From arts to action sports, Spring is filled with events to keep everyone happy this year.
Adult puppet entertainment!
In the arts realm, Lake Placid Center for the Arts brings to the stage a nice schedule of entertainment, including a touring production of the Broadway smash hit, 'Avenue Q' on June 6 and 7. With its irreverent and decidedly gown-up humor, the show's stars, felt puppets, portray a recent college graduate and his new neighbors who all live on Avenue Q. Hysterically funny and fast-paced, the key words are fun, fun and fun! (Warning - this show is most assuredly for adult audiences only.)
Fishing anyone?
In the outdoor sports department, fly fishing offers up not one, but two events this season. Fishing starts off with the 15th annual Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge in nearby Wilmington on May 16 and 17. Anglers are required to pick just two flies for each day of fishing and will compete for the most combined inches and weight of fish caught over the two days of the tournament. The event draws some of the best of the best in the regional fly fishing circles to the Ausable River each Spring.
Following on the heels of the Two-Fly Challenge, a Fly Fishing Team USA Regional Qualifier comes to the area on May 30th and June 1st. The nation's top fly anglers will compete on Mirror Lake, Lake Colby (Saranac Lake Region) and the Ausable River, for a chance to qualify for the US National Championships. In this catch and release competition, anglers will vie for the most total inches and pounds of fish caught. Volunteers are sought to record and tabulate results - one volunteer is assigned to each angler. It's a great chance for local anglers to watch some of the Nation's best in action.
Family-friendly learning events
The nearby Paul Smith Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) offers loads of educational and fun events from bird walks to Citizen Science Training Workshops. Try your luck at spotting all the birds on Teddy Roosevelt's Adirondack bird list at the Teddy Roosevelt Bird Walk on Saturdays during the month of May.
In addition to the bird walks, birders with a need for deeper immersion are invited to the 12th annual Great Adirondack Birding Celebration at the VIC on June 6 - 8. The 3-day fest features birding field trips, lectures, workshops and much more.
The VIC is only a short 25 minute drive from Lake Placid and offers an amazing trail system through several types of wetland and forest areas, as well as a main building with interpretive displays.
Run, run, run
This year, the Lake Placid Marathon hits the streets on Sunday, June 8 at 8 am sharp. This long-running (pardon the pun) and popular regional race attracts upwards of 2,500 racers each June. The course winds through almost the same course as the Ironman Lake Placid run portion of the event, with the exception of the start, which takes runners North on Main Street and around Mirror Lake. Then it's on to the Ironman course for the duration, ending at the Lake Placid Speedskating Oval. There is additionally the 13.1 mile 1/2 marathon for those not feeling up to the entire 26.2 mile run. Even if you don't run, the mass start and run up Main Street is a sight to behold in the early morning hours of early June. Pretty awesome sight, isn't it (below)?
This is only a fraction of the many events awaiting you when you visit the Lake Placid area this Spring. Make sure to search our complete events calendar for your visit dates and jump right into the fun!
