The annual Wilmington Mountain Music Fest is returning for its third year, taking place on Saturday, July 27, at Wilmington Ball Park. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with music beginning at 2:00 p.m. Advance tickets are available, beginning at $20, with family and VIP packages also available for purchase by visiting whitefaceregion.com/events/wilmington-mountain-music-fest. The festival has expanded this year with additional stages, a wide variety of musical acts and entertainment, and an increased number of food and beverage vendors. Musical acts span genres that should appeal to a broad audience, with a lineup that features regional artists as well as national performers. The festival aims to celebrate the community spirit of Wilmington, offering an experience residents, visitors, couples, and families can all enjoy together. This year’s music lineup is headlined by Completely Unchained, a Van Halen tribute band, and Don Jovi, playing tribute to Bon Jovi. Together they are positioned as a one-of-a-kind “Legends of Rock Show”. Other artists scheduled to take the stage include Merle Jam, Midnight Stargazers, and Taylor LaValley. Bands will be providing entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening, ending at approximately 10:30 p.m. Attendees will also be treated to a performance by The Smoke Show Fire Dancers, specializing in fire-eating and choreographed performances, taking the stage at 8:30 p.m. Michelle Preston, director of the Whiteface Visitors Bureau, explained that the event is quickly becoming one of the most popular events in Wilmington. “The festival is a highlight of the summer season,” she said. “It offers a family-friendly atmosphere, a diverse lineup of performances, and plenty of fun activities. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, umbrellas, and pop-up canopies so that they can relax and enjoy the day. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, the Wilmington Mountain Music Fest is an event not to be missed.” Advance tickets can be purchased online at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Pre-purchase also offers the options of a couples package for $75 or a family package for $150. Pre-order your music fest T-shirts online; limited supply available on the day of the show. Live music is a highlight of summer in the Whiteface Region. In addition to the Wilmington Mountain Music Fest, the Wilmington Town Beach hosts free concerts every Thursday in the summer and a wide variety of artists can be found performing at restaurants and bars in Wilmington and surrounding communities. Visit WhitefaceRegion.com/Events for more information on upcoming performances.

The Tupper Lake History Museum is planning a grand opening of its new location with a celebration and ribbon-cutting on Saturday, July 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The ribbon-cutting will take place at the museum’s new multi-room quarters in the former gas station building at 291 Park Street. Local leaders, along with museum board members will be on-hand. The museum has had a number of locations over the years after its founding more than 20 years ago by Arthur Richer. It was initially located in the former Hull family home on Water Street. Its next location was on the second floor of the Town of Tupper Lake’s old Junction fire station on Pine Street, where it operated for more than a decade. After a year of fundraising, the museum’s board of directors purchased the empty gas station at 291 Park Street and began renovating the space, with assistance from many volunteers and local businesses. The museum is also staffed by volunteers who are eager to help visitors learn about Tupper Lake’s mixed and rich heritage. Twenty exhibits showcase the community’s history from the late 1800s to today. The Tupper Lake History Museum opened Memorial Day weekend, with limited hours during June. This summer, the museum will be open five days a week, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Details about the museum can be found at tlhistorymuseum.org or on its Facebook page.

Battle of the Cones, a lighthearted summer showdown showcasing and celebrating the region’s ice cream stands, will kick off on July 22 immediately following National Ice Cream Day on July 21. Online voting will begin on July 22 and close on August 18. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) established the social media-based competition in 2022 to promote the region’s ice cream stands and the communities in which they operate. The Adirondack region boasts a number of ice cream stands, many of which have operated for generations. “This is truly more of a showcase than a competition; we really want the businesses and communities to have fun with it,” commented Jane Hooper, communications manager at ROOST. “There are so many ice cream stands in the region; this campaign allows us to focus on this traditional summertime activity to provide a unique, creative way to share information about the Adirondacks.” Battle of the Cones assembles information about 16 of the region’s Adirondack region’s ice cream stands, entering them into a single-elimination “bracket-style” showcase. Ice cream lovers place online votes for their favorite each week. One ice cream stand will remain at the end of the five-week showcase; capturing the title and associated bragging rights. Donnelly’s Ice Cream (Saranac Lake) captured the title in 2023 after Windchill Factory’s (Ticonderoga) victory in 2022. According to ROOST Regional Manager Kenzie Marine, “Battle of the Cones” has become a highly anticipated summer event, promoting local ice cream stands and encouraging fun, lighthearted competition among business owners and communities. “We developed and launched ‘Battle of the Cones’ to promote a fun summertime activity - everyone has a favorite ice cream stand and flavor,” she said. “This has provided a fun and interactive way for people to share their experiences, while also encouraging visitors and residents to explore towns throughout the region, using ROOST’s ice cream Wayfinder trail maps.” The local ice cream stands have embraced the contest, both competing with and encouraging their rivals. “The competition is delicious,” laughed Marine. “This campaign is one in which the ice cream stands can take an active role, allowing us to promote all the ice cream stands throughout the region, along with communities throughout the Adirondacks. The ice cream stand owners, managers and staff members are really having a lot of fun with it.” The “Battle of the Cones” contest schedule is as follows: Round One: Monday, July 22, until Sunday, July 28 at 11:59 p.m. Quarter Finals: Monday, July 29, until Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11:59 p.m. Semifinals Monday, Aug. 5, until Sunday, Aug. 11 at 11:59 p.m. Finals Monday, Aug. 12, until Sunday, Aug. 18 at 11:59 p.m. Wayfinder trails are a series of online maps that people can follow to experience particular activities throughout the Adirondacks. These trails include information about ice cream stands as well as farm experiences, breweries, history, cuisine and family-friendly activities. The trails can be found at AdirondackWayfinder.com.

Tupper Lake Field Day is taking place on Saturday, July 20 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The free event, organized by the Town of Tupper Lake Recreation Department, features a parade, car show, vendors, field events, food and music. The day kicks off at 11:00 a.m. with a parade from the Tupper Lake Town Hall to the Tupper Lake Municipal Park, led by 2024 Grand Marshall Jeremy Dukette. Parade participants will be entered into a contest to determine the best parade float; the award winning float receives both bragging rights and recognition. Beginning at noon, the car show will host some of the most classic and unique vehicles in the region. Attendees will be able to admire the vehicles while learning about their history from owners and restoration experts. At 1:00 p.m., attendees both young and old are able to participate in a variety of field games including classic favorites like sack races, 3-legged races, and tug-of-war battles. Cornhole competitions, craft vendors, chainsaw carving demonstrations and mechanical bull rides, along with face painting and an inflatable bouncy house will provide fun and entertainment throughout the afternoon. A “slime run” is also scheduled for the afternoon - this good, clean event will cover runners in sticky slime. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to wear a white t-shirt so that the colorful slime is apparent as they run along the course. Food trucks will be on-hand throughout the day, offering refreshing drinks and snacks. Square dancing and a live musical performance by Brock Gonyea will round out the afternoon. Those wishing to take part in the parade are encouraged to contact Amanda "Bird" Lizotte at 518-578-6889. Visit tupperlake.com/events/tupper-lake-field-day or the event’s Facebook page for additional information, or to sign up as a vendor.

The 25th Ironman Lake Placid will take place on Sunday, July 21; its course is defined along roads throughout Lake Placid, Keene, Jay, Upper Jay, Au Sable Forks and Wilmington. New York State Police traffic control, in collaboration with Ironman officials, have established the local road closure and traffic impact schedule. Traffic pattern changes and delays will impact Lake Placid and surrounding communities as some regional routes, and specific lanes along certain routes, are closed to automobile traffic. Temporary road closures will begin at 5:00 a.m.; please use caution and expect delays. Lake Placid Road Closures Cummings Road will be closed from 4:00 a.m. until midnight. Mirror Lake Drive from Northwood Road to Main Street in Lake Placid will be closed from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. (Monday) Northwood Road from Route 86 to Mirror Lake Drive will be closed southbound from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Parkside Drive in Lake Placid will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. (Monday) Colden Avenue, School Street, and Mill Pond Drive from Colden to Main Street will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Main Street from the post office to Station Street will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. (Monday) Route 73 from Station Street to River Road will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. (Monday) River Road will be closed from 10:00 a.m. to midnight (Monday) Bobrun Lane will be closed in both directions from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Regional Road Closures Route 86 southbound to Lake Placid from Wilmington and Jay will be closed from 7:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Bobrun Lane will be closed in both directions from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Route 9N will close northbound from Keene to Jay from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Stickney Bridge Road will be closed northbound from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. There will be no vehicular traffic allowed on Stickney Bridge in either direction during this time. Route 9N southbound will be closed from Stickney Bridge Road to the Route 86 intersection from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Bilhuber Road will be closed to traffic from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Haselton Road will remain open from Bilhuber Road to the Town of Black Brook as part of the new bike course change. No vehicle travel south of Bilhuber Road will be permitted until 3:00 p.m. Route 73 south/eastbound from Lake Placid to Keene will be closed from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.NEW FOR 2024: Residents and businesses along Wilmington Road should note that runner traffic will continue until midnight. Ironman Community Hotline Ironman Lake Placid has established a community liaison as the primary point of contact regarding road closures, traffic delays and other inquiries or concerns. This position will work closely with race officials and other local agencies to quickly mitigate any issues that arise.Businesses and community members should contact the community liaison to ask questions about getting to work, if they are in need of an escort because they live on the race course, another issue presents itself, or for additional information before or during the event. Dedicated phone line: (888) 497-5009 Community email: imlakeplacidcommunity@ironman.com Alternate Routes LAKE PLACID TO JAY From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, go left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Right on Route 86 to Jay. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid, Wilmington, and Jay from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. AU SABLE FORKS TO WILMINGTON North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Bonnieview Road to Wilmington. Expect delays at the intersection in Wilmington. AU SABLE FORKS TO SARANAC LAKE/LAKE PLACID North on Main Street at Stewart’s to stop sign. Left on Guideboard Road. Bear left at fork to Silver Lake Road. Left on Union Falls Road to Route 3. Left on Route 3 to Saranac Lake. In Saranac Lake, take Route 86 East to Lake Placid. AU SABLE FORKS TO KEENE Route 9N West, crossing bridge go right to Sheldrake Road. Sheldrake Road intersects with Stickney Bridge Road. Turn left on Stickney Bridge Road to Route 9N in Jay. Turn left to Upper Jay and Keene. SARANAC LAKE TO I-87 SOUTHBOUND Route 3 West to Tupper Lake. Route 30 South to Long Lake. Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 2 East to Exit 29 on Route I-87 or Route 28N to Warrensburg. POINTS SOUTH ON ROUTE I-87 From northbound Route I-87 take Exit 29 to Route 2 West to Route 28N. Turn right on Route 28N to Newcomb. Route 28N to Long Lake. Right on Route 30 to Tupper Lake. Right on Route 3 East to Saranac Lake. Take Exit 30 for travel to Keene Valley, Keene or Lake Placid. Expect delays at Keene. POINTS NORTH ON ROUTE I-87 TO LAKE PLACID Going southbound on Route I-87, take Exit 31 to Route 9N North. Route 9N North to Elizabethtown. Route 9N North to Route 73. Right on Route 73 to Keene. Expect delays at the intersection in Keene. KEENE TO LAKE PLACID Route 73 westbound lane open. Expect delays at River Road/Ski Jumps intersection. Access Village of Lake Placid via Old Military Road. LAKE PLACID TO WILMINGTON/AU SABLE FORKS/I-87 NORTHBOUND From Saranac Avenue/Route 86, left at Main Street at the High Peaks Resort to Mirror Lake Drive. Left on Northwood Road. Left on Cobble Hill Road. Left on Route 86 to Wilmington. Straight through the intersection on Bonnieview Road (County Route 19). Right on Silver Lake Road and follow detour arrows to Au Sable Forks. Expect delays in the Village of Lake Placid and in Wilmington from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. BLACK BROOK TO WILMINGTON AND JAY From Silver Lake Road, take Bonnieview Road turning left at Route 86 (4 corners) in Wilmington. Haselton Road will remain open but closed at Bilhuber Rd to Route 86. Please note the timeline change for opening Wilmington Road northbound from Lake Placid. Traffic detours to Iroquois Road after the bike cut-off at approximately 6:00 p.m. Travel to Northwood Road and turn left on Route 86 to Wilmington and points north.