If you're looking for the ultimate winter getaway, look no further than the Northwest Adirondack Mountains of New York. The area is a world famous location for outdoor adventure and exploration. With snow covered peaks overlooking a dynamic landscape, stunning panoramic vistas wait at every turn. The history in the area is rich, beginning with the native people that inhabited area more 10,000 years ago. The state of New York also played a major role during the Revolutionary Years of the United States. Almost everywhere you look has a story that is begging to be told.
During the winter, the Northwest Adirondacks become an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Expansive parks provide the ideal scenic setting for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and Nordic skiing. The frozen lakes are great for ice fishing and skating. You’ll find friendly and welcoming mountain towns and villages that are full of unique restaurants, museums, live entertainment, small shops and so much more. Festivals and events are also popular during the winter months and Adirondack Whiteout Weekend has recently been an event on the rise.
Entering only its third year, the revamped Adirondack Whiteout Weekend has steadily attracted a large following. In fact, this year the event organizers are expecting over 2,000 people in attendance. This is a family-friendly festival that takes place in three great mountain towns: Cranberry Lake, Wanakena, and Star Lake. The activities are numerous and will provide a fun experience for event goers of all ages. Get the family together and dress warm because this can't miss experience is held outdoors. We got the opportunity to interview Vanessa Vaverchak, the Volunteer Co-Chair for the Adirondack Whiteout Weekend, to talk about this unique event.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
VV: This is the 3rd year, however, there used to be a winter festival like this every year. We essentially revived and pumped up the tradition of celebrating the winter in the Adirondacks. Last year, we drew about 1,500 attendees and anticipate at least 2,000 this year. We really get a cross-section of visitors, as we have events for all ages. It's definitely a family-friendly and educational event on Saturday, specifically designed for kids in attendance. We have a new Friday evening kickoff event that is adult-oriented as well with a photography show, bonfires, specialty cocktails, and whiskey tastings in Wanakena.
RAL: What makes the event unique?
VV: We really feel that our outdoor activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are a big draw to the area. This is an authentic Adirondack experience. This is not a place to go on a shopping trip; it's a place to have an adventure and truly unplug. Free admission is also a great draw for attendees (we ask only for a canned food donation to our local pantry), along with free parking, and a few low registration costs for specialty events. We do ask for donations, but you won't break the bank to have a great time with us.
RAL: Take me through a day at the event.
VV: We almost have too many activities to list! We’ll have a Black Powder Winter Shoot, curling, a Winter of Wonder Children's Event, Dog Sled Presentation (with rides for kids 12 & under), Adirondack Lore, "Find the Yeti" geocaching , a guided hike, a performance by the Noteworthy Handbell Choir, and even ice skating.
On Sunday, you can enjoy the Adirondack Raptors, Activities with Smokey Bear, a quilt display, artisan demonstrations, dog sledding, and an ice rescue demo. Characters from the movie Frozen will be interacting with our little guests at the Children's Event and Smokey Bear will be out on Sunday. Look out for Bigfoot on Route 3 if you’re traveling in from the West!
We have some great little cafes and diner-style options including Coffee Fever, U-B's Mercantile, Hillside Diner, Pine Cone Grill, and Stone Manor Diner. Coffee Fever is now serving a sophisticated weekend dinner menu in addition to breakfast and lunch. Pine Cone Grill will be putting on a Pig Roast on Saturday beginning at 4:00 pm. U-B's will be debuting a "Big Foot Pancake" challenge. Western Adirondack Presbyterian Church will also be hosting a Chicken 'n Biscuit dinner at 4:30 pm on Saturday, after the Noteworthy Handbell Choir performance at the same location (3:00 pm).
RAL: What will people find for local lodging?
VV: We're a small group of communities, so places like Stone Manor (Cranberry Lake) and Pack Basket Adventures (Wanakena) book early and fill quickly. There are many rental properties and Bed & Breakfast-type locations in our area. We rely on collective booking sites to help connect visitors with unique lodging.
We really don't have any lodging specials, as everything books fairly early. There may be a few rooms still available at Stone Manor in Cranberry Lake.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
VV: We definitely drive business to our local economy. We are not "tourist-y" in the traditional sense, but we do rely on tourism (particularly ecotourism, summer residents, and snowmobilers) to help drive our economy. We love hosting new and returning visitors and this is a really fun, unique way for them to experience our area during the winter months. It's important that this event supports our wonderful local businesses, so we encourage visitors to grab a meal while they're here and to start planning their return trip very soon.
This is a non-profit, volunteer event and it is meant to support our area as a whole. We sell buttons and donate $1 of each sale to local youth figure skating and youth hockey programs. Both of those programs are also non-profit and volunteer driven. As I mentioned, we ask for a food donation to our local pantry as "admission". The food pantry supports many local families and struggles to stay stocked during the winter. Other organizations, from the Wanakena Historical Association to the local volunteer fire departments, host their own events or sell concessions at ours. We all support each other, so this event is a way for everyone to benefit.
RAL: Why should people come?
VV: It's really a fun and enjoyable winter event. You get an authentic Adirondack experience with a warm welcome. There is so much to do and we're truly proud of what we accomplish as volunteers. Our hearts are in it and I think that shows.
For more information about the Adirondack Whiteout Weekend, please visit their website.