totally tubular man. The finishing touches are being put on the 80s themed palace for the annual Winter Carnival.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace Over the Years

Take a look back at the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace over the last few years.

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