The 177th Annual Essex County Fair!

Get ready for an exciting five-day celebration at the 2025 Essex County Fair, happening August 13-17, 2025, at the beautiful Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, New York! This year’s fair promises fun for all ages with a blend of traditional favorites and exciting new experiences.

In 2025, the fair is teaming up with Smokey's Greater Shows from Maine, bringing their impressive collection of carnival rides and games. Originally known for their traveling Belgium horse shows, Smokey’s now operates over fifty rides, promising thrills, fun, and unforgettable memories for all.

Join us for:

• Live Entertainment & Music – Enjoy performances from local bands and talent shows throughout the fair.
• Agricultural Exhibits & Competitions – See the best of local livestock, 4-H displays, and more.
• Carnival Rides & Games – Featuring Smokey’s Greater Shows, with rides for the whole family.
• Food & Vendors – Taste delicious local fare and browse unique artisanal goods from regional vendors.
• Demolition Derby – Get ready for action-packed, thrilling derby events.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the fair this August. Whether you’re here for the rides, the food, or the fun atmosphere, the 2025 Essex County Fair is sure to be a highlight of your summer!

Making a Memory Quilt and "Quilt Stories"

This is a FREE workshop for kids! 10:00 am- Noon at Minerva Community Center, 5 Morse Hwy, Minerva, NY 12851

Light refreshments; adults welcome to accompany kids

Glow in the Snow Luminary Walk

Saturday, January 18th, 6pm-8pm

This self-guided snowshoe walk on the Rich Lake Trail is perfect for families and friends alike. Snowshoe among the luminary lanterns placed along the trail and enjoy the beauty of the forest at night. After your walk, hang around the fire and enjoy some hot chocolate to warm up. Dress for the weather! Snowshoes are available.

May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness when you come through the doors at PARADOX BREWERY. St. Patrick’s Day Celebrate with live music and good beer!
Come do an Irish jig to some
Roots, Rock & Blues you will dig!

Treasure Hunting Galore!

Over 200+ miles of garage sales with treasures to behold from Old Forge to Cranberry Lake to Speculator and everywhere in between! With offerings of antiques, rustic furniture, jewelry, kitchen items, toys, clothing and more -- there is always something for everyone.

Towns located along NYS Routes 28, 30 & 3, including Old Forge, Inlet, Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Cranberry Lake, Piercefield, Newcomb, North Hudson, Speculator, Piseco, and beyond. Find hidden treasures in garage sales, or set up your own sale. 

To sign up, please visit www.greatadirondackgaragesale.com. Simply fill out the form to let us know the time/days/address of your garage sale and a description of the items you will be selling.

To discover sales, please visit www.greatadirondackgaragesale.com.

NFL Sunday: Let’s go team!

Enjoy big screens, great seats, and unbeatable food and drink specials. Indulge in game day favorites paired with ice-cold beers and signature cocktails.

Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled football Sunday at The Tavern. Every game, every Sunday—don’t miss out!

Celebrating Worldwide "Play Music on the Porch Day!"

Porch Fest returns, with NINE locations this year!

Below is a list of locations this year hosting live music and who will be performing:

Starting at 1pm

Lorraine's Lakeside Laundry - Performing: Schroon lake Ramblers

Insull's Porch (23 Leland Ave) - Performing: Bandana Dave, Patty and Sue

Loch House Inn (18 Leland Ave) - Performing: Yod Squad

Schroon Lake Community Church - Performing:Schroon lake Community Band

Friendman's Porch (27 Leland Ave) - Performing: Bare Naked Bears 

The Strand Theatre - Performing: Mark Piper Cigar Box Guitar Wizard

Starting at 3pm

Pine Cone Mercantile - Performing: Mike Grazioso

Ammon's Porch (5 Broad St) - Performing: Mary and Karen 

Conners' Porch (11 Dock St) - Performing: Solace Band 

Maps are available at the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce

*Sponsored by the Schroon Lake Arts Council

JOIN US TO OBSERVE THE BOREAL BIRDS OF THE ADIRONDACKS!

June 5th-8th, 2025!

This four-day Adirondack Birding Festival features birding hikes, walks, safaris, outings, and seminars throughout Hamilton County. All field trips are free and registration is required for each outdoor event. 

The festival reaches into the vast Adirondack wilds of Hamilton County and includes the surrounding forests of our hamlets: Long Lake, Indian Lake, Speculator, Raquette, Blue Mountain Lake, Piseco, Morehouse, Lake Pleasant, and Inlet. Affordable lodging is available, so you and your birding partners can enjoy a comfortable evening retreat to refuel and refresh as the festivities advance.

Hamilton County contains more than one million acres within the Adirondacks. With more than 60% of those acres classified as either wilderness or wild forest, it is one of the best locations to watch boreal birds. Starting in 2005, the Hamilton County Birding Festival brings together birders from all over the United States to explore and discover the amazing birds of the Adirondacks.

Remember, this is the Adirondacks, so you should be prepared for all types of weather including heat, humidity, rain, cold, and even snow. June is typically filled with warm days and cool evenings, but you can never be sure about the weather you will find.

This year's presentation at the Adirondack Experience Museum on Blue Mountain Lake is sponsored by the Northern New York Audubon Society. 

What to bring

For each trip be sure to bring the following:

• sunscreen
• bug repellent (netting or a bug shirt is recommended)
• water
• snacks and/or lunch
• binoculars and/or spotting scope if you'd like
• bird books
• comfortable waterproof footwear

Register for the 2025 Birding Festival clink on the link Below:

• Birding Festival Registration Request Form
• Registration begins Monday, March 31 at 9 am

2025 Schedule

2025 Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival Schedule of Events

Special Presentation - An Evening with Matthew Young: Exploring the World of Finches

• Matthew will be our guest speaker this year and will also be doing a book sale and signing!
• Pre-registration for the lecture and/or reception must be done by June 4 - Pre-Register Here!

Looking for accommodation?

Check out these listings - 2025 Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival Packages

While our festival is free to attend, maintaining our trails requires significant time, energy, and funding. If you would like to support the Hamilton County Trail Improvement Fund, please consider donating here!

Stop by the AIC for a showing of Greenfire!

Aldo Leopold is considered the most important conservationist of the twentieth-century. He is the father of the national wilderness system, wildlife management and ecological restoration. His classic book A Sand County Almanac inspires us to see the natural world as a community to which we belong. Green Fire explores Leopold's personal journey of observation and understanding and reveals how his ideas resonate today with people across the entire American landscape, from inner cities to the remotest wildlands. The film challenges viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the land community. (73 Minutes)

Schroon Lake American Legion Post 982 and VFW Post 362 cordially invite you to the Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran's Memorial Park, Dock Street (across from Stewart's).

The veterans will also do a ceremony in North Hudson at 11:00am