The Adirondack’s busiest weekend of the year is almost upon us. Both Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving always occur on the same weekend in October - this year October 11 - 14. It’s kind of like the “last hurrah” of the busy summer/fall season with visitors getting in their last long weekend before the November and December holidays. 

Visitors will swarm the region this coming weekend and we are ready and waiting for them!  In addition to the multitude of activities available to visitors, there will be a full schedule of entertaining events as well. From live music at area establishments to theatre and film, our calendar is brimming with potential agenda fillers.  

The two big events of the weekend are the Flaming Leaves Festival on Saturday and Sunday and Brewfest on Saturday.  Flaming Leaves Festival fills the Olympic Jumping Complex with music, a ski jumping competition, lawn games, a horseshoe tournament, craft vendors, tie-die shirt making, Blues bands and a BBQ. Don’t forget to take a trip up the 120-meter ski jump via chairlift and elevator (included in admission price). The view is spectacular.

Relaxing at sunset
Relaxing on a beautiful fall night on Mirror Lake

 On Saturday afternoon the Second Annual Lake Placid Brewfest will fill the Conference Center at Lake Placid with dozens of microbreweries dispensing samples of their brews from 3 pm to 7 pm. Last year’s festival was deemed an overwhelming success. Breweries from all over the United States will be on hand. If you’re looking to taste some of the best beers around and talk with the brewers who brew them, this is the event for you. 

 There is still lots of colorful Fall foliage to be found as well. While Lake Placid is just a bit past peak, that doesn’t mean the leaves are gone. It just means that the brilliance of the color is somewhat diminished from what it was last week when it was at peak.

Leaves of fall foliage
Leaves of fall foliage

The highest elevations are losing leaves, but as one descends in elevation, color increases. There are still lots and lots of trees with vibrant orange and red foliage, but the yellows and golds are now predominant around Lake Placid. As we descend into Keene and Keene Valley, color is pretty much at peak there - and it’s only a 20 minute drive from Lake Placid! Keene and Keene Valley both offer wonderful shopping and dining as well, so make a half day or full day trip of it and have lunch!

 Make sure to check our calendar for all the events happening this week and don’t forget to make a reservation and save yourself some time, as rooms are booked quickly for this holiday weekend.