Celebrate Paddling ADK, an annual month-long festival celebrating the paddling culture of the Adirondacks, officially kicked off on Friday, May 10. Paddlers gathered to share their love for the water with a paddling mixer hosted at Sunset Bistro in Saranac Lake. The energy carried through to Saturday's highlight event, the 2024 'Round the Mountain Canoe and Kayak Race, hosted by the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). Drawing 102 boats, this annual tradition saw a record-breaking turnout. Following the race, attendees continued the festivities at the Freshest Film Festival at The Waterhole Music Lounge. The festival takes place throughout Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake and will continue until July 7 with paddling events, guided trips, races, and other events. Since 2016, Celebrate Paddling ADK has been dedicated to commemorating the paddling heritage of the Adirondacks through engaging lectures, a river cleanup initiative, and an array of paddling events on nearby waters. The festival was created through a collaboration between many partners including the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters, MAC’s Canoe Livery, St. Regis Canoe Outfitters, Raquette River Outfitters, Guide ADK, Northwest River Supplies, Saranac Lake Area of Commerce and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. Kenzie Marine, Saranac Lake regional manager at ROOST, expressed her enthusiasm for the festival, stating, "Celebrate Paddling ADK embodies the spirit of community and adventure that defines our region. We're excited to welcome paddlers of all backgrounds to experience the magic of our local waterways.” ADK ArtRise is offering creative art classes such as guided watercolor painting, nail string art, and solar-powered printing. Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters is offering a guided night kayak tour every Tuesday during the festival. Other fun events include a cardboard race, a guided birding paddle, and free community paddles with various outfitters. The Adirondack Paddling Symposium takes place from June 14-17. Scheduled during Celebrate Paddling ADK, it offers a comprehensive weekend of paddling instruction with beginner and intermediate course tracks for kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and pack boats. Celebrate Paddling ADK culminates with the Willard Hanmer Races on July 7. The festival offers a diverse range of events and activities including races, educational presentations, and guided trips, attracting paddlers of all ages and skill levels. Celebrate Paddling ADK offers something for everyone passionate about exploring the region's pristine waterways. Further details about the festival and its schedule of events can be found at celebratepaddlingadk.com.

The sixth annual Lake Placid Community Day celebration will take place on Sunday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m. at the North Elba Horse Show Grounds. The free event features live entertainment, exhibits, activities and refreshments. Residents, seasonal homeowners, those who work in the town and those who volunteer their time and effort for various events are encouraged to attend. The annual celebration features live music by locally based band Big Boss Sausage. Representatives from more than 30 not-for-profit organizations will be on-hand to share information about their work within the community. Food and beverages will be provided throughout the day by representatives from the Lake Placid Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Lake Placid Community Day celebrates all who contribute to various community-based initiatives, within the Village of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba, that enhance the quality of life for community members and visitors. It is a day to celebrate all who contribute to the community’s success. One important tradition of Lake Placid Community Day is the announcement of the “distinguished volunteer of the year” awards, recognizing efforts of those who have made significant and important contributions to the community by giving their time and talent to activities and events in the area. Award recipients are recognized in two categories: distinguished volunteer of the year, youth and distinguished volunteer of the year, adult. The 2024 award recipients are JT Wint, youth and Debbie Erenstone, adult. According to Organizing Committee Member Val Rogers, the event celebrates the community, and especially those who work within the community throughout the year. “This event really provides an opportunity to celebrate the place and the people,” she said. “We are able to come together and acknowledge the important role that not only our volunteers play, but the role we all play. We all work hard to make this a special place not only to visit, but also a special place to live and work. We continually open our arms and welcome the world. We rarely give ourselves a pat on the back. This is our pat on the back.” Lake Placid Community Day is a joint initiative of the Lake Placid / North Elba Community Development Commission and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). Visit the Lake Placid Community Day Celebration Facebook page or for additional information.

The Tupper Lake Tinman Triathlon will take place on Saturday, June 29, beginning at 8 a.m. Established in 1983, the race welcomes approximately 700 participants each year and features 5 different races: tinman (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run); aquabike (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike); team relay (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run); Olympic (0.94-mile swim, 24-mile bike, 6.2-mile run); and a sprint (0.6-mile swim, 12.4-mile bike, 3.1 -mile run). The event attracts participants from the local region along with many who travel great distances to take part. This year, we have registered participants from Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, and California, along with many from Quebec, Ontario and even Manitoba, Canada. Triathlon club members from Saratoga, Central New York, Rochester, Buffalo, the Capital District and Vermont take part each year. The Tinman Triathlon is one of the community’s premier summer events, and one of the most popular races in Northern New York. According to Race Director Wendy Peroza, it has been embraced and supported by the local business community which encourages participants and their families to take part in all that Tupper Lake has to offer. “This race attracts athletes who appreciate a challenging course and who also enjoy the region’s outdoor activities and community events,” she said. “Participants often extend their time in Tupper Lake beyond the Tinman Triathlon to enjoy even more time here, taking part in music at Raquette River Brewing or P-2s Irish Pub, Riverpigs professional baseball games, paddling, hiking, visiting the area beaches, stargazing at the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, visiting The Wild Center - there’s so much to do before and after the race. Tupper Lake has a lot to offer.” The Town of Tupper Lake will host an expo during Friday’s athlete check-in at the Tupper Lake Civic Center, where High Peaks Cyclery will be on hand to assist with any last-minute items that the racers may need. Tinman is sponsored by the Town of Tupper Lake Recreation Department, which also organizes and deploys hundreds of volunteers to help manage event logistics. Peroza explained that the event would be virtually impossible without local support. “Tinman is truly a community event,” she said. “Volunteers help to assemble race bags, manage aid stations along the route, help with transitions between the swim, bike and run, assist with athlete check-in, provide race-day direction and information and help to ensure that participants are safe when in the water from their kayak and paddle board vantage points. More volunteers are always welcome.” Peroza credits the high participation to outreach efforts and word-of-mouth from the participants themselves. “Based on post-event surveys conducted by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, we know that Tinman participants consistently have a great experience,” Peroza said. “Quite often the athletes will share their day’s progress in real time during the event, along with photos and personal accounts of the race through their social media channels after the event is complete. This network of athletes has been instrumental in assisting with the growth of the event and the number of triathletes from unexpected locations who have added Tinman to their annual race calendar.” Check-in for the race begins on Friday, June 28 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. There is limited check-in available on race day, beginning at 5:30 a.m. Visit TupperLakeTinman.com or the Tinman’s Facebook page for more information about the race.

2024 Fourth of July Parade Call For Participants Lake Placid is planning its annual Fourth of July celebration, complete with a parade down Main Street. The organizing committee is encouraging organizations, civic groups, individuals, businesses and others to participate in this year’s parade on Thursday, July 4, at 5:00 p.m. According to Organizing Committee Member Catherine Ericson, there are some exciting changes to the parade this year. “We are working to make this parade bigger and better than ever,” she said. “The committee is encouraging businesses and organizations to enter floats in the parade. Floats should center on the theme of the ‘peoples’ parade,’ which allows for a wide range of creative ideas, ultimately showcasing the people in our region, who contribute to the fabric of our incredible community. We are encouraging creativity — friend groups, neighbors, official or even non-official clubs — anyone can participate.” All parade floats and participants will be automatically entered into a contest, with trophies awarded in a variety of categories: civic; volunteer; school; business; independent; and most patriotic. Those interested in taking part should contact Catherine Ericson at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) via email: catherine@roostadk.com. Parade registration should be received by June 20 and should indicate if participation will include a float or if your group will walk in the parade. Parade participants will prepare at 4:45 p.m. on Parkside Drive; parade announcers will recognize individual entries as they pass by Mid’s Park.

Adirondack region farms, artisans, apiaries, local breweries, bakeries, and other regional vendors are preparing to offer their products at the region’s farmers markets, taking place throughout the summer and fall. The region boasts 65 farmers markets, taking place in small communities and larger villages throughout the Adirondacks. Farmers markets allow consumers to have easy access to locally grown food, allowing them to support local farmers and foster a sense of community as popular weekly events. Adirondack Harvest, the organization dedicated to promoting local agriculture, has developed a directory of the farmers markets dotting the Adirondack landscape which can be accessed at Adirondackharvest.com. The website shares information about market locations, schedules, and information about seasonal produce. Dedicated to promoting the local food and agriculture of the region, Adirondack Harvest connects farmers, producers, and consumers to strengthen the agricultural community and foster a sustainable food system while preserving both local food access and scenic landscapes. Mary Godnick, Adirondack Harvest program coordinator encourages visitors and residents to visit their local farmers market to learn about Adirondack-grown and made products. Farmers markets are not only a convenient way to buy a variety of high-quantity seasonal and locally-grown food and products right from the farmer, but they also offer a unique opportunity for the public to talk with farmers to learn about how their products are grown, harvested, and made, how their animals are cared for, and how they care for their land. Agritourism plays a significant role in this region.” Many farmers markets and farms have been working to ensure that fresh produce is available to as many people in the local communities as possible. Many local, state, and federal programs provide money and discounts to those experiencing food insecurity. These benefits can often be used at farm stores and farmers markets. Adirondack Harvest provides a valuable FAQ page on its website with an extensive listing of food assistance benefits available in the Adirondack region. Sydney Aveson, communications coordinator at ROOST shares her thoughts about being able to purchase fresh, local food and other products. “The abundance of farms and roadside stands throughout the Adirondacks is a testament to the agricultural richness of the region. As someone who cherishes the experience of visiting farmers markets, I appreciate the convenience of having alternative markets nearby if I happen to miss my local one. It's reassuring to know that the Adirondacks boast thriving local food pathways and supporting them feels like a meaningful contribution to our farmers and communities.” “Visiting farmers markets is a wonderful way to get a true taste of the Adirondack landscape,” said Godnick. “Buying Adirondack-grown food and products is a great way to support local farms. Choosing to buy local is beneficial for the environment and local communities you live in or are visiting.”