Whiteface Visitors Bureau officials are looking for local businesses to get involved with this year’s Festival of the Colors. The festival, which has become the highlight for the beginning of the fall season in the Whiteface Region, is quickly approaching. Once thought of as a simple craft fair, the event has evolved into a true hometown festival bringing the community together for a day of fun and community pride. Local police, fire, and DEC officials will be on the scene showing off their gear throughout the day. The event also includes live music, a chili cook-off, and entertainment, plus numerous activities for kids, all of which are made possible free of charge thanks to local sponsors. The visitors bureau is looking for more businesses to get involved by: Having booths showcasing their unique products. Sponsoring a charity booth or non-profit group. Both options would help participating local businesses to gain exposure to both area residents and our visitors. It will also give both groups of people an idea of how many opportunities are available throughout the region. Any businesses interested in participating should contact Michelle Preston at the visitors bureau by phone at 518-946-2255 or email at info@WhitefaceRegion.com.

ROOST is helping flood victims in Louisiana by donating clothing to help replace what they’ve lost. Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own after sudden flooding engulfed their homes, businesses, and communities. Ironman Lake Placid Race Director Greg Borzilleri first got the idea to donate clothing through a Facebook group he follows about event management. An event manager in Louisiana, who was familiar with the fact that many events have leftover branded apparel afterward, posted a call looking for donations. Greg responded immediately, and he sent about 150 shirts down to help. ROOST staff thought that was a great idea, and quickly set about doing the same. Kerry Blinn and Bethany Valenze pack up boxes. After getting the necessary information from Greg, ROOST employees recently boxed up five boxes of apparel: one box containing about 150 Ironman Lake Placid T-shirts, one with about 100 Empire State Winter Games jackets from 2015, and three boxes each packed with about 60 Empire State Winter Games T-shirts from this year’s event. The boxes are scheduled to be delivered Thursday to the group that organizes the Louisiana Marathon, which is helping with flood relief efforts in the Baton Rouge area.

Youth tourney and Summit set to continue lax tradition in two-time Olympic village LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – After 26 years of Summit Lacrosse Tournament excellence in Lake Placid, the 27th year, presented by Subway, not only saw the return of the Summit in early August, but the debut of a Youth Summit Classic in late June. The combination of the two events has now become an even more significant economic driver in the community. The all-inclusive 2016 Summit in August brought over 250 teams, from high school athletes to Masters teams, men and women, boys and girls. But it’s more than the competitors themselves: it’s their families, friends and followers that, all told, created a significant economic impact in Lake Placid. The addition of 30 youth teams for the mid-week Youth Summit in June, together with the Lake Placid Horse Show, serves as a kick-off to the summer tourism season. The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has calculated an estimated $6 million in direct spending over the course of both events in Lake Placid. Hotels, restaurants and shops continue to feel the benefits of hosting these tournaments. The debut of an exciting contest featuring Major League Lacrosse alumni, which aired on the Lax Sports Network, provided significant outbound exposure for the region as fans and followers around the world viewed the broadcast. “It’s notable that many of our participants return year after year,” said Summit Lacrosse Tournament organizer George Leveille. “And while many began participating as single, young adults, many now have families who accompany them making this a vacation oriented event. It’s no secret that the many attractions that Lake Placid has to offer adds tremendous value to the overall experience of our participants.” As the books close on the 2016 tournaments, attention will turn to the 2017 editions. The Summit Youth Classic is slated for June 26-28, once again, featuring elementary and middle school competition. Organizers will partner with local interests to expand the overall visitor experience of the attendees beyond the games. The 2017 Summit Scholastic and Adult Lacrosse Classics will take place July 31-Aug. 6. “Though we have just concluded the 2016 Summit Classic, which was perhaps our best yet, our sights are already set on 2017,” said Ashley Gersuk Murphy, CEO of Summit Lacrosse Ventures. “We set the groundwork for a Youth Event which we feel will gain significant traction in its second year, and we are confident that the 28th Summit Classic will again be an exceptional celebration of lacrosse, characterized by the highest level of competition, camaraderie, and vacation experience possible. “We have opened our window of opportunity to lacrosse players of all ages --- from youth, to age 60-plus adults. As a team, we cherish the Lake Placid experience, both on and off the lacrosse field, and we take great pride in offering as many athletes and families as possible the chance to join our community and visit the Village. Once people visit Lake Placid, they understand how special it is, and return for years to come. “In addition to the direct spending delivered by the lacrosse community, having so many younger players coming to Lake Placid helps create the village’s visitors of the future.” "The Summit Lacrosse program supports the region’s recreational sports brand, and rounds out Lake Placid’s status as a national sports center,” said James McKenna, president of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “With the addition of the new youth tournament in June, the event’s value as an economic driver is complemented by its continued ability to introduce new markets to the Adirondacks, and create lifelong destination ambassadors." With lacrosse serving as an introduction to Lake Placid, “Many of our participants have developed their own loyalty to the area, meaning that they come here not just to play lacrosse, but to ski, paddle, boat, fish, hike, get married and have reunions. So the multiplier becomes even greater,” concluded Leveille. For more information on both tournaments, please log on to www.lakeplacidlax.com and www.summitlacrosseventures.com. To gather lodging and activities information, organizers recommend www.lakeplacid.com. About Lake Placid Summit Classic Established in 1990, Lake Placid Summit Classic (LPSC) is one of the nation’s oldest and most highly attended events with 250 teams participating in 2016. The weeklong event is made up of 13 different divisions of play across boys, girls, men and women, and, participant ages range from 15 to 60 and over. LPSC is owned and operated by Summit Lacrosse Ventures, LLC. Learn more at www.summitlacrosseventures.com.

Businesses throughout Tupper Lake, anywhere in the town or village, can apply for microenterprise grants, which aim to create and retain job opportunities. A microenterprise is a business with five or fewer employees, including the owner. Applicants will have to meet income requirements and plan to make an investment in their business, to which they’ll have to contribute 10 percent of the cost. The grants will focus on improving the local tourism economy. For more information and to download the application, click here: Microenterprise application packet.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The New York Racing Association Inc. continued its New York Heritage and Tourism Series with Adirondack Day, presented by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, at Saratoga Race Course yesterday, Wednesday, Aug. 24. The day highlighted the unique history, culture and tourism attractions of the Adirondack region, known best for its many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The event was held at the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “As one of the Northeast’s leading tourism destinations, Saratoga Race Course is an ideal venue by which to promote neighboring regions in New York,” said NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca. “According to a study commissioned by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency, as many as four in 10 guests who visit Saratoga reside in a state other than New York and recent fan surveys indicate that 60 percent of our guests come from outside the Capital Region. Our New York Heritage and Tourism series provides a special platform for other regions of the state to reach potential new visitors.” Guests had the opportunity to experience Adirondack life in the pioneer days with a variety of activities, including log stamping, shoe making and basket weaving. High Peaks Cyclery provided mountain bike demonstrations throughout the afternoon and the Adirondack Wild Refuge and Rehabilitation Center showcased live birds of prey native to the Adirondacks. Wendy Hall of the Rehabilitation Center shows some children a bird. The event also included a craft beer tasting with numerous regional breweries, including Big Slide Brewery, Big Tupper Brewing, Great Adirondack Brewing Company, and Raquette River Brewing. Samples of fresh local farm food were provided by Adirondack Harvest. Free food and beer is always popular! Fans had the opportunity to have their photo taken in an authentic bobsled, courtesy of the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Additionally, guests experienced the sights of the Adirondacks with virtual goggles while sitting at a mock campsite complete with a tent. Feel the wind in your face! Live entertainment was provided by local musician Brad Hester, hailing from the band Annie in the Water, at the Saratoga Pavilion. A variety of other Adirondack organizations were represented at the Pavilion, including the Adirondack Museum, the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Fort Ticonderoga, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, the Paul Smith’s College Visitors Interpretive Center, and The Wild Center. [gallery size="medium" ids="19414,19415,19416,19417,19419,19420,19421,19422,19423,19424,19426,19427,19428,19429,19430,19431,19432,19433,19434,19435,19436,19437,19438,19439,19440,19441" orderby="rand"] The final installment of the New York Heritage and Tourism Series will highlight the tradition of craft beverages in Central New York on Aug. 31. The day-long event will feature activities, exhibits and entertainment which showcase the renaissance of craft beer, hard cider, spirits and wine in Central New York. The 2016 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com. Check out the video Saratoga Race Course made about the day: