Saranac Lake Winter Carnival royalty, participants, and visitors, 1997. The written IPW 101 visible on the ice wall behind them stands for International Palace Workers (Union) 101. There are different stories about the origin of this being written in slush on the ice palace walls each year, including one that says it was created as a joke in response to tourists repeatedly asking, Why do you do this?
The Winter Carnival Ice Palace under construction, 1997. Over the years, palaces have been built with 1,000 to 4,000 ice blocks (generally 2'x4'), with parts rising up to 60 feet tall, weather and ice allowing.
The Winter Carnival Ice Palace, 1997. The palace draws big crowds each year, with visitors coming from all over New York state and beyond to see it.
The Winter Carnival Ice Palace, 1997. Initially designed by an architect in town for the cure in 1898, the second year of the carnival, the palace has since been designed by a number of well-known architects. In early years, its construction was put out to bid. Over time, however, residents with remarkable experience and skill, though generally no professional architecture training, stepped forward in volunteering to organize, design, and build the ice palace, and that is how it continues to be done today.
Mosaic mural in Saranac Lake celebrating the ongoing tradition of the Winter Carnival, including construction of the ice palace and related traditions, 1997.
Mosaic mural detail showing the process of cutting and moving ice blocks from Lake Flower to use in building the ice palace, 1997.
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Buttons, 2018. Winter Carnival buttons are a beloved and long-standing tradition within the tradition of the event itself. Since 1981, Saranac Lake native and Doonesbury cartoon creator Gary Trudeau has been designing a different button for the carnival each year, and more recently collectable posters as well, which can be purchased at various locations around town.

Saranac Lake, Franklin County
Annual Winter Festival

This profile is possible thanks to an underwriting gift from Guide Boat Realty.

In 1897, the citizens of Saranac Lake decided to create some entertainment for the growing number of tuberculosis patients who had come there for ‟the cure.”  Local organizers started out with two days of skating races, harness races on the ice, a parade, and a fancy costume ball. By 1898, with the aid of an architect there for his health, the carnival added an ‟ice fortress” to the event. Later the Ice Palace became an annual highlight. Early in the 20th century, it became increasingly elaborate, with towers and turrets, electric lights, and a grand finale, which included ‟storming the palace,” first with torches, later with fireworks. Today, scores of volunteers are involved in every aspect of the festival. By its recent centennial celebration, the carnival included races, snow sculptures, concerts, dinners, dances, the crowning of royalty, and a proud claim to be the oldest festival of its kind in the country.

Click here to listen to the TAUNY/NCPR “Meet the Masters” story about the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

 
In the video clip below, local volunteers at Saranac Lake give a tour of the ice palace at the annual carnival.

 

Click and listen to the audio clips below to learn more about the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival:

Aggie Pelletieri describes how the winter carnival has been a part of all her life in Saranac Lake.

 

Don Duso explains how the ice palace is built each year.

 

Katie Fobare and Jacques DeMattos relate the importance of volunteer efforts in Saranac Lake.

  • Award Inherited Traditions
  • Award Year 1997
  • Location Saranac Lake, NY (Franklin County, Adirondacks)
  • Categories Small Town