The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, in partnership with the Town of Schroon Lake and the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, is hosting a FIFA watch party to celebrate the FIFA World Cup Championship game. The Shores and Scores Festival will take place on Sunday, July 19 at the pavilion on Leland Avenue in Schroon Lake beginning at 2:00 p.m. The highlight of the event will be the FIFA World Cup final game shown on a large viewing screen, kicking off at 3:00 p.m., broadcast from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The festival will also offer family activities, soccer-themed games and drills for all skill levels conducted by Schroon Lake Central School, complimentary food to enjoy while cheering on the finalists, face painting to help display team colors and a foam party. Paradox Brewery will be on-hand throughout the event.The FIFA World Cup welcomes 48 teams from 71 countries taking part in more than 100 games during the tournament, all fostering national pride, showcasing fun rivalries and creating a worldwide shared experience with watch parties taking place around the world. According to Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce director Sue Palisano, Schroon Lake is excited to become part of this global watch party tradition. Along with many other Adirondack communities, Schroon Lake has a love for the game. “Youth of all ages from many communities throughout the Adirondacks are avid soccer players and fans, and Schroon Lake is certainly no exception,” she said. “These Watch Parties, hosted in large and small locations around the world, underscore a shared experience of the 2026 World Cup tournament that links our small town, and our entire Adirondack region, to the world. Schroon Lake is proud to host this event, and we hope local residents from throughout the region as well as our seasonal visitors join us to be part of the final game.”In April of this year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that grant funding would be available to support events tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to expand the economic impact of the World Cup beyond host venues. The funding, awarded through the state’s Community World Cup Grant Program, funds activities such as public viewing events of World Cup matches, community festivals, and tourism-focused initiatives that support small businesses during the FIFA World Cup.According to ROOST Chief Operating Officer Mary Jane Lawrence, the grant supports ROOST’s vision. “Hosting this World Cup watch party reflects our vision of connecting locals, visitors, and the world to strengthen our communities,” she said. “By creating inclusive experiences for residents, families, and travelers, ROOST is helping bring the excitement of this global event to the Adirondacks.”Plans for the event continue to be developed; additional information can be found here as it becomes available.The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is a destination marketing and management organization that leads tourism initiatives in Essex and Hamilton counties, along with the Adirondack communities of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake. ROOST’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents by managing and diversifying the region’s tourism economy while promoting sustainable visitation.

The Brimfield Adirondack Traveling Antique Show, Flea Market, and Food Truck Rally will take place from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26 in North Hudson. The event is expected to bring thousands of antique lovers, collectors, and treasure hunters to Hay Fields Antiques & Flea Market just off Exit 29 of I-87. The venue offers easy access for visitors traveling from New York’s Capital Region, New York City, Syracuse, Northern New York, and locations to the east. General admission tickets are available on-site for $10. The antique show begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, with early bird entry beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Friday for $20. Tickets provide access to the event for all 3 days. Those 17 and under are free. Tickets may also be purchased online at brimfieldliveonline.com.The event will feature hundreds of indoor and outdoor booths filled with antique and vintage goods, along with handmade, recycled, and upcycled items. The event will also feature a food truck rally, live music, and activities for kids.The Brimfield Antique Flea Market has been the premier destination for serious collectors, casual treasure hunters, and those who appreciate vintage furniture and accessories for more than 60 years. Best known for its flagship events in Brimfield, Massachusetts, taking place each May, July, and September, the show attracts tens of thousands of visitors along with some of the most experienced antique and vintage dealers from around the globe.Vendor space is still available. The vendor application link can be accessed here.

The 77th Annual Tupper Lake Open Pro-Am Golf Tournament will take place August 7–9 at the historic Tupper Lake Golf Club, welcoming golfers of all skill levels to participate in one of the premier golf events in the Adirondacks. Registration is open to the public at TupperLakeGolf.com. Amateur registration is $100 for members of the Tupper Lake Golf Course and $135 for nonmembers. Professional registration starts at $200. Cart rentals are available for $40.For more than 75 years, the Tupper Lake Open Pro-Am has brought together professional and amateur golfers for a weekend of competition, camaraderie, and community celebration. Each year, the event attracts golfers from throughout New York, New England, Canada, and across the United States. On average, approximately 25 professional golfers and 130 amateur players compete in the tournament, with many participants returning year after year.Competitors will vie for cash prizes and merchandise, including $2,000 for the first-place professional and $1,000 for the first-place senior professional. Amateurs will compete for TaylorMade merchandise.The weekend begins Friday, August 7, with an optional 18-hole practice round and skins game for interested players. Tee times are required for practice rounds. Friday evening also features the annual long drive contest at 5:45 p.m. and a putting contest, offering players and spectators a chance to enjoy the tournament atmosphere before competition officially begins.Tournament play begins Saturday, August 8, with first-round tee times starting at 7 a.m. Golf fans can follow players around the course while enjoying the scenic views and lively tournament atmosphere. Competition concludes Sunday, August 9, with final-round play and awards presentations following each flight.Director of Golf and Course Supervisor Evan LaBarge shared his excitement for this year’s tournament. “The Tupper Lake Open Pro-Am continues to be one of the highlights of our golf season and a tradition that means a great deal to our community,” LaBarge said. “Year after year, we welcome talented players from across the region and beyond while bringing together members, visitors, volunteers, sponsors, and fans who make this event so special. It’s all made possible through the dedication of our grounds crew, golf shop team, volunteers, and the generous support of our tournament sponsors, whose commitment helps create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.”The tournament's reigning champion is John Clare, a Syracuse native, Le Moyne College alumnus, and PGA Tour Americas competitor who has captured multiple Tupper Lake Open titles. The tournament’s long history has also featured accomplished professionals including five-time champion Scott Berliner and record-holder Matt Campbell, whose tournament-record score of 130 over 36 holes remains one of the event’s most notable achievements.Beyond the impressive field of competitors, this tournament is set against the scenic and storied landscape of the Tupper Lake Golf Club, a course that has challenged golfers for generations. Built in 1932 by renowned architect Donald J. Ross, the 18-hole, par-71 layout is widely regarded as one of the Adirondacks’ most challenging and scenic courses.Contact Evan LaBarge at elabarge@tupperlakegolf.com for additional information about the tournament.

The fifth annual Wilmington Mountain Music Fest returns Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Wilmington Ball Park, with performances beginning at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $25 online or in person at Little Supermarket and the Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau in Wilmington through July 23, with tickets available at the gate for $30. Children under 10 are free. More information is available at whitefaceregion.com/events/wilmington-mountain-music-fest.This high-energy, family-friendly event features live entertainment, local food and drink vendors, and a strong sense of community spirit. This year’s lineup includes Toys in the Attic, an Aerosmith tribute experience; Jamie Lee Thurston, blending country and Southern rock influences; Double Axel, a North Country classic rock band dating back to 1971; and Adrenaline Overdrive, performing hits from the 80s and beyond.“Year after year, the Wilmington Mountain Music Fest continues to build momentum and attract music lovers from near and far,” said Christina Ortiz, Whiteface Visitors Bureau Director. “It has become a highlight of summer in Wilmington, bringing the community together for an afternoon of great performances, local flavor, and shared experiences.”Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, umbrellas, or pop-up canopies for comfort throughout the day. A variety of food, beer, and wine vendors will be available on-site including Two Jerks BBQ, ADK Mobile Bars, The Dogfather and Mr. Ding-a-Ling, Hex & Hop, and Lomeli's Mexican Food. Outside food and beverages are not permitted.Sammy of Vestopia Hoops will be on-site providing face painting, hula hoops, ribbons, and plenty of fun activities for kids.Smoking will be permitted in designated areas.Live music is a feature of summer in the Whiteface Region. Enjoy free outdoor concerts at the Wilmington Town Beach on Thursdays, Black Brook’s River Park on Wednesdays, and the Jay Village Green on Saturdays, or catch indoor performances at local restaurants, bars, and venues. Visit whitefaceregion.com/events for the latest listings.

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has released its Essex County regional lodging study prepared by CBRE Hotels Advisory. The study evaluates potential lodging opportunities in the growing Lake Champlain and Adirondack Hub regions of Essex County. This study identifies lodging opportunities that may add to the county’s overall visitor economy by supporting new overnight stays, additional visitor spending, and expanded economic impact. Report findings are intended to help guide future conversations with communities, landowners, developers, and hotel brands.The study focuses on three areas of Essex County: the southern Lake Champlain Region, the northern Lake Champlain Region, and the Adirondack Hub. It identifies lodging concepts that may be supportable in each area based on visitor travel patterns, tourism assets, existing lodging supply, short-term rental data, hotel market performance, and comparable lodging models.Data cited in the study shows that Essex County generated approximately $963.5 million in total visitor spending in 2024, the highest among counties in the Adirondacks. According to county occupancy tax data, every region in Essex County achieved visitor spending growth that exceeds inflation, with the Adirondack Hub and Lake Champlain Region among the fastest growing by percentage. Visitor spending county-wide has expanded approximately $360 million since 2017, after adjusting for inflation. “Essex County already has one of the strongest tourism economies in the Adirondacks,” said Adam DeSantis, director of economic development at ROOST. “This study is about identifying opportunities that can add to the county’s market-leading position by attracting lodging concepts that reach new audiences and fit the character of each region’s unique communities.”“ROOST is committed to growing the tourism economy in each region in Essex County and this study articulates that there is significant room to grow and reach new markets by leveraging the distinct attributes of each Essex County region,” stated Dan Kelleher, ROOST president and CEO. “We are excited by the opportunities identified by CBRE that will add to the county’s overall tourism mix.”CBRE Hotels Advisory identified three primary potential lodging concepts for further exploration:A 100 to 130 room conference-center hotel concept in the southern Lake Champlain Region, with Ticonderoga identified as a strong potential location due to its existing infrastructure, visitor attractions, history, waterfront access, and proximity to both Lake Champlain and Lake George.A 30 to 50 room boutique mansion or estate-style hotel concept in the northern Lake Champlain Region, where communities such as Willsboro, Essex, Westport, Elizabethtown, Lewis, and Chesterfield offer scenic, agricultural, historic, waterfront, and trail-based assets.A 40-unit glamping or trailer-style lodging concept in the Adirondack Hub, where communities such as Schroon Lake, North Hudson, Newcomb, and Minerva offer access to outdoor recreation, trails, lakes, scenic landscapes, and wilderness-oriented experiences.Report findings also align with broader trends in the lodging and outdoor hospitality industries. ROOST has recently been engaging with hotel brands, developers, and glamping operators to better understand how emerging lodging models could enhance Adirondack communities while supporting local priorities and respecting community character.“This gives us a more specific, data-backed way to talk about lodging opportunities,” DeSantis said. “It helps us move from general interest in lodging development to more targeted conversations about what type of project might make sense, where it might fit, and what conditions would need to be in place for a community to pursue it thoughtfully.”The study was funded, in part, by a grant from National Grid. These grants assist growth through infrastructure assistance and energy efficiency, with emphasis on sustainable development according to Amanda Vitullo, economic development manager, eastern NY region. “National Grid is committed to supporting projects that help communities plan for future growth and economic opportunity,” she said. “This study provides valuable market information that can help local stakeholders evaluate opportunities, attract investment, and make informed decisions that support the long-term economic vitality of Essex County." ROOST will use the study as a business development and community planning tool. The organization will work with interested communities to identify appropriate sites, assess local readiness, and determine which lodging concepts may be the best fit for each area. ROOST will also use the study to support outreach to hotel developers, lodging operators, brands, landowners, and potential funding partners.About CBRE Hotels AdvisoryCBRE Hotels Advisory provides specialized consulting for the hospitality industry including real estate appraisals, financial feasibility analysis, and brand selection. It offers strategic advice for both existing operations and new developments to optimize investment and navigate complex market conditions.National Grid’s Economic Development Grant Program maintains a strong focus on site development, urban revitalization, strategic marketing, and facilitating customer growth through infrastructure assistance, energy efficiency, and productivity improvement. The program reflects an increasing emphasis on sustainable development, the efficient use of existing energy infrastructure, and the strategic deployment of renewable generation technologies.